Patents

U.S. Patent 6,192,340 ("Radio")
Issued: Feb. 20, 2001
Title: Integration of music from a personal library with real-time information

Abstract:
An apparatus capable of, and a method of, playing audio, the apparatus comprising communicating, processing, and playing means for, and the method comprising the steps of: communicating a user's information preferences to an information provider; receiving, from the information provider, informational items that are responsive to the user's information references; interleaving and sequencing, for the user, a playing of the received informational items with a playing of a plurality of musical items included in an audio library of the user; and playing, for the user and responsive to the interleaving and sequencing, the received informational items within a playing of the plurality of musical items; and wherein the playing comprises a voice synthesizing of an at least one of informational item; wherein the playing is responsive to a schedule preferences of the user; wherein a verified apparent listening of a playing of an informational item is associated with a credit; and/or wherein a user's reception of a communication unrelated to the informational items is integrated within a playing of musical items.

Claims:

1. An apparatus capable of playing audio, the apparatus comprising:

• communicating means for communicating a user's information preferences to a remote information provider, and for receiving informational items that are responsive to said user's information preferences;


• processing means for alternating and sequencing, for said user, a playing of the received informational items with a playing of a plurality of musical items included in an audio library of said user; and


• playing means for playing, for said user and responsive to said alternating and sequencing, said received informational items within a playing of said plurality of musical items.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a playing of at least one informational item comprises a voice synthesizing of data obtained from an internet-based information provider.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a playing of an at least one informational item is responsive to a schedule preferences of said user; and wherein a playing of musical items is responsive to a tracking of a multiple playing of a musical item.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a verified apparent listening of a playing of an at least one informational item is associated with a credit given to said user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a communication for said user and unrelated to the received informational items is received and integrated within a playing of musical items.

6. An apparatus capable of playing audio, the apparatus comprising:

• communication means for receiving a plurality of informational items from a remote information provider;


• processing means for selecting informational items from said plurality of informational items responsive to a user's information preferences, and for alternating and sequencing, for said user, a playing of the selected informational items with a playing of a plurality of musical items included in an audio library of said user; and


• playing means for playing, for said user and responsive to said alternating and sequencing, said selected informational items within a playing of said plurality of musical items.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a playing of at least one informational item comprises a voice synthesizing of data obtained from an internet-based information provider.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a playing of an at least one informational item is responsive to a schedule preferences of said user; and wherein a playing of at least one informational item is activated by a play control corresponding to a preestablished information preference.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a verified apparent listening of a playing of an at least one informational item is associated with a credit given to said user.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a communication for said user and unrelated to the received informational items is received and integrated within a playing of musical items.

11. A method of playing audio, the method comprising the steps of:

• communicating a user's information preferences to a remote information provider;


• receiving, from said information provider, informational items that are responsive to said user's information preferences;


• alternating and sequencing, for said user, a playing of the received informational items with a playing of a plurality of musical items included in an audio library of said user; and


• playing, for said user and responsive to said alternating and sequencing, said received informational items within a playing of said plurality of musical items.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a playing of at least one informational item comprises a voice synthesizing of data obtained from an internet-based information provider.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a playing of an at least one informational item is responsive to a schedule preferences of said user; and wherein a playing of musical items is responsive to a tracking of a multiple playing of a musical item.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein a verified apparent listening of a playing of an at least one informational item is associated with a credit given to said user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein a communication for said user and unrelated to the received informational items is received and integrated within a playing of musical items.

16. A method of playing audio, the method comprising the steps of:

• communicating, by means of a first apparatus, a user's information preferences to a remote information provider;


• receiving, from said information provider and by means of said first apparatus, informational items that are responsive to said information preferences;


• alternating and sequencing, for said user, at least some of the received informational items with a plurality of musical items included in an audio library of said user;


• downloading from said first apparatus to a second apparatus the alternated and sequenced informational and musical items; and


• playing, by means of said second apparatus, the downloaded alternated and sequenced informational and musical items.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a playing of at least one informational item comprises a voice synthesizing of data obtained from an internet-based information provider.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of said downloaded informational items is at least a portion of a previously broadcasted program.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein a verified apparent listening of a playing of an at least one informational item is associated with a debit.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein a communication for said user and unrelated to the received informational items is received and integrated within said playing.