Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Digital audio data processing system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2003-07-15
Picard, Leo (Department: 2125)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Digital audio data processing system
C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06594534
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to audio message recording and transferring systems and, more particularly to a portable recording/transfer system and docking station enabling interconnection with one or a plurality of message delivery chips or circuits.
BACKGROUND ART
During the last decade, substantial attention and interest has been paid to audio generating circuits which are capable of delivering a single message when activated. These integrated circuits have gained substantial popularity for business applications and consumer applications. For many years, such audio generating chips have been incorporated into greeting cards, calendars, picture frames, and the like, to produce a particular message or song each time the circuit is activated.
Although these audio delivery circuits have become increasingly popular and have been widely used in various applications, the broad, all-inclusive, acceptance and use of the circuits has been hampered by the cost of production and the limitations in self-generated audio. In particular, these circuits have been comparatively expensive to create and produced, particularly when a high quality of sound reproduction is sought.
In addition, in order to expand the use and acceptance of the these integrated circuits, re-programmable chips have been employed along with single use programmable chips. By employing these systems, consumers are able to place any desired message on the chip prior to delivery of a desired product with the circuit to an end user.
Although a wide variety of applications exist in which purchasers could impart a message onto a chip, either as a re-programmable chip or as a one time programmable chip, consumers have been reluctant to employ these circuits. Although many reasons may be given, most consumers avoid the use of these products since consumers are unable to perfect a particular message prior to recording the message on the circuit.
Another area in which prior art systems have been incapable of providing a satisfactory solution is in the production of audio delivery circuits used by small companies or businesses. In this regard, many smaller companies desire to produce or employ an audio delivery circuit which is distributed to many customers, with each circuit containing an identical message. However, in spite of this need, no prior art system has been capable of providing an economically produced product capable of recording a single message and transferring that message to a plurality of one-time programmable chips.
In addition, most prior art systems, also suffer from the common failing of being able to place an audio message on a one-time programmable chip directly, requiring the chip to be manually mounted after recording to a printed circuit board for being employed in the desired manner. This handling is not only costly but also potentially harmful to the chip, often resulting in damage being caused to the chip during the transfer and mounting operation.
Finally, prior art systems have been completely incapable of producing any type of message recording or transfer system which is sufficiently small and compact to provide portability. As a result, large immovable structures or computers are employed for creating a particular message and transferring that message to a recordable chip. Although such prior art systems may be effective, the systems prevent individuals and small businesses from having the substantial advantages provided by a system which is portable.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a hand-holdable, portable message recording/transfer system capable of producing a high quality message which can be transferred to one or more audio delivery programmable chips or audio delivery circuits.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable message recording/transfer system having the characteristic features described above which enables the user to re-record any desired message to assure its perfection prior to its use and/or transfer.
Another object in the present invention is to provide a portable message recording/transfer system having the characteristic features described above which is capable of being programmed with a desired message by receiving either analog or digital inputs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable message recording/transfer system having the characteristic features described above which is capable of simultaneously delivering a single recorded message to one or a plurality of audio delivery, programmable chips/circuits.
A further object of the present invention is to provide one-time programmable audio delivery circuits which are capable of being programmed by a user in a manner which assures that the message recorded onto the single use circuit or circuits is perfected prior to recording.
Another object of the present invention is to provide one-time programmable audio delivery circuits having the characteristic features described above which are easily employable by any user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide one-time programmable audio delivery circuits having the characteristic features described above which is comparatively inexpensive to obtain and employ.
Other and more specific objects will in part be obvious and will in appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By employing the present invention, all of the difficulties and drawbacks previously encountered with prior art systems have been eliminated and an easily employed audio recording system is attained which is capable of being used by the consumer for recording perfected messages onto one or a plurality of one-time recordable audio generating modules. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a docking station is employed which is constructed to enable messages to be recorded, played, re-recorded, and then used when perfected to produce a high quality audio signal which is transferrable to a one-time programmable audio generating circuit/module. Furthermore, in the preferred construction, the docking station is small and compact, thereby providing complete portability thereto.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the docking station is constructed for receiving a one-time programmable audio producing module or circuit and transferring any desired message recorded on the docking station directly to the one-time programmable audio generating module. In this way, a particular message can be perfected by recording and re-recording the message onto the re-programmable circuit of the docking station and, once perfected, transferring the perfected message from the recording system of the docking station to the one-time programmable audio generating module incorporated in the circuit interconnected to the docking station.
Depending upon the use desired, the docking station of the present invention can be constructed for being interconnected with a single, one-time programmable audio generating module for enabling one module to be programmed as an individualized system for delivering a specific personalized message. Alternatively, the docking station of the present invention may also be constructed for receiving a plurality of one-time programmable audio generating modules for enabling the plurality of modules to receive the desired message simultaneously, thereby allowing a user to create a plurality of identical specialized messages for distribution to a wider audience. However, regardless of the number of modules being connected to the docking station or recorder system of the present invention, an important feature of this invention is the ability to record directly to a fully assembled audio generating module or circuit, as opposed to recording to only a chip. In this way, handling of the chip after recording is eliminated and post-recording assembly is avoided.
In an alternate embodiment, the system of the present invention may be implemented using a computer system in combination with an interface interconnected between the computer system and the one-time programm
Bahta Kidest
Picard Leo
Stoltz Melvin I.
LandOfFree
Message recording and transfer system and docking station does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Message recording and transfer system and docking station, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Message recording and transfer system and docking station will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3065138