System for disseminating media content representing episodes in a serialized sequence

DC CAFC

US 8,112,504 B2
Filed: 03/04/2009
Issued: 02/07/2012
Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1996
Status: Expired due to Fees

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1. A media player for acquiring and reproducing media program files which represent episodes in a series of episodes as said episodes become available, said media player comprising:

a digital memory,a communications port coupled to the Internet for transmitting data requests for data identified by specified URLs, for receiving downloaded data identified by said URLs in response to said requests, and for storing said downloaded data in said digital memory,a processor coupled to said digital memory and to said communications port for performing a sequence of timed update operations, each of said update operations comprising;

downloading via the Internet the current version of a compilation file identified by a predetermined URL and storing said current version of said compilation file in said digital memory, said current version of said compilation file containing attribute data describing one or more episodes of a series of episodes, said attribute data for each given one of said episodes including one or more episode URLs identifying one or more corresponding media files representing said given one of said episodes,processing the content of said current version of said compilation file to identify attribute data describing one or more newly available episodes in said series of episodes which were not described by attribute data found in a prior version of said compilation file previously identified by said predetermined URL and previously downloaded by an earlier one of said sequence of timed update operations, anddownloading one or more new media files identified by one or more URLs in the attribute data describing said one or more newly available episodes and storing said one or more new media files in said digital memory, andan output unit for reproducing one or more of the media files representing episodes in said series at the request of the operator of said media player.

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Abstract

An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. The host organizes the program segments by subject matter and creates scheduled programming in accordance with preferences associated with each subscriber. Program segments are associated with descriptive subject matter segments, and the subject matter segments may be used to generate both text and audio cataloging presentations to enable the user to more easily identify and select desirable programming. A playback unit at the subscriber location reproduces the program segments received from the host and includes mechanisms for interactively navigating among the program segments. A usage log is compiled to record the subscriber'"'"'s use of the provided program materials, to return data to the host for billing, to adaptively modify the subscriber'"'"'s preferences based on actual usage, and to send subscriber-generated comments and requests to the host for processing.

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35 Claims

1. A media player for acquiring and reproducing media program files which represent episodes in a series of episodes as said episodes become available, said media player comprising:
- a digital memory,a communications port coupled to the Internet for transmitting data requests for data identified by specified URLs, for receiving downloaded data identified by said URLs in response to said requests, and for storing said downloaded data in said digital memory,a processor coupled to said digital memory and to said communications port for performing a sequence of timed update operations, each of said update operations comprising;
  
  downloading via the Internet the current version of a compilation file identified by a predetermined URL and storing said current version of said compilation file in said digital memory, said current version of said compilation file containing attribute data describing one or more episodes of a series of episodes, said attribute data for each given one of said episodes including one or more episode URLs identifying one or more corresponding media files representing said given one of said episodes,processing the content of said current version of said compilation file to identify attribute data describing one or more newly available episodes in said series of episodes which were not described by attribute data found in a prior version of said compilation file previously identified by said predetermined URL and previously downloaded by an earlier one of said sequence of timed update operations, anddownloading one or more new media files identified by one or more URLs in the attribute data describing said one or more newly available episodes and storing said one or more new media files in said digital memory, andan output unit for reproducing one or more of the media files representing episodes in said series at the request of the operator of said media player.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- - 2. A media player as set forth in claim 1 wherein said digital memory includes a mass storage device for persistently storing attribute data and media files downloaded via said communications port.
  - 3. A media player as set forth in claim 2 further including a time of day clock wherein said processor performs each of said timed update operations when said time of day clock specifies a predetermined time or a time within a predetermined time range.
  - 4. A media player as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said media files is an audio recording file that is reproduced by said output unit as an audio signal supplied to a speaker or headset to create sound that is perceptible to said operator.
  - 5. A media player as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said media files stores a visible image and wherein said output unit includes a display screen for rendering said visible image in a form perceptible to said operator.
  - 6. A media player as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said media files stores a text data and wherein said output unit reproduces said text data in a visible or audible form perceptible to said operator.
  - 7. A media player as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one or more episode URLs include a first URL from which an audio recording file may be downloaded via the Internet and a second URL from which an image file may be downloaded via the Internet, and wherein said output unit reproduces said audio recording file and displays said image file concurrently.
  - 8. A media player as set forth in claim 1 wherein said attribute data further includes a text description of said one or more episodes, wherein said media player includes a display screen for displaying a menu list of text descriptions stored in said digital memory, and wherein said player includes one or more manual controls for identifying a selected text description on said menu list and initiating the reproduction of the media file described by said selected text description.
  - 9. A media player as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processor, in response to a request from said operator, further downloads one or more catalog listings of available media content via said communications port, including one or more available media files representing episodes in one or more series of episodes, wherein said media player includes a display screen for displaying said one or more catalog listings, and wherein said media player further includes one or more manual controls for accepting a selection by said operator of a desired series of episodes which is thereafter described by attribute data downloaded by said update operations.
  - 10. A media player as set forth in claim 9 wherein said attribute data includes a text description of each of said episodes and further includes a text description of the series to which said episodes belong, and wherein said attribute data is displayed to said operator as a hierarchical catalog listing providing the descriptive information about both each series of episodes and individual available episodes in that series to enable the operator to select a series of interest or an individual episode of interest from the displayed catalog listings.
  - 11. A media player as set forth in claim 10 wherein said attribute data further includes a specification of the date of each of said episodes and wherein said text descriptions of said episodes are listed in said hierarchical catalog listing in chronological order.
  - 12. A media player as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processor, in response to a search request from the operator, transmits a search request via said communications port to a remote server and downloads a catalog listing of available media content satisfying the search request in response thereto, said available media content including media files representing one or more episodes in one or more series of episodes, wherein said media player includes a display screen for displaying said catalog listing, and wherein said media player further includes one or more manual controls for accepting a selection by said operator of a desired series of episodes identified by said catalog listing which are thereafter described by attribute data contained in compilation files downloaded by said timed update operations as said episodes become available.

13. Apparatus for acquiring and reproducing media files representing episodes in a series of episodes as said episodes become available, said apparatus comprising:
- a digital memory,a communications port coupled to the Internet for transmitting data requests for data identified by specified URLs, for receiving downloaded data identified by said URLs in response to said requests, and for storing said downloaded data in said digital memory, anda processor coupled to said digital memory and to said communications port for executing one or more utility programs for;
  
  performing, from time to time, one of a sequence of update operations, each of said update operations comprising;
  
  downloading via the Internet the current version of a compilation file identified by a predetermined known URL, andstoring attribute data contained in said current version of said compilation file in said digital memory, said attribute data describing one or more episodes in a series of episodes, said attribute data for each given one of said episodes including one or more episode URLs identifying one or more corresponding media files representing said given one of said episodes,accepting a selection of a particular episode described by attribute data stored in said digital memory by the operator of said apparatus,downloading and storing the particular media file identified by an episode URL included in the attribute data for said particular episode if said particular media file is not already stored in said digital memory, andreproducing said particular media file in a form perceptible to said operator.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- - 14. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein said apparatus includes a time of day clock and wherein said processor automatically performs at least one of said update operations when said time of day clock specifies a predetermined time or a time within a predetermined time range.
  - 15. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein said particular media file representing said particular episode is an audio recording file that is reproduced as an audio signal supplied to a speaker or headset to create sound that is perceptible to said operator.
  - 16. The apparatus set forth in claim 15 further including a display screen wherein said attribute data for said particular episode further includes an episode URL that identifies an image data file and wherein said processor displays said image date file on said display screen as a visible image concurrently with the reproduction of said audio file.
  - 17. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein at least one of said media files representing said particular episode stores text data and wherein said processor reproduces said text data in a visible or an audible form perceptible to said operator.
  - 18. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 further including a display screen wherein said attribute data stored in said digital memory further includes a text description of each episode described by said attribute data and wherein said display screen displays the text description of said particular episode when said media file representing said particular episode is being reproduced.
  - 19. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 further including a display screen wherein said display screen displays a listing of the text descriptions of a plurality of said episodes including said particular episode and wherein said processor accepts the selection of said particular episode by said operator from said listing.
  - 20. The apparatus set forth in claim 19 wherein said attribute data for each given one of said episodes further includes a date and wherein said plurality of said episodes is presented on said listing in chronological order.
  - 21. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein said processor, in response to a request from said operator, downloads a catalog listing of available series of episodes via said communications port, wherein said apparatus includes a display screen for displaying said catalog listing, wherein said processor accepts a selection by said operator of a desired series of episodes, and wherein episodes in said desired series of episodes are thereafter described by attribute data included in compilation files thereafter downloaded during subsequent update operations.
  - 22. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein said processor transmits a search request via said communications port to a remote server and downloads a catalog listing of available episodes satisfying said search request, said catalog listing being received from said remote server in response to said search request, wherein said apparatus includes a display screen for displaying said catalog listing, and wherein said processor accepts a selection by said operator of one or more desired episodes from said catalog listing which are thereafter described by attribute data contained in one or more compilation files downloaded during one or more subsequent update operations.

23. An audio program player for acquiring and reproducing audio recording files which represent episodes in a group of episodes, said audio player comprising:
- a digital memory,a display screen,one or more manual controls for accepting control commands from the user of said audio program player,an audio output unit coupled to said processor and to a speaker or headset for reproducing selected audio files in audible form for said user,a communications port coupled to the Internet for downloading data files each of which is identified by a URL, anda processor coupled to said digital memory and to said communications port for;
  
  A. from time to time, performing an update operation in a series of update operations, each of said update operations comprising;
  
  (1) downloading via the Internet the current version of a compilation file identified by a predetermined known URL, and(2) storing said current version of said compilation file in said digital memory, said current version of said compilation file containing attribute data describing one or more episodes in a series of episodes, said attribute data for each given one of said episodes including;
  
  (a) displayable text describing said given one of said episodes, and(b) an episode URL which identifies an audio recording file representing said given one of said episodes,B. displaying a menu listing on said display screen, said menu listing comprising displayable text describing each episode in a collection of episodes,C. selecting a particular episode described on said menu listing in response to a selection command accepted from said user,D. if the particular audio recording file representing said particular episode is not already stored in said digital memory, downloading said particular audio recording file identified by the episode URL in the attribute data for said particular episode contained in said current version of said compilation file, and storing said particular audio recording file in said digital memory, andE. employing said audio output unit to reproduce said particular audio recording file.
- View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- - 24. The audio program player set forth in claim 23 further including a time of day clock wherein said processor performs at least one of said update operations at a time determined by said processor monitoring said time of day clock.
  - 25. The audio program player set forth in claim 23 wherein said attribute data for said particular episode contained in said compilation file further specifies at least one image URL which identifies an image data file containing a visual image, wherein said processor downloads and stores said image data file in said digital memory if said image data file is not already stored in said digital memory, and wherein said processor displays said visual image on said display screen during the reproduction of said particular audio recording file.
  - 26. The audio program player set forth in claim 23 wherein said display screen displays the displayable text describing said particular audio recording file when said particular audio recording file is being reproduced.
  - 27. The audio program player set forth in claim 23 wherein said processor responds to said selection command accepted from said user by discontinuing the reproduction of the currently playing audio recording file and instead continuing the reproduction at the beginning of said particular audio program file.
  - 28. The audio program player set forth in claim 23 wherein said attribute data for each given one of said episodes further includes data describing the group of episodes that includes said given one of said episodes.
  - 29. The audio program player set forth in claim 28 wherein said data describing the group of episodes that includes said given one of said episodes comprises displayable text describing said group of episodes.
  - 30. The audio program player set forth in claim 23 wherein said processor downloads one or more utility programs via said communications port, stores said utility programs in said digital memory, and thereafter executes said one or more utility programs to perform said series of update operations, to display said menu listing, to select said particular episode, to download said particular audio recording file if not already stored in said digital memory, and to employ said audio output unit to reproduce said audio recording file.

31. Apparatus for disseminating a series of episodes represented by media files via the Internet as said episodes become available, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more data storage servers,one or more communication interfaces connected to the Internet for receiving requests received from remotely located client devices, and for responding to each given one of said requests by downloading a data file identified by a URL specified by said given one of said requests to the requesting client device,one or more processors coupled to said one or more data storage servers and to said one or more communications interfaces for;
  
  storing one or more media files representing each episode as said one or more media files become available, each of said one or more media files being stored at a storage location specified by a unique episode URL;
  
  from time to time, as new episodes represented in said series of episodes become available, storing an updated version of a compilation file in one of said one or more data storage servers at a storage location identified by a predetermined URL, said updated version of said compilation file containing attribute data describing currently available episodes in said series of episodes, said attribute data for each given one of said currently available episodes including displayable text describing said given one of said currently available episodes and one or more episode URLs specifying the storage locations of one or more corresponding media files representing said given one of said episodes; and
  
  employing one of said one or more communication interfaces to;
  
  (a) receive a request from a requesting client device for the updated version of said compilation file located at said predetermined URL;
  
  (b) download said updated version of said compilation file to said requesting client device; and
  
  (c) thereafter receive and respond to a request from said requesting client device for one or more media files identified by one or more corresponding episode URLs included in the attribute data contained in said updated version of said compilation files.
- View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
- - 32. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31 wherein at least some of said media files contain digital compressed audio recordings that may be reproduced in audible form by a requesting client device.
  - 33. The apparatus as set forth in claim 31 wherein at least some of said media files contain text data which may be displayed or reproduced in spoken audible form by a requesting client device.
  - 34. The apparatus set forth in claim 33 wherein said attribute data for each given one of said episodes further includes displayable text data describing said given one of said episodes.
  - 35. The audio program player set forth in claim 34 wherein said updated version of said compilation file further includes displayable text describing said series of episodes.

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Current Assignee
Personal Audio, LLC
Original Assignee
Personal Audio, LLC
Inventors
Logan, James D., Goessling, Daniel F., Call, Charles G.
Primary Examiner(s)
Colin, Carl
Assistant Examiner(s)
SHAW, PETER C

Application Number

US12/380,955
Publication Number

US 20090198358A1
Time in Patent Office

1,070 Days
Field of Search

709/231, 709/219, 707/E17.01, 707/E17.09, 707/711, 707/723, 707/769
US Class Current

709/219
CPC Class Codes

G06F 16/4387   by the use of playlists

G06F 16/639   using playlists

G06Q 30/06   Buying, selling or leasing ...

H04H 60/46   for recognising users' pref...

H04L 65/65   Network streaming protocols...

H04N 21/25891   being end-user preferences ...

H04N 21/42203   sound input device, e.g. mi...

H04N 21/43074   of additional data with con...

H04N 21/44204   Monitoring of content usage...

H04N 21/6582   Data stored in the client, ...

H04N 21/8456   by decomposing the content ...

H04N 21/8543   using a description languag...

H04N 7/17318   Direct or substantially dir...

System for disseminating media content representing episodes in a serialized sequence

First Claim

1 Assignment

Litigations

1 Petition

Accused Products

Abstract

57 Citations

35 Claims

Specification

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System for disseminating media content representing episodes in a serialized sequence

First Claim

1 Assignment

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

Litigations

1 Petition

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

57 Citations

35 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links