Audio visual player apparatus and system and method of content distribution using the same

Abstract

A system is presented providing content to a plurality of handheld devices (including musical selections). The devices can access a server over the Internet via a Wi-Fi or other similar wireless interconnection and can download songs requested by a user from the server or from other users using, e.g., a P2P protocol. All downloads may be governed by applicable DRM rules. Content and playlists may also be pushed by a server from other sources and means including, e.g., podcasting, based on predetermined rules, favorite preferences of users, and other criteria.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 807,840 filed Jul. 20, 2006, and 60 / 943,675 filed Jun. 13, 2007 and is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 10 / 953,746 filed Sep. 29, 2004, all incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] a. Field of Invention [0003] The present invention relates to the field of digital audio and video player devices that are preferably portable and receive content either from a secure subscription-based service, “a-la-carte” content delivery service, or from other participant devices, and more particularly to a portable player apparatus that is in wireless communications with an Internet-based file server and / or to a peer player apparatus, at least periodically. The present invention also relates to a system and method for delivery and management of such content to such devices, and improvements thereto. [0004] b. Description of the Pri...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the device disclosed in the '746 application consists of a portable wireless audio and/or video player apparatus (which is preferably pocket-sized) having one or more of the following elements: a peer-to-peer audio and/or video data transfer module to allow communications with another wireless audio and/or video player apparatus; a wireless communication link to an Internet-connected base, a communication software module for requesting one or more audio and/or video data files from an Internet-based database server via the Internet-connected base station; a first security means for enabling the downloading and storage of the requested files; a second security means for the management and playing of the stored files; and one or more software modules for interfacing with a user to effect the foregoing features using an easy-to-understand interface. More specifically, the player apparatus is able to function as a standalone device to generate, search and obtain new audio and/or video digital data files (containing content and associated metadata (as defined below)) wirelessly over the Internet, without the need to

Problems solved by technology

However, due to computational requirements, consumers were generally only able to access and use compressed and uncompressed digital audio and video on their personal laptop and desktop computers (except for conventional commercially-sold pre-recorded CDs and DVDs, which were playable on standard players connected to home stereos and the like).

This severely limited portable use and access to such digital audio and video content in that it required the user to be present at or near his or her computer to see and/or hear the playback, which typically could only be through speakers and/or a screen internal to or connected to the computer and not easily transported in digital format to more favorable listening environments, such as the user's car.

Disadvantageously, however, data transfer and advanced sorting and sequencing of selections are difficult or impossible for a user to accomplish unless the DMP is connected to the computer, which does not allow the user to obtain new content or to make other desirable modifications to the content stored on the DMP, such as easily modifying the sequence of the content selections stored on the device while the player device is not connected to the computer.

Further, in the case of audio, these players typically do not enable a non-technical user to create and manage custom “playlists” (i.e., fixed song sequences), such that a user can easily develop and use a variety of personalized playlists for use at different times. Also disadvantageously, the display and user interface on these audio devices is typically limited in size, involves the use of multi-functional buttons which are complex for many users and is not touch-sensitive, thereby preventing non-expert users from easily viewing and modifying the listing and sequence of audio tracks stored on the DMP.

A further disadvantage of the prior art is that users are typically required to select content selections one-by-one and then to add them to the device.

This requirement creates an inconvenience for the user since typically the user may prefer

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