Internet radio communication system

Claim 2

A communication system, comprising: a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network and configured to request a service of a packet switched network from a data source on the packet switched network; and a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network and configured to convert unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit, wherein the proxy server is configured to determine whether a requested service is currently offered, and the proxy server is configured to provide a user using the mobile unit a plurality of available options if the requested service is not currently offered.

Claim 3

A communication system, comprising: a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network and configured to request a service of a packet switched network from a data source on the packet switched network; and a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network and configured to convert unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit, wherein the proxy server is configured to determine a current system capacity of the communication system and to notify the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

Claim 4

A communication system, comprising: a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network and configured to request a service of a packet switched network from a data source on the packet switched network; and a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network and configured to convert unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit, wherein the proxy server is configured to determine a current system capacity of the communication system and to notify the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

Claim 5

A communication system, comprising: a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network and configured to request a service of a packet switched network from a data source on the packet switched network; and a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network and configured to convert unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit is configured to store a predetermined list of available services transmitted from the proxy server, and the mobile unit receives the predetermined list of available services when at least one of the following conditions occur: 1) the mobile unit is powered ON, 2) at predetermined time intervals, and 3) when requested by a user.

Claim 6

A communication system, comprising: a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network and configured to request a service of a packet switched network from a data source on the packet switched network; and a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network and configured to convert unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit is configured to store a predetermined list of available services transmitted from the proxy server, and the mobile unit receives the predetermined list of available services when at least one of the following conditions occur: 1) the mobile unit is powered ON, 2) at predetermined time intervals, and 3) when requested by a user.

Claim 7

A communication method, comprising the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; determining, via the proxy server, whether a requested service is currently offered; and informing a user using the mobile unit about a plurality of available options if the requested service is not currently offered.

Claim 8

A communication method, comprising the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; determining, via the proxy server, whether a requested service is currently offered; and informing a user using the mobile unit about a plurality of available options if the requested service is not currently offered.

Claim 9

A communication method, comprising the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; determining, via the proxy server, a current system capacity of the communication system; and notifying the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

Claim 10

A communication method, comprising the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; determining, via the proxy server, a current system capacity of the communication system; and notifying the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

Claim 11

A communication method, comprising the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; storing, via the mobile unit, a predetermined list of available services transmitted from the proxy server; and receiving, via the mobile unit, the predetermined list of available services when at least one of the following conditions occur: 1) the mobile unit is powered ON, 2) at predetermined time intervals, and 3) when requested by a user.

Claim 12

A communication method, comprising the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from a data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; storing, via the mobile unit, a predetermined list of available services transmitted from the proxy server; and receiving, via the mobile unit, the predetermined list of available services when at least one of the following conditions occur: 1) the mobile unit is powered ON, 2) at predetermined time intervals, and 3) when requested by a user.

Claim 13

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; determining, via the proxy server, whether a requested service is currently offered; and informing a user using the mobile unit about a plurality of available options if the requested service is not currently offered.

Claim 14

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; determining, via the proxy server, whether a requested service is currently offered; and informing a user using the mobile unit about a plurality of available options if the requested service is not currently offered.

Claim 15

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; determining, via the proxy server, a current system capacity of the communication system; and notifying the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

Claim 16

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; determining, via the proxy server, a current system capacity of the communication system; and notifying the mobile unit if a requested service cannot be provided.

Claim 17

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; and receiving, via the mobile unit, a predetermined list of available services from the proxy server when at least one of the following conditions occur: 1) the mobile unit is powered ON, 2) at predetermined time intervals, and 3) when requested by a user.

Claim 18

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for synchronizing a database of source documents, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors perform the steps of: establishing a connection between a packet switched network and a mobile unit distributed within a wireless communication network; requesting a service from at least one data source on the packet switched network; converting, via a proxy server connected between the packet switched network and the wireless communication network, unicast data packets coming from the packet switched network to multicast data packets for transmission to the mobile unit; and receiving, via the mobile unit, a predetermined list of available services from the proxy server when at least one of the following conditions occur: 1) the mobile unit is powered ON, 2) at predetermined time intervals, and 3) when requested by a user.

Claim 19

The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of options include at least one of 1) a list of currently in-progress multicasts, 2) a most recent multicast, and 3) a list of most popular multicasts.

Claim 20

The system according to claim 1 , wherein the proxy server is configured to cache a plurality of services from the data source on the packet switched network.

Claim 21

The system according to claim 1 , wherein the proxy server is configured to continuously receive a plurality of currently offered services.

Claim 22

The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile unit comprises at least one of an Internet radio, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a laptop computer.

Claim 23

The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile unit includes: an input mechanism configured to input a requested service; and a display region configured to display an advertisement and the requested service.

Claim 24

The system according to claim 14 , wherein the input mechanism is foldably connected to the display so that the input mechanism covers the display.

Claim 25

The system according to claim 14 , wherein the input mechanism comprises at least one of 1) a keypad configured to input the requested service, 2) a dial configured to scroll through a list of predetermined services, 3) UP and DOWN arrow keys configured to scroll through the list of predetermined services, 4) a selecting mechanism configured to select one of the predetermined services and 5) a voice activated mechanism.

Claim 26

The system according to claim 1 , wherein data transmitted between the source on the packet switched network and the mobile unit includes at least one of 1) video, 2) audio, 3) text, 4) graphic, 5) still video, and 6) programmatic data.

Claim 27

The system according to claim 1 , wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol based network.

Claim 28

The system according to claim 18 , wherein the Internet Protocol based network is the Internet.

Claim 29

The system according to claim 1 , further comprising additional mobile units.

Claim 30

The method according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of options include at least one of 1) a list of currently in-progress multicasts, 2) a most recent multicast, and 3) a list of most popular multicasts.

Claim 31

The method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of: caching, via the proxy server, a plurality of services from the data source on the packet switched network.

Claim 32

The method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of: continuously receiving, via the proxy server, a plurality of currently offered services.

Claim 33

The method according to claim 4 , wherein the mobile unit comprises at least one of an Internet radio, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a laptop computer.

Claim 34

The method according to claim 4 , wherein the mobile unit includes: an input mechanism configured to input a requested service; and a display configured to display an advertisement and the requested service.

Claim 35

The method according to claim 25 , wherein the input mechanism is foldably connected to the display so that the input mechanism covers the display.

Claim 36

The method according to claim 25 , wherein the input mechanism comprises at least one of 1) a keypad configured to input the requested service, 2) a dial configured to scroll through a list of predetermined services, 3) UP and DOWN arrow keys configured to scroll through the list of predetermined services, 4) a selecting mechanism configured to select one of the predetermined services, and 5) a voice activated mechanism.

Claim 37

The method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of: storing, via the mobile unit, a predetermined list of available services transmitted from the proxy server.

Claim 38

The method according to claim 4 , wherein data transmitted between the source on the packet switched network and the mobile unit includes at least one of 1) video, 2) audio, 3) text, 4) graphic, 5) still video, and 6) programmatic data.

Claim 39

The method according to claim 4 , wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol based network.

Claim 40

The method according to claim 30 , wherein the Internet Protocol based network is the Internet.

Claim 41

The method according to claim 4 , wherein the establishing step is performed with additional mobile units.

Claim 42

The computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of options include at least one of 1) a list of currently in-progress multicasts, 2) a most recent offered multicast, and 3) a list of most popular multicasts.

Claim 43

The computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of: caching, via the proxy server, a plurality of services from the data source on the packet switched network.

Claim 44

The computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of: continuously receiving, via the proxy server, a plurality of currently offered services.

Claim 45

The computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein data transmitted between the source on the packet switched network and the mobile unit includes at least one of 1) video, 2) audio, 3) text, 4) graphic, 5) still video, and 6) programmatic data.