Portable information storage/playback apparatus having a data interface
DCFirst Claim
1. A portable audio information storage/playback apparatus, comprising:
- a data interface;
a microprocessor, wherein said microprocessor operates in response to user operation of said keypad to select audio program material;
receive said program material via automatic download for storage in a storage medium; and
playback said program material when and where the user desires; and
said storage medium controlled by said microprocessor and on which audio programming received via said data interface may be recorded digitally in a faster than real time format and from which said audio programming may be retrieved for reproduction in a real time format, where such audio programming is provided in the form of digitized, compressed data files; and
an audio output and conditioning module for reproducing said retrieved audio programming in real time.
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Abstract
A digital replacement for an analog audio tape recorder can record audio programming digitally in a faster than real time format and can play back audio programming, where such programming has been digitized and stored in data files using a variety of compression/decompression algorithms. Audio programming is stored digitally on a non-volatile medium, such as a hard drive, or in a flash EPROM, or other solid state non-volatile memory. The device includes a hard drive, a modem for connection to a data base via an on-line service, a keyboard, a display, and an audio system. The device uniquely combines the remote data access capability resident in a personal computer with a set of tailored, streamlined control functions to simplify, automate, and render seamless the process of selecting audio program material; ordering the program material from a service; receiving acknowledgment of the order and receiving the program material via automatic download for storage in a hard drive; playback of the program material when and where the user desires, with fully streamlined control functions; and control of the user interface functionality on the keyboard through a setup mode of operation.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A portable audio information storage/playback apparatus, comprising:
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a data interface; a microprocessor, wherein said microprocessor operates in response to user operation of said keypad to select audio program material;
receive said program material via automatic download for storage in a storage medium; and
playback said program material when and where the user desires; andsaid storage medium controlled by said microprocessor and on which audio programming received via said data interface may be recorded digitally in a faster than real time format and from which said audio programming may be retrieved for reproduction in a real time format, where such audio programming is provided in the form of digitized, compressed data files; and an audio output and conditioning module for reproducing said retrieved audio programming in real time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A portable audio information storage/playback apparatus, for use in a system for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming, that includes a library containing a plurality of audio program materials stored in a digital format;
- a program selection module that allows a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;
an information request manager that selects program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library and that forwards said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to the subscriber at rates faster than real time, the apparatus comprising;a data interface; a microprocessor, wherein said microprocessor controls said apparatus to accept digital data according to pre-arranged formats with regard to both data structure and physical interface;
controls the storing process in a storage device;
responds to commands initiated from said keypad to execute selected functions, including at least one of playback of audio programming that has been stored in a digital format in a file, and entering of catalog numbers of programs to be ordered; and
responds to specialized commands for reconfiguration of operating modes, according to a pre-arranged series of user options;said storage device controlled by said microprocessor and on which audio programming received via said data interface may be recorded digitally in a faster than real time format and from which said audio programming may be retrieved for reproduction in a real time format, where such audio programming is provided in the form of digitized, compressed data files; an audio output and conditioning module for reproducing said retrieved audio programming in real time; means for connection to said library via an on-line service from which said audio programming is obtained on a subscription or on-demand basis; a keypad for effecting control of said apparatus in any of one or more modes of operation; and a display for visually indicating current apparatus mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a program selection module that allows a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;
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17. A portable audio information storage/playback apparatus, for use in a system for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming, that includes a library containing a plurality of audio program materials stored in a digital format;
- a program selection module that allows a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;
an information request manager that selects program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library and that forwards said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to the subscriber at rates faster than real time, the apparatus comprising;a data interface; a microprocessor for supervising control of said apparatus to establish a connection via a selected communication path to a host computer system that broadcasts audio program material in form of digital data files as part of an overall transmission of a catalog of available programs, to associate program files in a broadcast data stream with identification tags by means of a header field that is attached to a beginning of each data file, said identification tags matching those programs selected by a user to allow transmission of program material to the user if a suitable enabling acknowledgment is received, wherein transfer of the selected files is enabled and, upon receipt by the apparatus, the files are stored; a storage device controlled by said microprocessor and on which audio programming received via said data interface may be recorded digitally in a faster than real time format and from which said audio programming may be retrieved for reproduction in a real time format, where such audio programming is provided in the form of digitized, compressed data files; an audio output and conditioning module for reproducing said retrieved audio programming in real time; means for connection to said library via an on-line service from which said audio programming is obtained on a subscription or on-demand basis; a keypad for effecting control of said apparatus in any of one or more modes of operation; and a display for visually indicating current apparatus mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (18)
- a program selection module that allows a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;
Specification