Method and system for allowing multiple nodes in a small environment to play audio signals independent of other nodes

A method of distributing audio in a small environment comprising the steps of:

• a) storing a plurality of audio signals on a central processor;
• b) presenting a plurality of nodes a selection comprising a plurality of audio signals external to the central processor and at least a portion of the stored audio signals;
• c) selecting audio signals from the selection presented in said b) to be transferred from said central processor to said plurality of nodes by inputting requests into said plurality of nodes;
• d) transferring said audio signals selected in said c) from said central processor to said nodes;
• and
• e) presenting said audio signals transferred in said d) on a plurality of audio presentation devices, wherein each audio presentation device is coupled to one node of said plurality of nodes, such that each node of said plurality of nodes is capable of playing a different audio signal than is being played concurrently on any other node of said plurality of nodes.

An audio signal distribution system for distributing audio signals in a small environment comprising:

• a) an audio signal distribution device, said audio signal distribution device adapted to distribute audio signals to a plurality of nodes, wherein each node of said plurality of nodes has at least one audio presentation device, such that said each node of said plurality of nodes is capable of playing a different audio signal than is being played concurrently on any other node of said plurality of nodes;
• b) a storage device coupled to said audio signal distribution device, said storage device adapted to store said audio signals;
• c) request logic connected to said storage device and adapted to interface with said plurality of nodes;
• said request logic for receiving requests to transfer audio signals to said plurality of nodes;
• d) receiving logic coupled to said audio signal distribution device, said receiving logic for receiving audio signals from an external source;
• e) compression logic connected to said receiving logic and connected to said storage device, said compression logic for compressing said audio signals;
• and
• f) determination logic coupled to said storage device and operable to determine if a first audio signal associated with a request to transfer the first audio signal to a node is stored on the storage device, and said determination logic further operable to determine an external source coupled to the central processor from which to access the first audio signal if said first audio signal is not stored on said storage device.