System and method for providing telephonic access to an audio stream

Abstract

System for providing telephonic access to an audio stream comprises an audio transmitting apparatus for transmitting the audio stream from its audio source output to a telephone network, and providing more and more control signals for operating more and more audio source controls. A system for providing telephonic access to an audio stream comprises a computer connected to or integral with a first telephone modem, an internet connection, an accessor, an audio stream generator, an audio source output, a controller, and a DTMF interface device for passing the audio stream from the audio connection to a telephone network. System for providing telephonic access to an audio stream comprises one or more audio transmitting apparatuses, a multi switch, a telephone switch, and an audio stream server.

1 . A system for providing telephonic access to an audio stream, comprising an audio transmitting apparatus, the audio transmitting apparatus having one or more channels for providing an audio stream, an audio output for providing a connection to the audio stream, and at least one or more controls for powering the audio transmitting apparatus, selecting a channel and/or adjusting a volume level, a telephone network interface for establishing a communication circuit with the telephone network and bridging the audio stream from the audio transmitting apparatus to the telephone network with the communication circuit, and a DTMF interface device for monitoring the communication circuit for DTMF signals from a caller's telephone via the telephone network, correlating the DTMF signals with a predetermined control function, and controlling the audio transmitting apparatus by providing one or more control signals to the one or more controls of the audio transmitting apparatus, whereby a caller dials a telephone number assigned to the telephone network interface, the telephone network interface detects a ring on the telephone line and establishes a communication circuit with the telephone network and bridges the audio stream from the audio transmitting apparatus to the telephone network with the communication circuit, the DTMF interface device monitors the communication circuit for DTMF signals from the caller's telephone, the DTMF signals sent from the caller's telephone are correlated with a predetermined control function and used to control the audio transmitting apparatus by providing one or more control signals to the one or more controls of the audio transmitting apparatus. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telephone network interface comprises a hook switch for opening or closing the communication circuit with the telephone network, a ring detector for detecting an incoming call from the telephone network and communicating to close the hook switch, a line voltage peak/drop detector for detecting a line drop, and communicating to open the hook switch. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , the DTMF interface device further comprising a DTMF monitor for detecting one or more DTMF signals and converting said DTMF signal into a digital signal, a DTMF correlator for making a comparison of the one or more digital signals with a predetermined control function, and a controller responsive to the comparison made by the DTMF correlator for controlling operation of the audio transmitting apparatus by generating and sending control signals to the one or more of the controls of the audio transmitting apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , the DTMF interface device further comprising an access controller for allowing or denying access to the DTMF interface device and/or the audio stream. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the DTMF monitor is configured for momentary output. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an equalizer/compressor for normalizing signals from the audio output of the audio transmitting apparatus to provide optimal sound quality. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising an audio output signal reducer for reducing signals from the audio output when a DTMF signal is detected. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the equalizer/compressor a muter for momentarily reduces signals from the audio output when a DTMF signal is detected. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of optoisolators connected to the audio transmitting apparatus, disposed to receive signals from the controller and send responsive signals to the one or more of the controls of the audio transmitting apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a remote control learner circuit disposed to receive the one or more control signals from the controller and send responsive signals to the one or more of the controls of the audio transmitting apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a recording device for recording an audio or audio/video output from the audio transmitting apparatus, said recording device being in communication with the audio transmitting apparatus and disposed to react in response to one or more control signals from the DTMF interface device to the audio transmitting apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . A system for providing telephonic access to an audio stream comprising a computer, the computer connected to, or integral with, a first telephone modem, the computer including an internet connection, an accessor for allowing the computer to access content from the internet connection or from a storage device accessible by the computer, an audio stream generator/extractor/converter for generating/extracting/converting an audio stream from said content, an audio source output for providing an audio connection to the audio stream, and a controller for selecting the content and/or adjusting a volume level of the audio stream and a DTMF interface device for passing the audio stream from the audio connection to a telephone network and providing one or more command signals to the controller, the DTMF interface device having a hook switch for establishing a communication circuit with the telephone network and/or bridging the audio stream with the communication circuit, and the DTMF interface device having a DTMF decoder for monitoring the communication circuit for DTMF signals from a user's telephone via the telephone network, reading said signals, and translating the DTMF signals into a command signal for use by the computer and/or the controller, wherein when a caller dials a telephone line assigned to the first telephone modem of the computer, the first telephone modem and/or the computer detects a ring on the telephone line and passes a control signal to the DTMF interface device which operates the hook switch to open the communication circuit, the DTMF decoder thereafter monitors the communication circuit for DTMF signals and translates said DTMF signals into a command signal for use by the controller or the computer, which is programmed to select, or direct the accessor to select, among the one or more web pages and/or adjust the volume level of the audio stream, and the communication circuit, being connected to the audio connection, passes the audio stream back to the caller. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an authenticator for determining whether to allow or disallow access to the audio stream or communication circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the authenticator comprises a caller identification detector and an access permission table. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the authenticator comprises a DTMF access code promptor and an access permission table, whereby the DTMF access code promptor requests the access code from the caller, the DTMF decoder reads said access code and passes said access code, or its digital equivalent, to the computer for comparison with the access permission table. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , the DTMF interface connected to the telephone line and connected to a control port of the computer, configured to receive the control signal for operation of the hook switch to open the communication circuit, and configured to bridge the audio stream with said communication circuit via the audio connection or the control port. 
     
     
         17 . A system for providing telephonic access to an audio stream comprising: one or more audio sources providing one or more audio streams, a multi switch for connecting the one or more audio streams from the one or more audio sources with at least one audio stream server, and a telephone switch for connecting the at least one audio stream server with one or more telephone lines, whereby a caller accesses a telephone line and dials a telephone number designated to be received by the telephone switch, the telephone switch connects the telephone line with the at least one audio stream server, the at least one audio stream server accesses a desired audio stream from the one or more audio streams via the multi switch, and connects the desired audio stream with to the telephone line. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a menu generator that provides the caller with a selection of audio streams and a corresponding DTMF key by which the caller can press to select a desired audio stream from the selection of audio streams. 
     
     
         19 . A method for providing telephonic access to an audio stream comprising: providing an audio transmitting apparatus, the audio transmitting apparatus having one or more channels for providing an audio stream, an audio source output for conveying the audio stream to a DTMF interface device, and one or more controls for powering the audio source, selecting among one or more channels, and/or adjusting a volume level, establishing a communication circuit between the DTMF interface device and a caller's telephone via a telephone network, passing the audio stream to the communication circuit, and operating the one or more controls with the user caller's telephone. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the establishing a communication circuit step comprises detecting an incoming call from the telephone network and operating a hook switch to complete the communication circuit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the passing the audio stream to the communication circuit step comprises bridging the audio source output with the communication circuit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising monitoring the communication circuit for one or more DTMF signals. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising correlating the one or more DTMF signals with a control function. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising sending one or more control signals to the one or more controls. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising detecting a line drop and operating the hook switch to close the communications circuit. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the passing step is predicated on first allowing or denying the communication circuit access to the DTMF interface device and/or the audio stream. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising reading a caller identification number associated with the user telephone. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising reading a DTMF access code. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising normalizing the audio source output signal. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising momentarily reducing the audio source output signal when a DTMF signal is detected. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the controls are operated by being connected to optoisolators, the optoisolators are disposed to receive the one or more control signals and send responsive signals to the one or more audio source controls. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the controls are operated by a remote control learner circuit disposed to receive the one or more control signals and send responsive signals to the audio transmitting apparatus. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising recording the audio stream. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the recording step is initiated by one or more DTMF signals. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising recording a video stream or audio/video stream. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the recording step is initiated by one or more DTMF signals. 
     
     
         37 . A method for providing telephonic access to an audio stream comprising:
 providing a computer, the computer connected to, or integral with, a first telephone modem, establishing a communication circuit with a telephone network, connecting the computer to the internet, accessing content via the internet connection or from the computer, generating, extracting, and/or converting the audio stream from the content, and bridging the audio stream with the communication circuit.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising monitoring the communication circuit for one or more DTMF signals, reading the one or more DTMF signals, translating the one or more DTMF signals into a command signal, and selecting the content and/or adjusting a volume level of the audio stream. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising the step of allowing or disallowing access to the audio stream or communication circuit. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of allowing or disallowing access is accomplished with a caller identification detector and an access permission table. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of allowing or disallowing access comprises prompting a caller for an access code, reading the access code, and passing the access code, or a digital equivalent of the access code to the computer for comparison with an access permission table. 
     
     
         42 . A method for providing telephonic access to an audio stream comprising providing one or more audio streams from one or more audio transmitting apparatuses, connecting the one or more audio streams from the one or more audio transmitting apparatuses with at least one audio stream server, and connecting the at least one audio stream server with one or more telephone lines. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the connecting the one or more audio streams from the one or more audio transmitting apparatuses with at least one audio stream server is accomplished with a multi switch. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the connecting the at least one audio stream server with one or more telephone lines step is done with a telephone switch. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , comprising accessing a telephone and dialing a telephone number that is designated to communicate with the telephone switch. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising selecting an audio stream. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising the step of allowing or disallowing access to the audio stream or communication circuit. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of allowing or disallowing access is accomplished with a caller identification detector and an access permission table. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of allowing or disallowing access comprises prompting a caller for an access code, reading the access code, and passing the access code, or a digital equivalent of the access code to the telephone switch or computer for comparison with an access permission table. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a ping detector for detecting a request made by the caller for the system to initiate a telephone call to the caller's telephone and establish the communication circuit connecting the audio transmit apparatus with the caller's telephone. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the connecting the at least on audio stream step is initiated by receiving a request or ping from a caller to initiate a telephone call by dialing the caller's telephone thereby connecting the at least on audio stream server with the caller's telephone. 
     
     
         52 - 80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 42 , further including the steps of charging a fee for telephonically accessing the one or more audio streams via the at least one audio stream server, and collecting the fee. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 42 , the audio stream being directed specifically to ethnic groups, religious groups, special interests groups, and/or minority groups previously not served by conventional broadcasters.