Dual Purpose Audio Player in Cassette Housing With Built-In Display and Controls

• US 20150073573A1
• Filed: 09/06/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dronk, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dronk, LLC
• Inventors: Burns, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,535,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data

Abstract

A fully functioning dual purpose digital audio player presented in cassette-shaped housing which incorporates a display, control buttons, audio output, and remote control

Claims

1. A dual purpose audio device comprising:

a body section formed as a cassette;

a digital audio file player component internal to said body section, the digital audio file player component including a memory and a processor for downloading, storing and playing digital audio information through at least one audio sensing device;

a transducer in the body section, the transducer operatively coupled to a cassette player for propagating analog audio information readable by a magnetic playing head of the cassette player for playing the digital audio information through the cassette player; and

a display associated with the processor on which information relating to the digital file is presented to the user,

wherein the dual purpose audio device has a first mode of operation in which a digital audio file is played while the transducer is not operatively coupled to the cassette player and a second mode of operation in which a digital audio file is played while the transducer is operatively coupled to the cassette player.

2. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio sensing device is a speaker internal to the body section.

3. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio sensing device is a speaker externally connectable to the dual purpose audio device through a port formed in the body section.

4. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, wherein the speaker is externally connectable to the dual purpose audio device through an infrared port formed in the body section.

5. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio sensing device is at least one earpiece insertably attached to a user'"'"'s ear.

6. The dual purpose audio device of claim 5, wherein the at least one earpiece is enabled to receive audio signals over a personal area network using short wave radio transmissions in the ISM frequency band.

7. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, wherein said digital audio information is transmitted to the audio device from an external source through a wireless network.

8. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, further comprising user control activators situated on an external side of the body section, wherein the user control activators cause control of least one of the digital audio file player'"'"'s functions.

9. The dual purpose audio device of claim 8, wherein the user control activators are selected from the group consisting of play, stop, pause, reverse, forward, repeat, and volume control.

10. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, further comprising a computer readable medium containing program instructions for designating an order of playback of a plurality of received digital audio information, wherein execution of the program instruction by the processor causes the processor to carry out the steps of:

(a) in response to a command from a user, identifying a first digital audio file selected by the user;

(b) designating the identified first digital audio file as one that will be played among a plurality of digital audio files;

(c) identifying a second digital audio file selected by the user;

(d) designated the identified second digital audio file as one that will be played among the plurality of digital audio files; and

(e) establishing an order for playback between the designated first digital audio file and the designated second digital audio file according to a priority order selected by the user.

11. The dual purpose audio device of claim 7, wherein the external source is one of a group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, or a computerized tablet.

12. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, further comprising a digital to analog converter that converts digital audio signals after a play head of a cassette player is actuated by insertion of the body section into a corresponding opening of the cassette player.

13. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable power source.

14. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, further comprising a memory card that is detachably insertably connected to the body portion.

15. The dual purpose audio device of claim 1, further comprising a display associated with the processor on which information relating to a state of the audio device is presented to the user.

16. An audio device, comprising:

a body section having a shape of an analog audio tape device;

a digital audio file player internal to the body section, the digital audio file player including a memory and a processor for downloading, storing and playback of digital audio information;

a display associated with the processor on which information relating to the digital file is presented to the user;

a speaker internally attached to an outer surface of the body section; and

a single playback mode in which a digital audio file is only played while the body section is not operatively coupled to the digital audio file player.

17. The audio device of claim 17, further comprising a computer readable medium containing program instructions for designating an order of playback of a plurality of received digital audio information, wherein execution of the program instruction by the processor causes the processor to carry out the steps of:

(a) in response to a command from a user, identifying a first digital audio file selected by the user;

(b) designating the identified first digital audio file as one that will be played among a plurality of digital audio files;

(c) identifying a second digital audio file selected by the user;

(d) designating the identified second digital audio file as one that will be played among the plurality of digital audio files; and

(e) establishing an order for playback between the designated first digital audio file and the designated second digital audio file according to a priority order selected by the user.

18. An audio device, comprising:

a body section having a shape of an analog audio tape device;

a digital audio file player internal to the body section, the digital audio file player including a memory and a processor for downloading, storing and playback of digital audio information;

a display associated with the processor on which information relating to the digital file is presented to the user;

a transducer in the body section, the transducer operatively coupled to an analog audio tape device for propagating analog audio information readable by a magnetic playing head of the cassette player for playing the digital audio information through the cassette player;

a speaker internally attached to an outer surface of the body section; and

a single playback mode in which a digital audio file is only played while the transducer is operatively coupled to the digital audio file player.

19. The audio device of claim 19, further comprising a computer readable medium containing program instructions for designating an order of playback of a plurality of received digital audio information, wherein execution of the program instruction by the processor causes the processor to carry out the steps of:

(a) in response to a command from a user, identifying a first digital audio file selected by the user;

(b) designating the identified first digital audio file as one that will be played among a plurality of digital audio files;

(c) identifying a second digital audio file selected by the user;

(d) designating the identified second digital audio file as one that will be played among the plurality of digital audio files; and

(e) establishing an order for playback between the designated first digital audio file and the designated second digital audio file according to a priority order selected by the user.