Audio system and method

• US 20050049002A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC
• Inventors: White, Russell W., Imes, Kevin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/02 with automatic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 : for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 : file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An audio system and method are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an electronic device having a display, a memory, an audio file player, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the memory and the audio file player are secured. In one embodiment, the electronic device may be a portable MP3 player. The system may also include a processor or playlist engine that can maintain a first playlist and a second playlist. In practice, the first playlist may include a selection of audio content having a corresponding audio file saved in the memory of the electronic device. In one embodiment, the system may also include an automobile having an automobile sound system that has a speaker and an in dash sound system component, which may be removably coupled to the electronic device via a cable. The in dash sound system component may have a selector, which may be, for example, a button, that allows a user to select the first playlist for outputting via the speaker. The cable interconnecting the electronic device and the in dash sound system component may be capable of providing power to the electronic device in addition to communicatively coupling the electronic device to the automobile sound system.

Claims

1. An audio system, comprising:

an electronic device having a display, a memory, an audio file player, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the memory and the audio file player are secured;

a playlist engine operable to maintain a first playlist and a second playlist, wherein the first playlist is operable to include a selection of audio content having a corresponding audio file saved in the memory;

an automobile having an automobile sound system that comprises a speaker and an in dash sound system component operable to be coupled to the electronic device via a cable;

the in dash sound system component comprising a selector operable to allow a user to select the first playlist for outputting via the speaker; and

the cable having at least one conductive element operable to provide power to the electronic device, the cable further operable to communicatively couple the electronic device to the automobile sound system.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a portable MP3 player and the cable communicates a processed digital representation of the selection of audio content to the in dash sound system component.

3. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the selector comprises a button.

4. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the audio file player is an MP3 player.

5. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the in dash sound system component further comprises a second selector operable to allow the user to select the second playlist for outputting via the speaker.

6. The audio system of claim 5, wherein the first selector is a first button and the second selector is a second button.

7. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising a playlist generator to generate the first playlist to be presented by the in dash sound system component.

8. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the in dash sound system component is fixed in a first location and the cable is routed to allow the electronic device to be located in a different location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable plugs into the in dash sound system component at a port.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the port is located behind an automobile dashboard.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the port is a compact disk player interconnect point of the in dash sound system component.

12. An audio system, comprising:

an electronic device having a display, a memory, an audio file player, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the memory and the audio file player are secured;

a device interface system that comprises a sound system connector and a device connector;

the sound system connector operable to communicatively couple the device interface system to a sound system; and

the device connector operable to releasably engage the electronic device such that a contact portion of the device interface system contacts a conductive element of the electronic device to form at least a portion of a communication path operable to interconnect the sound system and the electronic device.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising an automobile having an automobile sound system that comprises a speaker and an in dash sound system component, wherein the automobile sound system is the installed sound system.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the sound system comprises a portable radio.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the contact portion of the device interface system is provided at an end portion of a cable having at least one conductive element, the cable operable to provide power to the electronic device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the audio file player is operable to process audio content having a format selected from a group consisting of an MP3 file format, a WAV file format, and a streaming audio format.

17. A method for facilitating the outputting of audio content comprising:

accessing an automobile sound system component having at least a first button for controlling an operational feature of an automobile sound system; and

installing a cable at the automobile sound system component that allows a user to output via the automobile sound system a playing of an audio content file stored in a memory of a portable electronic device that comprises the memory, an audio file player, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the memory and the audio file player are secured.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising installing the cable to the automobile sound system component, the cable operable to conductively couple the portable electronic device to a power supply associated with the automobile.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cable is further operable to communicatively couple the portable electronic device to the automobile sound system component to output the playing of the audio content file via a speaker assembly of the automobile sound system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the cable enables communication between the portable electronic device and the automobile sound system component via a compact disk player port of the automobile sound system component.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the audio content file is included within a playlist, further wherein the interface system allows the portable electronic device to communicate information about the playlist to the automobile sound system component.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information is selected from a group consisting of a playlist name, a playlist number, a song title, a song genre, and a performing artist.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the automobile sound system component is operable to present a graphical representation of the information to the user.

24. A method of outputting audio content, comprising:

communicatively coupling an automobile sound system to an electronic device via an adapter cable, the electronic device having an audio file player, a local rechargeable power supply, and a memory operable to store a plurality of selected audio content files, the adapter cable operable to conductively couple the electronic device to a power supply associated with an automobile to recharge the local rechargeable power supply;

allowing selection of a first audio content file via a button selector operably coupled to the automobile sound system;

detecting a selection of the button selector;

playing the first audio content file with the audio file player in response to the detection; and

outputting a representation of the first audio content file via a speaker assembly of the automobile sound system.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising initiating playing of a first playlist comprising the first audio content file in response to the detection.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising initiating playing of a second playlist in response to detecting selection of a second button selector.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving an input to randomly play the first playlist.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

accessing a memory of the electronic device to identify a playlist to be output by an automobile sound system; and

linking the button selector with the playlist.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the automobile sound system comprises a receiver;

further comprising;

receiving a wireless signal with the receiver;

pausing the playing of the first audio content file; and

outputting audio information represented by the wireless signal.

30. An audio system, comprising:

a vehicle sound system that comprises a speaker and an in dash component that includes an auxiliary connection port;

an electronic device mount formed to releasably engage a portion of a portable audio file player that includes a rechargeable power supply and a processor operable to play a locally stored audio file;

an interface cable interconnecting the auxiliary connection port and the electronic device mount, the interface cable having at least one conductive element operable to deliver power to recharge the rechargeable power supply, the cable further operable to communicatively couple the portable audio file player to the in dash component.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising an automobile, wherein the vehicle sound system is installed within the automobile.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising the portable audio file player, wherein the portable audio file player is an MP3 player.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising a button operably associated with the in dash component, the button operable to direct a mounted audio file player to begin playing a first playlist of locally stored audio content.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the interface cable is routed such that the mounted audio file player is located apart from the in dash component.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the interface cable communicates a digital audio signal output from the portable audio file player to the auxiliary connection port to allow outputting of a sound via the speaker.