Audio setup and use instructions

• US 5,903,266 A
• Filed: 02/18/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors, Modh, Manish M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/801,663
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/327, 345/336, 345/337, 345/338, 345/339, 345/348, 345/978, 345/145, 434/118, 434/308, 434/319, 434/365, 434/112, 434/116
• US Class Current: 715/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0053 Computers, e.g. programming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42661 for reading from or writing on a magnetic storage medium, e.g. hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

In a data processing system with built in audio capability, audio setup instructions are provided. Delivery of the instructions begins after the system is plugged in. Once a video connection has been established, the audio instructions may be supplemented with directly relevant visual information. The object of each instruction may be tested for successful completion. Additional instructions and information may be provided, or optional instructions and information skipped, depending on the requirements of the individual setup.

Claims

1. A method of providing audio setup instructions for a data processing system, comprising:

providing said data processing system with the capability of playing digitally encoded audio information;

storing setup instructions for said data processing system in said data processing system in the form of digitally encoded audio information;

configuring said data processing system to play said setup instructions when said data processing system is connected to a power source for a first time after said storing setup instructions is performed; and

upon completing play of said setup instructions, configuring said data processing system not to play said setup instructions when said data processing system is subsequently powered on from a powered off state, wherein the data processing system is provided with audio setup instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of storing setup instructions further comprises storing an application for playing said setup instructions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of storing an application for playing said setup instructions further comprises an application containing prompts for user input, wherein responses to said prompts control execution of said application.

4. An apparatus for providing audio setup instructions for a data processing system, comprising:

audio means for providing said data processing system with the capability of playing digitally encoded audio information;

memory means for storing setup instructions for said data processing system in said data processing system in the form of digitally encoded audio information;

configuration means for configuring said data processing system to play said setup instructions when said data processing system is connected to a power source for a first time after said storing setup instructions is performed; and

means, responsive to completion of the play of said setup instructions, for configuring said data processing system not to play said setup instructions when said data processing system is subsequently powered on from a powered off state, wherein the data processing system is provided with audio setup instructions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said memory means further comprises means for storing an application for playing said setup instructions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for storing an application for playing said setup instructions further comprises means for storing an application containing prompts for user input, wherein responses to said prompts control execution of said application.

7. A method of employing audio setup instructions in a data processing system having audio capability, comprising:

storing setup instructions for said data processing system in said data processing system in the form of digitally encoded audio information;

playing said setup instructions when said data processing system is initialized for a first time after said setup instructions were stored in said data processing system; and

upon successful completion of a setup application for playing said audio setup instructions, deleting a pointer initiating execution of said setup application.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of playing said setup instructions further comprises:

in response to said data processing system initializing, executing said setup application for playing said audio setup instructions.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of executing a setup application further comprises:

playing an audio setup instruction directing a user to make a required connection; and

after a preselected timeout period, testing to determine if said required connection has been made.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

responsive to determining that said required connection has not been made, replaying said audio setup instruction directing a user to make a required connection; and

after said preselected timeout period, retesting to determine if said required connection has been made.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of replaying said audio setup instruction further comprises:

playing additional audio setup information.

12. An apparatus for employing audio setup instructions in a data processing system having audio capability, comprising:

memory means for storing setup instructions for said data processing system in said data processing system in the form of digitally encoded audio information;

audio means for playing said setup instructions when said data processing system is initialized for a first time after said setup instructions were stored in said data processing system; and

deletion means for deleting a pointer initiating execution of a setup application for playing said audio setup instructions upon successful completion of said setup application.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said audio means further comprises:

execution means, responsive to said data processing system initializing, for executing said setup application for playing said audio setup instructions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said execution means further comprises:

audio execution means for playing an audio setup instruction directing a user to make a required connection; and

testing means for testing to determine if said required connection has been made after a preselected timeout period.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

second audio execution means, responsive to determining that said required connection has not been made, for replaying said audio setup instruction directing a user to make a required connection; and

testing means for retesting to determine if said required connection has been made after said preselected timeout period.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second audio execution means further comprises:

audio execution means for playing additional audio setup information.

17. Audio setup instructions for a data processing system stored on computer readable media in said data processing system, comprising:

instructions for initializing said data processing system after said data processing system is connected to a power source;

load instructions for loading an application for playing audio setup information when said data processing system is initialized for a first time since said load instructions were installed; and

uninstall instructions for uninstalling said load instructions when execution of said application for playing audio setup information is complete.

18. A computer program product for use with a data processing system, comprising:

a computer usable medium;

first instructions on said computer usable medium comprising setup instructions for said data processing system in the form of digitally encoded audio information;

second instructions for playing said setup instructions when said data processing system is initialized for a first time after said setup instructions were stored on said computer usable medium; and

third instructions for removing said second instructions but not said setup instructions after said setup instructions have been played.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the computer usable medium is a hard disk drive.