US 6199076

Analysis of US Patent 6,199,076

Date of Analysis: 2026-05-11

This analysis provides a concise summary of US Patent 6,199,076, including its key bibliographic details and a plain-language overview of its independent claims, based on the provided authoritative patent text.

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Bibliographic Information

• Title: Audio program player including a dynamic program selection controller
• Assignee: The provided text indicates the original assignee was "Individual," and the current assignee is "Personal Audio LLC".
• Inventors: James Logan, Daniel F. Goessling, Charles G. Call
• Filing Date: October 2, 1996
• Issue Date: March 6, 2001
• Abstract: The patent discloses an audio distribution system where a host computer organizes and transmits program segments to a client player. The host curates programming based on individual subscriber preferences. Program segments are accompanied by descriptive data that can be used to generate text and audio catalogs, aiding user selection. The system compiles a usage log of the subscriber's interactions, which is sent back to the host for billing, adaptive preference modification, and to process user-generated comments and requests. The player incorporates voice controls for hands-free navigation and for dictating messages to be returned to the host.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

A definitive plain-language overview of the independent claims cannot be provided. The full patent text supplied, while extensive, does not include the numbered "Claims" section which is the legally operative part of the patent defining the scope of the invention. Without this specific text, any attempt to summarize the independent claims would be speculative.

Based on the detailed description, the independent claims would likely revolve around:

1. A method for distributing personalized audio programs, involving a server compiling a sequence of audio segments based on a user profile, transmitting them to a remote player, and the player presenting them. A key feature would be logging user interactions to be sent back to the server to update the user profile.
2. An audio player apparatus comprising a storage for audio segments, a processor to control playback, an audio output, and a communication interface to receive segments and transmit usage logs. A crucial element would be the "dynamic program selection controller" allowing a user to skip, repeat, and navigate the pre-selected program sequence.
3. A system for personalized audio distribution, encompassing both the server-side elements (data storage, compilation processor) and the client-side player, operating together to create a personalized, interactive audio experience.

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CAFC Docket Search

A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not reveal any pending appeals specifically citing US Patent 6,199,076. A broader search for the current assignee, "Personal Audio LLC," also did not surface any pending 2026 appeals directly tied to this patent. It should be noted that this patent has a history of litigation, as indicated in the patent's "Family has litigation" section and through general industry knowledge. The legal status of the patent is listed as "Expired - Lifetime".