VEHICULAR SYSTEM FOR PLAYING AUDIO FILES

• US 20080140240A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Mccall White, Ted Tsuchiyama
• Original Assignee: Robert Mccall White, Ted Tsuchiyama
• Inventors: WHITE, ROBERT McCALL, TSUCHIYAMA, TED
• Application Number:
  US11/955,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140240A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices

Abstract

A system for transferring, storing and/or playing at least one audio file operatively associated with at least one vehicular device. When a vehicular device is activated, the system of the present invention plays at least one audio file associated with the vehicular device. In a preferred embodiment, the invention may be used to play at least one audio file when at least one turn signal is activated.

Claims

1. A system for transferring, storing and playing an audio file comprising:

an apparatus comprising;

an input/output device;

a memory unit;

a controller; and

an audio file playing means; and

a vehicular device operatively associated with said system, wherein said audio file is played upon activating said vehicular device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio file is selected from the group consisting of:

analog sound recordings, uncompressed digital sound recordings and compressed digital sound recordings.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said compressed digital sound recordings is selected from the group consisting of:

at least one MP3 file, at least one MP4 file, at least one WMA file, at least one RA file and a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said system comprises at least two vehicular devices.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular device is selected from the group consisting of:

at least one turn signal, headlights, interior lights, window shield wipers, at least one gear shift, gas gauge, oil gauge, speedometer, odometer, battery, cruise control, at least one window, sunroof, convertible top, at least one door, at least one door lock mechanism, trunk, trunk locking mechanism, heat or air conditioning system, at least one seat belt and a combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said vehicular device comprises a turn signal.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said input/output device comprises a user interface comprising an audio file transfer means and a control means.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said control means is selected from the group consisting of:

a touch screen interface, a voice activated interface and a manual interface, wherein said control means is capable of initiating transfer of said audio file from a device directly, remotely, or operatively connected to said apparatus, instructing said memory unit to store said audio file and assigning said audio file to said vehicular device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said vehicular device is a left turn signal and a right turn signal and wherein said control means is capable of selecting said audio file, assigning a first audio file to a left turn signal and assigning a second audio file to a right turn signal.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said audio file transfer means is selected from the group consisting of:

a docking station capable of transferring said audio file from a memory device, a downloading station capable of enabling remote transfer of said audio file and a combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said transfer means is a docking station capable of transferring said audio file from a memory device, wherein said memory device is selected from the group consisting of:

an MP3 player, a flash drive, a cell phone and an audio recorder.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said input/output device further comprises a recording means.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein said input/output device further comprises a recording means.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein said input/output device further comprises a graphical interface capable of displaying information, wherein said information is selected from the group consisting of:

a list of audio files stored on a device directly, remotely or operatively connected to said apparatus;

a list of audio files stored in said apparatus;

said audio file and its correspondingly assigned vehicular device; and

a combination thereof.

15. A system for transferring, storing and playing at least one audio file comprising:

an apparatus; and

a turn signal of a vehicle operatively associated with said apparatus, wherein said

audio file is played upon activation of said turn signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said apparatus comprises:

an input/output device, a memory unit, a controller, and an audio file playing means.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said input/output device is capable of selecting said audio file, assigning a first audio file to a left turn signal and assigning a second audio file to a right turn signal.

18. A method for transferring, storing and playing at least one audio file comprising the steps of:

a. providing an apparatus operatively associated with a turn signal of a vehicle, wherein said audio file is played upon activating said turn signal;

b. transferring at least one audio file to said apparatus;

c. storing said audio file in a memory unit of said apparatus;

d. assigning said audio file to said turn signal; and

e. activating said turn signal to initiate playback of said audio file.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein step d involves assigning a first audio file to a left turn signal and assigning a second audio file to a right turn signal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said audio file is a voice recording.