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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of apparatus for receiving Internet Multimedia broadcasts including live broadcast audio and pertains more particularly to methods and apparatus for receiving and enabling wireless Internet radio for
automobiles and mobile standalone devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The World Wide Web (WWW), known as a subset of the well-known Internet is, at the time of this writing, the most accessible world-wide public information network. By accessing the Internet via a personal computer or other Internet-capable
computerized appliance, one may obtain knowledge from virtually any network-connected source on Earth. Businesses, cultural centers, libraries, governments, cities, states, and private individuals maintain information pages, termed WEB pages in the art,
that are stored on computers (file servers) that are adapted and dedicated to delivering such pages on request.
These WEB pages are typically written in hyper-text mark-up language (HTML) and contain various forms of embedded interactive links, termed hyper-links in the art, created by authors using special software tools adapted for providing such
content. Hyper-links are typically gateways to other parts of the page accessed, another page on the same server, or a page on another server. From such a server one may download much information, including software and in some cases other multimedia
content, to an Internet connected computer or appliance.
Among the types of media content one may find and access when browsing WEB pages, live audio and video is one of the most recently developed. Through the use of a browser (navigator) and additional software of the form of a multimedia player
installed on one's PC or appliance, one may play audio, video, or a combination of the two while connected on-line and visiting a hosted WEB page. Connection to such broadcast servers, as they are termed in the art, typically result from interaction
with an embedded hyper-link in the form of a graphic icon somewhere on a hosted WEB page, typically by means of a computer's pointer device.
Recently, traditional broadcast entities such as news, radio, sports networks, and the like have engaged in maintaining WEB pages wherein 24 hour live-streaming audio and video of real-time broadcasts and the like is made available to the general
public through hyper-links to broadcast servers. By clicking on a provided hyper-link, one may connect to a server and monitor a particular offered broadcast if the user has an appropriate player for playing the downloaded stream.
While video portions of such live Internet broadcasts generally leave much to be desired in terms of quality due to (at the time of this application) limited bandwidth, audio streams can be heard with adequate quality on most personal computers
operating standard modems and having standard line connection to the Internet. Of course, available bandwidth plays a major roll in both audio and video quality over a data-packet network such as the Internet. Other factors effecting quality of service
include compression techniques, modem speeds, and so on. In current art, anyone with a 28.8 modem and standard Internet connection may listen to broadcast audio with adequate quality and minimum dropout in most instances.
One of the more notable developments in audio broadcasting over the Internet involves public and private radio station participation as previously described. For example, currently there are a variety of radio stations around the world that
provide 24 hour broadcasting accessible from the Internet. Moreover, a growing number of Internet-only broadcasters are emerging. Before live broadcasting (streaming) of Internet multimedia, interaction with multimedia content was virtually limited to
pre-stored feeds of audio and audio/video content such as interviews, news clips and short music clips.
In light of the above-described technological advances that have been achieved in live broadcast capability over the Internet, wherein any user with a PC and an Internet connection may participate, it is desirable to provide a means whereby
mobile users such as a commuter in an automobile may access live Internet broadcasts from inside the automobile via a wireless connection without having to have an expensive multi-purpose PC to gain access.
With regards to PC and Internet capability from automobiles, users are conventionally limited to lap-top computers for full multimedia access. Some companies provide Internet access from palm-top computers and cellular phones however the use is
typically limited to accessing e-mails, networking with business associates (IP telephony) or the like. Some companies provide Internet access through a wireless PC for the purpose of providing map information for lost or stranded motorists, however
such systems are dedicated only for that subscribed service and are limited to providing pre-stored information.
What is clearly needed is a dedicated mobile radio-receiving device that may be installed and operated from within a vehicle, and that can be used in conjunction with existing and future wireless Internet technologies whereby a motorist or other
mobile user may maintain a wireless Internet connection via the device for the purpose of the recreational enjoyment of live audio broadcasting of national and/or international scope while driving. Such a system and apparatus would broaden the scope of
radio advertising and broadcasting, increase local knowledge of international world events and culture, and thereby promote an international community awareness. Moreover, in the more diverse world we live in, where people spend more and more time in
parts of the world distant from home, such world travelers can listen to radio stations based at home.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention An Internet-capable radio is provided, comprising a communication port for connection to a modem; a connection function for connecting to the Internet upon user initiation while connected to the
modem; sound circuitry for rendering audio data packets received over the Internet as analog audio output, and for delivering the audio output to one or more speaker ports; two or more stored hyperlinks addressing Internet broadcast servers; and a user
input adapted to enable a user to select among the stored hyperlinks. With the Internet-capable radio connected by the communication port to the Internet, selection of one of the stored hyperlinks by the user input invokes the hyperlink and connects the
radio to the server addressed by the hyperlink, initiating thereby an audio data stream as data packets from the broadcast server to the radio, and wherein the radio renders the data stream as analog audio data delivered to the one or more speaker ports.
In the Internet-capable radio the modem may be a wireless modem, and the Internet-capable radio connects to the Internet of a wireless data packet network. The radio may further comprise a display adapted to list hyperlinks and highlight a
single hyperlink, wherein the user input comprises a button adapted to invoke the hyperlink highlighted.
In some embodiments the radio is programmed to access a specific directory server upon connection to the Internet, and to download a predetermined list of hyperlinks to Internet broadcast servers from the directory server. In other embodiments
hyperlinks may be programmed through a user interface to the radio, manually, or through such as a serial port. The user input can be a plurality of pushbuttons, each pushbutton associated with a specific hyperlink, wherein activation of a pushbutton
invokes the stored hyperlink.
In another aspect an Internet radio system is provided, comprising an Internet-connected directory server; and an Internet-capable radio comprising a communication port for connection to a modem, a connection function for connecting to the
Internet upon user initiation while connected to the modem, sound circuitry for rendering audio data packets received over the Internet as analog audio output, and for delivering the audio output to one or more speaker ports, two or more stored
hyperlinks addressing Internet broadcast servers, and a user input adapted to enable a user to select among stored hyperlinks and to invoke a selected hyperlink. In this system the Internet-capable radio connects to the directory server, the directory
server provides hyperlinks to the Internet-capable radio, and upon assertion of a hyperlink the Internet-capable radio connects to the broadcast server associated with the asserted hyperlink, and downloads and plays the audio stream provided by the
broadcast server.
In one embodiment of the system the Internet-capable radio comprises a display adapted for listing hyperlinks provided by the directory server, and the user input is operable for selecting and asserting individual ones of the hyperlinks
displayed. The user input may comprise a plurality of pushbuttons and the directory server provides hyperlinks associated one-to-one with the plurality of pushbuttons.
In some embodiments as well the directory server stores a profile for individual users, the profiles editable by a user connected to the server on the Internet, and wherein profiles are automatically downloaded to a user's Internet-capable radio
upon connection of the radio to the directory server. In other embodiments the directory server is coupled to a telephony call-in center, wherein a user may edit his/her profile by calling an agent at the in call center, who in turn updates the user's
profile on the directory server. In still other embodiments the directory server is coupled to a telephony interactive voice response (IVR) system, which interacts with a user by telephone to update a user's profile.
The Internet-capable radio and support systems for the radio provide new breadth to the art of Internet radio, by providing simple-to-use, relatively inexpensive Internet radios and systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is an overview of an Internet-connected wireless mobile-radio-broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an Internet-capable radio device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating internal circuitry of the Internet radio device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating software capability of the Internet radio device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram illustrating logical user steps for accessing live Internet radio according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating programming steps used with the Internet radio device of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wireless Internet service including a delivery system and an innovative mobile device adapted for receiving Internet broadcasts is provided and dedicated to providing mobile listeners with a
capability to listen to live Internet broadcasts.
FIG. 1 is an overview of an Internet-connected wireless mobile-radio-broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A wireless Internet broadcast service 11 is provided and adapted to allow users having an innovative
Internet radio device (not shown here but detailed in figures to follow) to connect to the Internet via wireless modem for the purpose of receiving broadcast audio content over a wireless network such as a wireless cellular system. Service system 11
comprises Internet network 13 and overlapping wireless-broadcast regions 15 and 17.
Service system 11 may be of the form of an Internet service using a wireless delivery system to which one may subscribe in order to receive audio broadcasts via the Internet and wireless link from radio stations around the world as well as other
audio broadcasts from Internet-based sources. Access to service system 11 is, in a preferred embodiment, achieved via a unique computerized device termed an Internet radio by the inventor because of its dedicated nature. Such a device is not shown here
but may be assumed to be present and installed in truck 41, and is described in enabling detail below. This Internet radio device is dedicated to establishing and maintaining a wireless Internet connection and receiving data packets via the wireless
connection. More detail regarding this mobile Internet-radio device is provided below.
Internet 13 has connected therein in this embodiment a directory server 23 adapted for storing hyper-links to Internet-connected radio-broadcastservers such as broadcast servers 19 and 21, and to providing access to such broadcast servers upon
request. Broadcast servers 19 and 21 are maintained by broadcast radio stations and the like and are adapted to delivering live audio over the Internet, the audio streams delivered typically mirroring the audio broadcast programming the same stations
provide by RF multicast. Radio stations comprising music, news, talk, sports and other formats as well as Internet-based broadcasting entities may provide and maintain such connected broadcast servers as servers 19 and 21.
As previously described, service system 11 may use any known wireless delivery system for delivering content to a mobile user such as user 41 (illustrated as a truck having an Internet radio device installed therein). In a preferred embodiment,
a well-known cellular service operating under well-known protocols such as cellular digital data packet (CDDP), and advanced cellular mobile services (ACMS) is used because of convenience and already-existing infrastructure. However, in other
embodiments, other known wireless delivery systems may be utilized such as electromagnetic spectrum technology or microwave technology. In an alternative embodiment a proprietary wireless network dedicated solely to the purpose of the present invention
may also be established. Regions 15 and 17 represent overlapping areas of wireless service such as are known with cellular technology broadcast from distributed stations. The only requirement for a delivery service in the present invention is that the
service supports Transfer Control Protocol/Internet protocol TCP/IP (well known Internet transmission protocol), or other known Internet transmission protocols.
Region 15 comprises a network access point (NAP) 29 connected to Internet 13 via a connection line 25, and a customer access point (CAP) 33 which is capable of wireless two-way communication with NAP 29 via a (typically) satellite sending and
receiving unit 37. User 41, having an Internet radio device according to an embodiment of the present invention, maintains Internet connection through CAP 33 while in the broadcast region of CAP 33. It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that
there will be more than one CAP such as CAP 33 strategically distributed throughout a region such as region 15 than is illustrated herein. The inventor has chosen to illustrate only one such CAP 33 and deems it sufficient for the purpose of adequately
explaining the present invention. In actual practice, as is known in the art of cellular service, the number of CAP's such as CAP 33 will define the geographic size of a region, such as region 15 or region 17. Also well-known in the art is the fact
that individual regions of coverage of each CAP overlap to provide the extent of the region.
Region 17 comprises components like those illustrated in region 15, namely, a NAP 31 connected to Internet 13 via a connection line 27, and CAPs 35 capable of wireless two-way communication via a (typically) satellite sending and receiving unit
39. Region 17 and region 15 are illustrated as overlapping as is consistent with known cellular service regions. In this embodiment, user 41 may leave one region such as region 15 and enter a second region such as region 17 without losing Internet
connectivity via known service-connection transfer methods for maintaining connection to a "roaming" mobile user. Connection lines 25 and 27 may be of the form of optical digital carriers, or other well-known data-connection lines.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, user 41 subscribes to a wireless service dedicated to maintaining open Internet connections at NAP's such as NAP 31 of region 17. Such a service would use channels dedicated for Internet radios
such as one presumed to be installed in the truck driven by user 41. Such channels would not typically be used for telephony or other Internet interaction so that Internet radio devices may be kept economical, compact and dedicated. Internet
connectivity is achieved via wireless modem as is known in the art for traditional computers such as laptop or palmtop computers. The architecture and components of the previously mentioned Internet-radio device will be provided in enabling disclosure
below.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an Internet-radio device 43 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Device 43 is provided and adapted for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a wireless-mobile Internet connection for
downloading live audio from various Internet-connected broadcast servers such as servers 19 and 21 of FIG. 1. Internet-radio 43 comprises a housing 45 and a control-interface structure 47. Housing body 45 is of size and shape to allow for traditional
in-dash mounting as is done with AM/FM RF in-dash radios. Control interface 47 comprises various user-accessible controls and is made to be accessible to the user in the same manner as a conventional in-dash radio. In alternative embodiments other
mounting techniques may be employed such as above or below-dash mounting.
Internet radio 43 in this embodiment has a suitable display window 53, adapted to providing the user a view of the time and date as well as other information such as displayed radio stations and the like. Display window 53 may be a liquid
crystal display (LCD), or another known type of display window. A scroll-up/scroll-down button 60 is provided and adapted for controlling a highlighter bar 55 that may be manipulated up or down to highlight selected stations that may be displayed in
display window 53. Three representative radio stations are shown as displayed and viewable in window 53. These are, for example purposes only, XXXX sports, XXXX talk, and XXXX news. The addresses of these and other audio-broadcast sources offering
both live and/or stored content are accessible from an Internet directory server such as server 23 of FIG. 1 through Internet connection as previously described. As displayed, the representative radio stations just described are actually hyper-links to
broadcast servers such as servers 19 and 21 of FIG. 1.
A wireless modem 49 is provided and configured for Internet access over a wireless network as previously described. In this example, modem 49 is illustrated as built conveniently into Internet radio 43. However, modem 49 may be a separate unit
mounted at a convenient location within a vehicle. Modem 49 may, in one embodiment, be activated as soon as a user starts his or her vehicle and power is supplied to Internet radio 43. However in this particular embodiment, a connect button 61 is
provided and adapted to activate modem 49 for the purpose of establishing an Internet connection as is known in the art.
A directory button 59 is provided and adapted to initiate contact with a directory server, upon user initiation, which lists available radio-links, such as server 23 of FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, connection to a directory server such as
server 23 of FIG. 1 would be automatic after establishing an Internet connection. In alternative embodiments a directory server is not required, and a user may program addresses (URLs) directly into the Internet radio. The user can access such URL
information from any conventional source. The directory server makes the task easier.
An array of selection buttons 51 is provided and adapted to provide a user with individual one-touch connection capability to individual radio-stations providing content via connected broadcast servers such as servers 19 and 21 of FIG. 1. In
this example, there are 26 available selection buttons 51, however, there may be more or fewer such selection buttons without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. A program button 65 is provided and adapted for allowing a user
to program selected radio stations to each of selection buttons 51 similar to program buttons offered in conventional car radios. URLs (hyperlinks) are stored for preferred stations and associated with buttons 51. Upon user selection the associated URL
is asserted, and connection is thus made to the broadcast server having that URL as Internet address, which action immediately downloads the audio stream broadcast by that server.
An instant play button 57 is provided and adapted to allow a user to sample a highlighted radio link such as XXXX TALK which, in this embodiment is highlighted via bar 55. An automatic sample button 58 is provided and adapted to allow a user to
initiate a sample sequence wherein each radio link appearing in display widow 53 may be connected to and played for a pre-determined time such as perhaps a few seconds or minutes before moving on to the next available link. This is the familiar scan
process used with conventional radios.
Volume and speaker balance buttons 62 (one on each side) are provided for controlling audio parameters such as base, treble, balance, volume, etc. A switch-program button is provided and adapted for the purpose of switching the dedicated function
of selection buttons 51 from one-touch radio links to an input-interface-button array for programming parameters into Internet radio 43 such as the date and time, modem numbers, access numbers, protocol preferences, or the like. Numbers and/or symbols
(not shown) may be provided on the faces of selection buttons 51 to aid in input function. In one alternative embodiment a user may use this programming feature to program hyperlinks directly into the radio.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Internet radio 43 is operated much like a traditional car stereo radio in that programming using memory may be accomplished in order to link certain buttons such as selection buttons
to various radio links to establish one-touch connection to such links. For example, by connecting to a directory server such as server 23 of FIG. 1 and scrolling through listed station links via scroll panel 60, a user may depress program button 65
when a desired link is highlighted. By subsequently pressing one of selection buttons 51, the desired link is cached in memory and assigned to that particular button. Thereafter, a user may simply press the now-programmed button to establish connection
to the desired link.
Radio links are actually hyper-links to broadcast servers such as servers 19 and 21 of FIG. 1, which when activated, cause Internet radio 43 to establish connection to such servers and begin downloading and playing audio content offered in
association with that particular server. Internet radio 43 is enabled, by virtue of installed software, to make such one-touch connections which are similar only in appearance of operable method to one-touch radio programming offered in conventional car
stereos. Differences are that Internet 43 operates in a switched-data-packet environment instead of broadcast radio-wave frequencies, and that the method of content receiving involves software in addition to wireless receiving capability whereas
conventional radios are simply tuned to receive via a radio receiver.
Some of the advantages offered with Internet radio 43 are, that in addition to local stations, Internet radio 43 is capable of playing any broadcast station located anywhere in the world as long as the station in question broadcasts over the
Internet. For example, individuals far from home in, for example, a foreign country, may listen to home-town radio in any language desired.
As previously described, Internet radio 43 works with a wireless network such as a cellular network, and a wireless modem such as modem 49 (preferred embodiment). Service system 11 may be hosted by a network provider in cooperation with device
manufacturer similar to cell-phone company arrangements. Charges to subscribers may be supplemented by individual radio stations motivated by attracting people into an area or simply by increased ratings. Advertising done by such stations may change to
a more national or even a global scope. Moreover, advertising can now be tailored to individuals and groups by demographics rather than all multicast, by virtue of the fact that each user has a unique IP address for selectively receiving packets from
the wireless internet simulcast. Commercials can be substituted, for example, regionally, so a user in San Francisco listening to a radio station in Moscow, Russia, may still get commercials for local San Francisco businesses.
Internet radio 43 has software installed therein for the purpose of enabling Internet connection and downloading and playing broadcast content. More detail regarding such software and enabling circuitry is provided below.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating internal circuitry of the Internet radio device of FIG. 2. Internet radio 43, as a dedicated and computerized device, contains certain elements known in the art present in typical computer devices for the
purpose of enabling operable function. The inventor intends that the block diagram represented herein be construed as exemplary only with regards to description of such elements as it will be apparent to the skilled artisan that such basic elements are
known in the art and common to many differing types of computerized devices, and also that many of the elements can be combined in various ways.
Internet radio 43 has a microcontroller 91 for overall management of Internet radio 43. Microcontroller 91 provides management via a bus structure 75 which may be a simple serial bus, but is preferably a parallel bus structure as known in the
art. Also connected to bus structure 75 is a read-only memory (ROM) 69 for containing such as boot instructions and basic operating instruction (BIOS). A non-volatile random-access-memory (NVRAM) 71 is provided and contains such as a compact operating
system, an innovative Internet browser application, an audio player application, modem software, and communication protocol software.
A cache memory 73 is provided and adapted to contain such as stored Internet locations (URL's), and other temporary and some semi-permanent information such as accessed and stored radio link locations and radio link locations that may be generic
to a browser. In this embodiment, cache 73 may be a browser cache or a shared system cache.
An input power port 77 provides a port for connecting Internet radio 43 to a provided power source, such as the electrical system of a vehicle. A rechargeable battery unit 78 is provided as a secondary source of power so that Internet radio 43
may be operated with the car turned off without using up car battery resource, or to allow the radio to be removed and used outside the vehicle. Connections to battery 78 are not illustrated, but are assumed to be present such as circuitry providing a
switch capability between a car battery source and battery 78 as a secondary source. Such circuitry is well-known I the art.
Also connected to bus structure 75 is modem circuitry 81 (analogous to modem 49 of FIG. 2) and an I/O data-modem port 79 (shown connected to modem 81) which contains circuitry required for receiving and sending in wireless mode as previously
described. Modem 81 may be built-in (internal) or held separately (external) as previously described.
A display adapter (driver) module 89 is provided and includes circuitry required to operate display window 53 of FIG. 2. An output module 87 is provided and contains circuitry (sound card) adapted to enabling audio to be heard via a connection
to speaker units. An input module 90 is provided and contains required circuitry for enabling data input to Internet radio 43 while switched to input mode as previously described with reference to FIG. 2. Display module 89, output module 87, and input
module 90 are also connected to bus structure 75.
It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the internal components of Internet radio 43 as described herein may vary in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, some memory
may be provided in the form of removable cards as is known in the art. Memory may also be provided in the form of a RAM/ROM mix in addition to NVRAM. Added functions may require additional modular components while an Internet radio of a simplest form
may require fewer components. The only requirement for internal architecture is that it contain basic elements that allow for booting the device, and controlling the basic dedicated functions and operations of Internet radio 43.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating software capability of the Internet radio device of FIG. 2. A software package 93 is provided and adapted for enabling basic function and operation of Internet radio 43 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. The inventor intends that package 93 and components thereof be construed as exemplary as other embodiments may contain differing components.
A system BIOS 95 is provided and adapted for booting up Internet radio 43. In this case, BIOS 95 may be very basic in comparison to BIOS systems found in more complex computers having varied functions. BIOS 95, in this embodiment, is limited to
booting to a mini-operating system 97. Mini-operating system 97 contains minimum functionality as may be required for operating other dedicated components such as a modem application 99, an Internet access application 101, an audio browser application
103, and an audio player application 105.
Operating system 97 may be a modified (stripped down) version of a known operating system such as Windows CETM. In another embodiment, operating system 97 may be provided in the form of a new proprietary system dedicated for the purpose of
enabling Internet radio according to an embodiment of the present invention. Operating system 97 contains all of the necessary communication drivers and system components needed to work with other installed components according to media and system
protocols.
Modem software 99 contains all of the necessary components for operating a modem such as modem 49 of FIG. 1. Modem speeds and other protocols may vary according to implementation and exact model or brand of modem however a minimum modem speed of
28.8 kps is sufficient for downloading Intern | | |
