Patent Application
20090138575
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an Internet radio system and method therefor, more particularly a system and a method for listening to Internet broadcast via a server unit with an Internet radio station list database that stores an accessible Internet radio station list and a client unit which can access the Internet radio link list with the plug-in of an Internet radio dongle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Listening to radio is an indispensable part of modern life, for radio shows offer both entertainment and information. In line with the innovations in networking technology, radio broadcasters are digitalizing their service to offer online radio programs via Internet linkup.
However, listening to online radio broadcast nowadays requires the setting of online broadcast software program and searching for broadcast server. For users with little knowledge about computer and/or Internet, the process presents a challenge and inconvenience. In addition, oftentimes not all stations on the online radio station list provided by the online broadcast software program can be linked up, which can at times be a frustrating experience.
To address the problem, the invention aims to provide an Internet radio system and method therefor that allows users to listen to online radio with an Internet radio dongle without settings or searching for the radio stations.
The Internet radio system comprises a server unit, a client unit and an Internet radio dongle. The server unit contains an Internet radio station list database, and through which, tests the accessible Internet radio stations. To listen to online broadcast, user plugs a transmission connector of the Internet radio dongle into the transmission interface of the client unit to enable the automatic execution of the Internet radio software program in the dongle and listens to the broadcast as the Internet radio software program obtains the accessible Internet radio station list in the Internet radio station list database of the server unit.
The way to listen to online broadcast according to the invention is that the Internet radio station list database in the server unit tests and updates the accessible Internet radio station list. When a user desires to listen to online broadcast, the user plugs the transmission connector of the Internet radio dongle into the transmission interface of the client unit to enable the automatic execution of the Internet radio software program built in the server unit and via the Internet, obtain the accessible Internet radio station list in the Internet radio station list database of the server unit for the application of the Internet radio software program. The user then operates the Internet radio software program to select the online radio station desired and have the client unit link up with the corresponding remote radio station via the Internet to listen to the broadcast.
The Internet radio system and method therefor according to the invention utilizes an Internet radio dongle, which is plugged into a client unit to execute automatically an Internet radio software program to obtain the accessible Internet radio list in the Internet radio station list database of the server unit. As such, the user can listen to online radio broadcast without settings or searching for radio stations.
The objects and features of the invention are described in detail below with embodiments in reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The hot plug and plug-and-play transmission interface 200 of the client unit 20 is a USB or IEEE1394 at user's choice.
Again refer to
Provide a server unit 10 which has an Internet radio station list database 100 and periodically test and update an accessible Internet radio station list through the Internet radio station list database 100 (step S100). The Internet radio station list database 100 of the server unit 10 is built in with an accessible Internet radio station list, and links up with the Internet radio station server periodically for testing to update the accessible Internet radio station list therein to make sure user can listen to all Internet radio stations he/she links up to.
Provide a client unit 20 where an Internet radio dongle 30 is plugged into its hot plug and plug-and-play transmission interface 200 and the client unit 20 uses its automatic execution function to execute the Internet radio software program built in the Internet radio dongle 30 (step S110). When a user likes to listen to online broadcast, the user can plug the transmission connector 301 of the Internet radio dongle 30 into the hot plug and plug-and-play transmission interface 200 of the client unit 20, and through the microcontroller 300 of the Internet radio dongle 30, controls the connection between the Internet radio dongle 30 and the client unit 20 via interface driver to enable the automatic execution of the Internet radio software program built in the flash memory 302 of the Internet radio dongle 30.
Operate the Internet radio software program to log onto the server unit 10, obtain an accessible Internet radio station list and link to one of the stations on the list for playing on the client unit 20 (step S120). The user logs onto the server unit 10 via the Internet radio software program, goes through the verification process and prebuilt member database 101 to obtain a corresponding accessible Internet radio station list. User selects the station desired through the operational interface of the Internet radio software program and has the client unit 20 link to the corresponding remote Internet radio station via the Internet module 201 to receive the digital broadcast data from the Internet radio station. The processor 203 of the client unit 20 decodes the digital broadcast data and produces corresponding sound signals, which are played by the sound module 202 of the client unit 20.
The Internet radio system and method therefor described above is implemented by plugging the Internet radio dongle 30 into the transmission interface 200 of the client unit 20 and applying the automatic execution function of the client unit 20 to execute the Internet radio software program built in the Internet radio dongle 30, and via the Internet, obtain the accessible Internet radio station list in the Internet radio station list database 100 of the server unit 10. As such, the user can plug and play an online broadcast without going through tedious settings or radio station search.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in the embodiments. However the embodiments should not be construed as a limitation on the actual applicable scope of the invention, and as such, all modifications and alterations without departing from the spirits of the invention and appended claims shall remain within the protected scope and claims of the invention.
