Device for interfacing a CD-ROM player to an entertainment or information network and a network including such device

• US 5,790,787 A
• Filed: 11/14/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sony Transcom Incorporated (Rockwell International Corporation), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Scott, Ed, Sagey, Richard, Schuberth, Pierre, Booth, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Application Number:
  US08/748,811
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 364/514 A, 395/200.01-200.06, 395/200.1, 395/200.11, 395/200.13, 395/200.2, 395/200.3, 395/200.33, 395/200.34, 395/200.8, 395/181, 395/182, 434/350, 434/118, 434/323, 434/362, 348/8
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An entertainment and/or information network including a CD-ROM player at each of a number of user stations. The network can be installed in a multi-passengervehicle (such as an aircraft), an auditorium, a stadium, or the like. Audio and video and application software (such as interactive multimedia software) stored on CD-ROM disks can be accessed by playing the disks in a CD-ROM player at each user station. Each user station includes a display device, headphones (or another audio output device), and preferably circuitry for interfacing the CD-ROM player with the network. Typically, large volumes of data are transferred within each user station (e.g., from CD-ROM disk to display device) during execution of interactive applications software, but little or no data is transferred over the network to or from each user station to support such software execution. Thus, the network can have a simple, inexpensive, low bandwidth implementation. Another aspect of the invention is a device for interfacing each CD-ROM player to the network. The interface device has small size and low weight and power requirements, and can be connected to a conventional user station of a conventional video distribution network to enable convenient connection of a CD-ROM player to such user station, and optionally also convenient connection of the CD-ROM players to the computer local area network of the invention. Other aspects of the invention are a CD-ROM player modified for tethered connection to a user station, and a passenger armrest including two CD-ROM players and other components of two user stations.

Claims

1. A user station for connection to a network, said station including:

a display device;

a CD-ROM player;

an interface means including means for selectively routing to the display device a first video signal from the CD-ROM player, the interface means including means for selectively routing to the display device one of the first video signal from CD-ROM player and a second video signal received at the interface means from the network;

first video signal from the CD-ROM plaver and a second video signal received at the interface means from the network;

wherein a disk is loaded in the CD-ROM player, wherein the disk stores interactive multimedia software and wherein the CD-ROM player includes

a control means;

an executing means for executing the interactive multimedia software in response to control signals, wherein the control signals are generated in response to manipulation of the control means;

wherein the executing means is programmed to execute the interactive multimedia software in response to remotely generated network signals received over the network,

wherein the interface means includes

means for interfacing the CD-ROM player with the network so as to supply said remotely generated network signals from the network to the executing means; and

wherein the executing means executes the interactive multimedia software in a manner transferring data with relatively high bandwidth from the CD-ROM player to the display device, and transferring data with relatively low bandwidth between the CD-ROM player and the network.

2. The station of claim 1, wherein the control means is a handheld controller connected to the interface means, and wherein the interface means includes means for supplying the control signals to the CD-ROM player.

3. The station of claim 1, wherein the disk stores encrypted interactive multimedia software, and wherein the CD-ROM player includes

a decryption means for generating decrypted interactive multimedia software by decrypting the encrypted interactive multimedia software and supplying the decrypted interactive multimedia software to the executing means for execution.

4. The station of claim 1, also including:

an audio output device connected to the interface means, and wherein the in terface means includes

audio switch means for connecting one of a first audio signal from the CD-ROM player, and a second audio signal received at the interface means from the network, to the audio output device;

video switch means for connecting one of the first video signal and the second video signal to the display device; and

means for controlling the audio switch means and the video switch means to supply a selected one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal to the audio output device and a selected one of the first video signal and the second video signal to the display device.

5. The station of claim 1, also including:

a local area network; and

a file server connected along the local area network, wherein the interface means includes means for interfacing the CD-ROM player with the local area network, thereby enabling com munication over the local area network between the file server and the CD-ROM player.

6. A communication system, including:

a local area network;

a file server connected along the local are a network ,

a first user station having a first interface means connected along the local area network, the first user station also including a first CD-ROM player connected to the first interface means wherein the first interface means includes means for interfacing the first CD-ROM player with the local area network thereby enablino communication over the local area network between the file server and said first CD-ROM player;

a second user station having a second interface means connected along the local area network, the second user station also including a second CD-ROM player connected to the second interface means , wherein the second interface means includes means for interfacing the second CD-ROM prlayer with the local area network, thereby enabling communication over the local area network between the file server and said second CD-ROM player; and

a second network for supplying at least one channel of video signals to the first interface means and the second interface means.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second network also supplies at least one channel of audio signals to the first interface means and the second interface means.

8. An interface device for use in a user station including a CD-ROM player, wherein the user station can be connected to a communication network, said interface device including:

a video switch for connecting one of a first video signal and a second video signal to an external display device, wherein the first video signal is received at the video switch from the CD-ROM player and the second video signal is received at the video switch from the communication network;

an audio switch for connecting one of a first audio signal and a second audio signal to an audio output device, wherein the first audio signal is received at the audio switch from the CD-ROM player and the second audio signal is received at the audio switch from the communication network;

means for controlling the audio switch and the video switch to supply a selected one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal to the audio output device and a selected one of the first video signal and the second video signal to the display device; and

wherein the user station is connected to the communication network and is also connected to a local area networki and

means for interfacing the CD-ROM player with the local area network, thereby enabling communication over the lo cal a rea n etwork to and from the CD-ROM player.