US 2002/0059592 A1 · Method and system for implementing an internet radio device for receiving and /or transmitting media information

Abstract

A method and system for implementing an Internet radio device for receiving and/or transmitting audio information over the Internet. The Internet radio device can be implemented as a stand alone electronic radio device which is coupled to the Internet or the Internet radio device can be implemented as a software package operable on a host computer system. The Internet radio device does not require a browser for interfacing with other Internet transmitters (“Internet radio station transmitters”). The Internet radio includes a graphical user interface (GUI) with which a user can interface in order to receive audio radio programming from an Internet radio station transmitter. The radio device receives a list of Internet radio station transmitters that are registered with a chaincast manager (CCM), also coupled to the Internet. The GUI renders this list to the user. The user can sort or select from this list based on desired language, country, or station names. To hear a radio program, a user can select a station from this list. Data received by a radio device can be retransmitted in chaincast mode from the radio device to other radio devices that want to listen to the same radio program. In Ham radio mode, one radio device can select another radio device to be the “radio station,” in which case a communication channel is opened between the radio devices so that voice and/or other digitally encoded information (e.g., video, HTML documents, Web pages, multi-media, etc.) can be exchanged between the radio devices. In this mode, the GUI contains a “transmit” button or key. The radio device may also be configured for receiving secondary information content (e.g., advertisement, emergency information, community information, etc.) to be rendered independently of the radio broadcast information content.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A communication system comprising:

an electronic device for coupling to the Internet and for rendering a graphical user interface on a display screen, said graphical user interface resembling a physical radio in appearance and comprising:
a first selection tool for selecting a criterion from a group of criteria;
a display region for displaying a list of registered Internet radio broadcasters that are coupled to the Internet and satisfy said criterion selected by said first selection tool;
and
a second selection tool allowing selection of a selected Internet radio broadcaster of said list of registered Internet radio broadcasters;
and
wherein said electronic device, responsive to said second selection tool, is for receiving digital signals representing audio programming from said selected Internet radio broadcaster via the Internet without utilizing an Internet browser and further is for rendering audible said digital signals.

4 more elements

A communication system comprising:

an Internet radio device comprising:
a processor coupled to a bus;
a memory device coupled to said bus;
an interface coupled to said bus and for coupling to the Internet;
a first selector for selecting a criterion from a group of criteria;
a display device for displaying a list of registered Internet radio broadcasters that are coupled to the Internet and that satisfy said criterion selected by said first selector;
and
a second selector allowing the selection of a selected Internet radio broadcaster of said list of registered Internet radio broadcasters, and wherein said Internet radio device, responsive to said second selector, is for receiving digital signals representing audio programming from said selected Internet radio broadcaster via the Internet without utilizing an Internet browser and further is for rendering audible said digital signals.

5 more elements

A communication system comprising:

a first Internet radio device comprising:
a processor coupled to a bus;
a memory device coupled to said bus;
an interface coupled to said bus and for coupling to the Internet;
a first selector for selecting a criterion from a group of criteria;
a display device for displaying a list of registered Internet radio device that are coupled to the Internet and that satisfy said criterion selected by said first selector;
a second selector allowing selection of a selected Internet radio device of said list of registered Internet radio devices;
and
a transmit key for initiating transmission of digital signals representing audio information from said first Internet radio device to said selected Internet radio device and wherein said first Internet radio device, responsive to said second selector, is for receiving digital signals representing audio programming from said selected Internet radio device via the Internet without utilizing an Internet browser and further is for rendering audible said digital signals.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for implementing an internet radio device for receiving and /or transmitting media information

Life of this patent

Method and system for implementing an internet radio device for receiving and /or transmitting media information

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32