Device for enabling listeners to preview music recordings

• US 5,894,119 A
• Filed: 07/01/1996
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Tognazzini, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/680,500
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2512 Floppy disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast

Abstract

A bar code reader, a wireless transceiver, an earphone jack and a battery are integrated into a pen sized device. The bar code reader is used to scan the product identification code or music packaging. The product code is sent to a central computer or a music store where one or more stored digital samples of the music reside in a database. One or more music samples are retrieved and sent to the pen sized device where the sample is converted to audio signals for listening by a user over the earphone jack.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sampling music, comprising:

a. a pen sized portable bar code reader, having a battery an earphone jack and a wireless transceiver for scanning a product identification code on music packaging;

b. said wireless transmitter/receiver for receiving said product identification code from said portable bar code reader and transmitting it to a computer at a remote location which stores digital music samples and receiving back said music samples from said computer; and

c. an audio output for receiving and converting said music samples from said computer and providing them to a listener over said earphone jack integrated in said apparatus;

in which said apparatus is in the shape of a pen and said bar code reader is positioned in the point of the pen.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 in which said wireless transmitter/receiver is an infrared transmitter receiver.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 in which said wireless transmitter/receiver is a radio transmitter receiver.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a selector switch connected to said transmitter receiver for signalling a request for a different sample.