Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Specific memory composition
Reexamination Certificate
1995-05-22
2001-08-28
Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2123)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Specific memory composition
C381S124000, C705S057000, C380S053000, C380S059000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282611
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital information system, a digital audio signal processor and a signal converter, such as a digital information system for realizing the sale or supply of specified audio data or the like by transmitting it to a specified person in the form of an electrical signal, an audio signal processor and a signal converter suitable for the system, and a technique applicable for use in a data compressing and expanding circuit.
As a conventional example of commercialized information, there is a newspaper or magazine in which characters or the like are printed on paper as a medium. The paper used in this way may be replaced by various types of software stored on a memory medium, such as a floppy disk or an IC card. Another example is a communication network, such as cable television or satellite broadcasting, for supplying news or broadcast programs to specified subscribers.
Further, a portable computer, which differs from the conventional notebook-type personal computer or “electronic notebook”, but which can easily send a message to another person, access a data base, or process information without being restricted by time or place, has been suggested in “Nikkei Electronics”, Nov. 26, 1990, pp.116 to 124. This system proposes data transmission to a portable terminal through a public telephone or FM broadcasting or by the sale of IC cards at bookstores or station booths.
Also, a system for transmitting and receiving information is disclosed in JP-A-63-61391.
Furthermore, JP-A-61-236222 suggests a digital-to-analog converter that can be realized by a digital circuit.
In the case where information is commercialized and sold as an item which uses paper as a such as newspapers or magazines, the printing and transportation take a long time, which not only makes the system unsuitable for timely sale of information, but also adversely affects the earth's environment by deforestation to provide the materials for making paper and by the dispensing of garbage in the disposing of the paper. In the case where a IC card or floppy disk is used as a medium, such as for an electronic notebook or the like, a terminal device, such as the electronic notebook or personal computer, is needed. In addition, these terminal devices presuppose a capability for information processing, such as in the electronic notebook, so that the operation thereof is comparatively complicated and difficult in application, thereby preventing general extension of the use thereof. Also, in the case where a great amount of data are distributed through FM broadcasting, it is troublesome to select desired information, and this is also true of the satellite or cable television broadcasting, where even unnecessary information is received under a blanket contract.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present inventors have developed a digital information system which makes it possible to deliver and receive information in the same form as general commodities as an electrical signal, while at the same time reproducing the received information using an ultrathin portable memory card having a playback function, and a digital audio signal processor and a signal converter suitably used therewith.
An object of the present invention is to provide a digital information system capable of realizing the sale of commercial information in the form of digital signal.
Another object of the present invention is to realize transfer of digital signals between a digital signal source and a memory card with a playback function, at a rate at least higher than the signal to be processed in the digital information system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device suitable for the above-mentioned digital information system.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for various types of high-quality reproduction of information from a memory card with a playback function suitable for the above-described digital information system.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for efficiently transferring and assuring confidentiality of information in the above-mentioned digital information system.
A typical example of the systems according to the present invention disclosed by the present patent application will be briefly described. In the process of receiving a digital signal, a player of the ultrasmall, ultrathin card type having an earphone, such as a memory card with a playback function is connected to a terminal device as a digital signal source in one-to-one correspondence, so that a specified digital signal can be received and stored in a memory in its original form, and the stored digital signal can be independently reproduced in the player.
In this digital information system, for example, a digital signal is received from a digital signal source and is delivered to a memory card which has playback function at a speed at least higher than that at which the signal is processed. Also, between an original source of digital signals and a digital signal source, a digital signal is received and stored through a communication channel or an appropriate storage medium as required, while at the same time a specified digital signal is received by the connection through a connector with the memory card having a playback function (player). Further, the memory capacity of the terminal device is equal to or greater than that of the memory on the memory card having the playback function, and the terminal device is used with a hard disk memory unit having a comparatively large memory capacity as a backup memory. At the same time, the digital signal frequently received and delivered with the memory card having the playback function or the digital signal updated with the lapse of time is stored in a buffer memory configured as a semiconductor memory accessible at high speed, thereby making possible efficient reception and delivery of information. Furthermore, the storage area of a memory in the memory card with playback function is controlled. In addition, the above-mentioned terminal device realizes a digital information system having the function of audition with a part of designated digital signals reproduced and outputted over a predetermined length of time, and having an ultrasmall, ultrathin memory card with a playback function as the result of slow/fast playback by voice interval control and avoidance of quantizing noises.
The player receives a digital signal in the form of an electrical signal, and independently plays it back, so that the value of the digital signal received can be exhibited in direct form. As a consequence of the usability of a digital signal in direct form, a system for processing, production and sale thereof is configured easily. At the same time, the simple player construction in the form of an ultrasmall, ultrathin card, offers handling ease for every user. By enlarging or extending the voice interval of the digital audio signal substantially, the slow or fast playback is made possible without deteriorating the audio quality.
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Aiki Kiyoshi
Hamamoto Nobuo
Horikoshi Hisashi
Kimura Katsutaka
Kishida Hiroshi
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Broda Samuel
Hitachi , Ltd.
Teska Kevin J.
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