Method and system for implementing an internet radio device for receiving and /or transmitting media information

Abstract

A method and system for implementing an Internet radio device for receiving and/or transmitting audio information over the Internet. The Internet radio device can be implemented as a stand alone electronic radio device which is coupled to the Internet or the Internet radio device can be implemented as a software package operable on a host computer system. The Internet radio device does not require a browser for interfacing with other Internet transmitters (“Internet radio station transmitters”). The Internet radio includes a graphical user interface (GUI) with which a user can interface in order to receive audio radio programming from an Internet radio station transmitter. The radio device receives a list of Internet radio station transmitters that are registered with a chaincast manager (CCM), also coupled to the Internet. The GUI renders this list to the user. The user can sort or select from this list based on desired language, country, or station names. To hear a radio program, a user can select a station from this list. Data received by a radio device can be retransmitted in chaincast mode from the radio device to other radio devices that want to listen to the same radio program. In Ham radio mode, one radio device can select another radio device to be the “radio station,” in which case a communication channel is opened between the radio devices so that voice and/or other digitally encoded information (e.g., video, HTML documents, Web pages, multi-media, etc.) can be exchanged between the radio devices. In this mode, the GUI contains a “transmit” button or key. The radio device may also be configured for receiving secondary information content (e.g., advertisement, emergency information, community information, etc.) to be rendered independently of the radio broadcast information content.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A communication system comprising: 
 an electronic device for coupling to the Internet and for rendering a graphical user interface on a display screen, said graphical user interface resembling a physical radio in appearance and comprising:    a first selection tool for selecting a criterion from a group of criteria;    a display region for displaying a list of registered Internet radio broadcasters that are coupled to the Internet and satisfy said criterion selected by said first selection tool; and    a second selection tool allowing selection of a selected Internet radio broadcaster of said list of registered Internet radio broadcasters; and    wherein said electronic device, responsive to said second selection tool, is for receiving digital signals representing audio programming from said selected Internet radio broadcaster via the Internet without utilizing an Internet browser and further is for rendering audible said digital signals.    
     
     
         2 . A communication system as described in  claim 1  wherein said electronic device comprises a host computer system operating software instructions which realize an Internet radio.  
     
     
         3 . A communication system as described in  claim 1  wherein said group of criteria of said first selection tool includes country and language of said registered Internet radio broadcasters.  
     
     
         4 . A communication system as described in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first plurality of electronic devices coupled to the Internet and for receiving digital signals representing said audio programming from said selected Internet radio broadcaster, for rendering audible said digital signals and for selectively retransmitting said digital signals to a first group of electronic devices within a second plurality of electronic devices; and  
 wherein said first group of electronic devices of said second plurality of electronic devices are for receiving and rendering audible said digital signals representing said audio programming and are also for selectively retransmitting said digital signals to a second group of electronic devices of said second plurality of electronic devices.  
 
     
     
         5 . A communication system as described in  claim 4  wherein each of said Internet radio broadcasters is for originating respective audio programming and further comprising a chaincast manager coupled to the Internet and for registering said Internet radio broadcasters and, responsive to selections made by said electronic devices, for scheduling information transfers from said Internet radio broadcasters to said first plurality of electronic devices and for scheduling information transfers of said respective audio programming between electronic devices of said first and second plurality of electronic devices.  
     
     
         6 . A communication system as described in  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of secondary broadcasters coupled to the Internet, each for originating respective secondary broadcast information, and wherein said chaincast manager is also for registering said plurality of secondary broadcasters and, independent of said electronic devices, for scheduling information transfers from said secondary broadcasters to said first plurality of electronic devices and for scheduling information transfers of said respective secondary broadcast information between electronic devices of said first and second plurality of electronic devices.  
     
     
         7 . A communication system as described in  claim 5  wherein said chaincast manager is also for supplying a respective electronic device with a list of all registered Internet broadcasters responsive to a request by said respective electronic device for said list.  
     
     
         8 . A communication system as described in  claim 5  wherein said digital signals also include digitally encoded audio/visual information representing audio/visual programming.  
     
     
         9 . A communication system as described in  claim 5  wherein said digital signals also include HTML documents.  
     
     
         10 . A communication system comprising: 
 an Internet radio device comprising: 
 a processor coupled to a bus;  
 a memory device coupled to said bus;  
 an interface coupled to said bus and for coupling to the Internet;  
 a first selector for selecting a criterion from a group of criteria;  
 a display device for displaying a list of registered Internet radio broadcasters that are coupled to the Internet and that satisfy said criterion selected by said first selector; and  
 a second selector allowing the selection of a selected Internet radio broadcaster of said list of registered Internet radio broadcasters, and wherein said Internet radio device, responsive to said second selector, is for receiving digital signals representing audio programming from said selected Internet radio broadcaster via the Internet without utilizing an Internet browser and further is for rendering audible said digital signals.  
   
     
     
         11 . A communication system as described in  claim 10  wherein said group of criteria of said first selector includes country and language of said registered Internet radio broadcasters.  
     
     
         12 . A communication system as described in  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a first plurality of Internet radio devices coupled to the Internet and for receiving digital signals representing said audio programming from said selected Internet radio broadcaster, for rendering audible said digital signals and for selectively retransmitting said digital signals to a first group of Internet radio devices within a second plurality of Internet radio devices; and  
 wherein said first group of Internet radio devices of said second plurality of Internet radio devices are for receiving and rendering audible said digital signals representing said audio programming and are also for selectively retransmitting said digital signals to a second group of Internet radio devices of said second plurality of Internet radio devices.  
 
     
     
         13 . A communication system as described in  claim 12  wherein each of said Internet radio broadcasters is for originating respective audio programming and further comprising a chaincast manager coupled to the Internet and for registering said Internet radio broadcasters and, responsive to selections made by said Internet radio devices, for scheduling information transfers from said Internet radio broadcasters to said first plurality of Internet radio devices and for scheduling information transfers of said respective audio programming between Internet radio devices of said first and second plurality of Internet radio devices.  
     
     
         14 . A communication system as described in  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of secondary broadcasters coupled to the Internet, each for originating respective secondary broadcast information, and wherein said chaincast manager is also for registering said plurality of secondary broadcasters and, independent of said Internet radio devices, for scheduling information transfers from said secondary broadcasters to said first plurality of Internet radio devices and for scheduling information transfers of said respective secondary broadcast information between Internet radio devices of said first and second plurality of Internet radio devices.  
     
     
         15 . A communication system as described in  claim 13  wherein said chaincast manager is also for supplying a respective Internet radio device with a list of all registered Internet broadcasters in response to a request by said respective Internet radio device for said list.  
     
     
         16 . A communication system as described in  claim 13  wherein said digital signals also include digitally encoded audio/visual information representing audio/visual programming.  
     
     
         17 . A communication system as described in  claim 13  wherein said digital signals also include HTML documents.  
     
     
         18 . A communication system comprising: 
 a first electronic device rendering a graphical user interface on a display screen, said graphical user interface resembling a physical radio in appearance and comprising:    a first selection tool for selecting a criterion from a group of criteria;    a display region for displaying a list of registered electronic devices that are coupled to the Internet and satisfy said criterion selected by said first selection tool;    a second selection tool allowing selection of a selected electronic device of said list of registered electronic devices; and    a transmit tool for initiating transmission of digital signals representing audio information from said first electronic device to said selected electronic device via the Internet; and    wherein said first electronic device, responsive to said second selection tool, is for receiving digital signals representing audio information from said selected electronic device via the Internet without utilizing an Internet browser and further is for rendering audible said digital signals.    
     
     
         19 . A communication system as described in  claim 18  wherein said first electronic device comprises a host computer system operating software instructions which realize an Internet Ham radio.  
     
     
         20 . A communication system as described in  claim 18  wherein said group of criteria of said first selection tool includes country and language of said registered electronic devices.  
     
     
         21 . A communication system as described in  claim 18  further comprising a chaincast manager coupled to said Internet and for registering said electronic devices and for scheduling information transfers between said first electronic device and said selected electronic device responsive to requests generated by said first electronic device and said selected electronic device.  
     
     
         22 . A communication system as described in  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of secondary broadcasters coupled to the Internet, each for originating respective secondary broadcast information, and wherein said chaincast manager is also for registering said plurality of secondary broadcasters and, independent of said electronic devices, for scheduling information transfers of said second broadcast information to said electronic devices.  
     
     
         23 . A communication system as described in  claim 21  wherein said chaincast manager is also for supplying said first electronic device with said list of all registered Internet broadcasters responsive to a request by said first electronic device for said list.  
     
     
         24 . A communication system as described in  claim 18  wherein said digital signals also include digitally encoded audio/visual information representing audio/visual programming.  
     
     
         25 . A communication system as described in  claim 18  wherein said digital signals also include HTML documents.  
     
     
         26 . A communication system comprising: 
 a first Internet radio device comprising: 
 a processor coupled to a bus;  
 a memory device coupled to said bus;  
 an interface coupled to said bus and for coupling to the Internet;  
 a first selector for selecting a criterion from a group of criteria;  
 a display device for displaying a list of registered Internet radio device that are coupled to the Internet and that satisfy said criterion selected by said first selector;  
 a second selector allowing selection of a selected Internet radio device of said list of registered Internet radio devices; and  
 a transmit key for initiating transmission of digital signals representing audio information from said first Internet radio device to said selected Internet radio device and wherein said first Internet radio device, responsive to said second selector, is for receiving digital signals representing audio programming from said selected Internet radio device via the Internet without utilizing an Internet browser and further is for rendering audible said digital signals.  
   
     
     
         27 . A communication system as described in  claim 26  wherein said group of criteria of said first selector includes country and language of said registered Internet radio devices.  
     
     
         28 . A communication system as described in  claim 26  further comprising a chaincast manager coupled to said Internet and for registering said Internet radio devices and for scheduling information transfers between said first Internet radio device and said selected Internet radio device responsive to requests generated by said first Internet radio device and said selected Internet radio device.  
     
     
         29 . A communication system as described in  claim 28  further comprising a plurality of secondary broadcasters coupled to the Internet, each for originating respective secondary broadcast information, and wherein said chaincast manager is also for registering said plurality of secondary broadcasters and, independent of said Internet radio devices, for scheduling information transfers of said second broadcast information to said Internet radio device.  
     
     
         30 . A communication system as described in  claim 26  wherein said chaincast manager is also for supplying said first Internet radio device with said list of all registered Internet radio devices responsive to a request by said first Internet radio device for said list.  
     
     
         31 . A communication system as described in  claim 26  wherein said digital signals also include digitally encoded audio/visual information representing audio/visual programming.  
     
     
         32 . A communication system as described in  claim 26  wherein said digital signals also include HTML documents.