Method and apparatus for creating and managing clusters of mobile audio devices
DC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a request to join a sharing group from a requesting media player device, the sharing group comprising a plurality of member media player devices each being associated with one of a plurality of users,enabling at least one of the plurality of users to vote to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group;
making a determination as to whether to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group based on at least one vote received from the at least one of the plurality of users;
adding the requesting media player device to the sharing group if the determination is made to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group;
wherein enabling the at least one of the plurality of users to vote comprises enabling a broadcasting user associated with one of the plurality of member media player devices operative to broadcast media content to others of the plurality of member media player devices in the sharing group to vote; and
making the determination as to whether to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group comprises permitting the requesting media player device to join the sharing group if the broadcasting user votes to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling access of a mobile audio device to a cluster of compatible devices. More particularly, the invention pertains to a method to establish communications between a portable audio player and one or more audio players within a cluster. By way of example, users can use identifiers and matching to decide whether to accept or reject a requesting audio player to join the cluster. Further, the identifiers may be stored on the audio players for future reference. Also, directional exchange of information can allow a user to visually select members of the cluster. In a further example, a mobile audio device is configured to communicate within a cluster of audio devices. In addition, the broadcasting responsibility can be transferred among members of the group.
442 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a request to join a sharing group from a requesting media player device, the sharing group comprising a plurality of member media player devices each being associated with one of a plurality of users, enabling at least one of the plurality of users to vote to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; making a determination as to whether to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group based on at least one vote received from the at least one of the plurality of users; adding the requesting media player device to the sharing group if the determination is made to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; wherein enabling the at least one of the plurality of users to vote comprises enabling a broadcasting user associated with one of the plurality of member media player devices operative to broadcast media content to others of the plurality of member media player devices in the sharing group to vote; and making the determination as to whether to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group comprises permitting the requesting media player device to join the sharing group if the broadcasting user votes to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group.
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2. A method comprising:
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receiving a request to join a sharing group from a requesting media player device, the sharing group comprising a plurality of member media player devices each being associated with one of a plurality of users; enabling at least one of the plurality of users to vote to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; making a determination as to whether to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group based on at least one vote received from the at least one of the plurality of users; adding the requesting media player device to the sharing group if the determination is made to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; wherein enabling the at least one of the plurality of users to vote comprises enabling the plurality of users to vote; and making the determination as to whether to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing, group comprises permitting the requesting media player device to join the sharing group only if all of the plurality of users vote to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group.
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3. A method comprising:
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receiving a request to join a sharing group from a requesting media player device, the sharing group comprising a plurality of member media player devices each being associated with one of a plurality of users; enabling at least one of the plurality of users to vote to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; making a determination as to whether to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group based on at least one vote received from the at least one of the plurality of users; adding the requesting media player device to the sharing group if the determination is made to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; wherein enabling the at least one of the plurality of users to vote comprises enabling the plurality of users to vote during a synchronized time window; and making the determination as to whether to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group comprises permitting the requesting media player device to join the sharing group if a majority of votes received from the plurality of users within the synchronized time window are votes to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A media player device comprising:
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a communication interface communicatively coupling the media player device to a network; and a control unit associated with the communication interface and adapted to; receive, from a requesting media player device, a request to join a sharing group of which the media player device is a member, the sharing group comprising a plurality of member media player devices including the media player device and each of the plurality of member media player devices being associated with one of a plurality of users; enable a broadcasting user associated with one of the plurality of member media player devices responsible for broadcasting media content to others of the plurality of member media player devices in the sharing group to vote; make a determination to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group if the broadcasting user votes to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; and add the requesting media player device to the sharing group if the determination is made to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group.
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12. A media player device comprising:
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a communication interface communicatively coupling the media player device to a network; and a control unit associated with the communication interface and adapted to; receive, from a requesting media player device, a request to join a sharing group of which the media player device is a member, the sharing group comprising a plurality of member media player devices including the media player device and each of the plurality of member media player devices being associated with one of a plurality of users; enable the plurality of users to vote; make a determination to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group only if all of the plurality of users vote to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; and add the requesting media player device to the sharing group if the determination is made to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group.
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13. A media player device comprising:
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a communication interface communicatively coupling the media player device to a network; and a control unit associated with the communication interface and adapted to; receive, from a requesting media player device, a request to join a sharing group of which the media player device is a member, the sharing group comprising a plurality of member media player devices including the media player device and each of the plurality of member media player devices being associated with one of a plurality of users; enable the plurality of users to vote during a synchronized time window; make a determination to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group if a majority of votes received from the plurality of users within the synchronized time window are votes to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group; and add the requesting media player device to the sharing group if the determination is made to permit the requesting media player device to join the sharing group. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeTunnel IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
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Original AssigneeSyncronation, Inc.
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InventorsGoldberg, David, Goldberg, Benjamin, Goldberg, Martha, Goldberg, Miriam, Simon, Neil
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Primary Examiner(s)Nguyen, Tu X
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Application NumberUS11/566,563Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,576 DaysField of Search455/3.06, 455/415, 455/502, 455/518, 455/2.01, 455/3.01, 463/9US Class Current455/3.06CPC Class CodesG10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic...G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission...G10H 1/40 RhythmG10H 2210/076 for extraction of timing, t...G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical...G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmissi...G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol...G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more a...H04H 60/58 of audio determination or d...H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aura...H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless lo...
