In-vehicle audio browser system having a common usability model

• US 20030137543A1
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, W. Michael, Johnson, Bruce Alan, Sproule, William David, Huff, Polita Mila
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/771
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An in-vehicle audio browser includes a first set of buttons that are configured to select a preset item. A second set of buttons move forward and backward through a list of items in the audio browser. A third button selects among multiple bands associated with the audio browser. A fourth button activates a function that varies depending on the selected band. The audio browser supports primary audio control bands that affect the audio outputs when selected and conditional audio control bands that do not affect the audio output unless some action on the band requires audio output.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle audio browser comprising:

a first set of buttons configured to select a preset item;

a second set of buttons configured to move forward and backward through a list of items;

a third button configured to select among a plurality of bands associated with the audio browser; and

a fourth button configured to activate a function that varies depending on the selected band.

2. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of bands includes a radio band, a CD player band, and a digital media band.

3. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of bands includes:

a radio band;

a CD player band;

a digital media band;

a navigation band;

a contact list band; and

a telephone task band.

4. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display configured to identify the selected band.

5. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of bands includes a set of primary audio control bands and a set of conditional audio control bands.

6. An in-vehicle audio browser audio as recited in claim 5, wherein the primary audio control bands affect the audio control bands.

7. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 5, wherein the primary audio control bands affect the audio output when selected.

8. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, wherein the fourth button is configured to save currently playing audio output.

9. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, wherein the fourth button is configured to save currently playing audio output.

10. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, wherein the fourth button is configured to select among a current task.

11. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fifth button configured to select among a plurality of audio sources.

12. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio browser stores various information, and wherein the stored information is synchronized with an external computing device.

13. An in-vehicle audio browser comprising:

a first set of buttons configured to select a preset item;

a second button configured to select between a set of primary audio control bands and a set of conditional audio control bands; and

a third button configured to select a band from the set of bands selected by the second button.

14. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 13, wherein the primary audio control bands affect the audio output when selected.

15. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 13, wherein the conditional audio control bands do not affect the audio output unless some action on the band requires audio output.

16. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 13, wherein the conditional audio control bands do not affect the audio output unless some action on the band requires audio output.

17. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 13, further comprising a fourth button configured to activate a function that varies based on the band.

18. An in-vehicle audio browser as recited in claim 13, further comprising a fourth button configured to activate a function that varies based on the selected band.

19. A user interface for an in-vehicle audio browser, the user interface comprising:

a source button to select between a set of primary audio control bands and a set of conditional audio control bands;

a band button to select a band from the selected set of audio control bands; and

a display device coupled to the band button for displaying the band currently selected by the band button.

20. A user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the primary audio control bands affect the audio output when selected.

21. A user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the conditional audio control bands do not affect the audio output unless some action of the band requires an audio output.

22. A user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the primary audio control bands include a radio band and a CD player band.

23. A user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the conditional audio control bands do not affect the audio output unless some action of the band requires an audio output.

24. A user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the primary audio control bands include a radio band and a CD player band.

25. A user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the conditional audio control bands include a navigation band and a contact list band.

26. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

display a currently selected car radio band, wherein the car radio supports a primary audio control band and a conditional audio control band;

changing the currently selected car radio band in response to activation of a first car radio button; and

moving through a list of items associated with the currently selected car radio band in response to activation of a second car radio button.

27. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein the one or more processors further select a particular item in the list of items associated with the currently selected car radio band using a set of preset buttons.

28. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein the primary audio control band includes an AM radio band, an FM radio band, and a CD player band.

29. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein the conditional audio control band includes a navigation band and a contact list band.

30. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein the primary audio control band includes an AM radio band, an FM radio band, and a CD player band.

31. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein the conditional audio control band includes a navigation band and a contact list band.

32. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein the one or more processors further save currently playing audio content in response to activation of an ACT button on the car radio.

33. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein the one or more processors further dial a phone number currently displayed on the car radio in response to activation of an ACT button on the car radio.