Microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver embedded in an external peripheral with digital communications interface for bi-directional communication with a computer remotely located
First Claim
1. A computer peripheral system comprising:
- a personal computer comprising;
a microprocessor; and
a personal computer digital control interface connected to said microprocessor; and
a computer peripheral located remotely from said personal computer, said computer peripheral comprising;
a housing;
a peripheral digital communications interface connected to said personal computer digital control interface via a bi-directional digital communications link;
a broadcast receiver circuit inside said housing;
an antenna connected to said broadcast receiver circuit; and
a peripheral microcontroller inside said housing connected to said peripheral digital communications interface, said peripheral microcontroller sending control signals to said broadcast receiver circuit to control said broadcast receiver circuit in response to control data received by said peripheral digital communications interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microcontroller or microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver embedded in an external peripheral with a digital communications interface. In one embodiment, a microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver is embedded in the housing of an external computer peripheral. The external computer peripheral is connected to a personal computer (PC) via a digital communications link such as USB (universal serial bus). Control data is relayed from the personal computer to the broadcast receiver in the external computer peripheral via the digital communications link. Audio signals received by the broadcast receiver in the external computer peripheral may also be relayed to the personal computer via the digital communications link or via an analog interface for recording storage, or manipulation by the personal computer. The broadcast receiver may also receive data signals in addition to audio signals (datacasting). The data or audio signals or both may be encrypted.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A computer peripheral system comprising:
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a personal computer comprising;
a microprocessor; and
a personal computer digital control interface connected to said microprocessor; and
a computer peripheral located remotely from said personal computer, said computer peripheral comprising;
a housing;
a peripheral digital communications interface connected to said personal computer digital control interface via a bi-directional digital communications link;
a broadcast receiver circuit inside said housing;
an antenna connected to said broadcast receiver circuit; and
a peripheral microcontroller inside said housing connected to said peripheral digital communications interface, said peripheral microcontroller sending control signals to said broadcast receiver circuit to control said broadcast receiver circuit in response to control data received by said peripheral digital communications interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A multimedia speaker system comprising:
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a housing;
a broadcast receiver circuit inside said housing;
an amplifier circuit connected to said broadcast receiver circuit;
a microcontroller connected to said broadcast receiver circuit; and
a digital communications interface connected to said microcontroller for two-way communications with a personal computer remote from said multimedia speaker system. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of controlling a multimedia speaker system that includes a broadcast receiver within said multimedia speaker system, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting, from a personal computer, control data over a bi-directional digital communications link;
receiving said control data at said multimedia speaker system, said multimedia speaker system being remote from said personal computer;
interpreting the programming information at said multimedia speaker system and producing broadcast receiver control signals in response;
receiving at said multimedia speaker system, in response to said broadcast receiver control signals, broadcast transmissions on an antenna. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
transmitting, from the personal computer, control data including an instruction to store audio signal samples in an audio buffer memory samples associated with said broadcast transmissions, and storing said audio signals samples in said audio buffer memory.
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41. The method of controlling a multimedia speaker system of claim 39, wherein said broadcast transmissions are in the FM band.
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42. The method of controlling a multimedia speaker system of claim 39, wherein said broadcast transmissions are in the AM band.
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43. The method of controlling a multimedia speaker system of claim 39, wherein said broadcast transmissions are in the L band.
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44. The method of controlling a multimedia speaker system of claim 39, wherein said broadcast transmissions are in the S band.
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45. The method of controlling a multimedia speaker system of claim 39, wherein said broadcast transmissions are IBOC transmissions.
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46. The method of controlling a multimedia speaker system of claim 39, wherein said broadcast transmissions are in the VHF band.
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47. A computer peripheral system comprising:
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a personal computer comprising;
a microprocessor; and
a personal computer digital control interface connected to said microprocessor; and
a computer peripheral located remotely from said personal computer, said computer peripheral comprising;
a housing;
a hybrid chip comprising;
a peripheral digital communications interface connected to said personal computer digital control interface via a bi-directional digital communications link;
a broadcast receiver; and
a peripheral microcontroller connected to said peripheral digital communications interface, said peripheral microcontroller sending control signals to said broadcast receiver to control said broadcast receiver in response to control data received by said peripheral digital communications interface; and
an antenna connected to said broadcast receiver. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A system for controlling a broadcast receiver circuit in a computer peripheral using a personal computer including:
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a computer peripheral including said broadcast receiver circuit; and
a personal computer for controlling said broadcast receiver circuit, wherein said computer peripheral is a multimedia speaker. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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Specification