Vehicle entertainment system capable of wireless reception of media content

• US 10,028,031 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Tranchina, James R., Vitito, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bantamoi, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/840,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20130276036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A mobile entertainment system, comprising: a video system in combination with a media source, the video system and media source are attached to a housing secured within an automobile; the media source includes a storage medium upon which audio and video media content is stored for display upon the video system as desired by a user; an access point configured for wireless retrieval of audio and video media content for display upon the video monitor; a remote library of audio and video media content in wireless communication with the media source via the access point, the remote library including storage space for uploading of media content from a personal collection of audio and video media content from a user for subsequent transmission to the media source.

Claims

1. A mobile entertainment system, comprising:

a video system comprising a processor and in combination with a media source, the video system and media source are housed within a housing secured within an automobile;

the media source includes a storage medium upon which audio and video media content is stored for display upon the video system as desired by a user;

a wireless global communication network access point configured for retrieval of audio and video media content for display upon a video monitor, configured to wirelessly transmit the audio and video media content to a first local receiving device having a display, and configured to provide the first local receiving device with Internet access, wherein the first local receiving device is disposed in the automobile and remote from the housing;

at least one port disposed in the automobile,

wherein the at least one port is configured to physically connect to a remote input device disposed external to the automobile via a cable; and

audio and video media content is transmitted from the remote input device to the video system via the cable;

a remote library of audio and video media content in wireless communication with the media source via the wireless global communication network access point, the remote library including storage space for uploading of media content from a personal collection of audio and video media content from a user for subsequent transmission to the media source upon synchronization of the remote library with the media source thereby providing the user with access to a personal collection of audio and video media content, wherein audio and video media content that is in the remote library and is not available in local storage in the media source is downloaded to the media source upon synchronization of the remote library with the media source; and

an access approval code associated with the media source instructing the remote library to synchronize the audio and video media content with the media source as desired by the user, wherein the processor is configured to present a browser with a menu of video programs on the video monitor for selection by the user,

wherein a first selected video program is wirelessly transmitted to the first local receiving device, and audio content associated with the first selected video program is simultaneously wirelessly transmitted to wireless headphones corresponding to the first local receiving device on a first frequency,

wherein a second selected video program is wirelessly transmitted to a second local receiving device, and audio content associated with the second selected video program is simultaneously wirelessly transmitted to wireless headphones corresponding to the second local receiving device on a second frequency different than the first frequency.

3. The mobile entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the user is further provided with access to selected content through a predetermined subscription arrangement via the media source and the wireless global communication network access point.

4. The mobile entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source establishes an Internet connection via the wireless global communication network access point, and synchronization of the remote library with the media source is performed using the Internet connection.

5. The mobile entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source and the wireless global communication network access point communicate with each other via a wired connection.

6. The mobile entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the media source and the wireless global communication network access point communicate with each other via a wireless connection.

7. The mobile entertainment system of claim 6, wherein the wireless connection is an 802.11 wireless connection.

8. The mobile entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a hard drive.

9. The mobile entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the video system is mounted to a ceiling in the automobile.

10. The mobile entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the video system is mounted to a headrest in the automobile.

2. A mobile entertainment system, comprising:

a housing secured within an interior of a vehicle;

a mobile video system housed within the housing, the mobile video system comprising;

a processor;

a video monitor;

a wireless access point configured to wirelessly receive first audio and video data from a media source disposed remotely from the vehicle, wirelessly transmit the first audio and video data to the video monitor and a first local receiving device having a display, and provide the first local receiving device with Internet access, wherein the first local receiving device is disposed in the vehicle and remote from the housing; and

a recording device, houseable in the mobile video system for recording the first audio and video data received from the media source,

wherein the processor is configured to present a browser with a menu of video programs on the video monitor for selection by a user,

wherein a first selected video program is wirelessly transmitted to the first local receiving device, and audio content associated with the first selected video program is simultaneously wirelessly transmitted to wireless headphones corresponding to the first local receiving device on a first frequency,

wherein a second selected video program is wirelessly transmitted to a second local receiving device, and audio content associated with the second selected video program is simultaneously wirelessly transmitted to wireless headphones corresponding to the second local receiving device on a second frequency different than the first frequency; and

at least one port disposed in the vehicle wherein the at least one port is configured to physically connect to a remote input device disposed external to the vehicle via a cable, and second audio and video data is transmitted from the remote input device to the mobile video system via the cable.

11. The mobile entertainment system of claim 2, wherein a user is provided with access to selected content through a predetermined subscription arrangement via the mobile video system and the media source.

12. The mobile entertainment system of claim 2, wherein the housing is secured to a ceiling in the vehicle.

13. The mobile entertainment system of claim 2, wherein the housing is secured to a headrest in the vehicle.

14. The mobile entertainment system of claim 2, wherein the first local receiving device is a cellular telephone.

15. The mobile entertainment system of claim 2, wherein the wireless access point is configured to receive additional audio and video data from the first local receiving device, and the video monitor is configured to display the additional video data.