Method and apparatus for sharing streaming media links
Abstract
A method for a computer system having a display, an audio output device, and a user input device includes displaying a graphical user interface on the display, the graphical user interface including a tuning portion and a first, user-selectable icon, receiving a first user selection on the display, the first user selection of the tuning portion, determnining a selection of a pre-defined identifier in response to the first user selection, identifying a streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier outputting streaming media data from the streaming media source to the audio output device, receiving a second user selection on the display, the second user selection of the first user-selectable icon, determining a selection of a new identifier in response to the second user selection, associating the new identifier with the streaming media source, thereafter receiving a third user selection on the display, the third user selection of the tuning portion, determining another selection of the new identifier in response to the third user selection, identifying the streaming media source in response to the another selection of the new identifier, and thereafter outputting additional streaming media data from the streaming media source to the audio output device.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWhat is claimed is:
1. A method for a computer server comprises:
receiving a profile identifier from a first client computer;
receiving a pre-defined identifier from the first client computer, the pre-defined identifier determined in response to a first user selection of a graphical user interface on a display of the first client computer, the graphical user interface including a tuning portion and a first icon, the first user selection of the tuning portion;
determining a uniform resource locator for a streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier and in response to the profile identifier;
sending the uniform resource locator to the first client computer;
receiving a save request from the first client computer, the save request determined in response to a second user selection of the graphical user interface on the display of the first client computer, the second user selection of the first icon;
associating a new identifier with the pre-defined identifier, and the profile identifier in response to the save request;
storing the association among the new identifier, the pre-defined identifier, and the profile identifier; thereafter
receiving the profile identifier from the first client computer;
receiving the new identifier from the first client computer, the new identifier determined in response to a third user selection of the graphical user interface on the display of the first client computer, the third user selection of the tuning portion;
retrieving the pre-defined identifier in response to the profile identifier and the new identifier;
determining the uniform resource locator for the streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier; and
sending the uniform resource locator to the first client computer.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving the profile identifier from a second client computer;
receiving the new identifier from the second client computer, the new identifier determined in response to a first user selection of a graphical user interface on a display of the second client computer, the graphical user interface including a tuning portion and a first icon, the first user selection of the tuning portion;
retrieving the pre-defined identifier in response to the profile identifier and the new identifier;
determining the uniform resource locator for the streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier and in response to the profile identifier; and
sending the uniform resource locator to the second client computer.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the profile identifier comprises receiving a user name.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the pre-determined identifier comprises a first band identifier and a first station identifier.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the new identifier comprises a second band identifier and a second station identifier;
wherein the first band identifier is different from the second band identifier; and
wherein the first station identifier is different from the second station identifier.
6. The method of claim 2
wherein receiving the profile identifier from the first client computer comprises receiving the profile identifier from a first user at the first client computer; and
wherein receiving the profile identifier from the second client computer comprises receiving the profile identifier from a second user at the first client computer, the first user different from the second user.
7. A computer server having system, comprising:
a processor further comprises:; and
a tangible media coupled to the processor, the tangible media comprising having stored thereon:
information indicative of an association among a new identifier, a pre-defined identifier, and a profile identifier received from a first client computer; and
instruction executable by the computer system to cause the computer system to:
code that directs the processor to receive the profile identifier from a second client computer;
code that directs the processor to receive the new identifier from the second client computer, the new identifier having been determined in response to using a first user selection of a tuning portion of a graphical user interface on a display of the second client computer, the graphical user interface including a tuning portion, the first user selection of the tuning portion;
code that directs the processor to retrieve the pre-defined identifier in response to the received profile identifier and the received new identifier;
code that directs the processor tousing the pre-defined identifier, determine thea uniform resource locator for thea streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier; and
code that directs the processor to send the uniform resource locator to the second client computer.
8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the tangible media further comprises instructions are further executable to cause the computer system to:
code that directs the processor to receive the profile identifier from a third client computer;
code that directs the processor to receive the new identifier from the third client computer, the new identifier received from the third client computer having been determined in response to using a first user selection of a tuning portion of a graphical user interface on a display of the third client computer, the graphical user interface including a tuning portion and a first icon, the first user selection of the tuning portion;
code that directs the processor to retrieve the pre-defined identifier in response to the profile identifier and the new identifier received from the third client computer;
code that directs the processor tousing the pre-defined identifier, determine the uniform resource locator for the streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier and in response to the profile identifier; and
code that directs the processor to send the uniform resource locator to the third client computer.
9. The computer system of claim 8 wherein code that directs the processor to receive receiving the profile identifier comprises code that directs the processor to receive receiving a user name.
10. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the predetermined identifier comprises a first band identifier and a first station identifier.
11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein the new identifier comprises a second band identifier and a second station identifier;
wherein the first band identifier is different from the second band identifier; and
wherein the first station identifier is different from the second station identifier.
12. The computer system of claim 7
wherein the new identifier, the pre-defined identifier, and the profile identifier are from a first user at a first client computer; and
wherein code that directs the processor to receive the profile identifier from the second client computer comprises code that directs the processor to the instructions are further executable to cause the computer system to receive the profile identifier from a second user at the second client computer, wherein the first user is different from the second user.
13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the tangible media further comprises instructions are further executable to cause the computer system to:
code that directs the processor to receive another pre-defined identifier from the second client computer, the received other pre-defined identifier having been determined in response to using a second user selection of a tuning portion of the graphical user interface on the display of the second client computer, the second user selection of the tuning portion;
code that directs the processor tousing the other pre-defined identifier, determine another uniform resource locator for a streaming media source in response to the other pre-defined identifier; and
code that directs the processor to send the other uniform resource locator to the second client computer.
14. A method for a computer system comprises:
sending a request to a computer server, the request comprising an identifier associated with a first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising a band selection and a channel selection, the tuning data determined in response to input from a second user of a tuner portion of a remote tuner coupled to the computer system;
receiving a network address of a streaming media source from the computer server in response to the request, the network address determined in response to the identifier associated with the first user and the tuning data determined in response to the input from the second user;
requesting streaming media data from a content server at the network address;
decoding the streaming media data received from the content server to form a stream of audio data; and
outputting the audio data to speakers coupled to the computer system.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein decoding the streaming media data received from the content server also comprises:
decoding the streaming media data received from the content server to form a stream of video data; and
outputting the video data to a display coupled to the computer system.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the first user initiates the association of the tuning data and the network address.
17. The method of claim 14 further comprising
sending another request to the computer server, the another request comprising an identifier associated with a third user and the tuning data, the tuning data determined in response to input from the second user of the tuner portion of the remote tuner coupled to the computer system;
receiving another network address of another streaming media source from the computer server in response to the other request, the other network address determined in response to the identifier associated with the third user and the tuning data determined in response to the input from the second user;
requesting streaming media data from another content server at the other network address;
decoding the streaming media data received from the other content server to form another stream of audio data; and
outputting the other audio data to speakers coupled to the computer system;
wherein the network address and the other network address are different.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the third user initiates the association of the other tuning data and the other network address.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein the first user initiates the association of the tuning data and the network address.
20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
sending another request to the computer server, the another request comprising an identifier associated with a third user and additional tuning data, the additional tuning data determined in response to input from the second user of the tuner portion of the remote tuner coupled to the computer system;
receiving the network address of the streaming media source from the computer server in response to the other request, the network address determined in response to the identifier associated with the third user and the additional tuning data determined in response to the input from the second user;
requesting the streaming media data from the content server at the network address;
decoding the streaming media data received from the content server to form the stream of audio data; and
outputting the audio data to speakers coupled to the computer system.
21. A method comprising:
displaying a graphical user interface on a display of a client computer, the graphical user interface including a channel selector; sending, from the client computer, a request to a computer server, the request comprising an identifier associated with a first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by the first user using the graphical user interface; receiving, at the client computer, a network address of a streaming media source from the computer server in response to the request, the network address determined in response to the identifier associated with the first user and the tuning data; the client computer requesting streaming media data from a content server at the network address; and sending, from the client computer, a save request to the computer server to cause the computer server to associate the designated channel and network address with a different channel selectable on the graphical user interface, wherein the save request is sent in response to the first user selecting a save icon on the graphical user interface.
22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to:
receive a profile identifier from a first client computer; receive a pre-defined identifier from the first client computer, the pre-defined identifier determined in response to a first user selection of a graphical user interface on a display of the first client computer, the graphical user interface including a tuning portion and a first icon, the first user selection of the tuning portion; determine a uniform resource locator for a streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier and in response to the profile identifier; send the uniform resource locator to the first client computer; receive a save request from the first client computer, the save request determined in response to a second user selection of the graphical user interface on the display of the first client computer, the second user selection of the first icon; associate a new identifier with the pre-defined identifier, and the profile identifier in response to the save request; and store the association among the new identifier, the pre-defined identifier, and the profile identifier, and thereafter:
receive the profile identifier from the first client computer;
receive the new identifier from the first client computer, the new identifier determined in response to a third user selection of the graphical user interface on the display of the first client computer, the third user selection of the tuning portion;
retrieve the pre-defined identifier in response to the profile identifier and the new identifier;
determine the uniform resource locator for the streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier; and
send the uniform resource locator to the first client computer.
23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions are executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to:
send a request to a computer server, the request comprising an identifier associated with a first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising a band selection and a channel selection, the tuning data determined in response to input from a second user of a tuner portion of a remote tuner coupled to the computer system; receive a network address of a streaming media source from the computer server in response to the request, the network address determined in response to the identifier associated with the first user and the tuning data determined in response to the input from the second user; request streaming media data from a content server at the network address; decode the streaming media data received from the content server to form a stream of audio data; and output the audio data to speakers coupled to the computer system.
24. A method comprising:
displaying a graphical user interface on a display of a client device, the graphical user interface including a channel selector; receiving, at the client device, tuning data from a first user of the client device; sending, from the client device, a media request to a computer server, the media request specifying both the first user and the received tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by the first user using the channel selector of the graphical user interface; receiving, at the client device, a network address of a streaming media source from the computer server in response to the media request, the network address determined based on the tuning data associated with the first user; the client device requesting streaming media data from a content server at the network address; and the client device using the graphical user interface to send a save request to the computer server, wherein the save request is a request for the computer server to associate the designated channel and network address with a first channel selectable on the graphical user interface.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising sending the designated channel in addition to the save request to the computer server to cause the computer server to determine the first channel selectable on the graphical user interface and to associate the first channel with the designated channel and the corresponding network address.
26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:
determining the first channel selectable on the graphical user interface; associating the determined first channel with the designated channel selected by the first user; and sending the save request, the determined first channel, and the designated channel to the computer server.
27. The method of claim 24, further comprising storing the association of the designated channel and network address with the first channel of the graphical user interface.
28. The method of claim 24, wherein the first channel is a preferred media channel dedicated for storing a designated channel selected by the first user.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the preferred media channel is stored under a preferred media band selectable on the graphical user interface, wherein the preferred media band also stores additional preferred media channels.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of preferred media bands, each including a plurality of preferred media channels dedicated for storing a designated channel selected by the first user.
31. The method of claim 24, wherein the graphical user interface further includes a band selector, and wherein the tuning data includes an indication of a designated band and channel selected by the first user using the band selector and the channel selector of the graphical user interface.
32. The method of claim 24, wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of designated channels and a plurality of designated bands, wherein each of the designated channels is stored under a designated band.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the plurality of designated bands are classified by media categories.
34. The method of claim 32, wherein the plurality of designated bands are classified by musical genre.
35. The method of claim 32, wherein the designated channels are indicators for selectable streaming media sources.
36. The method of claim 32, wherein the designated channels are indicators for selectable radio stations.
37. The method of claim 24, after sending the save request to the computer server to associate the designated channel and network address with the first channel, the method further comprising:
receiving additional tuning data from the first user of the client device; sending a subsequent media request to the computer server, the media request specifying both the first user and the received tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of the first channel associated with the previously saved designated channel; receiving a network address of a streaming media source corresponding to the previously saved designated channel from the computer server in response to the subsequent media request, the network address determined based on the tuning data associated with the first user; and requesting streaming media data from a content server at the network address.
38. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving feedback from the first user regarding the requested media, and sending the received feedback to the computer server.
39. The method of claim 24, wherein the client device is one of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a game console, an Internet appliance, and a cellular phone.
40. The method of claim 24, further comprising the client device communicating with the computer server via a public network.
41. The method of claim 24, wherein the content server is a separate entity than the computer server.
42. The method of claim 24, wherein the streaming media source is a radio station and the content server is a server associated with the radio station.
43. A method comprising:
receiving tuning data at a client device from a portable device including a channel selector, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by a first user using the channel selector of the portable device; sending, from the client device, a media request to a computer server, the media request specifying both the first user and the received tuning data; receiving, at the client device, a network address of a streaming media source from the computer server in response to the media request, the network address determined based on the tuning data associated with the first user; requesting, using the client device, streaming media data from a content server at the network address; receiving, at the client device, a save request from the portable device; and sending, using the client device, the save request to the computer server, wherein the save request is a request for the computer server to associate the designated channel and network address with a first channel selectable on the portable device.
44. A system comprising:
a client device; and a portable device including a channel selector, wherein the portable device is configured to send tuning data to the client device, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by a first user using the channel selector of the portable device; wherein, in response to receiving the tuning data, the client device is configured to send a media request to a computer server, the media request specifying both the first user and the received tuning data; wherein the client device is configured to receive a network address of a streaming media source from the computer server in response to the media request, the network address determined based on the tuning data associated with the first user; wherein the client device is configured to request streaming media data from a content server at the network address; wherein the portable device is configured to send a save request to the client device; wherein the client device is configured to send the save request to the computer server, wherein the save request is a request for the computer server to associate the designated channel and network address with a first channel selectable on the portable device.
45. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to:
display a graphical user interface on a display of a client device, the graphical user interface including a channel selector; receive tuning data from a first user of the client device; send a media request to a computer server, the media request specifying both the first user and the received tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by the first user using the channel selector of the graphical user interface; receive a network address of a streaming media source from the computer server in response to the media request, the network address determined based on the tuning data associated with the first user; request streaming media data from a content server at the network address; and using the graphical user interface to send a save request to the computer server, wherein the save request is a request for the computer server to associate the designated channel and network address with a first channel selectable on the graphical user interface.
46. A method comprising:
receiving a media request at a computer server from a client device in response to a first user selecting a tuning portion of a graphical user interface displayed on the client device, the media request specifying both the first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by the first user of the graphical user interface; in response to receiving the media request, the computer server determining a network address for a streaming media source based on the tuning data associated with the first user; the computer server sending the network address to the client device; the computer server receiving a save request from the client device; in response to receiving the save request, the computer server associating a first channel selectable on the graphical user interface of the client device with the designated channel and the network address; and storing the association of the first channel of the graphical user interface with the designated channel and the network address.
47. The method of claim 46, further comprising, in response to receiving the save request, determining the first channel selectable on the graphical user interface.
48. The method of claim 46, further comprising, in addition to receiving the save request, receiving the first channel and the designated channel from the client device.
49. The method of claim 46, wherein the first channel is a preferred media channel dedicated for storing a designated channel selected by the first user.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein the preferred media channel is stored under a preferred media band selectable on the graphical user interface, wherein the preferred media band also stores additional preferred media channels.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of preferred media bands, each including a plurality of preferred media channels dedicated for storing a designated channel selected by the first user.
52. The method of claim 46, wherein the graphical user interface further includes a band selector, and wherein the tuning data includes an indication of a designated band and channel selected by the first user using the band selector and the channel selector of the graphical user interface.
53. The method of claim 46, wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of designated channels and a plurality of designated bands, wherein each of the designated channels is stored under a designated band.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein the plurality of designated bands are classified by media categories.
55. The method of claim 53, wherein the plurality of designated bands are classified by musical genre.
56. The method of claim 53, wherein the designated channels are indicators for selectable streaming media sources.
57. The method of claim 53, wherein the designated channels are indicators for selectable radio stations.
58. The method of claim 46, further comprising:
after storing the association of the designated channel and network address with the first channel selectable on the graphical user interface, receiving a subsequent media request from the client device, the media request specifying both the first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of the first channel associated with the previously saved designated channel; determining the network address of a streaming media source corresponding to the previously saved designated channel based on the stored association; and sending the network address to the first client device.
59. The method of claim 46, further comprising receiving feedback regarding the requested media from the client device.
60. The method of claim 46, further comprising tracking the number of times designated channels are saved into one or more of the selectable channels by a plurality of users.
61. The method of claim 60, further comprising determining prices of advertising spots for designated channels based on said tracking the number of times designated channels are saved into the selectable channels.
62. The method of claim 46, wherein the client device is one of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a game console, an Internet appliance, and a cellular phone.
63. The method of claim 46, further comprising the computer server communicating with the client device via a public network.
64. The method of claim 46, wherein the computer server comprises a plurality of physical servers and a distributed database.
65. The method of claim 46, wherein the streaming media source is a radio station.
66. The method of claim 46, further comprising:
after storing the association of the designated channel and network address with the first channel selectable on the graphical user interface, receiving a subsequent media request from a second client device in response to a second user selecting a tuning portion of a graphical user interface displayed on the second client device, the media request specifying both the first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of the first channel associated with the previously saved designated channel; determining the network address of a streaming media source corresponding to the previously saved designated channel based on the stored association; and sending the network address to the second client device.
67. A server system, comprising:
one or more processors; and memory, coupled to the one or more processors, having instructions stored thereon that in response to execution by the server system cause the server system to:
receive a media request from a client device in response to a first user selecting a tuning portion of a graphical user interface displayed on the client device, the media request specifying both the first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by the first user of the graphical user interface;
determine a network address for a streaming media source in response to receiving the media request, the network address determined based on the tuning data associated with the first user;
send the network address to the client device;
receive a save request from the client device;
associate a first channel selectable on the graphical user interface of the client device with the designated channel and the network address in response to receiving the save request; and
store the association of the first channel of the graphical user interface with the designated channel and the network address.
68. A system comprising:
a client device configured to display a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface includes a channel selector; and a computer server configured to receive a media request from the client device, the media request specifying both the first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by the first user using the channel selector of the graphical user interface; wherein, in response to receiving the media request, the computer server is configured to determine a network address for a streaming media source based on the tuning data associated with the first user; wherein the computer server is configured to send the network address to the client device; wherein the computer server is configured to receive a save request from the client device; wherein, in response to receiving the save request, the computer server is configured to associate a first channel selectable on the graphical user interface of the client device with the designated channel and the network address; and wherein the computer server is configured to store the association of the first channel of the graphical user interface with the designated channel and the network address.
69. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a device, cause the device to:
receive a media request at a computer server from a client device in response to a first user selecting a tuning portion of a graphical user interface displayed on the client device, the media request specifying both the first user and tuning data, the tuning data comprising an indication of a designated channel selected by the first user of the graphical user interface; in response to receiving the media request, determine a network address for a streaming media source based on the tuning data associated with the first user; send the network address to the client device; receive a save request from the client device; in response to receiving the save request, associate a first channel selectable on the graphical user interface of the client device with the designated channel and the network address; store the association of the first channel of the graphical user interface with the designated channel and the network address.
70. A method comprising:
receiving, at a computer system, a profile identifier from a first client device; receiving, at the computer system, a pre-defined identifier from the first client device, the pre-defined identifier determined in response to a first user selection of a graphical user interface on a display of the first client device, the graphical user interface including at least a tuning portion and a first icon, the first user selection including a selection of the tuning portion; determining, using the computer system, a uniform resource locator for a streaming media source in response to receiving the pre-defined identifier and the profile identifier; sending, from the computer system, the uniform resource locator to the first client device; receiving, at the computer system, a save request from the first client device, the save request determined in response to a second user selection of the graphical user interface on the display of the first client device, the second user selection including a selection of the first icon; in response to receiving the save request, the computer system determining an association of a new identifier with the pre-defined identifier and the profile identifier; and the computer system causing storing of the association of the new identifier, the pre-defined identifier, and the profile identifier.
71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:
after storing the association among the new identifier, the pre-defined identifier, and the profile identifier, receiving the profile identifier and the new identifier from the first client device, the new identifier determined in response to a third user selection of the graphical user interface on the display of the first client device, the third user selection including the selection of the tuning portion; retrieving the pre-defined identifier in response to the profile identifier and the new identifier; determining the uniform resource locator for the streaming media source in response to the pre-defined identifier; and sending the uniform resource locator to the first client device.
72. A server system, comprising:
one or more processors; and memory, coupled to the one or more processors, having instructions stored thereon that in response to execution by the server system cause the server system to:
receive a profile identifier from a first client device;
receive a pre-defined identifier from the first client device, the pre-defined identifier determined in response to a first user selection of a graphical user interface on a display of the first client device, the graphical user interface including at least a tuning portion and a first icon, the first user selection including a selection of the tuning portion;
determine a uniform resource locator for a streaming media source in response to receiving the pre-defined identifier and the profile identifier;
send the uniform resource locator to the first client device;
receive a save request from the first client device, the save request determined in response to a second user selection of the graphical user interface on the display of the first client device, the second user selection including a selection of the first icon;
associate a new identifier with the pre-defined identifier and the profile identifier in response to receiving the save request; and
store the association among the new identifier, the pre-defined identifier, and the profile identifier.Cited by (0)
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