Facebook, Inc.

Aol Inc.

Other

Oath Inc.

Mayland, LLC

Aol Musicnow LLC

Stephen Christopher Gladwin

Jeffrey Jonathan Spurgat

Hoyet Harrison Andrews, Iii

Depeng Bi

Troy Steven Denkinger

Timothy Scott Franklin

Bart Richard Cilfone

Michael Cortopassi

Anne Marie Pewterbaugh

Bart Richard Clifone

Anne Marie Walsh

A digital audio gateway device for use in a wireless network of digital audio playback devices. The gateway device is wirelessly linked to one or more digital audio playback devices to provide a gateway to the Internet for the digital audio playback devices. In addition to functioning as a gateway, the device provides additional functionality and may act as a cache of digital audio data for the various digital audio players connected in the wireless network and may also act to automatically update digital audio content on the audio players, synchronize digital audio content and playlists between the digital audio players and continue automatically or upon user request a particular playlist as the user moves from one digital audio player to another.

Proximity synchronizing audio gateway device

A wireless communication system and in particular to a wireless communication system for digital audio players that provides for increased functionality, such as communication, interaction and synchronization between a computing platform and various mobile, portable or fixed digital audio players, as well as providing a communication link between the various digital audio players themselves. The computing platform may act, for example, through a wireless network or wireless communication platform, to control the digital audio players; to act as a cache of digital audio data for the digital audio players; as well as provide a gateway to the Internet to enable the digital audio players to access additional digital audio content and other information. The computing platform may also be used to automatically update digital audio content on the digital audio players; synchronize digital audio content and playlists between digital audio players; and automatically continue a particular playlist as the user moves from one digital audio player to another.

Proximity synchronization of audio content among multiple playback and storage devices

Digital content distribution systems and methods are provided for distributing for digital data files, such as digital audio and video data files. In accordance with one implementation, a token-based authentication system is provided that does not require knowledge of the individual user requesting the download of digital content data or real-time access to user account information. Instead, the token-based authentication system embeds the authentication information, or token, in the download request information itself. In this way, the download or content server authenticates the download request using the token contained in the download request information and therefore does not require any additional information to carry out this authentication, such as access to user account information.

Digital content distribution and subscription system

Continuous digital content presentation across multiple devices

Synchronization among multiple playback and storage devices

A digital audio playback device that includes a wireless communication link to enable it to interact and synchronize with computing platforms as well as other mobile digital audio players and fixed digital audio players. A digital audio playback device is configured such that the computing platform may automatically or upon user request copy, add or remove digital audio content or other information, such as playlists. In addition, digital content on the digital audio playback device can be synchronized with a computing platform. In one embodiment of the invention, the digital audio playback device is configured to enable wireless communication among other digital playback devices and/or a computing platform to allow synchronization and control.

Proximity synchronizing audio playback device

A wireless communication system and in particular a wireless communication system for digital audio players that provides for increased functionality, such as communication, interaction and synchronization between a computing platform and various mobile, portable or fixed digital audio players, as well as providing a communication link between the various digital audio players themselves. The computing platform may act, for example, through a wireless network or wireless communication platform, to control the digital audio players; to act as a cache of digital audio data for the digital audio players; as well as provide a gateway to the Internet to enable the digital audio players to access additional digital audio content and other information.

Sharing digital content among multiple devices

Synchronization of digital content among multiple devices

A digital content distribution and subscription system for digital data files provides subscribers with music or video from streaming digital data or locally-stored digital files on demand for a fee. After registration onto the system, a subscriber may select from a relatively wide variety of available digital content from the streaming digital data or the locally-stored digital files. The subscriber may then select songs from various playlists which causes encrypted digital audio files for the selected music to be downloaded to the subscriber's personal computer (pc). A license key is downloaded to the subscriber's pc to unlock the selected songs to enable them to be decoded and played on the subscriber's pc or remote audio equipment for a predetermined period of time. At the expiration of the predetermined time period, the license key expires, thereby preventing further playback of the encrypted audio data files. The selections of each subscriber are tabulated for the purpose of royalty tracking and payment of an appropriate license fee to the holders of copyright rights for the selections. The digital content distribution and subscription system includes a digital content management system, a system for taken-based authentication allowing secure data retrieval and a royalty administration system.

A system and method that allows digital audio files, either streaming or stored to be controlled and selected and provides an analog audio signal for broadcast by a radio or amplifier without interfering with the operation of the host PC. A remote device is provided which facilitates control of the system.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Stephen Christopher Gladwin