Interactive Sound Reproducing

Abstract

An audio system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network.

1 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . An audio system comprising:
 (a) a sound reproduction device configured to operably connect to a plurality of remote digital music sources, the remote digital music sources comprising at least (i) user-defined playlists of digital music files and (ii) internet radio sites, the sound reproduction device comprising:
 an enclosure; 
 a digital-to-analog converter located in the enclosure, the digital-to-analog converter configured to receive a digital representation of content from the remote digital music sources and convert to analog form; 
 a powered speaker located within the enclosure; and 
 a set of preset indicators located on the enclosure, wherein each indicator in the set of preset indicators is configured to have assigned to it an entity associated with the plurality of digital music sources, wherein the assignable entities include at least individual internet radio sites and particular user-defined playlists of digital music files; and 
   (b) a software program configured to run on a separate computer, wherein the software program provides a user interface configured to present one or more sets of preset indicators, wherein at least one of the sets of the preset indicators presented in the user interface corresponds to the set of preset indicators on the enclosure.   
     
     
         53 . The audio system of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 a remote control device configured to control one or more user functions of the sound reproduction device, the remote control device comprising a set of preset indicators corresponding to the preset indicators located on the enclosure.   
     
     
         54 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein a button in the set of preset indicators on the enclosure may be assigned to both an individual internet radio site and a particular user-defined playlist of digital music files, wherein the assigned individual internet radio sites is selected when internet radio is selected as an audio source and the particular user-defined playlist of digital music files is selected when digital music files is selected as an audio source. 
     
     
         55 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the sound reproduction device further comprises an internal audio source. 
     
     
         56 . The audio system of  claim 55 , wherein the internal audio source comprises a broadcast radio receiver. 
     
     
         57 . The audio system of  claim 56 , wherein the set of preset indicators on the enclosure are also assignable by the user to broadcast radio stations. 
     
     
         58 . The audio system of  claim 57 , wherein an indicator in the set of preset indicators on the enclosure may be assigned to both a broadcast radio station and an entity associated with a remote digital source, wherein the assigned broadcast radio station is selected when broadcast radio is the audio source and an entity associated with a remote digital source is selected when the remote digital source is the audio source. 
     
     
         59 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the digital music files that make up the user-defined playlists are stored on the computer. 
     
     
         60 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the digital music files that make up the user-defined playlists are stored on a storage device external to the computer. 
     
     
         61 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the plurality of digital music sources are provided via the computer. 
     
     
         62 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the access to the internet radio sites is provided via the computer. 
     
     
         63 . The audio system of  claim 53 , wherein the software program automatically assigns the same user-selected entity to the same indicator in the set of preset indicators on the remote control, enclosure, and user interface. 
     
     
         64 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the sound reproduction device is physically coupled to the plurality of digital music sources. 
     
     
         65 . The audio system of  claim 64 , wherein the sound reproduction device is physically coupled to the plurality of digital music sources via a wire. 
     
     
         66 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the set of preset indicators on the enclosure comprise physical buttons. 
     
     
         67 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the user interface is further configured to present a source selection region that enables a user to select an audio source to be played by the sound reproduction device. 
     
     
         68 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the user interface is further configured to present a first assemblage of digital music files in a first set of groups according to a first type of metadata associated with the digital music files, and, in response to a user selection of a group in the first assemblage, present a second assemblage of music files in the selected group, wherein the second assemblage presents digital music files in the selected group in a second set of groups according to a second type of metadata associated with the digital music files in the second group. 
     
     
         69 . The audio system of  claim 52 , wherein the computer is a personal computer. 
     
     
         70 . A sound reproduction device configured to operably connect to a plurality of remote digital music sources, the remote digital music sources comprising at least digital music files and internet radio stations, wherein the sound reproduction system comprises:
 an enclosure;   a powered speaker located within the enclosure; and   a digital-to-analog converter located in the enclosure, the digital-to-analog converter configured to receive a digital representation of content from the remote digital music source and convert to analog form;   a set of preset indicators located on the enclosure, wherein each indicator in the set of preset buttons is configured to have assigned to it an entity associated with the plurality of digital music sources, wherein the assignable entities include at least individual internet radio sites and particular user-defined playlists of digital music files;   wherein an entity associated with a preset indicator on the enclosure may be selected by a user by at least any of the following: (i) selecting the corresponding preset indicator on the enclosure; (ii) selecting a corresponding preset indicator on a separate remote control associated with the sound reproduction device; and (iii) selecting a corresponding preset indicator presented in a user interface on a separate computer operably coupled to the sound reproduction device.   
     
     
         71 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 70 , wherein the plurality of remote digital music sources are provided by the computer. 
     
     
         72 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 70 , wherein an indicator in the set of preset indicators on the enclosure may be assigned to both an individual internet radio site and a particular user-defined playlist of digital music files, wherein the assigned individual internet radio site is selected when internet radio is selected as an audio source and the particular playlist is selected when digital music files is selected as an audio source. 
     
     
         73 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 70 , wherein sound reproduction device further includes an internal audio source. 
     
     
         74 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 73 , wherein the internal audio source comprises a broadcast radio receiver. 
     
     
         75 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 74 , wherein the set of user-assignable preset indicators on the enclosure are also assignable by the user to broadcast radio stations. 
     
     
         76 . The sound reproduction device system of  claim 75 , wherein an indicator in the set of preset indicators on the enclosure may be assigned to both a broadcast radio station and an entity associated with a remote digital source, wherein the assigned broadcast radio station is selected when internet radio is selected as an audio source and the entity associated with a remote digital source is selected when the remote digital source is selected as an audio source. 
     
     
         77 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 70 , wherein the sound reproduction device is physically coupled to the computer. 
     
     
         78 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 77 , wherein the sound reproduction device is physically coupled to the computer with a wire. 
     
     
         79 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 70 , wherein the computer is a personal computer. 
     
     
         80 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 70 , wherein the set of preset indicators on the enclosure comprise physical buttons. 
     
     
         81 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 70 , wherein the digital music files that make up the user-defined playlists are stored on a storage device external to the computer. 
     
     
         82 . The sound reproduction device of  claim 70 , wherein the access to the internet radio sites is provided via the computer. 
     
     
         83 . A computer program product, tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
 present on a display a user interface that includes a set of preset indicators, wherein each preset indicator in the set is configured to be assigned by a user to an entity associated with any one of a plurality of digital music sources, comprising at least (i) internet radio sites and (ii) user-defined playlists of digital music files;   wherein the user interface is further configured to present assemblages of digital music files available to the user for playback, wherein the digital music files each contain metadata characterizing the respective music file and the user interface is further configured to present:   a first assemblage of digital music files in a first set of groups according to a first type of metadata associated with the digital music files, and, in response to a user selection of a group in the first assemblage, present a second assemblage of music files in the selected group, wherein the second assemblage presents digital music files in the selected group in a second set of groups according to a second type of metadata associated with the digital music files in the second group.   
     
     
         84 . The computer program product of  claim 83 , comprising instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to:
 present a source selection region in the user interface that is configured to permit a user to select one of the plurality of digital music sources for playback.   
     
     
         85 . The computer program product of  claim 84 , wherein the digital music files are stored in a storage device internal to the computer that presents the user interface. 
     
     
         86 . The computer program product of  claim 84 , wherein the digital music files are stored in a storage device external to the computer that presents the user interface.