(12) United States Patent
`Leeke et al.
`
`USOO6587127B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,587,127 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Jul. 1, 2003
`
`(54) CONTENT PLAYER METHOD AND SERVER
`WITH USER PROFILE
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(75) Inventors: Steven D. Leeke, Rolling Meadows, IL
`(US); Gregory B. Mackintosh,
`Naperville, IL (US); Edward
`Stojakovic, Chicago, IL (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/198,732
`(22) Filed:
`Nov. 24, 1998
`
`(Under 37 CFR 1.47)
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/976.971, filed on
`Nov. 25, 1997, now abandoned.
`(51) Int. Cl." .................................................. G06F 3/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 345/765. 345,733. 345,747,
`345/764
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 345/700, 716,
`345/733, 742, 744, 745, 747, 762, 764,
`765, 866, 961, 962, 978; 707/500.1
`
`
`
`1304
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,583,561. A 12/1996 Baker et al. .................. 725/93
`5,699,089 A * 12/1997 Murray ....................... 345/823
`5,710,884. A * 1/1998 Dedrick .................. 345/866 X
`5,721.827 A * 2/1998 Logan et al. ............... 709/217
`5,822,537 A * 10/1998 Katseff et al. .............. 709/231
`6,005,561. A * 12/1999 Hawkins et al. ......... 707/500.1
`6,018,768 A
`1/2000 Ullman et al. .............. 709/218
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner John Cabeca
`ASSistant Examiner X. L. Bautista
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James E. Gauger; Hisashi
`D. Watanabe
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method of operation of a server (102) interacting with
`users (104,106) to provide personalized content to each of
`the users. Personalized content is Sent to a first user by
`communicating first audio or other content associated with
`a broadcast to a first user location. Second content is Selected
`and a first signal is communicated to the first user location
`dependent on the user profile. The Second content can
`include Second audio content Selected in dependence upon
`the first user profile, in which case playback of the second
`audio content is Synchronized with respect to playback of
`the first audio content.
`20 Claims, 33 Drawing Sheets
`
`1300
`
`F 88 90 92 94 96 98 100 102 104 106 108
`O
`O
`D
`O
`1302-WBEl 91.5FM-CHICAGO-JAZL M
`WBEZ 91.5 FM
`NOW PLAYING
`SHEPARD OF THE NIGHT FLOCK
`
`(ATTRACTIONS
`ADVERTISING)
`
`1310
`
`1316
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 33
`
`US 6,587,127 B1
`
`C O M P U E R
`
`1 1 6 -
`
`STORAGE DEVICE
`
`nations
`DATABASE
`
`141
`' CONTENT DELIVERY
`VPot" | PLAYER
`
`CUSTOWER PROFILE COMPONENT
`
`MUSIC TESTING COMPONENT
`
`AUDIENCE MEASURING COMPONENT
`
`PROVIPTS COMPONENT
`
`ADWERTISING COMPONENT
`LISTENER FEEDBACK COMPONENT
`
`TRANSACTION COMPONENT
`
`102-
`
`114
`MEMORY
`MEMORY
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`2
`
`4. 8
`
`142
`
`150
`152
`154
`
`156
`
`|
`
`|
`|
`|
`
`160
`
`|
`|
`162 ||
`164
`
`- - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`120
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`110
`
`-
`
`- -
`
`- - - - - -
`
`SERVER
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`100
`104
`ELECTRONIC
`NETWORK
`
`144 SERVER
`
`CLIENT
`APPARATUS
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - -
`- - - - - - -
`126
`132
`140
`SMART CARD
`READER
`130- MEMORY
`124-N INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`STORACE
`HN
`DEVICE
`106
`PLAYER 1),
`133
`136
`AUDIBLE
`OUTPUT DEVICE
`
`146
`SMART
`CARD
`
`|
`
`TRANSCEIVER
`122
`PROCESSOR
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`134
`DEVICE
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`Sheet 12 of 33
`
`US 6,587,127 B1
`
`630
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`
`
`STATION INFO
`KEYWORD:
`SEARCH IN:
`XRADIO
`DX CATEGORY
`DOBAND
`X. LOCATION
`
`224
`SEARCH
`
`LISTENING BOOTH
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`TO READ DIRECTIONS, CLICK TELL ME MORE, OYHERWISE LOGIN AND CONTINUE.
`TELL ME MORE
`ONLY 6 NORE ALBUMS TO SAMPLE TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE ALBUV
`LAST ACCESSED: 5 FEBRUARY 1999
`REVIEW
`WAVE: ED STONE
`NY RATINGS
`PASSWORD:
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`
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`FIG. 24
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`Sheet 13 of 33
`
`US 6,587,127 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 15 0f 33
`
`US 6,587,127 B1
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`STATION INFO
`DEFAULTS:
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 16 of 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`US. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 23 Of 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 23 0f 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 24 of 33
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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet25 0f33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`Sheet 26 of 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`DISPLAY A PLURALITY OF
`CATEGORIES OF MUSIC CONTEN
`
`1242
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`RECEIVEA CATEGORY OF MUSIC
`CONTENT SELECTED BY THE END USER
`
`- 240
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`COMMUNICATE AT LEAST A PORTION OF
`A MUSIC ITEM WITHIN THE CATEGORY
`TO THE END USER, THE MUSIC ITEM
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`INDEPENDENT OF THE END USER
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`MUSIC ITEMS PREVIOUSLY RATED
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 27 of 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`BANNER
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`Sheet 28 Of 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`Sheet 29 of 33
`
`US 6,587,127 B1
`
`
`
`LOCATION:
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`JAZZ
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`RATING ROOM
`O
`ALBUMS RATED
`Firs
`TOWARDS FREE CD
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 30 0f 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 1, 2003
`
`Sheet 31 of 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`LOCATION:
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 32 0f 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`TTI-1006, Page 33
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 1, 2003
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`Sheet 33 Of 33
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`US 6,587,127 B1
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`US 6,587,127 B1
`
`1
`CONTENT PLAYER METHOD AND SERVER
`WITH USER PROFILE
`RELATED APPLICATION(S)
`This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/976,971 filed on Nov. 25, 1997, now abandoned.
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The present invention relates to methods and Systems for
`distributing and playing content Such as audio content.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`An increasing number of audio content items are becom
`ing accessible via the Internet. Many radio Stations now
`simulcast their over-the-air broadcast via the Internet. Some
`television networks are also Simulcasting their over-the-air
`or cable broadcasts via the Internet. In addition, archived
`items. Such as archived radio programs, speeches, and music
`are also available via the Internet.
`An audio content item is communicated to an end user's
`computer using either Streamed data or a data file. The end
`user's computer decodes the Streamed data or the data file
`using audio player Software. Examples of audio player
`Software include RealPlayer from Real Networks and
`Netscape Media Player from Netscape. The audio player
`Software directs the computer to play back the audio content
`item.
`Services such as AudioNet (whose Internet domain name
`is registered to AudioNet, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., U.S.A.,
`and administered by Yahoo! Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.,
`U.S.A.) and Timecast (whose Internet domain name is
`registered to Progressive Networks, Inc. of Seattle, Wash.,
`U.S.A.) provide directories for audio content items available
`via the Internet. Using these Services, the end user can Select
`an audio content item for playback using his/her computer.
`However, interaction between the audio player Software and
`the Service may be limited to that necessary to play back the
`audio content item.
`User feedback to movies and music is also currently of
`interest. Movie Critic (whose Internet domain name is
`registered to Songline Studios, Macromedia, Inc., of San
`Francisco, Calif., U.S.A.) recommends movies of potential
`interest to an end user in return for the end user's rating of
`a movie he/she has seen. Billboard magazine and its asso
`ciated Web site provide music rankings based on Sales and
`air play.
`Broadcast Architecture provides a Service for testing
`audio playlists. A methodology employed by Broadcast
`Architecture comprises physically assembling one or more
`listeners to test a playlist, playing one or more Songs to the
`listeners, and receiving rating Signals from the listeners. The
`rating Signals are generated by listeners turning up or down
`a dial depending on whether they like or dislike a Song. The
`rating Signals can be plotted in a time Series to interpret the
`results.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The invention is pointed out with particularity in the
`appended claims. However, other features of the invention
`are described in the following detailed description in con
`junction with the accompanying drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system
`for providing audio content via an electronic network;
`FIG. 2 is a first display window in an embodiment of a
`graphical user interface,
`
`2
`FIG. 3 is a display of a portion of the graphical user
`interface including Selection attribute indicators,
`FIG. 4 is an illustration of an embodiment of a streaming
`indicator;
`FIG. 5 is an illustration of an embodiment of volume
`controls,
`FIG. 6 is an illustration of an example of a portion of a
`display window upon receiving a user-initiated Selection of
`a radio category control;
`FIG. 7 is an illustration of an example of a graphical radio
`dial for Selecting Internet or other electronic network broad
`CaStS,
`FIG. 8 is an example illustration of using a location
`attribute field;
`FIG. 9 is an example of a Second display region providing
`auxiliary information about a particular Station;
`FIG. 10 is an example of a programming guide in a Second
`display region;
`FIG. 11 is an illustration of an example of a portion of the
`interface displayed upon receiving a user-initiated Selection
`of an events category control;
`FIG. 12 is an example illustration of using a time attribute
`field;
`FIG. 13 is an example illustration of using an event
`attribute field;
`FIG. 14 is an illustration of an example of a notification
`prompt,
`FIG. 15 illustrates an example of the second display
`region displaying auxiliary information about an event;
`FIG. 16 is an illustration of an example of a portion of the
`interface displayed upon receiving a user-initiated Selection
`of the library category control;
`FIG. 17 shows an example of text in the fields associated
`with an approach to navigating to library material;
`FIG. 18 shows an indicator of which chapter is current
`and the number of chapters that exist;
`FIG. 19 illustrates an example of the second display
`region being used to provide auxiliary information about a
`title;
`FIG. 20 is an illustration of an example of a portion of the
`interface displayed upon receiving a user-initiated Selection
`of a music category control;
`FIG. 21 shows an indicator of which track is current and
`the number of tracks that exist;
`FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a Search feature pro
`Vided in the Second display region;
`FIG. 23 illustrates an example of search results displayed
`in the Second display region;
`FIG. 24 illustrates an example of a listening booth feature
`provided in the Second display region;
`FIG.25 is an example of a second display for the listening
`booth feature;
`FIG. 26 is an example of a third display for the listening
`booth feature;
`FIG. 27 is an example display provided upon Selecting the
`control;
`FIG. 28 depicts an example of a portion of the interface
`displayed upon Selecting an icon;
`FIG. 29 illustrates an example of a card organizer display
`for a Smart card feature;
`FIG. 30 is an example portion of the interface displayed
`in response to a drag-and-drop operation;
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`3
`FIG. 31 shows a display of a defaults area initiated upon
`Selecting a Second graphical button;
`FIG. 32 shows a display of a payment options area
`initiated upon Selecting a third graphical button;
`FIG. 33 is an example portion of the interface displayed
`in response to a drag-and-drop operation of a playlist Smart
`card to the fourth portion;
`FIG. 34 is an example portion of the interface displayed
`in response to a drag-and-drop operation of a promotions
`Smart card to the fourth portion;
`FIG. 35 is a screen shot of a first preferred embodiment
`of the graphical user interface in the radio content mode,
`FIG. 36 is a Screen shot showing a content Selection
`interface in the first preferred embodiment;
`FIG.37 is a screen shot of a second preferred embodiment
`of the graphical user interface;
`FIG. 38 is a screen shot of the second preferred embodi
`ment in a radio player mode,
`FIG. 39 is a screen shot of the second preferred embodi
`ment in an events player mode,
`FIGS. 40A and 40B are flow charts of an embodiment of
`a method of providing the graphical user interface;
`FIGS. 41 to 43 are block diagrams summarizing a site
`map for an embodiment of the graphical user interface;
`FIG. 44 is a flow chart Summarizing Steps performed in an
`embodiment of a method of playing first audio content using
`a computer,
`FIG. 45 is a flow chart summarizing steps in an embodi
`ment of a method of obtaining user feedback to music
`content,
`FIG. 46 is a flow chart summarizing steps in an embodi
`ment of a method of assisting operation of an audio content
`player;
`FIG. 47 is a screen shot of a third embodiment of the
`graphical user interface,
`FIG. 48 is an example of a first display in a preferred
`embodiment of a listening booth or rating room feature;
`FIG. 49 is an example of a second display for reviewing
`rated items in an embodiment of a listening booth or rating
`room feature,
`FIG.50 is an example of a third display for rating an item
`in a preferred embodiment of a listening booth or rating
`room feature,
`FIG. 51 is a view of an embodiment of the graphical rating
`tool;
`FIG. 52 is an example of a modified third display, in an
`embodiment of a listening booth or rating room feature, once
`all of the tracks for an item have been rated;
`FIG. 53 is an example of the second display, in an
`embodiment of a listening booth or rating room feature,
`updated based upon a Submission of ratings for the item;
`FIG. 54 is an example of a fourth display in an embodi
`ment of a listening booth or rating room feature;
`FIG.55 is an example of a fifth display in an embodiment
`of a listening booth or rating room feature;
`FIG. 56 is an example of a sixth display in an embodiment
`of a listening booth or rating room feature;
`FIG. 57 is a block diagram Summarizing a Site map for an
`embodiment of the listening booth or rating room feature;
`and
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`4
`FIG. 58 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a content
`entry Subsystem.
`FIG. 59 is a block diagram representing an association
`between media contents of the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system
`for providing audio content via an electronic network 100.
`Preferably, the electronic network 100 includes the Internet,
`the World Wide Web, an intranet, an extranet, or an on-line
`Service Such as America Online or WebTV.
`The system comprises a server 102 which communicates
`with a plurality of client apparatus 104 including a client
`apparatus 106 via the electronic network 100. The server
`102 includes a computer 110 having a processor 112, a
`memory 114, and a storage device 116. The server 102 has
`a transceiver 120 Such as a modem, a network adapter, or a
`wireleSS transceiver which interfaces with the electronic
`network 100.
`The client apparatus 106 can have a variety of forms,
`including but not limited to, a general purpose computer, a
`network computer, a network television, an Internet
`television, and a wireleSS device. Regardless of its form, the
`client apparatuS 106 typically includes a processor 122 in
`communication with at least one input device 124, a trans
`ceiver 126, a memory 130, at least one storage device 132,
`a display device 134, and an audible output device 136.
`Optionally, the client apparatuS 106 includes a Smart card
`reader 140.
`The processor 122 can include a microprocessor, an
`application-specific integrated circuit, or another Suitable
`integrated circuit. The memory 130 can include a read-only
`memory and/or a random access memory in communication
`with the processor 122. The transceiver 126 can include a
`modem, a network adapter, or a wireless transceiver to
`communicate signals via the electronic network 100. The at
`least one input device 124 can include a keyboard, a pointing
`device, and/or a touch Screen for receiving user-initiated
`events, actions, and Selections from an end user. The at least
`one Storage device 132 can include a floppy disk drive, a PC
`card Storage device, an optical drive, a Digital Video Disk
`(DVD) drive, a Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD
`ROM) drive, or a hard drive to store computer-readable data.
`The display device 134 can include a monitor Such as a
`liquid crystal display or a cathode ray tube to display a
`graphical user interface. The audible output device 136 can
`include a Sound card and/or one or more speakers to play
`audio content to the end user.
`A content delivery component 141, including a player
`142, resides on the Server 102 to assist in Selecting,
`retrieving, and playing the audio content. The player 142
`includes a computer program or other form of Software or
`firmware which directs the server 102 and the client appa
`ratus 106 to provide a graphical user interface for Selecting,
`retrieving, and playing back audio content. More
`particularly, the computer program is operative to proceSS
`and respond to user-initiated events, actions, and Selections
`made using the at least one input device 124, to Select,
`retrieve, and playback the audio content using the audio
`output device 136. Preferably, the computer program
`includes one or more of Hyper Text Marking Language
`(HTML) code, an applet (e.g. a JAVA applet), and animation
`plug-in code (e.g. Shockwave code) to provide the graphical
`user interface. The player 142 is accessible via the electronic
`network 100 by a dedicated electronic address such as a
`URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
`
`

`

`S
`The player 142 accesses audio content either locally from
`the server 102 or remotely from a server 144, and commu
`nicates the audio content to the client apparatus 106 using
`Streaming technology. The Server 144 can include, for
`example, a Server from which AudioNet content is acces
`sible.
`The player 142 is operable in two modes: a browse mode
`and a Search mode. The Search mode provides a user
`invoked function for performing a key-word, text-based
`Search for content. The browse mode Supports a categorical
`Search for content using a visual interface. The content is
`categorized into a plurality of categories of content to assist
`in browsing for content. Preferably, the categories include a
`radio category, an events category, a library category, and a
`music category.
`The player 142 is responsive to either a smart card 146 or
`a virtual Smart card Stored at one or more of the client
`apparatus 106 and the server 102. The actual or virtual smart
`card can be used to Separate access to content from the
`content itself. Further, the actual or physical Smart card can
`act as a preference key to uniquely personalize a player for
`an individual in a consistent manner acroSS all entry points
`or platforms. For a virtual Smart card in this case, the client
`Side provides a key to the Server Side of the preferences.
`Optionally, the player 142 can provide a Second Visual
`interface having a Smaller window that appears in the
`background. The smaller window provides a subset of the
`controls of the full graphical user interface. The Subset of
`controls can include controls for Selecting between pro
`grammed presets. For example, the Smaller window can
`illustrate the presets.
`The player 142 can cooperate with a browser program
`and/or a streaming audio plug-in program executed by the
`client apparatuS 106. Examples of the browser program
`include, but are not limited to, Netscape Navigator and
`Microsoft Internet Explorer. Examples of the streaming
`audio plug-in program include, but are not limited to:
`RealAudio and RealPlayer from Real Networks, VxTreme
`and Netshow from Microsoft Corporation, VDOnet from
`VDO, TrueStream from Motorola, LiquidAudio, and other
`active Streaming formats. Alternatively, the player 142 can
`include a Stand-alone, application-based Software program
`that is executed by the client apparatus 106. In this case, it
`is preferred that the Software program be operable without
`requiring interaction with a browser program. The Software
`program cooperates with a network access routine executed
`by the client apparatus 106.
`It is noted that in general, the System can include a
`plurality of servers such as the server 102. Each of the
`Servers is identified by a corresponding site identification
`code. Each of the servers can include a database 148 for
`managing and monitoring the operation of the System. In this
`case, each database 148 can include a set of global param
`eters Stored in its Storage device 116. One global parameter
`includes a listening time threshold parameter. If an end user
`listens to an audio item for a duration that attains or exceeds
`the listening time threshold, a listenership entry is recorded
`in the database 148; otherwise, no entry is recorded. Other
`global parameters include user permission parameters, and
`parameters for System level performanc