Chestnut Hill Sound, Inc.

Evan B Ross

Trung Quoc Phung

Steven Krampf

A music audio control and distribution system in a location, comprising a first wireless music audio device connected to a local network, the network operably connecting the music audio device with at least one of: (1) a music audio player or (2) a music audio output device, and with a remote music audio source operably connected to the local network. The location of the local network is one of (a) a home, (b) an office, and (c) an automobile. The system also includes a second music audio device comprising at least one of (i) a music audio player or (ii) a music audio output device. The second music audio device is also connected to the local network and is controllable by the first wireless music audio device.

Music audio control and distribution system in a location

A media entertainment system including one or more user interfaces that are configured to receive user metadata selections and for receiving user settings for plural media source presets, playback volume settings, time settings, plural alarm settings, and plural alarm volume level settings. Each alarm and associated media source may have its own user selectable specific volume level setting that controls the appliance audio output volume when an alarm is triggered.

Media entertainment system with fail-safe alarm modes

A multi-mode media system operable at a given time in one of a first or a second mode, selectively, the first mode comprising operation to access a media source co-housed with or connected to and operationally integrated with the media system and configured to stream media content to the multi-mode media system for playing by the media system, and the second mode comprising operation of the media system for controlling over a network a media source remote from the multi-mode media system for outputting media content on an output device separate from the multi-mode media system, the media system not being operable in both modes simultaneously nor operable exclusively only in a single one of such modes.

Multi-mode media device operable in first and second modes, selectively

A content selection interface for a media system including at least a first network interface for finding and accessing media content remote from said media system and at least one content source integral or electrically connected to said media system. The media system interface may have a single media content selector actuable by a user and means responsive to the media content selector for selecting plural media content items from among the network and local media content sources, the media content selector presenting to the user plural media content items represented as successive positions in a linearly arrayed sequence without the user having to manifest an explicit change between network and non-network sources from position to position.

Entertainment system with sourceless selection of networked and non-networked media content

A method of using an entertainment system to access content stored on a digital content storage device having one or more records containing metadata associated with the content on the storage device. The method includes downloading from the storage device to an entertainment system at least some of the metadata; storing the downloaded metadata in a database accessible to the entertainment system; and accessing content on the storage device from entertainment system using at least a portion of the downloaded metadata in the database.

Method and apparatus for accessing media content via metadata

A multi-mode media device arranged to store digital media content and at least in part wirelessly access and/or control a separate media source configured to provide media content to a separate media output unit. In a first mode, the media device displays a list of media content stored on the device; receives a selection signal to play a selected media content; and plays the selected content on the device. In a second mode, the device operatively connects to a media source, permitting the device to issue commands to the source; at least in part wirelessly transmits a selection signal including a media content request from the device to the media source; and in response to the media content request, the media source delivers the appropriate media content from the media source to a media output unit for output, based on the media content request.

Multi-mode media device using metadata to access media content

An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a 'fail-safe' volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability.

Entertainment system with sourceless selection including playlists

An electrical connector adaptor system for connecting a base media device having at least one integral electrical connector with one or more detachable second media devices. The integral connector is located within a mechanical adaptor for protecting a second media device from mechanical damage and/or to prevent lateral movement of the second media device. Each second media device has a connector that may differ from a connector of other second media devices, or the second media device may have a different form factor from other second media devices. The system includes a detachable electrical connector adaptor module which has a first electrical connector for mating with the base media device integral connector and a second electrical connector for mating with the second media device.

Electrical and mechanical connector adaptor system for media devices

Entertainment system with bandless content selection

A content selection interface for an entertainment system having apparatus for receiving signals broadcast on at least a first band and signals from at least one non-broadcast content source. The interface has a single content selector actuable by a user and a mechanism responsive to the content selector for selecting content from among the broadcast signals and non-broadcast content sources which presents the broadcast signals and non-broadcast content as successive adjacent positions in a sequence without the user having to manifest a change of source selection.

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Needham, MA, United States of America

Evan B Ross