WO2011038136A2

WO2011038136A2 - Methods and systems for real-time delivery of data to fixed-tuned digital devices

Info

Publication number: WO2011038136A2
Application number: PCT/US2010/050028
Authority: WO
Inventors: David P. Dalzell; Sean Collin Donovan
Original assignee: The Dragonfly Products Co., Inc.
Priority date: 2009-09-25
Filing date: 2010-09-23
Publication date: 2011-03-31
Also published as: WO2011038136A3

Abstract

A system for delivering, by a producer, content directly to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer includes a fixed-tuned digital device and a computing device. The fixed-tuned digital device receives content, via a direct feed, in real-time, during generation of the content by a producer. The computing device includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver receives, from the producer, the content generated by the producer during generation of the content. The transmitter transmits, in real-time, the received content via the direct feed to the fixed-tuned digital device during generation of the content.

Description

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REAL-TIME DELIVERY OF DATA TO FIXED-TUNED DIGITAL DEVICES BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention generally relates to delivering data to digital devices. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and systems for real-time delivery of data to fixed-tuned digital devices.

[0002] Changes in consumer attitude regarding free content and advertisements are severely hurting broadcasters and artists, who are struggling to identify new sources of revenue. Radio industry revenues dropped by 17% from late 2000 to 2008; sales of music CDs plummeted over 24% during that period and declines are accelerating. Furthermore, the costs of recording and distributing a CD for sale are increasingly expensive.

[0003] In addition to searching for new ways to monetize their content, broadcasters, artists, and other content producers seek additional methods to develop and maintain connections with the consumers of their content. Although modern technology allows certain content producers to reach a mass market, conventional distribution techniques challenge a content producer's ability to connect directly with his or her audience. For example, a conventional radio station may broadcast certain content to hundreds of thousands of individuals across a country, but typically only after having screened that content and its producer. Content producers that fail to pass such a filter, typically face increased challenges in distributing their music to, and connecting with, the consumers of their content. BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] One way in which a content producer may profitably monetize his or her own content is via live performances. In one aspect, systems and methods described herein allow a content producer (such as, for example, a performing artist) to broadcast a live performance to specific devices distributed to certain content consumers (such as, for example, a fan of a performing artist who purchased a dedicated device). In some embodiments, the use of the systems and methods described herein allow a content producer to reach an audience of a live performance that includes both individuals that are physically present at the performance as well as individuals who cannot attend the event (due, for example, to geographical distance from a venue, restrictions on audience sizes by venue management, or cost of paying for and attending a live event in person). In one of these embodiments, such a combination audience may be larger than what the content producer might otherwise have reached if limited to reaching those individuals who could physically attend the live performance.

[0005] In other embodiments, the content producer may develop a deeper connection with the content consumer that owns the dedicated device through the content consumer's use of the dedicated device to listen to live performances; an awareness of the dedicated connection between that specific consumer and that specific producer may enhance the consumer' s experience and understanding of his or her relationship with the producer.

[0006] In one aspect, a system for delivering, by a producer, content directly to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer, includes a fixed-tuned digital device and a computing device. The fixed-tuned digital device receives content, via a direct feed, in real-time, during generation of the content by a producer. The computing device includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver receives, from the producer, the content generated by the producer. The transmitter transmits, in real-time, the received content via the direct feed to the fixed- tuned digital device.

[0007] In one embodiment, the fixed-tune digital device includes a device branded to uniquely identify the producer. In another embodiment, the fixed-tune digital device includes means for auto-tuning a connection to the computing device. In still another embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes a global positioning system (GPS) transponder collecting positioning data associated with the radio receiver, and a transmitter transmitting the collected data to the computing device.

[0008] In one embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes a portable media player. In another embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes a memory element storing a plurality of digital media files received from the computing device. In still another embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes a wireless receiver for receiving, in real-time, the content generated by the producer. In yet another embodiment, the system includes a second computing device transmitting generated content from the producer to the first computing device for distribution to the fixed-tuned digital device.

[0009] In another aspect, a method for delivering, by a producer, data to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer includes receiving, by a computing device, from a producer, content generated by the producer during generation of the content by the producer. The method includes receiving, by a fixed-tuned digital device, in real-time, via a direct feed, from the computing device, the content generated by the producer during generation of the content.

[0010] In one embodiment, the method includes transmitting, by the computing device, to the fixed-tuned digital device, the content generated by the producer during the generation of the content. In another embodiment, the method includes transmitting, from a second computing device, the content generated by the producer, to the first computing device. In still another embodiment, the method includes automatically tuning, by the fixed-tuned digital device, a connection to the computing device. In still even another embodiment, the method includes receiving, by the fixed-tuned digital device, from the computing device, during a live performance in which the producer generates the content. In yet another embodiment, the method includes receiving, by the computing device, from the producer, content identified by the producer for transmission to the fixed-tuned digital device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a network environment comprising local machines in communication with remote machines;

[0013] FIG. IB is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a computing device useful in connection with the methods and systems described herein; [0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a system for delivering, by a producer, data to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a system including a fixed-tuned digital device; and

[0016] FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a method for delivering, by a producer, data to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In one aspect, a system described herein provides functionality for delivering live streaming of musical performances, entertainment, sporting events, and other live events. In one embodiment, the system includes a live, direct feed platform that affords artists the benefits of a direct connection with their fans. In another embodiment, the system described herein allows broadcasters and artists to provide custom-built receivers that channel their content, and their content alone, to their most loyal fans. In some embodiments, and in contrast to conventional media playing devices, content is only accessible through the device at the discretion of the content producer.

[0018] In another aspect, the system includes single-channel, single-purpose, digital 'radio' receivers for use by broadcasters and artists, who resell them to their fans. In one embodiment, the receivers are uniquely beautiful, precision instruments, which convey a sense of importance to the broadcaster and to the consumer of the broadcast content. In another embodiment, the receivers may become valuable personal possessions to their owners. In yet another embodiment, the system provides a compelling way to encourage fans to support their favorite broadcasters and artists, and memorializes that support with a beautiful device that physically, and functionally, interconnects the broadcasters and their fans.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of a network environment in which a fixed-tuned digital device may communicate with a computing device to receive, in real-time, content generated during a live event, is depicted. In brief overview, the network environment comprises one or more clients 102a-102n (also generally referred to as local machine(s) 102, or client(s) 102) in communication with one or more servers 106a-106n (also generally referred to as servers) 106, or remote machine(s) 106) via one or more networks 104.

[0020] The servers 106 may be geographically dispersed from each other or from the clients 102 and communicate over a network 104. The network 104 can be a local- area network (LAN), such as a company Intranet, a metropolitan area network (MAN), or a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet or the World Wide Web. The network 104 may be any type and/or form of network and may include any of the following: a point to point network, a broadcast network, a wide area network, a local area network, a telecommunications network, a data communication network, a computer network, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network, a SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) network, a SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) network, a wireless network and a wireline network. In some embodiments, the network 104 may comprise a wireless link, such as an infrared channel or satellite band. The topology of the network 104 may be a bus, star, or ring network topology. The network 104 and network topology may be of any such network or network topology as known to those ordinarily skilled in the art capable of supporting the operations described herein. The network may comprise mobile telephone networks utilizing any protocol or protocols used to communicate among mobile devices, including AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, GSM, GPRS or UMTS. In some embodiments, different types of data may be transmitted via different protocols. In other embodiments, the same types of data may be transmitted via different protocols.

[0021] In some embodiments, the system may include multiple, logically grouped servers 106. In one of these embodiments, the logical group of servers may be referred to as a server farm 38. In another of these embodiments, the servers 106 may be geographically dispersed. In other embodiments, a server farm 38 may be administered as a single entity. In still other embodiments, the server farm 38 comprises a plurality of server farms 38. The servers 106 within each server farm 38 can be heterogeneous - one or more of the servers 106 can operate according to one type of operating system platform (e.g., WINDOWS NT, WINDOWS 2003, WINDOWS 2008, manufactured by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Washington), while one or more of the other servers 106 can operate on according to another type of operating system platform (e.g., Unix or Linux).

[0022] The servers 106 of each server farm 38 do not need to be physically proximate to another server 106 in the same server farm 38. Thus, the group of servers 106 logically grouped as a server farm 38 may be interconnected using a wide-area network (WAN) connection or a metropolitan-area network (MAN) connection. For example, a server farm 38 may include servers 106 physically located in different continents or different regions of a continent, country, state, city, campus, or room. Data transmission speeds between servers 106 in the server farm 38 can be increased if the servers 106 are connected using a local-area network (LAN) connection or some form of direct connection. [0023] A server 106 may be referred to as a file server, application server, web server, proxy server, or gateway server. In one embodiment, the server 106 provides functionality of a web server. In some embodiments, the web server 106 comprises an open-source web server, such as the APACHE servers maintained by the Apache Software Foundation of Delaware. In other embodiments, the web server executes proprietary software, such as the Internet Information Services products provided by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, WA, the SUN JAVA web server products provided by Sun Microsystems, of Santa Clara, CA, or the BEA WEBLOGIC products provided by BEA Systems, of Santa Clara, CA.

[0024] The clients 102 may be referred to as client nodes, client machines, endpoint nodes, or endpoints. In some embodiments, a client 102 has the capacity to function as both a client node seeking access to resources provided by a server and as a server providing access to hosted resources for other clients 102a- 102n. A client 102 may execute, operate or otherwise provide an application, which can be any type and/or form of software, program, or executable instructions such as any type and/or form of web browser, web-based client, client-server application, an ActiveX control, or a Java applet, or any other type and/or form of executable instructions capable of executing on client 102. The application can use any type of protocol and it can be, for example, an HTTP client, an FTP client, an Oscar client, or a Telnet client.

[0025] The client 102 and server 106 may be deployed as and/or executed on any type and form of computing device, such as a computer, network device or appliance capable of communicating on any type and form of network and performing the operations described herein. FIG. IB depicts a block diagram of a computing device 100 useful for practicing an embodiment of the client 102 or a server 106. As shown in FIG.

IB, each computing device 100 includes a central processing unit 121, and a main memory unit 122. As shown in FIG. IB, a computing device 100 may include a visual display device 124, a keyboard 126 and/or a pointing device 127, such as a mouse.

[0026] The central processing unit 121 is any logic circuitry that responds to and processes instructions fetched from the main memory unit 122. In many embodiments, the central processing unit is provided by a microprocessor unit, such as: those manufactured by Intel Corporation of Mountain View, California; those manufactured by Motorola Corporation of Schaumburg, Illinois; those manufactured by Transmeta Corporation of Santa Clara, California; the RS/6000 processor, those manufactured by International Business Machines of White Plains, New York; or those manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale, California. The computing device 100 may be based on any of these processors, or any other processor capable of operating as described herein.

[0027] A wide variety of I/O devices 130a-130n may be present in the computing device 100. Input devices include keyboards, mice, trackpads, trackballs, microphones, and drawing tablets. Output devices include video displays, loudspeakers, inkjet printers, laser printers, and dye-sublimation printers. The I/O devices may be controlled by an I/O controller 123 as shown in FIG. IB. The I/O controller may control one or more I/O devices such as a keyboard 126 and a pointing device 127, e.g., a mouse or optical pen. Furthermore, an I/O device may also provide storage and/or an installation medium 116 for the computing device 100. In still other embodiments, the computing device 100 may provide USB connections to receive portable USB storage devices such as the USB Flash Drive line of devices manufactured by Twintech Industry, Inc. of Los Alamitos, California.

[0028] Referring still to FIG. IB, the computing device 100 may support any suitable installation device 116, such as a floppy disk drive for receiving floppy disks such as 3.5-inch, 5.25-inch disks or ZIP disks, a CD-ROM drive, a CD-R/RW drive, a

DVD-ROM drive, tape drives of various formats, USB device, hard-drive or any other device suitable for installing software and programs. The computing device 100 may further comprise a storage device, such as one or more hard disk drives or redundant arrays of independent disks, for storing an operating system and other related software, and for storing application software programs such as any program related to the client agent 120. Optionally, any of the installation devices 116 could also be used as the storage device. Additionally, the operating system and the software can be run from a bootable medium, for example, a bootable CD, such as KNOPPIX, a bootable

CD for GNU/Linux that is available as a GNU/Linux distribution from knoppix.net.

[0029] Furthermore, the computing device 100 may include a network interface

118 to interface to the network 104 through a variety of connections including, but not limited to, standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN links (e.g., 802.11, Tl, T3, 56kb,

X.25, SNA, DECNET), broadband connections (e.g., ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM,

Gigabit Ethernet, Ethemet-over-SONET), wireless connections, or some combination of any or all of the above. Connections can be established using a variety of communication protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, IPX, SPX, NetBIOS, Ethernet, ARCNET,

SONET, SDH, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), RS232, IEEE 802.11, IEEE

802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802. llg, CDMA, GSM, WiMax and direct asynchronous connections). In one embodiment, the computing device 100 communicates with other computing devices 100' via any type and/or form of gateway or tunneling protocol such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security

(TLS). The network interface 118 may comprise a built-in network adapter, network interface card, PCMCIA network card, card bus network adapter, wireless network adapter, USB network adapter, modem or any other device suitable for interfacing the computing device 100 to any type of network capable of communication and performing the operations described herein.

[0030] In some embodiments, a computer 100 connects to a second computer 100' on a network using any one of a number of well-known protocols from the GSM or CDMA families, such as W-CDMA. These protocols support commercial wireless communication services and W-CDMA, in particular is the underlying protocol supporting i-Mode and mMode services, offered by NTT DoCoMo.

[0031] In some embodiments, the computer 100 communicates with the computer 100' when providing a user with a service made available by the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard. In other embodiments, the computer 100 provides a user with a short message service (SMS). In one of these embodiments, the computer 100 may transmit messages to the second computer 100' via an intermediate computer 100", such as a short message service center. In another of these embodiments, the computer 100 may transmit messages to the second computer 100' according to a telecommunications protocol standard for transmitting digital data on a broadband network, such as the Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol. In still other embodiments, the computer 100 transmits enhanced short messages to the computer 100'. In other embodiments, the computer 100 transmits text messages to the computer 100'. In one of these embodiments, the text messages comply with the GSM standard for short messages. In another of these embodiments, the computers 100, 100', 100" transmit text messages that do not comply with a GSM standard. In still another of these embodiments, the computer 100 transmits text messages over a control channel between the computer 100 and a cell phone tower, which forwards the text messages to the recipient computer 100'. [0032] In some embodiments, the computing device 100 may comprise or be connected to multiple display devices 124a-124n, which each may be of the same or different type and/or form. As such, any of the I/O devices 130a-130n and/or the I/O controller 123 may comprise any type and/or form of suitable hardware, software, or combination of hardware and software to support, enable or provide for the connection and use of multiple display devices 124a-124n by the computing device 100. For example, the computing device 100 may include any type and/or form of video adapter, video card, driver, and/or library to interface, communicate, connect or otherwise use the display devices 124a-124n. In one embodiment, a video adapter may comprise multiple connectors to interface to multiple display devices 124a- 124n. In other embodiments, the computing device 100 may include multiple video adapters, with each video adapter connected to one or more of the display devices 124a- 124n. In some embodiments, any portion of the operating system of the computing device 100 may be configured for using multiple displays 124a-124n. In other embodiments, one or more of the display devices 124a-124n may be provided by one or more other computing devices, such as computing devices 100a and 100b connected to the computing device 100, for example, via a network. These embodiments may include any type of software designed and constructed to use another computer's display device as a second display device 124a for the computing device 100. One ordinarily skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate the various ways and embodiments that a computing device 100 may be configured to have multiple display devices 124a-124n.

[0033] In further embodiments, an I/O device 130 may be a bridge between the system bus 150 and an external communication bus, such as a USB bus, an Apple

Desktop Bus, an RS-232 serial connection, a SCSI bus, a FireWire bus, a FireWire 800 bus, an Ethernet bus, an AppleTalk bus, a Gigabit Ethernet bus, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode bus, a HIPPI bus, a Super HIPPI bus, a SerialPlus bus, a SCI/LAMP bus, a FibreChannel bus, or a Serial Attached small computer system interface bus.

[0034] A computing device 100 of the sort depicted in FIG. IB typically operates under the control of operating systems, which control scheduling of tasks and access to system resources. The computing device 100 can be running any operating system such as any of the versions of the MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating systems, the different releases of the Unix and Linux operating systems, any version of the MAC OS for Macintosh computers, any embedded operating system, any real-time operating system, any open source operating system, any proprietary operating system, any operating systems for mobile computing devices, or any other operating system capable of running on the computing device and performing the operations described herein. Typical operating systems include: WINDOWS 3.x, WINDOWS 95, WINDOWS 98, WINDOWS 2000, WINDOWS NT 3.51, WINDOWS NT 4.0, WINDOWS CE, WINDOWS XP, and WINDOWS VISTA, all of which are manufactured by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington; MAC OS, manufactured by Apple Inc., of Cupertino, California; OS/2, manufactured by International Business Machines of Armonk, New York; and Linux, a freely-available operating system distributed by Caldera Corp. of Salt Lake City, Utah, or any type and/or form of a Unix operating system, among others. A server 106 and a client 102 may be heterogeneous, executing different operating systems.

[0035] The computing device 100 can be any workstation, desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, server, portable computer, mobile telephone or other portable telecommunication device, media playing device, a gaming system, mobile computing device, or any other type and/or form of computing, telecommunications or media device that is capable of communication and that has sufficient processor power and memory capacity to perform the operations described herein. In some embodiments, the computing device 100 may have different processors, operating systems, and input devices consistent with the device. For example, in one of these embodiments, the computing device 100 is a TREO 180, 270, 600, 650, 680, 700p, 700w/wx, 750, 755p, 800w, Centra, or Pro smart phone manufactured by Palm, Inc; the TREO smart phone is operated under the control of the PalmOS operating system and includes a stylus input device as well as a five- way navigator device.

[0036] In other embodiments the computing device 100 is a mobile device, such as a JAVA-enabled cellular telephone or personal digital assistant (PDA), such as the i55sr, i58sr, i85s, i88s, i90c, i95cl, i335, i365, i570,1576, .580,1615, i760, i836, i850, i870, i880, i920, i930, ic502, ic602, ic902, i776 or the imllOO, all of which are manufactured by Motorola Corp. of Schaumburg, Illinois, the 6035 or the 7135, manufactured by Kyocera of Kyoto, Japan, or the i300 or i330, manufactured by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., of Seoul, Korea. In some embodiments, the computing device 100 is a mobile device manufactured by Nokia of Finland, or by Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB of Lund, Sweden.

[0037] In still other embodiments, the computing device 100 is a Blackberry portable or smart phone, such as the devices manufactured by Research In Motion

Limited, including the Blackberry 7100 series, 8700 series, 7700 series, 7200 series, the Blackberry 7520, the Blackberry PEARL 8100, the 8700 series, the 8800 series, the Blackberry Storm, Blackberry Bold, Blackberry Curve 8900, and the Blackberry

Pearl Flip. In yet other embodiments, the computing device 100 is a smart phone,

Pocket PC, Pocket PC Phone, or other portable mobile device supporting Microsoft

Windows Mobile Software. Moreover, the computing device 100 can be any workstation, desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, server, portable computer, mobile telephone, any other computer, or other form of computing or telecommunications device that is capable of communication and that has sufficient processor power and memory capacity to perform the operations described herein.

[0038] In some embodiments, the computing device 100 is a digital audio player.

In one of these embodiments, the computing device 100 is a digital audio player such as the Apple IPOD, IPOD Touch, IPOD NANO, and IPOD SHUFFLE lines of devices, manufactured by Apple Inc., of Cupertino, California. In another of these embodiments, the digital audio player may function as both a portable media player and as a mass storage device. In other embodiments, the computing device 100 is a digital audio player such as the DigitalAudioPlayer Select MP3 players, manufactured by Samsung

Electronics America, of Ridgefield Park, NJ, or the Motorola m500 or m25 Digital

Audio Players, manufactured by Motorola Inc. of Schaumburg, IL. In still other embodiments, the computing device 100 is a portable media player, such as the Zen

Vision W, the Zen Vision series, the Zen Portable Media Center devices, or the Digital

MP3 line of MP3 players, manufactured by Creative Technologies Ltd. In yet other embodiments, the computing device 100 is a portable media player or digital audio player supporting file formats including, but not limited to, MP3, WAV, M4A/AAC,

WMA Protected AAC, AEFF, Audible audiobook, Apple Lossless audio file formats and

.mov, .m4v, and .mp4 MPEG-4 (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) video file formats.

[0039] In some embodiments, a display on a mobile computing device 100 includes a touch-screen. In one of these embodiments, a touch-screen sensor includes a touch-responsive surface that detects touch input from a user of the mobile computing device 100. In another of these embodiments, the touch-screen sensor redirects an identification of a location of the touch input on the touch-responsive surface to an operating system executing on the mobile computing device 100. In another of these embodiments, the operating system redirects the identification of the location of the touch input to a software application for processing. In still another of these embodiments, the software application correlates the location of the touch input with a displayed user interaction element and processes the interaction on behalf of the user.

[0040] In some embodiments, the computing device 100 comprises a combination of devices, such as a mobile phone combined with a digital audio player or portable media player. In one of these embodiments, the computing device 100 is a Motorola

RAZR or Motorola ROKR line of combination digital audio players and mobile phones. In another of these embodiments, the computing device 100 is an iPhone smartphone, manufactured by Apple Inc., of Cupertino, California.

[0041] In one embodiment, an IT infrastructure may extend from a first network - such as a network owned and managed by an enterprise - into a second network, which may be owned or managed by a separate entity than the entity owning or managing the first network. Resources provided by the second network may be said to be "in a cloud". Cloud-resident elements may include, without limitation, storage devices, servers, databases, computing environments (including virtual machines and desktops), and applications. In other embodiments, one or more networks providing computing infrastructure on behalf of customers is referred to a cloud. In one of these embodiments, a system in which users of a first network access at least a second network including a pool of abstracted, scalable, and managed computing resources capable of hosting user resources may be referred to as a cloud computing environment. In another of these embodiments, resources may include, without limitation, virtualization technology, data center resources, applications, and management tools. In some embodiments, Internet-based applications (which may be provided via a "software-as-a-service" model) may be referred to as cloud-based resources. In other embodiments, networks that provide users with computing resources, such as virtual machines or blades on blade servers, may be referred to as compute clouds. In still other embodiments, networks that provide storage resources, such as storage area networks, may be referred to as storage clouds. In further embodiments, a resource may be cached in a local network and stored in a cloud.

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts one embodiment of a system for delivering, by a producer, data to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer. In one embodiment, the system will provide a new platform that will enable artists to have a direct, real-time connection with their fans. In another embodiment, the system includes functionality allowing users to form strategic alliances with WiFi (e.g., Boingo) or EVDO (e.g., AT&T) infrastructure providers. In still another embodiment, the system includes functionality allowing users (e.g., an artist's fans) to use the platform for listening to live concerts irrespective of geographic location. In yet another embodiment, the system includes functionality allowing users to tune into backstage chatter or interviews before/after a live concert irrespective of geographic location.

[0043] In some embodiments, the system includes a portable device (which may be, without limitation, a WiFi/EVDO portable device 100 or a device 102 as described above in connection with FIGs. 1A-1B) and at least one server 106. In other embodiments, the system includes multiple servers. In still other embodiments, the system includes an application program (e.g., a software application program executed by a computing device 100) providing social networking tools. In further embodiments, the system includes multiple handheld, portable devices 100. [0044] In one embodiment, the system includes functionality for providing a user a direct feed to a music artist (e.g., connecting a fan with a favorite musical artist). In another embodiment, a device 100 providing this functionality is a WiFi device. In still another embodiment, a device 100 providing this functionality is an EVDO device. In still even another embodiment, a device 100 providing this functionality is portable. In some embodiments, a portable WiFi/EVDO device 100 is a simplex device and receives one stream of data. In other embodiments, a portable WiFi/EVDO device 100 is a fixed- tuned digital device, configured to connect only to the server 106 in order to receive a live broadcast. In still other embodiments, a portable WiFi/EVDO device 100 is a device that facilitates real-time social networking. In one of these embodiments, by way of example, the device 100 may include a receiver and a transmitter and be configured to allow a user of a first device 100a to communicate with a user of a second device 100b. In further embodiments, a portable WiFi/EVDO device 100 may be referred to as a fixed-tuned digital device 100. Although described herein as a system allowing fans to interact with artists, it should be understood that users of any type may subscribe to the system and content producers distributing data to such users need not be limited to artists. For example, in some embodiments, the distributed content may be news, education, sporting events, or other information, as opposed to data forming musical works.

[0045] In some embodiments, a device 100 is enabled via embedded software provided by a provider of the device. For example, and without limitation, in one of these embodiments, the device 100 is a WiFi-enabled device and the device 100 is enabled using an interface to a network 104. In another example, and without limitation, in another of these embodiments, the device 100 is an EVDO-enabled device and is enabled via embedded software and an EVDO chipset made available by the provider of the device. In other embodiments, the device 100 is a device designed for receiving a single programmable IP address that will stream content related to an artist associated with an IP address provided by a server 106.

[0046] In one embodiment, the device 100 is a fixed- tuned digital device receiving content, via a direct feed, in real-time, during generation of the content by a producer. In another embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes functionality for auto-tuning a connection to the computing device. For example, the device 100 may include functionality described below in connection with FIG. 3. In still another embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes a global positioning system (GPS) transponder collecting positioning data associated with the radio receiver, and a transmitter transmitting the collected data to the computing device.

[0047] In some embodiments, a fixed tuned-digital device 100 including a GPS transponder provides location-based functionality. In one of these embodiments, a content producer specifies what content a user of the fixed tuned-digital device 100 may access in particular geographic regions. In another of these embodiments, the fixed tuned-digital device 100 determines that it (and, by extension, the content consumer that owns it) is located at a venue in which the content producer is giving a live performance. In still another of these embodiments, the content consumer may use the fixed tuned-digital device 100 as an electronic ticket to gain access to the live performance (e.g., showing the device 100 allows the content consumer to enter a concert). In yet another of these embodiments, the content producer may allow content consumers with fixed tuned-digital devices 100 to receive different content if they are physically located at the live performance than they would receive if they were at a location remote from the live performance. [0048] In one embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes a purpose-built portable media player in which content is accessible to a content consumer at the discretion of a content producer. In another embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes a memory element storing a plurality of digital media files received from the computing device. In still another embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device includes a wireless receiver for receiving, in real-time, the content generated by the producer.

[0049] In some embodiments, the device 100 is branded to uniquely identify the producer (such as, by way of example, an artist). In one of these embodiments, an aesthetic of an uncluttered surface is designed to attractively set off the content generator's identity.

[0050] In some embodiments, the device 100 provides a different level of functionality if it is not a WiFi/EVDO portable device than if it is; for example, in order to entice user to switch to a single -purpose or proprietary hardware device, the software application may be provided to any client device 102 but can potentially restrict access to some content or functionality that will be available only on a single- purpose or proprietary hardware device (such as the device 100a shown in block A of FIG. 2). In another of these embodiments, the software application can be a different version or may use different technologies for each type of device (smart phone, etc.) or can be one application that is cross-platform compatible and therefore will work on most smart phones or computing devices 100.

[0051] In some embodiments, the system includes at least one server 106

(depicted, by way of example, in FIG. 2 as block C). In one of these embodiments, the server 106 is a server as described above in connection with FIGs. 1A-1B. In another of these embodiments, the system includes a plurality of servers 106, which may be referred to as a cloud of servers or servers operating in a cloud. In still another of these embodiments, a plurality of servers 106 is referred to as a server farm 38, as described above in connection with FIGs. 1A-1B.

[0052] In one embodiment, the server 106 includes a content (audio/video) streamer for up/down streaming of live or static content. In another embodiment, the server 106 includes a transcoder for encoding/decoding the content. In still another embodiment, the server includes a database for storing user (e.g., artist or consumer) information, device information, etc. In still even another embodiment, the server 106 includes software executing to generate a user interface for storing and retrieving information to/from the database. In another embodiment, the server 106 executes software providing an engine for storing or retrieving information from the database. In yet another embodiment, the server 106 executes at least one engine providing functionality for safe guarding information and/or content.

[0053] In one embodiment, a server 106 is a computing device 100 as described above in connection with FIGs. 1A-1B. In another embodiment, the server 106 includes an interface to hardwired LAN or WiFi - e.g., one or more ports (a router function) so that the box can receive on one port and transmit on another. In still another embodiment, the server 106 includes ports for microphones and/or loudspeakers - e.g., one or more 2 audio ports for microphones and loudspeakers with which the artist can communicate with fans. In still even another embodiment, the server 106 includes an embedded operating system. In still another embodiment, the server 106 includes at least one cryptography engine. In yet another embodiment the server 106 includes security software and/or hardware.

[0054] In one embodiment, the server 106 includes a Voice over Internet Protocol

(VoIP) engine, which may be hardware, software, or a combination of the two, and which provides VoIP functionality for converting analog/digital audio to an Internet- Protocol data stream. In another embodiment, the server 106 includes software to interact automatically with all entities described herein. In still another embodiment, the server 106 includes a user interface for configuring the server 106. In yet another embodiment, a server 106 is pre-configured before shipping and provides a maintenance clause that indicates how a user of the server 106 may request a change to server settings.

[0055] In some embodiments, the system includes functionality for transmitting data to the server 106 via, by way of example, a server 106b operated in a different physical or logical location than the server 106a operating in the cloud (for example, a box that interfaces with truck equipment at a live concert, with content on a computing device 100c at a studio/home or that provides a user interface for a content provider (e.g., an artist) wanting to communicate live with his/her users (e.g., the artist's fans). In one of these embodiments, a server 106b (shown, by way of example, as box D in FIG. 2) includes functionality for communicating with the server 106a. In another of these embodiments, the server 106b may provide functionality via a combination of hardware and/or software.

[0056] In some embodiments, a content producer uses a device 100b (e.g., block

E in FIG. 2) to communicate with users when physically or logically remote from the server 106b. In one of these embodiments, the device 100b is a fixed-tuned digital device transmitting content, via a direct feed, in real-time, during generation of the content by a producer. In another of these embodiments, the device 100b provides

VoIP functionality. In another of these embodiments, the device 100b provides cryptographic functionality. In yet another of these embodiments, the device 100b can communicate with the server 106a. In other embodiments, a software application is provided for execution on a computing device 102 operated by a content provider (e.g., block F in FIG. 2). The software can be provided as different versions using different technologies for each type of device (smart phone, etc.) or can be one app that is cross-platform compatible and therefore will work on most smart phones and/or other computing devices 100.

[0057] FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of a radio receiver 310 (at FIG. 3, block A). In one embodiment, the radio receiver 310 is a device 100 as described above in connection with FIG. 2. In another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 is a fixed- tuned digital device receiving content, via a direct feed, in real-time, during generation of the content by a producer.

[0058] In one embodiment, a radio receiver 310 is provided that is GPS-enabled. In another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 includes functionality for self-tuning to programmable frequencies based on location. In another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 includes circuitry including, but not limited to, a microprocessor (such as, by way of example, a processor 121), a GPS transponder 302, and a radio tuner 304; such functionality allows the radio receiver to "know where it is". In still another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 is able to detect with specific radio station frequencies; for example, a radio receiver 310 designed for National Public Radio frequencies may be programmed to detect the hundreds of NPR radio station frequencies in the United States based on location. In still even another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 includes functionality for auto-tuning the radio tuner 304 to a certain station based on a geographic location of the radio receiver 310 as identified by the GPS transponder 302.

[0059] In one embodiment, the radio receiver 310 includes functionality for updating software of the radio receiver 310, via, by way of example, GPS or via a USB connection to a computing device 106. In another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 includes functionality for gathering real-time user data; real-time user data includes, without limitation, location, date, time, and duration of listening. In still another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 includes a storage element storing gathered realtime user data. In another embodiment, the radio receives 310 includes a radio transmitter chip; for example, the radio receiver 310 may include a radio transmitter chip on board that will allow the radio receiver 310 to send real-time user data to a database via, by way of example, radio-frequency towers. In still another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 may be enabled to communicate according to the WiFi Protocol so that it can connect to a network 104 via WiFi in order to transmit the gathered real-time user data. In yet another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 may include a GPRS communication chip on the device that will provide functionality for transmitting real-time data to a computing device 100 via a GPRS network. Although referred to herein as a "radio receiver", it should be understood that the device 310 may include a transmitter or a transceiver and is not limited to receiving functionality.

[0060] In some embodiments, a radio receiver 310 is equipped with on-board memory. In one of these embodiments, the radio receiver 310 uses the on-board memory to log real-time user data, such as, without limitation, location, date, time, identification of programming, and duration of listening. In another of these embodiments, the radio receiver 310 retrieves the data stored to the on-board memory and transmits the data to a database; for example, the radio receiver 310 may transmit the data either via a WiFi enabled hub/base station or, when connected to a network 104, via a WiFi chip onboard the device.

[0061] In one embodiment, the radio receiver 310 includes a GPS transponder 302 and a microprocessor that enable the radio receiver 310 to send real-time user data such as location, date, time, and duration of listening back to a server 106 (which may be, for example, the server 106 described above in connection with FIG. 2). In still another embodiment, the radio receiver 310 includes a display screen 130 that displays data such as, without limitation, the currently tuned radio station, information about the current program, and duration of the program.

[0062] In some embodiments, the radio receiver 310 provides the functionality described above in connection with the device 100 of FIG. 2. In still other embodiments, a radio receiver 310 and a device 100 are combined. In other embodiments, a computing device 100 provides the functionality of either the radio receiver 310, the device 100, or both. In further embodiments, the methods and systems described in connection with FIGs. 2 and 3 may be combined.

[0063] In one embodiment, the system includes a database 306 (database B in FIG. 3). In one embodiment, the database 306 is designed to gather and compile realtime user data transmitted by the radio receiver 310. In another embodiment, the database 306 is a combination of software and hardware. In still another embodiment, the database 306 resides in the cloud, as described above in connection with FIGs. 1A- 1B and 2. In some embodiments, the database 306 stores data in an ODBC-compliant database. For example, the database 306 may be provided as an ORACLE database, manufactured by Oracle Corporation of Redwood Shores, Calif. In other embodiments, the database 306 can be a Microsoft ACCESS database or a Microsoft SQL server database, manufactured by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. In still other embodiments, the database 306 may be a custom-designed database based on an open source database such as the MYSQL family of freely available database products distributed by MySQL AB Corporation of Uppsala, Sweden, and Cupertino, CA.

[0064] In one embodiment, the database 306 includes functionality for storing user data, device information, broadcaster information, etc. In another embodiment, the database 306 includes a user interface allowing users to store/retrieve relevant information from the database 306. In still another embodiment, the database 306 includes software to store/retrieve relevant information from the database 306. In another embodiment, the database 306 includes software to analyze and compile results from raw user data sent by GPS -enabled radio receivers 310. In another embodiment, the database 306 includes security engines to safeguard information/content.

[0065] In one embodiment, the system includes a satellite gateway 308 (depicted in FIG. 3 as block C). In another embodiment, the satellite gateway 308 provides means for interfacing the database B with one or more satellites. In still another embodiment, the gateway 308 is provided as a satellite dish.

[0066] In one embodiment, the system includes a WiFi Hub / Base Station

(depicted in FIG. 3 as block D). In another embodiment, the WiFi Hub / Base Station provides functionality for transmitting gathered data to a database 306. In still another embodiment, the WiFi Hub / Base Station provides functionality for charging a battery of a radio receiver 310 or other device 100. In yet another embodiment, the

WiFi Hub / Base Station provides functionality for connecting to a network 104; for example, the WiFi Hub / Base Station may include functionality for connecting, via

WiFi, to a network 104 to transmit data to a computing device 106.

[0067] A method allows a producer to transmit, to a fixed-tuned digital device, a work comprising a plurality of portions, during generation of the work. In one embodiment, the producer generates content forming a work (such as, without limitation, a narration of a sporting event, a musical concert, a news broadcast, or other content) and during generation of the content transmits the content to the server

106a for distribution to at least one fixed-tuned digital device. In another embodiment, by way of example, the producer generates a first portion of a work and, during transmission of the first portion of the work to the server 106a, the producer generates a second portion of the work; where a work refers to a unit of content such as a song or a script. The method includes generating, by a content producer, a first portion of a work comprising a plurality of portions. The method includes transmitting, by the content producer, to a computing device, the first portion of the work. The method includes generating, by the content producer, substantially simultaneously to the transmission of the first portion of the work, a second portion of the work. In some embodiments, the method includes continuing to transmit some portions of the work while generating other portions of the work until the work has been completely transmitted to the computing device.

[0068] Referring now to FIG. 4, a flow diagram depicts one embodiment of a method for delivering, by a producer, data to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer. The method includes receiving, by a computing device, from a producer, content generated by the producer during generation of the content by the producer (402). The method includes receiving, by a fixed-tuned digital device, in real-time, via a direct feed, from the computing device, the content generated by the producer during generation of the content (404).

[0069] Referring now to FIG. 4, and in greater detail, a computing device receives, from a producer, content generated by the producer during generation of the content by the producer (402). In one embodiment, the producer accesses a computing device 106a directly. In another embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 2, the producer accesses a computing device 106a indirectly, via a VoIP box 106b. In such an embodiment, the VoIP box 106b may alter the content prior to forwarding the content to the server 106a - for example, it may translate an analog signal provided to it by the producer (such as a song sung into a microphone connected to the VoIP box 106b) into a digital signal before forwarding the signal to the server 106a. In some embodiments, the system includes a second computing device 106b transmitting generated content from the producer to the first computing device 106a for distribution to the fixed- tuned digital device 100.

[0070] In some embodiments, a content producer generates content when he or she reproduces previously created content. In one of these embodiments, by way of example, the content producer may generate content by singing and/or playing a previously composed song, reciting a previously written news broadcast, or performing a previously written play, musical, or other work. In other embodiments, a content producer generates content when he or she creates new content. In one of these embodiments, by way of example, the content producer may generate content by improvising a speech, conversation, song, musical composition, narrating the events of a sporting event, or other work. In still other embodiments, the content producer generates content in a formal setting such as during a live concert at a preselected venue. In other embodiments, the content producer generates content in an informal setting such as at a home or studio location. In further embodiments, the content producer generates content while in transition; for example, the content producer may generate the content while traveling between locations. In one of these embodiments, the content producer uses a fixed-tuned digital device 100b to generate content. The fixed-tuned digital device 100b may be a modified version of a content consumer's fixed- tuned digital device 100a, altered to allow the content generator to transmit content to other fixed- tuned digital devices 100a either directly or via a computing device 106.

[0071] In one embodiment, the computing device 106a receives, from the producer, a first portion of content while the producer is generating a second portion of the content. In another embodiment, the computing device 106a continues to receive portions of the content substantially simultaneously to the generation of subsequent portions of the content until the content has been completely generated and transmitted to the computing device 106a. In some embodiments, the computing device 106a receives, from the producer, content identified by the producer for transmission to the fixed-tuned digital device.

[0072] In one embodiment, the computing device 106 transmits the received content to a fixed-tuned digital device 100 upon receipt of the content from the content producer. In another embodiment, the computing device 106 transmits the content generated by the producer during the generation of the content. In still another embodiment, the computing device compiles a certain amount of content and transmits the compiled content to the fixed-tuned digital device 100. In yet another embodiment, the computing device 106 modifies the received content prior to transmitting the content to the fixed- tuned digital device 100. For example, the computing device 106 may modify a format of the content (such as transcoding the content) so that the content is in a format that the fixed- tuned digital device 100 can process. In some embodiments, the computing device 106 transmits the content to the fixed-tuned digital device 100 across a network 104. In some embodiments, the producer transmits the generated content to a second computing device 106b that transmits the content generated by the producer to the first computing device 106a. In other embodiments, the fixed-tuned digital device automatically tunes a connection to the computing device.

[0073] In one embodiment, the computing device 106 indicates to the fixed- tuned digital device 100 that the content producer is about to begin transmitting content to the fixed-tuned digital device 100 via the computing device 106. In another embodiment, the computing device 106 indicates to the fixed-tuned digital device 100 that the content producer has begun transmitting content to the fixed-tuned digital device 100 via the computing device 106. In some embodiments, based upon the indication received by the computing device 106, the fixed- tuned digital device 100 displays an indication to a user that the content producer is about to begin or has begun transmitting content. In one of these embodiments, the fixed-tuned digital device 100 sends a signal to modify a user-perceptible element to alert the user of the received indication. For example, the fixed-tuned digital device 100 may emit a sound, turn on a light, flash a light, or modify some other physical attributed of the fixed- tuned digital device 100 to alert the user of the received indication. In another of these embodiments, the fixed-tuned digital device 100 transmits an alert to another user device 102 of the received indication. For example, the fixed-tuned digital device 100 may create and send an email, text message, phone call, or other telecommunications-based message to a second device 102 owned by the user, in order to inform the user of the received indication.

[0074] The fixed-tuned digital device receives, in real-time, via a direct feed, from the computing device, the content generated by the producer during generation of the content (404). In one embodiment, the fixed-tuned digital device receives, from the computing device 106, the content during a live performance in which the producer generates the content. In some embodiments, the fixed-tuned digital device plays the received content for a user of the fixed-tuned digital device upon receipt. In other embodiments, the fixed-tuned digital device delays playback of the received content until a user requests playback (for example, by hitting a "play" button or other physical or graphical user interface element). [0075] It should be understood that the systems described above may provide multiple ones of any or each of those components and these components may be provided on either a standalone machine or, in some embodiments, on multiple machines in a distributed system. The systems and methods described above may be implemented as a method, apparatus or article of manufacture using programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof. In addition, the systems and methods described above may be provided as one or more computer-readable programs embodied on or in one or more articles of manufacture. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass code or logic accessible from and embedded in one or more computer- readable devices, firmware, programmable logic, memory devices (e.g., EEPROMs, ROMs, PROMs, RAMs, SRAMs, etc.), hardware (e.g., integrated circuit chip, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), etc.), electronic devices, a computer readable non-volatile storage unit (e.g., CD- ROM, floppy disk, hard disk drive, etc.). The article of manufacture may be accessible from a file server providing access to the computer-readable programs via a network transmission line, wireless transmission media, signals propagating through space, radio waves, infrared signals, etc. The article of manufacture may be a flash memory card or a magnetic tape. The article of manufacture includes hardware logic as well as software or programmable code embedded in a computer readable medium that is executed by a processor. In general, the computer-readable programs may be implemented in any programming language, such as LISP, PERL, C, C++, C#, PROLOG, or in any byte code language such as JAVA. The software programs may be stored on or in one or more articles of manufacture as object code. [0076] Having described certain embodiments of methods and systems for delivering, by a producer, data to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer, it will now become apparent to one of skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating the concepts of the disclosure may be used.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A system for delivering, by a producer, content directly to a consumer, via a direct real-time connection to a digital device of the consumer, the system comprising: a fixed-tuned digital device receiving content, via a direct feed, in realtime, during generation of the content by a producer; and a computing device including i) a receiver receiving, from the producer, the content generated by the producer during generation of the content and ii) a transmitter transmitting, in real-time, the received content via the direct feed to the fixed-tuned digital device during generation of the content.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the fixed-tune digital device further comprises a device branded to uniquely identify the producer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed-tune digital device further comprises means for auto-tuning a connection to the computing device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed-tuned digital device further

comprises a global positioning system (GPS) transponder collecting positioning data associated with the radio receiver, and a transmitter transmitting the collected data to the computing device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed-tuned digital device further

comprises a portable media player.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fixed-tuned digital device further comprises a memory element storing a plurality of digital media files received from the computing device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed-tuned digital device further

comprises a wireless receiver for receiving, in real-time, the content generated by the producer.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second computing device

transmitting generated content from the producer to the first computing device for distribution to the fixed-tuned digital device.

9. A method for delivering, by a producer, data to a consumer, via a direct realtime connection to a digital device of the consumer, the method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, from a producer, content generated by the producer during generation of the content by the producer; and receiving, by a fixed-tuned digital device, in real-time, via a direct feed, from the computing device, the content generated by the producer during generation of the content.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting, by the computing device, to the fixed-tuned digital device, the content generated by the producer during the generation of the content.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting, from a second

computing device, the content generated by the producer, to the first computing device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising automatically tuning, by the fixed- tuned digital device, a connection to the computing device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving by the fixed- tuned digital device further comprises receiving, by the fixed-tuned digital device, from the computing device, during a live performance in which the producer generates the content.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving, by the computing device, further comprises, receiving, by the computing device, from the producer, content identified by the producer for transmission to the fixed-tuned digital device.