Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Digital audio data processing system
Reexamination Certificate
1996-05-22
2001-10-09
Chang, Vivian (Department: 2644)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Digital audio data processing system
C369S002000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301513
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to audio systems generally and to such systems which play digital audio data.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Audio systems, such as stereos, are well known and can be found in practically every home and car. They come with many features, the most popular of which is the cassette-tape playback deck which plays audio signals stored on a magnetic tape within a cassette. The playback deck receives the cassette, reproduces the signals that were recorded on the magnetic tape within the cassette, and converts the stored signals to audible sounds.
Many audio systems also have a connection to a compact-disc player which reads digital data stored on a compact-disc and converts the digital data to audio signals. The audio signals are then provided to the sound system of the audio system to be played to the listener.
For those audio systems which do not have such a built-in connection, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,734,897 and 5,307,326 describe an adapter which will convert the output of a compact-disc player into one which can be read by a playback deck. The adapter includes a housing in the shape of a cassette but which does not contain a magnetic tape therein. Instead, it contains an audio record head which transfers audio signals to the playback head of the playback deck. The playback deck then processes the audio signals as if they were picked up from a magnetic tape.
Other stereo-like vehicle accessories are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,206,641, 5,263,199 and 5,193,141.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an audio system, such as a vehicle stereo, with the capability to play digital audio data and which can be removed from the audio system. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a “diskette-cassette” which has digital audio data stored therein and which can be played by the playback deck of the tape deck of the audio system. The data stored in the diskette-cassette can be rewritten as often as desired and can be read and written by an external processor such as a personal computer. The diskette-cassette can access the data stored therein in any random order and can also mark the data in response to a listener's indication to do so.
Data can alternatively be loaded to the diskette-cassette through a telephone, radio receiver, television, etc., directly or indirectly through a receiving unit. The data can be text, digitized audio data, digitized speech data, compressed digitized audio or compressed digitized speech. Furthermore, the diskette-cassette can include a text-to-speech generator for converting the text data to audio signals and/or a decompressor for decompressing the compressed data.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a vocal information system with the capability of retrieving and playing digital and audio data.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diskette-cassette includes a housing with holes to receive the rotating elements of a magnetic tape deck, a digital storage unit located within the housing and electronic elements located within the housing and connected to the digital storage unit. The digital storage unit stores therein digital data and the electronic elements at least convert the digital data to audio signals which the magnetic tape deck can pick up.
Alternatively, in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the functionality of the diskette-cassette can be implemented in a cartridge for placing into a slot of an audio system. The cartridge is in the form of a personal computer memory card industry association (PCMCIA) module and has a PCMCIA connector at one end thereof. The remaining elements are similar to those of the diskette-cassette.
Both embodiments can preferably include a command input unit and a processor. The processor communicates at least with the digital storage unit, selects portions of the digital data to be provided to the audio interface in accordance with listener commands from the command input unit, marks those portions of the digital data which the listener indicates as being of interest and selects the marked portions of the digital data to be provided to the digital interface to be received by an external digital processing unit.
As mentioned, the present invention also incorporates an audio system. In one embodiment, the audio system includes a housing, a communication bus, a bus connector, a radio receiver and a sound player. The housing has a slot for receiving a removable digital unit. The connector connects to the bus and to the removable digital unit and the sound player is selectably connected to the outputs of the radio receiver and the removable digital unit.
Preferably, the connector is a PCMCIA connector and the digital unit is formed on a PCMCIA module. Furthermore, the removable digital unit includes a digital storage unit for storing data thereon, a digital interface which communicates with an external digital processor and with the digital storage unit and a digital vocalizer at least for converting data stored on the digital storage unit to audio signals.
In a second embodiment, the audio system includes a radio receiver, a digital storage unit, a command input unit for receiving listener commands, a digital vocalizer and a sound player. The vocalizer converts data stored on the digital storage unit to audio signals and enables the listener to browse through and mark data stored in the digital storage unit. The sound player is selectably connected to the outputs of the radio receiver and the digital vocalizer.
Preferably, the processor of the vocalizer includes units for marking those portions of the data which the listener indicates as being of interest and for selecting the marked portions of the data to be provided to a digital interface to be received by an external digital processing unit.
In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the second audio system, the digital storage unit, command input unit and digital vocalizer are enclosed within a removable housing. The housing can be like the housing of a cassette or like the housing of a PCMCIA module.
In accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the second audio system, only the digital storage unit is enclosed within a removable housing, such as a PCMCIA housing.
In another embodiment, at least the radio receiver and the sound player are enclosed within a portable housing. The portable housing can also include at least one of a radio receiver, a television receiver and a telephone interface receiver.
In another embodiment, an information system, operable with a general purpose computer having data storage means is provided. The information system includes a remote controller for remotely controlling the operation of the computer, audio means operable with the computer, for receiving at least digital data and for converting the digital data into electrical voltage, control means, operable with the computer, for receiving and responding to user commands from the remote controller for playing selected data stored in the data storage means in a user desired way and an audio system, communicating with the computer.
In a further embodiment, a vocal information system is provided which includes the elements of the information system described above and also includes an information center storing at least digital data and a computer, connected to the information center via a communication link, for receiving the digital data into data storage means.
In addition, in accordance with the embodiments of the information systems, the audio system includes receiving means for receiving RF modulated audio signals for the computer and an audio player for producing acoustic audio signals. Alternatively, the audio system includes a cassette adapter for converting the voltage received from the computer into magnetic format and a tape player for playing the magnetic format in order to produce audio signals.
In addition, in accordance with the embodiments of the infor
Divon Ayner
Mohr Asaf
Chang Vivian
Darby & Darby
Mei Xu
Voquette Network Ltd.
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