IP Library Granted Patent US 10,372,411
Granted Patent B2
US 10,372,411 · App. 16/228,857 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Audio streaming based on in-automobile detection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,372,411
App. No.
16/228,857
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example embodiment may involve determining that a client device (such as a smartphone, tablet, or in-automobile audio device) is in an automobile and that the client device has access to a playlist of audio content. Possibly based on the client device being in the automobile and having access to the playlist of audio content, the client device may request a stream of the audio content. As a consequence of making the request, the client device may receive the stream of the audio content and begin audible playout of the audio content.

Claims (48)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a profile server device and from a client device, references to one or more audio files, wherein the references to the one or more audio files are provided as part of a save to automobile operation on the client device;

storing, by the profile server device, the references to the one or more audio files in a profile of a user, and wherein the profile is associated with the client device;

receiving, by the profile server device and from an automobile, a request for a playlist associated with the profile, wherein the user is associated with the automobile;

generating, by the profile server device, a playlist containing the references to the one or more audio files that were provided as part of the save to automobile operation; and

transmitting, by the profile server device and to the automobile, the playlist.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the playlist occurs in response to receiving the request for the playlist.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the playlist occurs before receiving the request for the playlist.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving references to one or more further audio files, wherein the references to the one or more further audio files are provided as part of a further save to automobile operation; and

adding, by the profile server device, the references to the one or more further audio files to the playlist.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the save to automobile operation is triggered by the user on the client device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the profile server device and from the automobile, an indication that an audio file of the one or more audio files has been played out by automobile; and

removing, by the profile server device, the audio file from the playlist.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein receiving the indication that the audio file has been played out by automobile comprises receiving a copy of the playlist not including the audio file.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the request identifies the profile of the user.

9. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a client device, references to one or more audio files, wherein the references to the one or more audio files are provided as part of a save to automobile operation on the client device;

storing the references to the one or more audio files in a profile of a user, and wherein the profile is associated with the client device;

receiving, from an automobile, a request for a playlist associated with the profile, wherein the user is associated with the automobile;

generating a playlist containing the references to the one or more audio files that were provided as part of the save to automobile operation; and

transmitting, to the automobile, the playlist.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein generating the playlist occurs in response to receiving the request for the playlist.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein generating the playlist occurs before receiving the request for the playlist.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:

receiving references to one or more further audio files, wherein the references to the one or more further audio files are provided as part of a further save to automobile operation; and

adding the references to the one or more further audio files to the playlist.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the save to automobile operation is triggered by the user on the client device.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein reception of the playlist by the automobile causes the automobile to use the references to retrieve and play out the one or more audio files.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:

receiving, from the automobile, an indication that an audio file of the one or more audio files has been played out by automobile; and

removing the audio file from the playlist.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein receiving the indication that the audio file has been played out by automobile comprises receiving a copy of the playlist not including the audio file.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the request identifies the profile of the user.

18. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

program instructions, stored in the memory, that upon execution by the processor cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a client device, references to one or more audio files, wherein the references to the one or more audio files are provided as part of a save to automobile operation on the client device;

storing the references to the one or more audio files in a profile of a user, and wherein the profile is associated with the client device;

receiving, from an automobile, a request for a playlist associated with the profile, wherein the user is associated with the automobile;

generating a playlist containing the references to the one or more audio files that were provided as part of the save to automobile operation; and

transmitting, to the automobile, the playlist.

19. The computing device of claim 18 , the operations further comprising:

receiving, from the automobile, an indication that an audio file of the one or more audio files has been played out by automobile; and

removing the audio file from the playlist.

20. The computing device of claim 19 , wherein receiving the indication that the audio file has been played out by automobile comprises receiving a copy of the playlist not including the audio file.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2026
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 074516/0114 →
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2019
From: PANGULURI, VENKATARAMA ANILKUMAR
To: TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 047906/0597 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 4, 2019
From: TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 048018/0557 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,248,498