Set of electronic apparatuses having first and second electronic devices, and computer program product

• US 20040042350A1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Tetsuya, Tsukui, Tomohisa, Horii, Kazutsugu, Yamanushi, Seiji, Kamiya, Kazuhiro, Kawamura, Katsuaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/2
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable audio player (100) includes a decoder (14) and other devices for reproducing audio data, a microcomputer (16) for controlling starting and stopping the reproduction, and a radio communication device (24). An on-vehicle audio player (200) includes a radio communication device (64) for a bidirectional radio communication with the radio communication device in the portable audio player, a decoder (54) and other devices for reproducing audio data, and a microcomputer (56) for controlling starting and stopping the reproduction. In case that the portable audio player stops reproducing the audio data, the on-vehicle audio player starts reproducing the audio data.

Claims

1. A set of electronic apparatuses comprising a first electronic apparatus and a second electronic apparatus,

said first electronic apparatus comprising:

a first reproducing device for reproducing contents information;

a first controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said first reproducing device; and

a first communication device for a radio communication,

said second electronic apparatus comprising;

a second communication device for a bidirectional radio communication with said first communication device;

a second reproducing device for reproducing the contents information; and

a second controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said second reproducing device,

wherein a control signal is transferred between said first and second controlling devices via said first and second communication devices so that said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information under control of said second controlling device, in case that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information under control of said first controlling device.

2. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic apparatus further comprises a first recording medium for storing the contents information,

said first reproducing device reads the contents information stored in said first recording medium to reproduce the contents information, upon reproducing the contents information,

said fist communication device reads the contents information stored in said first recording medium to transmit the contents information to said second communication device, in case that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information, and

said second reproducing device reproduces the contents information received at said second communication device.

3. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 2, wherein said second electronic apparatus comprises a second recording medium for storing the contents information received at said second communication device, and

said second reproducing device reproduces the contents information stored in said second recording medium.

4. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information without a discretion of the contents information, in case that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information.

5. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information with an overlap of the contents information by a predetermined amount, or said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information at a beginning of a predetermined unit, which includes a stop point at which the reproduction of the contents information is stopped, in case that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information.

6. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein a communicational connection is established between said first communication device and said second communication device, in case that said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus come closer to one another to be within a predetermined range of distance therebetween, and

the control signal is transferred, once the communicational connection is established.

7. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein, if an approach status between said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus is detected in accordance with a predetermined standard, the control signal is transferred so that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information and said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information.

8. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said first and second controlling devices detects the approach status between said first and second electronic apparatuses, on the basis of a communicational status between said first and second communication devices.

9. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second electronic apparatuses further comprises a detecting device for detecting a predetermined trigger event, and

once the predetermined trigger event is detected, the control signal is transferred so that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information and said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information.

10. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein said first electronic apparatus further comprises a first non-volatile memory for storing an identification code for identifying one or more said second electronic apparatuses, and

said first communication device establishes a radio communication with said second communication device, on the basis of the identification code stored in said first non-volatile memory.

11. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 10, wherein said first non-volatile memory stores a connection requirement data, which defines a connection requirement for the connection with said second electronic apparatus, in correlation with the identification code.

12. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein said second electronic apparatus further comprises a second non-volatile memory for storing an identification code for identifying one or more said first electronic apparatuses, and

said second communication device establishes a radio communication with said first communication device, on the basis of the identification code stored in said second non-volatile memory.

13. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 12, wherein said second non-volatile memory stores a connect requirement data, which defines a connection requirement for the connection with said first electronic apparatus, in correlation with the identification code.

14. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein, if a separation status between said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus is detected in accordance with a predetermined standard, said first reproducing device re-starts reproducing the contents information and said second reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information.

15. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 1, wherein, if said first and second electronic apparatuses separate from one another departing from a predetermined range of distance therebetween, the communicational connection between said first and second communication devices is cut, and

once the communicational connection is cut, said first reproducing device restarts reproducing the contents information and said second reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information.

16. A set of electronic apparatuses comprising a first electronic apparatus and a second electronic apparatus,

said first electronic apparatus comprising:

a first reproducing device for reproducing contents information;

a first controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said first reproducing device; and

a first communication device for a radio communication,

said second electronic apparatus comprising;

a second communication device for a bidirectional radio communication with said first communication device;

a second reproducing device for reproducing the contents information; and

a second controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said second reproducing device;

wherein said first electronic apparatus farther comprises a first recording medium for storing a stop point information, which indicates a stop point at which the reproduction of the contents information has been stopped,

a communicational connection is established, if said first and second electronic apparatuses come closer to one another to be within a predetermined range of distance therebetween,

once the communicational connection is established, said first communication device transmits at least the stop point information to said second communication device,

said second communication device receives at least the stop point information, and

said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information under control of said second controlling device, at the stop point obtained from the stop point information received at said second communication device.

17. The set of electronic apparatuses according to claim 16, wherein said first recording medium stores the contents information in correlation with the stop point information,

once the communicational connection is established, said first communication device transmits the contents information with the stop point information,

said second communication device receives the contents information transmitted from said first communication device, and

said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information received at said second communication device, from the stop point.

18. A first electronic apparatus for forming a set of electronic apparatuses with a second electronic apparatus comprising a second communication device for a radio communication, a second reproducing device for reproducing contents information and a second controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said second reproducing device,

said first electronic apparatus comprising:

a first reproducing device for reproducing the contents information;

a first controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said first reproducing device; and

a first communication device for a bidirectional communication with said communication device,

wherein a control signal is transferred between said first and second controlling devices via said first and second communication devices so that said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information under control of said second controlling device, in case that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information under control of said first controlling device.

19. A second electronic apparatus for forming a set of electronic apparatuses with a first electronic apparatus comprising a first reproducing device for reproducing contents information, a first controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said first reproducing device and a first communication device for a radio communication,

said second electronic apparatus comprising:

a second communication device for a bidirectional communication with said first communication device;

a second reproducing device for reproducing the contents information; and

a second controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said second reproducing device,

wherein a control signal is transferred between said first and second controlling devices via said first and second communication devices so that said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information under control of said second controlling device, in case that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information under control of said first controlling device.

20. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to make the computer function as at least one of a first electronic apparatus and a second electronic apparatus for forming a set of electronic apparatuses,

said first electronic apparatus comprising:

a first reproducing device for reproducing contents information;

a first controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said first reproducing device; and

a first communication device for a radio communication,

said second electronic apparatus comprising;

a second communication device for a bidirectional radio communication with said first communication device;

a second reproducing device for reproducing the contents information; and

a second controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said second reproducing device,

wherein a control signal is transferred between said first and second controlling devices via said first and second communication devices so that said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information under control of said second controlling device, in case that said first reproducing device stops reproducing the contents information under control of said first controlling device.

21. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to make the computer function as at least one of a first electronic apparatus and a second electronic apparatus for forming a set of electronic apparatuses,

said first electronic apparatus comprising:

a first reproducing device for reproducing contents information;

the first controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said first reproducing device; and

a first communication device for a radio communication,

said second electronic apparatus comprising;

a second communication device for a bidirectional radio communication with said first communication device;

a second reproducing device for reproducing the contents information; and

the second controlling device for controlling starting and stopping a reproduction in said second reproducing device,

wherein said first electronic apparatus further comprises a first recording medium for storing a stop point information, which indicates a stop point at which the reproduction of the contents information has been stopped,

a communicational connection is established, if said first and second electronic apparatuses come closer to one another to be within a predetermined range of distance therebetween,

once the communicational connection is established, said first communication device transmits at least the stop point information to said second communication device,

said second communication device receives at least the stop point information, and

said second reproducing device starts reproducing the contents information under control of said second controlling device, at the stop point obtained from the stop point information received at said second communication device.