Portable sound reproducing system and method

• US 20080004730A9
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MPMan.com, Inc
• Original Assignee: Texas MP3 Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Hwang, Jung-ha, Moon, Kwang-su
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/007 Transform coding, e.g. discrete cosine transform
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/00014 the compressed signal being an audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/00057 MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 audio layer III [MP3]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1006 Data managing, e.g. manipulating data before writing or reading out, data bus switches or control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/16 Storage of analogue signals in digital stores using an arrangement comprising analogue/digital [A/D] converters, digital memories and digital/analogue [D/A] converters

Abstract

A portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data includes a plurality of inputs, one or more memory chips, a display, an audio output, one or more processors, and a battery. The plurality of inputs includes a forward input, a reverse input, and a play control input. The one or more memory chips store compressed digitized audio data. The one or more processors are responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs to reproduce select rows of compressed digitized audio data stored in the data in an audio format and to provide information to the display.

Claims

1. A handheld portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data, the portable audio device comprising:

a plurality of inputs, including a forward input, a reverse input, and a play control input;

one or more memory chips to store compressed digitized audio data;

a display;

an audio output;

at least one processor, responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs, to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the one or more memory chips for reproduction by the audio output and to provide information to the display;

a re-chargeable battery;

wherein, when a first selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, the display provides the first selection'"'"'s title;

wherein, when a second selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced and in response to selection of the forward input for a first amount of time, the portable audio device advances to another selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein, when a third selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the reverse input for a second amount of time, the portable audio device begins playing the third selection from a beginning of the third selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein, when a fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the play control input, the portable audio device stops playing the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein the compressed digitized audio data is compressed according to a Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) compression standard; and

wherein, when the portable audio device is in a selected mode of operation and a voltage of the re-chargeable battery falls below a selected level, the display provides an indication relating to a power level of the re-chargeable battery.

2. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a random input and wherein, in response to selection of the random input, the portable audio device reproduces selections of the compressed digitized data stored in the one or more memory chips in a random order.

3. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a repeat input and wherein, in response to selection of the repeat input, the portable audio device reproduces at least one selection of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the one or more memory chips in a repetitive manner.

4. The portable audio device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a repeat input and wherein, in response to selection of the repeat input, the portable audio device reproduces at least one selection of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the one or more memory chips in a repetitive manner.

5. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein:

when the second selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced and in response to selection of the forward input for a third amount of time, the portable audio device reproduces the second selection of compressed digitized audio data at a rapid speed;

when the third selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the reverse input for a fourth amount of time, the portable audio device begins advancing toward the beginning of the third selection.

6. The portable audio device of claim 5, wherein:

when the portable audio device stops playing the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data in response to selection of the play control input, a subsequent selection of the play control input causes the portable audio device to begin reproducing the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data.

7. The portable audio device of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of buttons, including:

a reverse button, wherein the reverse input is selected when the reverse button is depressed;

a forward button, wherein the forward input is selected when the forward button is depressed; and

a play/stop button, wherein the play control input is selected when the play/stop button is depressed.

8. The portable audio device of claim 6, wherein the first time is less than the third time, and the second time is less than the fourth time.

9. The portable audio device of claim 6, wherein the first and second times are less than approximately 1 second and the third and fourth times are greater than approximately 1 second.

10. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein selecting the play control input for an extended period turns the portable audio device off.

11. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor includes first and second processors.

12. The portable audio device of claim 11, wherein the first processor determines which input signals are being selected, while the second processor decompresses the compressed digital audio data.

13. The portable audio device of claim 11, wherein the first processor functions as a CPU and the second processor functions as a DSP.

14. The portable audio device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter/receiver to receive compressed digital sound data from a personal computer.

15. The portable audio device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter/receiver to receive compressed digital sound data from a telecommunications network.

16. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein said one or more memory chips are non-removable.

17. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein said one or more memory chips are removable.

38. The handheld portable audio device of claim 1, wherein the device is thinner than a portable CD player.

39. The handheld portable audio device of claim 1, wherein the device is thin and lightweight.

18. A handheld portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data, the portable audio device comprising:

a plurality of inputs, including a forward input, a reverse input, and a play control input;

one or more memory chips to store compressed digitized audio data;

a display;

an output receptive to a headphone;

at least one processor, responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs, to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the one or more memory chips to an audible format;

a re-chargeable battery;

wherein, when a first selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, the display provides the first selection'"'"'s title;

wherein, when a second selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced and in response to selection of the forward input for a first amount of time, the portable audio device advances forward to another selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein, when a third selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the reverse input for a second amount of time, the portable audio device begins playing the third selection from a beginning of the third selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein, when a fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the play control input, the portable audio device stops playing the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein the compressed digitized audio data is compressed according to a Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) compression standard; and

wherein the display provides an indication relating to the power level of the re-chargeable battery.

19. The portable audio device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a random input and wherein, in response to selection of the random input, the portable audio device reproduces selections of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the one or more memory chips in a random order.

20. The portable audio device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a repeat input and wherein, in response to selection of the repeat input, the portable audio device reproduces at least one selection of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the one or more memory chips in a repetitive manner.

21. The portable audio device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a repeat input and wherein, in response to selection of the repeat input, the portable audio device reproduces at least one selection of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the one or more memory chips in a repetitive manner.

22. The portable audio device of claim 18, wherein:

when the second selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced and in response to selection of the forward input for a third amount of time, the portable audio device reproduces the second selection of compressed digitized audio data at a rapid speed;

when the third selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the reverse input for a fourth amount of time, the portable audio device begins advancing toward the beginning of the third selection.

23. The portable audio device of claim 22, wherein:

when the portable audio device stops playing the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data in response to selection of the play control input, a subsequent selection of the play control input causes the portable audio device to begin reproducing the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data.

24. The portable audio device of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of buttons, including:

a reverse button, wherein the reverse input is selected when the reverse button is depressed;

a forward button, wherein the forward input is selected when the forward button is depressed; and

a play/stop button, wherein the play control input is selected when the play/stop button is depressed.

25. The portable audio device of claim 22, wherein the first time is less than the third time, and the second time is less than the fourth time.

26. The portable audio device of claim 22, wherein the first and second times are less than approximately 1 second and the third and fourth times are greater than approximately 1 second.

27. The portable audio device of claim 18, wherein selecting the play control input for an extended period turns the portable audio device off.

28. The portable audio device of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor includes first and second processors.

29. The portable audio device of claim 28, wherein the first processor determines which input signals are being selected and the second processor decompresses the compressed digital sound data.

30. The portable audio device of claim 29, wherein the first processor functions as a CPU and the second processor functions as a DSP.

31. The portable audio device of claim 18, further comprising a transmitter/receiver to receive compressed digital sound data from a personal computer.

32. The handheld portable audio device of claim 18, further comprising a transmitter/receiver to receive compressed digital sound data from a telecommunications network.

33. The handheld portable audio device of claim 18, wherein the first selection, the second selection, the third selection, and the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data include different selections of music.

34. The handheld portable audio device of claim 18, wherein said one or more memory chips are non-removable.

35. The handheld portable audio device of claim 18, wherein said one or more memory chips are removable.

36. The handheld portable audio device of claim 18, wherein the device is thinner than a portable CD player.

37. The handheld portable audio device of claim 18, wherein the device is thin and lightweight.