Method and device for obtaining playlist content over a network
View Patent ↗A network-enabled audio device that provides a display device that allows the user to select playlists of music much like a jukebox is disclosed. The user can compose playlists from disk files, CD's, Internet streaming audio broadcasts, online music sites, and other audio sources. The user can also select a desired Web broadcast from a list of available Web broadcasts. In addition, the user can play standard audio CD's and MP3 encoded CD's and have access to local AM/FM stations. Further, the software, the user controls, and the display in the network-enabled audio device are operably configured and connected such that the user can listen to playlists that include CD's and other audio sources just as the user would choose a playlist in a jukebox. The user accesses a server site via a PC and the Internet. From the server site, the user obtains a list of the devices in his or her Internet Personal Audio Network (IPAN) and what songs are on those devices. The IPAN includes an IPAN server, an IPAN client, and IPAN software stored on the network-enabled audio device. Thus, the network-enabled audio device provides people who are or are not comfortable with computers a way of taking music from various sources and putting it into one place for listening pleasure. In one embodiment, the Personal Computer (PC) is used to compose the playlists, but the user is able to listen to playlists and other audio sources without using the PC.
1. A method comprising:
assigning a playlist to an electronic device, the playlist identifying a plurality of songs;
identifying ones of the plurality of songs in the playlist that are not stored on the electronic device;
providing the playlist to the electronic device; and
providing information to the electronic device enabling the electronic device to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs that are not stored on the electronic device from at least one remote source.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of associated electronic devices, and providing the information to the electronic device comprises:
identifying at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices hosting the ones of the plurality of songs, wherein the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices is the at least one remote source; and
providing information to the electronic device enabling the electronic device to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of associated electronic devices and the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices, and the method further comprises:
receiving a request for the ones of the plurality of songs from the electronic device;
obtaining the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices; and
providing the ones of the plurality of songs to the electronic device.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of associated electronic devices and the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices, the method further comprising:
receiving a request for the ones of the plurality of songs from the electronic device if the electronic device is unable to connect to the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs;
obtaining the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices; and
providing the ones of the plurality of songs to the electronic device.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one remote source is at least one web site from which the ones of the plurality of songs had previously been obtained, and providing the information to the electronic device comprises providing information to the electronic device enabling the electronic device to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from at least one web site.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of electronic devices associated with a user, and assigning the playlist to the electronic device comprises:
enabling the user to compose the playlist; and
enabling the user to assign the playlist to the electronic device selected from the plurality of electronic devices.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of electronic devices associated with a personal audio network comprising the plurality of electronic devices, a personal audio network client, and a personal audio network server, and assigning the playlist to the electronic device comprises:
enabling a user to interact with the personal audio network server via the personal audio network client to compose the playlist; and
enabling the user to interact with the personal audio network via the personal audio network client to assign the playlist to the electronic device selected from the plurality of electronic devices.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the personal audio network server stores the playlist, and:
providing the playlist to the electronic device comprises transferring the playlist from the personal audio network server to the electronic device; and
providing the information to the electronic device comprises providing information from the personal audio network server to the electronic device enabling the electronic device to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs that are not stored on the electronic device from the at least one remote source.
9. A method comprising:
receiving, at an electronic device, a playlist assigned to the electronic device, the playlist identifying a plurality of songs, wherein ones of the plurality of songs are not stored on the electronic device;
receiving, at the electronic device, information enabling the electronic device to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from at least one remote source; and
obtaining the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one remote source.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of associated electronic devices and the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices, and obtaining the ones of the plurality of songs comprises:
requesting the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices; and
receiving the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of associated electronic devices and the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices, and obtaining the ones of the plurality of songs comprises:
providing a request for the ones of the plurality of songs to a central server, wherein in response to the request, the central server uploads the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices; and
receiving the ones of the plurality of songs from the central server.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of associated electronic devices and the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices, and obtaining the ones of the plurality of songs comprises:
determining whether the electronic device is unable to connect to the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs;
if the electronic device is unable to connect to the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices:
providing a request for the ones of the plurality of songs to a central server, wherein in response to the request, the central server uploads the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices; and
receiving the ones of the plurality of songs from the central server; and
if the electronic device is able to connect to the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices:
requesting the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices; and
receiving the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of associated electronic devices.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one remote source is at least one web site from which the ones of the plurality of songs had previously been obtained, and obtaining the ones of the plurality of songs comprises:
requesting the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one web site; and
receiving the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one web site.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein the electronic device is one of a plurality of electronic devices associated with a personal audio network comprising the plurality of electronic devices and a personal audio network server, and
receiving the playlist assigned to the electronic device comprises receiving the playlist from the personal audio network, wherein the personal audio network server enables a user to assign the playlist to the electronic device; and
receiving the information comprises receiving information from the personal audio network server enabling the electronic device to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one remote source.
15. A system comprising:
a) a plurality of electronic devices; and
b) a central system communicatively coupled to the plurality of electronic devices via a network, and adapted to:
i) assign a playlist to one of the plurality of electronic devices, the playlist identifying a plurality of songs;
ii) identify ones of the plurality of songs in the playlist that are not stored on the one of the plurality of electronic devices;
iii) provide the playlist to the one of the plurality of electronic devices; and
iv) provide information to the one of the plurality of electronic devices enabling the one of the plurality of electronic devices to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from at least one remote source.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the central system is further adapted to:
identify at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices hosting the ones of the plurality of songs, wherein the at least one remote source is the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices; and
provide information to the one of the plurality of electronic devices enabling the one of the plurality of electronic devices to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices, and the central system is further adapted to:
receive a request from the one of the plurality of electronic devices for the ones of the plurality of songs;
obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices; and
provide the ones of the plurality of songs to the one of the plurality of electronic devices.
18. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices, and the central system is further adapted to:
receive a request from the one of the plurality of electronic devices for the ones of the plurality of songs if the one of the plurality of electronic devices is unable to connect to the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs;
obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices in response to the request; and
provide the ones of the plurality of songs to the one of the plurality of electronic devices.
19. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one remote source is at least one web site from which the ones of the plurality of songs had previously been obtained.
20. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of electronic devices are associated with a user, and the control system is further adapted to enable the user to assign the playlist to the one of the plurality of electronic devices.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the central system is further adapted to enable the user to compose the playlist.
22. The system of claim 15 wherein the one of the plurality of electronic devices is further adapted to:
receive the playlist assigned to the one of the plurality of electronic devices from the central system;
receive the information from the central system enabling the one of the plurality of electronic devices to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one remote source; and
obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one remote source.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices, and in order to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs, the one of the plurality of electronic devices is further adapted to:
request the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices; and
receive the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices.
24. The system of claim 22 wherein the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices, and in order to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs, the one of the plurality of electronic devices is further adapted to:
provide a request for the ones of the plurality of songs to the central system, wherein in response to the request, the central system uploads the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices; and
receive the ones of the plurality of songs from the central system.
25. The system of claim 22 wherein the at least one remote source is at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices, and in order to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs, the one of the plurality of electronic devices is further adapted to:
determine whether the one of the plurality of electronic devices is unable to connect to the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices to obtain the ones of the plurality of songs;
if the one of the plurality of electronic devices is unable to connect to the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices:
provide a request for the ones of the plurality of songs to the central system, wherein in response to the request, the central system uploads the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices; and
receive the ones of the plurality of songs from the central system; and
if the electronic device is able to connect to the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices:
request the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices; and
receive the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one other of the plurality of electronic devices.
26. The system of claim 15 further comprising a personal audio network client, wherein the central system is a personal audio network server communicatively coupled to the personal audio network client and the plurality of electronic devices, and the personal audio network server is further adapted to enable the user to compose the playlist and assign the playlist to the one of the plurality of electronic devices via the personal audio network client.