Audio converter device and method for using the same

Abstract

An audio converter device and a method for using the same. The audio converter device receives the digital audio data from a first device via a local area network. The audio converter device decompresses the digital audio data and converts the digital audio data into analog electrical data. The audio converter device transfers the analog electrical data to an audio playback device.

1 . A method to play back digital media, the method comprising: 
 receiving at a storage gateway device via a wide area network a digital media file;    storing in a memory device associated with the storage gateway device the digital media file received via the wide area network;    receiving at the storage gateway device via a local area network a request to play the digital media file whereby a client converter device will receive via the local area network a portion of the digital media file stored in the memory associated with the storage gateway device;    storing the portion of the digital media file received via the local area network in a volatile memory associated with the client converter device; and    converting at the client converter device the portion of the digital media file in the volatile memory to a format usable to playback the digital media file while receiving at the client converter device via the local area network a subsequent portion of the digital media file stored in the memory associated with the storage gateway device wherein flow of the subsequent portion of the digital media file to the client converter device from the storage gateway device is controlled using a buffer management function of the client converter device which functions to ensure that the volatile memory is filled as the portion of the digital media in the volatile memory is being converted.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the storage gateway device comprises a personal computer.  
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the storage gateway device comprises a set top box.  
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wide area network comprises the Internet.  
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the request to play the digital media file comprises a mark-up language formatted message.  
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising causing the digital media file to be downloaded via the wide area network to the storage gateway device by accessing a web-based service.  
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising playing converted portions of the digital media file via a playback device in communication with the client converter device.  
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising playing converted portions of the digital media file via the client converter device.  
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , comprising playing converted portions of the digital media file via earphones associated with the client converter device.  
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising transmitting the request to play the digital media file from the client converter device to the storage gateway device via the local area network.  
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , comprising causing the client converter device to transmit to the storage gateway device the request to play the digital media file in response to an input received via a user interface.  
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 1   1 , comprising receiving the input via a user interface of a remote control device adapted to transmit commands to the client converter device.  
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , comprising receiving the input via a user interface of the client converter device.