Standalone MP3 recording station

• US 20020105861A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leapman, Scott D.
• Application Number:
  US09/751,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105861A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/2
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/00 Driving, starting, stopping record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function ; Driving both disc and head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0327 for special applications not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are disclosed for converting audio content to digital files (e.g., MP3 files) and then transferring the converted digital files to a portable player utilizing a standalone unit without the requirement of a computer. An apparatus and a method are also disclosed for converting content from a first recordable media to another format and then transferring the converted content to a portable player or a second recordable media upon a single action of a user, such as pressing a single button on an interface. Further, an apparatus and a method are disclosed for docking a portable player with a standalone device capable of transferring digital files (e.g., MP3 files) to the portable player while also recharging the portable player.

Claims

1. A recording station, comprising:

an interface;

a drive capable of receiving a recordable media having content recorded thereon; and

a converter capable of converting said content recorded on said recordable media to another format upon a single action by a user.

2. The recording station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said single action is actuating a button located on said interface.

3. The recording station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recordable media is at least one of a compact disc, a mini-disc, a laser disc, and a digital video disc.

4. The recording station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transceiver capable of transferring said content converted to another format to a portable player.

5. The recording station as claimed in claim 4, wherein said transceiver is capable of transferring said converted content to said portable player through at least one of:

a hardwire connection and a wireless connection.

6. The recording station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a docking station capable of coupling to a portable player, said docking station further capable of recharging said portable player and transferring said content converted to another format to said portable player when said portable player is coupled to said docking station.

7. The recording station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second drive capable of receiving a second recordable media, wherein said content converted to another format is transferred to said second recordable media in said second drive.

8. The recording station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said content converted to another format is in accordance with MP3 compression standards.

9. A method of converting content stored on a recordable media to another format, comprising the steps of:

loading the recordable media into a converting device;

selecting the content stored on the recordable media to be converted;

actuating a single control on said converting device; and

converting said selected content stored on the recordable media to another format upon actuation of said single control on said converting device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said single control is a button located on said converting device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said recordable media is at least one of a compact disc, a mini-disc, a laser disc, and a digital video disc.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of transferring said selected content converted to another format to a portable player.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of transferring said selected content converted to another format to a second recordable media.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said selected content converted to another format is in accordance with MP3 compression standards.

16. The recording station as claimed in claim 15, wherein said single action is actuating a button located on said interface.

17. The recording station as claimed in claim 15, wherein said another device is a portable player.

18. The recording station as claimed in claim 15, wherein said recordable media is at least one of a compact disc, a mini-disc, a laser disc, and a digital video disc.

19. The recording station as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a converter capable of converting said content stored on said recordable media into another format.

20. The recording station as claimed in claim 19, wherein said content converted to another format is in accordance with MP3 compression standards.

21. The recording station as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a docking station capable of coupling to said another device, said docking station further capable of recharging said another device and transferring said content stored on said recordable media to said another device when said another device is coupled to said docking station.

22. The recording station as claimed in claim 15, wherein said transceiver is capable of transferring said content stored on said recordable media to said another device through one of:

a hardwire connection and a wireless connection.

15. A recording station, comprising:

an interface;

a drive capable of receiving a recordable media; and

a transceiver capable of transferring content stored on said recordable media to another device upon a single action by a user.