Network-enabled audio device

A network-enabled component audio device comprising:

• a visual display for providing audio source choices to a user;
• a visual display for providing visual information for managing audio sources;
• user-control buttons allowing said user to choose an audio source;
• menu buttons allowing said user to choose functions for managing said audio sources;
• a compact disk player;
• a network interface for transmitting and receiving digital data over a communications network;
• a data storage device;
• a first software module configured to decode compressed audio files into a computer readable format;
• and
• a second software module configured to use said network interface to connect to an Internet to receive assignments of playlists from a second software module, said playlists comprising audio from a variety of audio sources, said assignments providing information about the location of other web sites containing the audio sources, said second software module configured to subsequently connect through said Internet to said web sites to download said audio files.

A method for assigning playlists of music from one electronic device to another, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first software module to manage playlists of songs, said software module allowing a user to compose playlists of a variety of audio sources, said software module allowing a user to assign a first playlist from a first device, to at least a second device;
• checking a data storage space of said second device for songs listed on the first playlist;
• accessing a server site to obtain locations of Internet sites where said first device can download audio files;
• providing a second software module to connect to said web sites to download remaining songs needed to form said playlist, said second software module connecting if songs needed to form said playlist are not stored on said second data storage space of said second device;
• and
• uploading files to said server site from said first device and downloading files to said second device if said second software module is unable to download a file from said web site.

A system for requesting information related to an audio source, comprising:

• an action button;
• a visual display for providing information to a user;
• a network interface for transmitting and receiving digital data over a communications network;
• a data storage device;
• a software module configured to use said network interface to connect to an Internet, request data associated with an audio source from a server in response to pressing said action button, and receive data associated with said audio source from server, said software module configured to display data received from the server on said visual display.

An audio system comprising:

• a music playback system configured to receive a playlist from a playlist-server;
• a radio tuner;
• and
• user controls to allow a user to play songs from said playlist or from said radio tuner.

An audio system comprising:

• a visual display for providing audio source choices to a user, said visual display having a display area having a smallest dimension of not more than four inches;
• user control buttons allowing said user to choose functions for managing said audio sources without use of a keyboard or a mouse;
• tuner circuitry for receiving radio frequency signals from radio broadcast stations;
• a media reader;
• a data storage device;
• an extraction software module which extracts audio files from a compact disc and stores said audio files on said data storage device in a computer readable format;
• a decode software module configured to decode said extracted audio files that are compressed into a computer readable format;
• a playlist software module which allows said user to construct playlists from said audio files;
• context-sensitive menu buttons corresponding to menu items displayed on said display;
• a digital output cable providing for the transfer of a digital audio stream to another device;
• and
• an analog audio output.