U.S. patent application number 09/334846 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-15 for internet radio receiver and interface.
Invention is credited to BOLAS, MARK T., MCDOWALL, IAN E..
Application Number | 20010042109 09/334846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23309117 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010042109 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BOLAS, MARK T. ; et
al. |
November 15, 2001 |
INTERNET RADIO RECEIVER AND INTERFACE
Abstract
An device for receiving streaming audio or other audio sources
netcast in analogous fashion to a radio broadcast, said device
providing an interface analogous to a radio receiver, eliminating
the necessity of an intervening personal computer system.
Inventors: |
BOLAS, MARK T.; (MOUNTAIN
VIEW, CA) ; MCDOWALL, IAN E.; (WOODSIDE, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CROACKETT & CROCKETT
22362 ROSEBRIAR
MISSION VIEJO
CA
92692
US
|
Family ID: |
23309117 |
Appl. No.: |
09/334846 |
Filed: |
June 16, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/219 ;
709/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 9/40 20220501; H04H
20/82 20130101; H04L 65/1059 20130101; H04L 67/55 20220501; H04L
65/1101 20220501; H04L 69/329 20130101; H04L 65/612 20220501; H04L
65/611 20220501 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/219 ;
709/217 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/16 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A device for receiving and playing audio content from an
internet based audio content provider comprising: an enclosure
housing a internet connection device, computer processor, computer
memory, and an audio card, said enclosure having a control panel
disposed on the exterior of the enclosure; an audio speaker
operably connected to receive output from the audio card and
annunciate the audio output; a first input device on said control
panel for indicating a selected audio content provider for access
by the device; said computer memory storing a database of
designated audio content providers and URL's associated with each
audio content provider; said computer processor being programmed to
connect with the internet through the internet connection device,
to receive input from the first input device, interpret the input
from the first input device as a selection of a desired audio
content provider, to look up from the memory the URL associated
with the desired audio content provider, and negotiate with the
internet to access the URL associated with the desired audio
content provider and accept audio information from the URL for
playback through the audio speakers.
2. A system for receiving and playing audio content from an
internet audio content provider capable of streaming audio to
internet users, said system comprising: an audio content receiving
device for receiving and playing audio content from an internet
based audio content provider an enclosure housing a internet
connection device, computer processor, computer memory, and an
audio card, said enclosure having a control panel disposed on the
exterior of the enclosure; an audio speaker operably connected to
receive output from the audio card and annunciate the audio output;
a first input device on said control panel for indicating a
selected audio content provider for access by the device; said
computer memory storing a database of designated audio content
providers and URL's associated with each audio content provider;
said computer processor being programmed to connect with the
internet through the internet connection device, to receive input
from the first input device, interpret the input from the first
input device as a selection of a desired audio content provider, to
look up from the memory the URL associated with the desired audio
content provider, and negotiate with the internet to access the URL
associated with the desired audio content provider and accept audio
information from the URL for playback through the audio speakers.
an internet server accessible to the audio content receiving device
through the internet, said internet server being programmed to
respond to requests for audio content by streaming audio content to
the audio content receiving device.
3. A method for receiving and playing audio content from an
internet audio content provider capable of streaming audio to
internet users, said method comprising: providing an audio content
receiving device for receiving and playing audio content from an
internet based audio content provider, said audio content receiving
device comprising an enclosure housing a internet connection
device, computer processor, computer memory, and an audio card,
said enclosure having a control panel disposed on the exterior of
the enclosure; an audio speaker operably connected to receive
output from the audio card and annunciate the audio output; a first
input device on said control panel for indicating a selected audio
content provider for access by the device; said computer memory
storing a database of designated audio content providers and URL's
associated with each audio content provider; said computer
processor being programmed to connect with the internet through the
internet connection device, to receive input from the first input
device, interpret the input from the first input device as a
selection of a desired audio content provider, to look up from the
memory the URL associated with the desired audio content provider,
and negotiate with the internet to access the URL associated with
the desired audio content provider and accept audio information
from the URL for playback through the audio speakers. providing a
plurality of audio content providers on the internet accessible to
the audio content receiving device through the internet, said
internet server being programmed to respond to requests for audio
content by streaming audio content to the audio content receiving
device; connecting to the internet with the audio content receiving
device, accessing a particular audio content provider amongst the
plurality of audio content providers based upon the users
manipulation of the first input device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS
[0001] The inventions below relate the field of internet
communications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0002] Recently, radiobroadcasters have begun transmitting their
audio content over the internet, allowing consumers to listen to
radio stations received over the internet and played through
computer speakers. For a home user to receive radio station
"netcasts" over the internet, the user must have a personal
computer, an internet account, browser software such as Internet
Explorer.RTM. or Netscape Navigator.RTM., an audio processing
software "plug-in" capable of processing audio information, and a
radio simile graphical interface. The browser software must be
purchased and/or downloaded from any one of various browser
software companies, such as America Online, Microsoft, or Netscape.
The audio processing software must be purchased and downloaded from
other companies (Apple Computer's QuickTime.RTM. software,
RealPlayer's RealAudio.RTM., and Microsoft's Windows Media Player
software are examples). Radio simile graphical interface software
must be purchased and downloaded from yet another company (Digiband
Radio and MacTuner are examples of radio simile interface
software). None of the browsers are compatible with all the audio
processing software, and none of the audio processing software is
compatible with all the radio simile graphical interface software.
A typical end user must be extremely lucky to install all the
necessary components with proper cross compatibility. The end
result, if it can be achieved, is the ability to access a web site
sponsored by one of the software suppliers, review a database of
radio station web sites maintained by the software supplies, and
link to the radio station web site from the database.
SUMMARY
[0003] The inventions described below provide devices and method
for receiving radio broadcasts over the internet in a device which
resembles a typical radio receiver. The hardware is housed in a
radio box separate from a personal computer, and the interface is a
panel of physical radio knobs, buttons, FM and AM channel
indicators, etc., on the radio housing. Inside the radio box,
necessary computer components and software permit connection to the
internet and communication with various sources of audio
information. In one embodiment, the device is a completely
stand-alone device which a consumer can plug into a telephone line,
ISDN line, local area network, or cable line and select radio
stations with the same type of controls as a typical radio. In
another embodiment, the device is a box which communicates with the
internet through the user's personal computer, which must then have
an internet connection and internet software installed and
operating.
[0004] Aspects of the interface are modeled on broadcast radio
receivers. For example, the internet radio presents linear tuning
selection, making it natural to "tune" to the "next" or "previous"
stations by imposing a linear architecture on web radio stations
identifiers. Since most radio listeners select radio stations based
on frequency indications on their broadcast radio receivers, a
frequency band can be used as station identifiers to impose the
linear architecture. However, several broadcasters throughout the
world may use the same frequency in different geographical
locations (the assignment to frequency bands is regulated to ensure
that stations using the same frequency are so far apart that
interference is unlikely). Radio stations are generally tied to
geographic locations, and they generally broadcast content that is
relevant the geographic area. Accordingly, the internet radio may
be provided with a selector system for selecting a geographic area
for tuning, after which the user can tune to stations based on
frequency.
[0005] The internet radio provides an easy way to tune to radio
stations all over the world, as naturally as a user would tune to
local FM and AM stations. A listener in New York might want to hear
a Tokyo based morning show over breakfast (in New York), so it is
advantageous to provide a system for delaying broadcast reception
several hours. This can be done in a specialized internet server
which stores the data and sends it out again at a later time.
Different users could request different streams of the same
original source but which were delayed by different amounts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a stand-alone embodiment internet radio.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the stand-alone embodiment of
the internet radio.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the software necessary to operate
the internet radio system.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an internet radio designed
for use with a personal computer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a stand-alone embodiment internet radio. The
radio box 1 is provided as a shell for housing all the components
used by the user. The box includes a control panel 2, a speaker 3,
a power cord 4 (though the device may be battery powered, if
desired) and a telephone jack 5 and associated telephone cord 6. On
the control panel, a volume selector 7 which can be manipulated to
increase and decrease volume (the volume selector is provided in
the form of a rotating knob, but may be provided in various other
forms). Band selector 8 is provided to allow a user to select
amongst AM radio, FM radio stations and other radio frequency bands
or "virtual bands" (IM A and IM B) that the system ascribes to
internet only audio sources (the ascription of virtual bands to
net-only audio sources may be done arbitrarily within the system,
or may be done through consensus amongst net-only netcasters). The
band selector may be provided in the form of a rotary knob, scroll
pushbutton, multiple pushbuttons or other configurations. A
"frequency selector" or tuning knob 9 is provided to allow a user
to select netcasters by selecting a frequency designation, much as
a user would use a tuning selector on a radio or receiver, or by
selecting from net stations organized as a linear list. The tuning
knob can be provided in the form of a rotary knob, scroll
pushbutton, a scan pushbutton, multiple pushbuttons or other
configurations. The radio box also includes at least one display 10
for indicating current user selections. If an old fashion radio
display is desired, the displays may be incorporated into the
selector knobs/control panel structure, for example a pointer on
the band selector combined with written labels on the underlying
panels, as shown. If a modern electronic interface is desired
(which will also easier accommodate use of net-only bands and
emergent bands created after construction of the radio box), the
display is preferably a digital display (shown in FIG. 2) which can
display a readout of the frequency band, frequency, geographic area
selected by the user, and perhaps also display the volume, balance
and tone as adjusted by the user. A setup control button 11 may be
provided to permit the user to direct the internet radio to run
through a set-up procedure in which determines needed internet
connection information such as local access telephone number, user
name and password, and local ISP protocols. Alternatively, the
setup may initiate an automatic configuration using a DHCP protocol
or the like. Finally, an on/off switch 12 is provided to turn the
device on and off.
[0011] Alternative configurations can be devised to match any users
listening preferences and pre-existing home audio/home theater
systems. Speaker cable connections may be provided so that the
device can be connected to higher quality audio speakers of the
users choice (the speaker can be disposed of if the end-product is
to be provided as a receiver, in which case the box can be provided
with speaker connections or audio output jacks for further
connection to an audio amplifier or home theater
amplifier/receiver). The telephone jack and cord comprise an
internet connection line that might be comprised instead of a
network interface card, cable television cable, an ISDN line, a
cellular phone jack or complete cellular phone, or any other means
for connecting to the internet. Additional audio controls, such a
treble and bass adjustment, balance adjustments, bass boost, etc.
may also be added to the control panel.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the stand-alone embodiment of
the internet radio. The radio box 1 includes the control panel 2
with controls mentioned above, such as volume control 7, band
selector 8, tuning selector 9, and display 10. The radio box also
includes the speaker 3 (which instead might be replaced by speaker
jacks or a line level output to a separate high fidelity
amplifier). The radio box is connected to household current through
power cord 4, and connected to household telephone wiring through
telephone cord 6. An alpha-numeric input device 20 comprises a
touchpad, pushbutton array or the like to input basic user-related
system information during the configuration process (a telephone
pad input system, common to cellular telephones, may be used). This
input device can also serve as a set of pushbutton preset switches
which may be used to select preset audio source selections during
normal use. The electronics for connecting to the internet and
communicating through the internet with audio sources includes a
computer processor 21, computer memory 22, an audio card 23, an
audio amplifier circuit 24 and a modem card 25 (the modem card may
be replaced by a network interface card, cable modem, ISDN modem or
the like). The computer processor is programmed with a minimal
operating system and software or firmware required to operate the
modem, manage network protocols to communicate with the ISP, web
sites, streaming audio sources, etc., (and handle all negotiation
with internet side modules), receive and respond to user inputs
from the control panel, and process received data to send to the
display 10 and audio card 23. The computer memory 22 is used by the
computer processor to store information, such as user presets, a
database of web site addresses (and operating software and internet
software if this is not provided in firmware with the computer
processor), and local digital sound recordings. The memory may be
provided in the form of hard disks, floppy disks, minidisks, flash
memory, memory sticks, RAM or any other form of memory. The audio
card 23 receives data from the computer processor (or direct from
memory) and translates it into audio signals which are then
transmitted to the audio amplifier 24 and then to the speakers
which then translate the audio signal and annunciate sound and
provide the desired audible output. The modem card 25 processes
data signals which are created in the computer processor for
communication to internet web sites or processing centers through
the telephone line, and process data signals from the internet
which are transmitted to the radio box through the telephone line.
The expected data transmitted from the computer processor to the
internet websites/processing centers comprises requests for access
to specific URL's, requests for specific audio sources from a
database of audio sources maintained at a system website, searches
for audio sources, and communication of some information regarding
the specific user's internet radio to a web site. The desired data
transmitted from the internet to the user's internet radio is the
audio content from an audio source. This desired data will be
accompanied by other data, such as an identification of the audio
source or website, the audio data protocol or format, and other
information used by the computer processor to process the audio
information. The audio data is expected to be in a standard format
(although several "standards" are currently in competitive use).
The computer processor is programmed with one or more programs for
translating the standard data formats for audio information into
audio signals acceptable to the audio card.
[0013] On the internet side, as shown in FIG. 2, the internet
components with which the internet radio interacts are illustrated.
The radio must connect to the internet through a host, such as
internet service provider (ISP) 26. The ISP serves to connect many
internet users to the internet, and passes all the data between the
internet radio and the various websites. Audio content netcaster
website homepages 27 (of which there are currently thousands)
transmit or stream audio information, upon request, to many
internet users simultaneously. The audio files are provided through
an audio file server 28 "behind" the homepage, with a separate URL.
Various search engine websites 29 exist on the web, and may be
accessed to search for audio content websites. A system management
website 30 provides management services to the community of
internet radio users, such as maintenance of a content provider
database, audio file servers associated with content providers,
management of advertising content interjection, firmware/software
updates, and initial configuration management.
[0014] In normal use, internet radio users will merely turn the
radio on and select a radio band (AM, FM, or NetM), select a
station by associated frequency, call sign, or web address or other
arbitrary designation. When preset buttons are enabled and
programmed, the user can select any preset "station" or audio
source by pressing a preset button. The internet radio will dial
the user's ISP, sign onto the users internet service, and negotiate
with the ISP to link to the URL or web site address of the desired
audio content netcaster or link to the URL or web site address of
the associated audio file server.
[0015] For initial use, it is preferable that the stand-alone
version of the internet radio require as little configuration as
possible. Thus, the internet radio is programmed with software
which, upon first use or in response to a request to configure
(which can be entered in numerous manipulations of the input
knobs), will:
[0016] (1) Dial-up server-based walk through: operate the modem to
connect to a stored telephone number and to a system management
server operated by the proprietors of the internet radio system,
and upon connection the system management server will communicate
with the individual internet radio (as if it were a "client node")
to download a database of audio content provider URLs, query the
user (through the display panel) as to their ISP identity, ISP
local telephone number, username and password. If necessary, the
system management server will download any software/firmware
updates and audio processing plug-ins to the user's internet radio;
or
[0017] (2) Front panel configuration: operate the display and
memory to query the user (through the display panel) as to their
ISP identity, ISP local telephone number, username and password;
and optionally initiate a call to the internet and communication
with the system management server and negotiate a download of
current database of audio content provider URLs; or
[0018] (3) Nation-wide provider setup: operate the modem to connect
to a telephone number of a nation-wide or area-wide ISP company
(such as CompuServe or AOL), to obtain local telephone access
numbers, and walk through setup with entry of ISP screen names and
passwords through the keypad in response to prompts from the
nation-wide or area-wide ISP company; or
[0019] (4) Personal telephone call with a system customer
representative, where the user communicates location, ISP
information, screen name and password to the customer
representative; the customer representative can then walk through
configuration with the user, or enter configuration data into
system management server, whereupon the internet radio can dial-up
system management server directly and negotiate automatically with
the system management server to configure the internet radio with
the data provided to the customer service representative (the data
can also be provided to the system management server by the user
using their own personal computer and web browser).
[0020] The software necessary to operate the internet radio system
is illustrated in flow chart form in FIG. 3. Upon system startup
(preferably accomplished by turning the radio on using the power
button), the system software loads (block 31). Since the device has
a single purpose, the application software can be immediately
launched upon startup (block 32) and in fact can be combined with
the system software. The system/application software initializes
the modem, checking for dial tone (or other expected signal from
the internet connection) and proper response from the modem (block
33), and checks for input from the user interface (block 34), such
as the desired band and station. The software logs onto the user's
ISP (block 35), negotiating with the user's ISP to enter screen
name and password, wait for the opening screen or ISP homepage. If
the system is designed to use an audio content provider database
which is stored in the internet radio's own memory, the content
retrieval module of the software (block 36) looks up the URL
corresponding to the desired station (which may be stored in on
board memory or on the system management server) and then enters
the desired audio content URL (i.e., the web address) in the ISP
homepage. If the system is designed to depend on the system
management server, then the content retrieval module of the
software (block 36) enters the system management server address,
awaits connection with the system management server homepage and
enters the desired station identifier into the system management
server. The system management server then looks up the web address
for the desired station, and negotiates with the audio content
provider website to arrange transmission of audio data to the
user's internet radio. Upon receipt of the audio data, the data
processing module (block 37) processes the audio data received and
causes that data to be transmitted to the audio card, for eventual
transmission to the speakers. The data processing module also
processes any accompanying identifying data (block 38), and causes
that identifying text data to be sent to the display. The system
thereafter merely passes audio information through to the radio
speakers, until the user turns off the radio or changes the
station. When the station is changed, the software steps through
the process of finding the web address corresponding to the desired
audio content provider and negotiating with internet websites to
arrange transmission of audio signals from the audio content
provider to the internet radio (loop 39).
[0021] As programmed, the software takes input from the control
panel knobs and/or pushbuttons or other input devices, and
negotiates with the internet to receive a stream of audio data from
the URL associated with the user's selection on the knobs or
buttons. The net radio sends requests using the knob (and other)
data translated into requests to a URL which is redirected by a
server. For example, let's assume we have a user "iowajoe" who owns
net radio with serial number 98678 who is turning the knob--here
are examples of the kinds of requests which could be sent by the
radio to the server (the server being designated by the web site
names netradiostation.com in this example).
[0022] Turning the knob to various positions such as 123, 124, 125,
and 126 (arbitrary station designations set by the system or by the
user for CIBL in Canada, BBC in England, an audio book source, and
a headline news source, respectively), would send the following
requests:
[0023]
http://www.netradiostation.com/stations/iband?knob=123&user=iowajoe-
&serialno=98678
[0024]
http://www.netradiostation.com/stations/iband?knob=124&user=iowajoe-
&serialno=98678
[0025]
http://www.netradiostation.com/stations/iband?knob=125&user=iowajoe-
&serialno=98678
[0026]
http://www.netradiostation.com/stations/iband?knob=126&user=iowajoe-
&serialno=98678
[0027] On the netradiostation server side (this is pseudo code),
the system will receive and act upon input from the user's internet
radio box as follows:
[0028] If (user==iowajoe)
[0029] . . .
[0030] If (knob==123)
[0031] Serve audio stream of an add for brand name blue jeans
[0032] Connect to CIBL station in Canada at
http://www.cibl.cam.org/live.r- am
[0033] If (knob==124)
[0034] Serve audio stream of locally stored headlines from BBC
News
[0035] Redirect to live feed from BBC News to join the program in
progress
[0036] If (knob==125)
[0037] Serve audio stream for today's chapter of audio book of the
week
[0038] If (knob==126)
[0039] Find user in user database and locate city
[0040] Redirect to audio stream for user's local weather based on
city information
[0041] Serve audio stream for user's local advertisement of
Bageltown on Main Street
[0042] Redirect to audio stream for People Magazine headlines
[0043] Redirect to audio stream for Sports Headlines
[0044] Serve audio stream from text to voice converter of sports
scores based on user interest
[0045] in Hockey, and the local high school Wildcats team
[0046] Redirect to ad for the Gap at
http://www.gap.com/audio/add?
[0047] local=iowacity&user=male
[0048] Redirect to audio stream for 40's swing at
http://www.newcastle.edu- .au/fm104.ram
[0049] If (Knob==127)
[0050] Redirect to http://www. . . .
[0051] The netradiostation server uses the tuning knob and user
parameters to index into a list of station URLs from which the
radio audio data will be actually served. During that redirection
process, the netradiostation server may provide some content while
the other site is being connected to and the stream initialized.
Thus, when the user turns the control panel knobs to select station
123, the system negotiates a connection to the CIBL radio station's
audio stream. While the system is negotiating, the system
management server can feed an advertising audio stream to fill
otherwise dead "air" time. When the knob is on number 124, the
stored audio stream for the BBC headlines is served from the system
management server (netradiostation) server while the system
negotiates a connection with the BBC "live", audio stream feed. As
the stored, audio stream draws to a close, the connection to the
live BBC feed is initiated.
[0052] In the system operation illustrated in relation to arbitrary
channel designation 126, the user has stored a number of URL's for
various audio sources, such as local weather, sports headlines,
gossip headlines, etc. The system management server redirects the
inquiry accordingly, on the basis of the knob and user data
provided in the request.
[0053] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an internet radio designed
for use with a personal computer. The radio box 40 is supplied as a
peripheral device for the personal computer system 41, to be
connected with the USB, SCSI, serial or other communications
protocol and appropriate connector 42. The radio box 40 in this
embodiment contains circuitry and computer processor sufficient to
create the radio-like interface. The remaining components are
supplied in the personal computer system, which includes the
processor 43, the monitor 44, speakers 45 and modem 46 which
connects the computer system to the internet 47. The software
package for controlling the radio and responding to the user
manipulation of the radio controls can be incorporated into a
software program stored in the processor 42, as a driver or plug-in
to popular browser software such as Netscape Navigator.RTM. or
Internet Explorer.RTM., and can incorporate various audio plug-ins
for those browsers, such a RealAudio.RTM. or QuickTime.RTM.
streaming audio software. The internet radio plug-in software
provides the computer system with the capability of (1) receiving
input from the radio box tuning selector 9, volume control 7, band
selection control 8, (2) transmitting display text to the display
(if provided, as in FIG. 2), (3) processing audio data for
transmission to the speakers through operation of the streaming
audio software. In operation, the user selects a desired streaming
audio source by selecting it with the controls on the radio box,
selecting the geographic origin of the desired audio source, the
band of the desired audio source, and the frequency of the desired
audio source (for radio stations) or other designation (for
internet only audio sources).
[0054] The internet radio described employs a linear tuning band
for station selection. This linear approach means that the order in
which stations are visited when adjusting the tuning is fixed. This
provides the software with the ability to pre-fetch audio from the
"next" or "previous" URLs in the list. As a result, when the tuning
is adjusted, the internet radio does not have to initiate a
connection to the new station from scratch and may in fact already
have a connection initiated and some (perhaps low quality) audio
buffered in anticipation of an adjustment in tuning. This will
reduce the apparent dead time when changing net radio stations.
[0055] When changing stations, the internet radio may fill the time
to initiate the playing of the audio stream from either special a
clip on a server which is a few hops away or from local storage in
the device. These audio sources could contain advertising, station
identification, or other audio to be played while the connection
with the desired URL is initiated.
[0056] The tuning process we have described is based on a linear
list of net radio stations. There is no reason to only create one
NetM band--it may be advantageous to define a number of different
bands which each have different characteristics such as local,
international, jazz, etc.
[0057] In addition to a set of linear bands, the bands may be
organized as a tree of bands. In this organization, there is a top
level band which contains a number of other bands and so on. For
example the top level band (which may be customized by the user)
might look like this:
[0058] <KCBS Local News Station> <Jazz Stations>
<International> . . . Selecting <KCBS Local News
Station> plays the local news on KCBS. Selecting <Jazz
Stations> presents a new band of Jazz Stations: such as <WBGO
NJ> <WFSJ FL> <WJZW Smooth Jazz DC> <WPFW DC>
. . . <Jazz in Europe> . . . . Selecting <Jazz in
Europe> brings up a new band which includes stations of Jazz in
Europe and perhaps other bands which present different orderings of
the band itself. Thus, <Jazz in Europe> might have European
jazz stations listed alphabetically by call letters but also have
bands such as <Jazz in Germany> which contain just German
European jazz stations.
[0059] On the control panel 2, a display is shown which indicates
the current station being played. An alternative to this visual
display would be for the internet radio to provide audio cues for
station identification, and during the tuning process. For example,
as one changes stations on the Jazz dial, the internet radio can
play a brief clip with a station identifier as one roamed across
the band.
[0060] The internet radio can be provided with a host of ancillary
capabilities. It can be provided with digital signal processing
capability to improve the perceived sound quality of the
presentation. An audio input capability (either analog or from
stored media) can be provided to allow the user to transmit audio
data over the net, creating an audio netcast site. The internet
radio can also be manufactured in modular form, with a circuit card
being fashioned along with a complementary stereo receiver, boom
box, car radio or the like. The circuit card housing the computer
processor, modem, and input and output connectors can be supplied
as a component to be install in such systems in original equipment
manufacture, or as an after market upgrade for systems designed
with necessary connectors and installation space to accommodate and
after market upgrade. Although the term radio has been used by
analogy, the device can more generally be considered as an audio
content receiving device.
[0061] While the invention has thus far been described in terms of
receiving audio content, and in particular the netcasts of current
radio broadcasters, the invention may readily be used to receive
video content should television or cable video content providers
chose to netcast video content. In this case, the current world
wide web interface which is now used to download relatively small
video files may be replaced with a television-like interface, in
which a monitor and speaker combination is provided with user input
controls as described above, including (1) geographic origin
selector, (2) band selector (i.e., broadcast or netcast only), and
(3) channel selector, which are used by the viewer to select video
content without resort to a personal computer and navigation
through the architecture of the world wide web.
[0062] Thus, while the preferred embodiments of the devices and
methods have been described in reference to the environment in
which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the
principles of the inventions. Other embodiments and configurations
may be devised without departing from the spirit of the inventions
and the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *
References