Audio-visual inventory and play-back control system
First Claim
1. An audio-visual computer system with computer programs for media inventory database management and for controlling the operation of audio-visual components via infra-red (IR) signals for playing/recording audio-visual programs on media, comprising:
- a personal computer;
disc memory means contained within said personal computer for storing media inventory database and said computer programs;
processor means contained within said personal computer for executing said computer programs;
touch-screen display means contained within said personal computer for displaying plurality of menus created by said computer programs and for input of inventory data;
IR transceiving means contained within said personal computer having antenna mounted on said personal computer for transmitting said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components, said computer programs being adapted to control the transmitting of said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components; and
media inventory database management system means contained on said disc memory means for storing and retrieving media information;
said media inventory database management system means comprising;
means for acquisition, permanent storing over some time interval, cataloging, selecting, and retrieving of information about media name, number, track numbers, media and track content, times, performers, air-time program listing, and digitized media graphic images, whereby said computer programs allow browsing of said menus, search by partial keys, display of said media inventory and automatic, unattended data aquisition, initialization, scheduling and control of said audio-visual components, storing and recalling of a list of selections for control of said audio-visual components to be performed over some time interval.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved audio-visual computer-based home entertainment media inventory and control system is disclosed comprising a computer with associated software, for controlling any combination or number of video tape record-playback units, audio tape record-playback units, video disc record or playback units, CD audio record or playback units, and the like, said system includes a touch-screen color video display for displaying computer or TV format graphics, inventory lists, and operational touch screen menus for ease of operator use in inventorying and accessing audio-visual recordings. This system includes hardware and software facilities for accessing electronic mail sources of media content information, graphics data and broadcast air time guides.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An audio-visual computer system with computer programs for media inventory database management and for controlling the operation of audio-visual components via infra-red (IR) signals for playing/recording audio-visual programs on media, comprising:
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a personal computer; disc memory means contained within said personal computer for storing media inventory database and said computer programs; processor means contained within said personal computer for executing said computer programs; touch-screen display means contained within said personal computer for displaying plurality of menus created by said computer programs and for input of inventory data; IR transceiving means contained within said personal computer having antenna mounted on said personal computer for transmitting said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components, said computer programs being adapted to control the transmitting of said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components; and media inventory database management system means contained on said disc memory means for storing and retrieving media information; said media inventory database management system means comprising;
means for acquisition, permanent storing over some time interval, cataloging, selecting, and retrieving of information about media name, number, track numbers, media and track content, times, performers, air-time program listing, and digitized media graphic images, whereby said computer programs allow browsing of said menus, search by partial keys, display of said media inventory and automatic, unattended data aquisition, initialization, scheduling and control of said audio-visual components, storing and recalling of a list of selections for control of said audio-visual components to be performed over some time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 20)
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9. An audio-visual computer system with computer programs for media inventory database management and for controlling the operation of audio-visual components via IR signals for playing/recording audio-visual programs recorded on media, comprising:
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a personal computer; disc memory means contained within said personal computer for storing media inventory database and said personal computer programs; processor means contained within said personal computer for executing said computer programs; touch-screen display means contained within said personal computer for displaying plurality of functional menus created by said computer programs and for input of inventory data; IR transceiving means contained within said personal computer having antenna mounted on said personal computer for transmitting said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components, said computer programs being adapted to control transmission of said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components; remote IR transmitting means for sensing and encoding output audio volume level of said audio-visual components and for transmitting encoded IR signals from said audio-visual components; said IR transceiving means is further adapted to receive said encoded IR signals from said remote IR transmitting means for monitoring the output audio volume level of said audio-visual components; media inventory database management system means contained on said disc memory means for storing and retrieving media information; said media inventory database management system means comprising;
means for acquisition, permanent storing over some time interval, cataloging, selecting, and retrieving of information about media name, number, track numbers, media and track content, times, performers, air-time program listing, and digitized media graphic images, whereby said computer programs allow browsing of said menus, search by partial keys, display of said media inventory and automatic, unattended data aquisition, initialization, scheduling and control of said audio-visual components, storing and recalling of a list of selections for control of said audio-visual components to be performed over some time interval; andprinting means for printing media inventory information stored within said media inventory database. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An audio-visual computer system with computer programs for media inventory database management and for controlling via IR signals the operation of audio-visual components of one or more TV sets, Video Cassette recorder/players, CD players and Cassette recorder/players, amplifiers and switchers generally controlled by and adapted to receive IR signals and where said media includes CD discs, Video Cassettes and Audio Cassettes for playing/recording audio-visual programs recorded on media, said system comprising:
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a personal computer; disc memory means contained within said personal computer for storing media inventory database and said computer programs, said computer programs functioning to create a plurality of functional menus, for controlling said audio-visual components, and for maintaining the media inventory database; processor means contained within said personal computer for executing said computer programs; touch-screen display means contained within said personal computer for displaying said plurality of functional menus generated by said computer programs and for input of inventory data; IR transceiving means contained within said personal computer having antenna mounted on said personal computer for transmitting said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components, said computer programs being adapted to control the transmission of said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components; remote IR transmitting means for sensing and encoding output audio volume level of said audio-visual components and for transmitting encoded IR signals from said audio-visual components; said IR transceiving means is further adapted to receive said encoded IR signals from said remote IR transmitting means for monitoring the output audio volume level of said audio-visual components; media inventory database management system means contained on said disc memory means for storing and retrieving media information; said media inventory database management system means comprising;
means for acquisition, permanent storing over some time interval, cataloging, selecting, and retrieving of information about media name, number, track numbers, media and track content, times, performers, air-time program listing, and digitized media graphic images, whereby said computer programs allow browsing of said menus, search by partial keys, display of said media inventory and automatic, unattended data acquisition, initialization, scheduling and control of said audio-visual components, storing and recalling of a list of selections for control of said audio-visual components to be performed over some time interval;
printing means for printing media inventory information within said media inventory database; andinput means contained within said personal computer for receiving audio-visual components air-time program listing, media content and media graphic information, said computer programs functioning to load said information on said disc memory means, for display on said touch-screen display means, and wherein said plurality of functional menus further comprises a subscription main menu for controlling said input means for storing said information in said disc memory means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification