Music-playing system for a motor vehicle

• US 5,742,893 A
• Filed: 06/27/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: NSM AG
• Inventors: Frank, Armin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US08/640,809
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 455/49.1, 455/53.1, 455/66, 455/89, 455/68, 455/69, 455/344, 455/345, 455/351, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/6.3, 455/5.1, 455/500, 455/550, 364/705.04, 364/705.05, 379/59, 369/30, 348/12, 348/13
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles

Abstract

A music-playing system for a motor vehicle that is equipped with an antenna includes a radio communications unit in the motor vehicle, an input unit for operating the radio communications unit, and a music-reproduction unit having at least one loudspeaker. One or more external radio communications units are connected via a remote data transmission line to a music storage unit. The radio communications unit in the motor vehicle is designed to receive transmitted music. The operator of the motor vehicle can communicate with the music storage unit and call up pieces of music. An ISDN connection is preferably used as the remote data transmission line.

Claims

1. A music-playing system for use with a motor vehicle having an antenna, comprising:

music storage means for storing musical pieces that can be individually selected, the music storage means being located outside the motor vehicle;

first radio communications means for conducting communications by radio, the first radio communications means being disposed outside the motor vehicle;

means for connecting the music storage means to the first radio communications means, the means for connecting including a data transmission line;

second radio communications means for conducting communications by radio, the second radio communications means being carried by the vehicle and being connected to the antenna for communicating with the first radio communications means;

input means, carried by the vehicle and connected to the second radio communications means, for receiving a music selection command from an occupant of the vehicle, the music selection command being conveyed to the music storage means via the second radio communications means, the first radio communication means, and the means for connecting; and

music reproduction means, carried by the vehicle and connected to the second radio communications means, for playing back a musical piece that has been retrieved from the music storage means in response to the music selection command, the retrieved musical piece being conveyed to the music reproduction means via the means for connecting, the first radio communications means, and the second radio communications means.

2. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the means for connecting comprises an ISDN connection.

3. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the music storage means comprises a central music storage unit.

4. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the music storage means comprises a database for pieces of music.

5. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the music storage means comprises a depository in the home of the occupant of the vehicle.

6. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the music storage means encompasses a store for frequently-played pieces of music.

7. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the music storage means comprises at least one of a magnetic disk unit, a cache memory, a CD unit, and a magnetic tape unit.

8. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is equipped with a car radio set, and wherein the music reproduction means comprises at least part of the radio set.

9. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is equipped with a car phone, and wherein the second radio communications means comprises the car phone.

10. A music-playing system according to claim 9, wherein the motor vehicle is additionally equipped with a car radio set, and wherein the music reproduction means comprises at least part of the car radio set.

11. A music-playing system according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission line comprises a telephone line.