Abstract:
A system and method for playing a sequence of items including certain selected items of content. A media player operating on a computing device plays the content that is received over a network from a content server. The user controls the media player using a user interface, and further controls the content that is desired. An auto-content selector allows the user to select content related to a particular subject matter like weather and traffic that is automatically added to the sequence of items to be played based on detected information about the user such as the user&#39;s location.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    Portions of this disclosure contain material in which copyright is claimed by the applicant. The applicant has no objection to the copying of this material in the course of making copies of the application file or any patents that may issue on the application, but all other rights whatsoever in the copyrighted material are reserved. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Content comes in a wide range of forms including: (a) music; (b) news of all kinds including world, national and local events, sports, weather and traffic; (c) podcasts or other broadcasts covering different interests; (d) movies; and (e) any other type of content broadcast over airwaves, satellite, cable, the internet or other connectable sources can be offered to a user through a media player and/or downloaded from links on a website for users to access the programming. Users interested in many different sources of content are faced with having to use a variety of players or links to play content from multiple sources and/or being distributed in different forms and formats. Since these sources are independent, there&#39;s no common means to determine when particular content of interest to a particular user is updated. For example, geographically relevant content such as traffic or weather is important to travelers in a particular location. For a traveler planning daily activities and looking for the most current, up-to-date information while they are in a city such as New York City, they must conduct a renewed search for the information at each point in time when it is needed. 
         [0003]    The present invention solves these issues by aggregating content from any number of sites or broadcasters by letting users set their favorite content to play over the media player automatically when it&#39;s updated. This is done by activating the an AutoPlay function which automatically checks favorite content for updates. New, unheard content is inserted as the next item to play in the user&#39;s iNetRadio playlist and may include any mix of different types of content. AutoPlay eliminates the need for users to keep checking for new content. This allows everything from hourly news updates to weekly podcasts to music selections to play with no manual interaction and without any one content selection interfering with another content selection. Instead, the content is queued sequentially so that all content can be heard in order without one type prevailing over another. 
         [0004]    The present invention includes AutoTraffic and AutoWeather features. These features provide travelers who desire local traffic and weather reports with the information they are seeking on the most up-to-date basis, without the distraction of visual traffic maps or the need to search for a local source of information and then wait for the information to be reported. AutoTraffic and AutoWeather functions are activated on the media player by the user. Using geolocation data to find the closest realtime road by road traffic reports (supplied by partner GeoTraffic) or weather reports, this user-specified content is played automatically as updates are provided by content providers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it functions, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show embodiments of the present invention in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a network with one or more servers delivering content to a group of different types of devices; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a screenshot of an internet media player; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a screenshot of an internet media player that is in the process of playing NPR news content; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a screenshot of an internet media player that is in the process of playing an AccuWeather podcast; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a screenshot of an internet media player that is in the process of playing an ESPN Hockey Today podcast; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a screenshot of an internet media player that is in the process of playing a song “I Prevail” by the band Blank Space; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a screenshot of an internet media player that provides a user with the selected city for nearby weather report; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a screenshot of an internet media player with a listing of Auto/Start-Up Play Items; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a screenshot of an internet media player that provides a user with the selected content in the sports category; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  shows a screenshot of an internet media player that provides a user with the selected content in the news category; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows a screenshot of an internet media player that provides a user with the selected content in the music category; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart of the process for selecting AutoTraffic and AutoWeather content to be played on the media player; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is an example of an XML file for AccuWeather in the New York area; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is an example of an XML file for the I-95 GeoTraffic report in Philadelphia. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout  FIGS. 1-14 , like elements of the invention are referred to by the same reference numerals for consistency purposes. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a system  100  on which a media player residing on one or more devices receives content from one or more content servers  105 . Content servers  105  deliver content over network  110  such as the internet that can be widely distributed to any number of devices also connected to network  110 . The devices may be in various different forms including but not limited to a smartphone  120   a , a tablet computer  120   b , a desktop computer  120   c , a laptop computer  120   d  or a gaming device  120   e . Each device  120   a - e  is connected to network  110  through a port  125   a - e , respectively. Content servers  105  deliver content of different types including (a) music; (b) news of all kinds including world, national and local events, sports, weather and traffic; (c) podcasts or other broadcasts of different interests; (d) movies; and (e) any other type of content broadcast over airwaves, satellite, cable, the internet or other connectable sources can be offered to a user through a media player and/or download links on a website for users to access the programming. 
         [0022]    It should be understood that the media player may be provided on each device  120   a - e  in a number of different forms. For example, a media player  200  of the type shown in the screenshot of  FIG. 2  is one that is linked through a browser such as Firefox, Explorer, Safari or any other standard internet browser on which websites can be viewed. However, media player may also be downloaded to reside locally on a mobile device such as smartphone  120   a  in the form of a software application or “app.” As can be seen in the screenshot of  FIG. 2 , internet media player  200  includes a variety of buttons or input selectors, including a “listing button”  205 , an information button  210 , a pause button  215  and a play button  220 . Other buttons on the player include a music selector  225 , a news selector  230 , a sports selector  235 , a talk selector  240 , a traffic &amp; weather selector  245  and a more selector  250 . A station ID field  255  allows a user to see more information about the current station and a volume control  260  allows a user to adjust the volume. Any of these selectors may be activated, for example, using a keyboard, mouse or trackpad on desktop  120   c  or laptop  120   d , or alternatively using a touchscreen on smartphone  120   a  or tablet  120   b . Other types of inputs may also be used to control media player such as a stylus for use with a touchscreen or multi-function buttons on a handheld game player for use in conjunction with gaming device  125   e.    
         [0023]      FIGS. 3-11  show media player  200  in different operational modes. For example,  FIG. 3  shows media player  200  carrying a NPR hourly news summary segment. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , station ID field  255  displays the NPR hourly news summary identification block. At the same time, a data field  265  carries current scrolling information about the segment that is playing including the station ID, date and time. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows media player  200  carrying a weather forecast. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , station ID field  255  displays an AccuWeather.com podcast identification. At the same time, data field  265  carries current scrolling information about the segment that is playing including the station ID, date and time. History field  270  lists the past segments that have played. The history field is activated by clicking on listing button  205 . The history toggles back and forth between the history listing and the iNetRadio broadcast category with each click of listing button  205 . If so desired, a user can click on any of the segments listed in the history listing to repeat them. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows media player  200  carrying a sports podcast. As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , station ID field  255  displays Hockey Today ESPN podcast identification. At the same time, data field  265  carries current scrolling information about the segment that is playing including the station ID, date and time. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows media player  200  playing music. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , station ID field  255  shows the name of the song “I Prevail” by the band “Blank Space.” At the same time, data field  265  carries current scrolling information about the segment that is playing including the station ID, date and time. History field  270  lists the past segments that have played. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows media player  200  after the “traffic &amp; weather” selector  245  has been clicked. As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , separate lists are displayed for nearby traffic reports  705  (none within 10 miles), nearby weather reports  710  (New York City, N.Y.), and other recently played reports  715  (New York City, N.Y.). A user can select or unselect an “Auto-Traffic” button  720  and/or an “Auto-Weather” button  725 . When either or both of these buttons are selected, a check mark appears next to them as shown in  FIG. 7 . Selecting Auto-Traffic means that anytime there is an updated traffic report within the local area (default of 10 mile radius), the traffic report will be loaded in media player  200  and played next in the queue. Selecting Auto-Weather will likewise play a local weather report when it becomes available. It should be understood that a 10 mile radius is set as the default in media player  200  as shown, but the definition of “local” to cover a larger or smaller area can be set either by the user or the developer of media player  200 . Selecting an “Auto-play &amp; Start-up Play” button  730  takes the user to a new media player screen shown in  FIG. 8  that provides a list of auto-play items that will be automatically queued by media player  200  when they become available as requested by the user. When the user is on the screen of  FIG. 7 , he may go to the previous screen by clicking the “back” button  735 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 9  shows media player  200  displaying a list of sports items selected by a user to be included in the user&#39;s playlist. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , ESPN&#39;s Hockey Today  815  is the only item in the playlist. Additional sports podcasts may be added by clicking on an “Add New” header button  905 . Upon doing so, a user is presented with a text box to enter a URL for the new podcast to be included in the playlist. A user may also click on header button labeled “Categories” or  910  or “All”  915  to make other selections to be added to the playlist. The user may go back to the Start-Up Play and Auto Play by clicking on Auto Play &amp; Start-up Play button  730 . To return to a screen showing the media player, the user clicks on “back” button  735 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 10  shows media player  200  displaying a list of news items selected by a user to be included in the user&#39;s playlist. As can be seen in  FIG. 10 , NPR&#39;s Hockey Hourly News Summary  815  is the only item in the playlist. Additional news items may be added by clicking on an “Add New” header button  1005 . Upon doing so, a user is presented with a text box to enter a URL for the new podcast to be included in the playlist. A user may also click on header button labeled “Categories” or  1010  or “All”  1015  to make other selections to be added the playlist. The user may go back to the Start-Up Play and Auto Play by clicking on Auto Play &amp; Start-up Play button  730 . To return to a screen showing the media player, the user clicks on “back” button  735 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 11  shows media player  200  displaying a list of music items selected by a user to be included in the user&#39;s playlist. As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the list includes “Top Rock”  1105 , “Top Hits”  1110  and “Caroline”  1115 . Additional music items may be added by clicking on an “Add New” header button  1120 . Upon doing so, a user is presented with a text box to enter a URL for the new podcast to be included in the playlist. A user may also click on header button labeled “Categories,”  1125 , “All”  1130  or “Search”  1135  to make other selections to be added to the playlist. The user may go back to the Start-Up Play and Auto Play by clicking on Auto Play &amp; Start-up Play button  730 . To return to a screen showing the media player, the user clicks on “back” button  735 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart  1200  of the process for selecting AutoTraffic and AutoWeather content to be played on the media player. Initially, the user opens media player  200  at step  1205 . Once media player  200  is open, the player clicks traffic &amp; weather button  245  to access the Traffic &amp; Weather page (See  FIG. 7 ). The server on which iNetRadio is operating then queries the iNetRadio media player running on the user&#39;s device to determine the particular location of the device at step  1215 . It is then determined whether the user location is within an area of desired reports for traffic and weather at step  1220 . If not, there is a 5 minute pause at step  1225  before the iNetRadio player is queried again after returning to step  1215 . In this way, there will be an endless wait period until the user enters a location where reports are available. If the user is within an area of desired reports at step  1220 , then the server queries report the publication dates for updated content at step  1230  and it is determined whether any updated reports are available for the user&#39;s location at step  1235 . If not, there is a 5 minute pause at step  1225  again before the iNetRadio player is queried again after returning to step  1215 . In this way, there will be an endless wait period until the user enters a location where reports are available. If there are updated reports available for the user&#39;s location, the report is written into the playlist as the next item to play at step  1240 . 
         [0032]    A feature of the invention is that any item added to the sequential playlist is selected by the user. The selection process for an item, particularly for an item that is geographically based such as content related to weather or traffic is prioritized by the user in the selection process. So, for example, the user may set the player to play an updated traffic or weather report for a particular location immediately upon receipt and interrupting any content that is currently being played. Or, the user may set the player to play an updated traffic or weather report only after completing the content item that is currently playing. In that case, if a song or podcast is playing, the weather report or traffic report would be played after the current item reaches its endpoint. Alternatively, it is possible to inform the user that a new update is available by displaying a notice on the media player that an update is available. That way, the user can decide immediately whether to continue listening to the current selection or stop the current selection to get the update. The notice may be in the form of a textual message on the player, or it may be in the form of a highlighted area on the player, or it can be an alarm sound such as a ping alerting the user to the update. 
         [0033]    It will be understood that the type of networks  110  over which content is delivered and other functionality is handled may be one of several different types of networks. These include a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), an intranet, the internet or other classes of networks. Any type of network technology could be used without departing from the principles of the invention. This would include communication via any protocol on any of the layers of the OSI model (ISO/IEC 7498-1) with or without encryption (e.g. SSL encryption, VPN, etc). 
         [0034]      FIG. 13  is an example of an XML file for AccuWeather in the New York area. The &lt;pubDate&gt; tag contains a timestamp provided by the content provider (Thu, 10 Sep. 2015 12:55:44 GMT) which is compared to the database record for this content source from the last detected update. If the &lt;pubDate&gt; data indicates that the content has been updated, the AutoPlay function edits the user&#39;s playlist and schedules the updated content to play as the next item. 
       EXAMPLE 
       [0035]    A user listens to the “iNetRadio 80s Hits” channel all day at work and has BBC World News and AccuWeather NYC set to AutoPlay. Launching the iNetRadio player generates a music playlist that will play the selected music channel until the AutoPlay function detects that either the news or weather content has updated. The updated content is then scheduled into the playlist as the next item and will play after the current song (or other content) has finished. 
         [0036]    The AutoPlay function provides iNetRadio users with a completely automatic entertainment and information system using sources that can be combined in any desired way. 
         [0037]      FIG. 14  is an example of an XML file for the I-95 GeoTraffic report in Philadelphia. In this example, the &lt;pubDate&gt; tag contains a purely numeric string that is used for comparison to detect updated content. If a user has this set to AutoPlay (see  FIG. 7  where both Auto-Traffic and Auto-Weather are checked), the report would be inserted into the user&#39;s playlist whenever it is updated. 
         [0038]    If a user has AutoTraffic activated, the system additionally uses the user&#39;s location (latitude and longitude) derived from geolocation services to choose the closest reports (within 10 miles). The relevant location for each report is determined by GeoTraffic, the creator of the reports. The AutoPlay function then checks for updated content and inserts it as the next item to play. 
         [0039]    AutoWeather works similarly to AutoTraffic by locating the closest forecast location to the user, although the range (radius) is typically significantly greater. 
         [0040]    The screenshot of  FIG. 7  shows AutoTraffic selected and NYC area weather selected to AutoPlay. If traveling between cities, the user would hear traffic reports dynamically follow their location but the weather source would remain for NYC. 
         [0041]    Any variation and derivation from the above description and drawings are included in the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.