Playback device having text display and communication with remote database of titles

• US 6,304,523 B1
• Filed: 01/05/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gracenote, Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: OpenGlobe, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jones, Scott A., Keenan, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TAN X
• Application Number:
  US09/227,086
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 369/30, 369/33, 369/34, 369/36, 369/37, 369/178, 364/410.1, 364/479.11, 340/825.35, 700/231
• US Class Current: 700/88
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/22 from random access magazine of disc records
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• 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 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• 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: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/59627 Aligning for runout, eccentricity or offset compensation G11B5/5534, G11B5/59677, G11B5/59688 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A low-cost library management solution for consumer music selection systems. A multiple CD changer includes non-volatile storage for textual title and track information about the CDs in the changer. Also included is a communication device that communicates with a remote database to obtain the textual information. Instead of using a modem or an ISDN terminal adapter, the communication device uses a DTMF generator/detector to communicate with a front-end processor of the remote database using DTMF signals, or uses a conventional serial or parallel interface to communicate with an external device connected to the Internet that transmits queries formulated by the changer to the remote database and provides the response to the changer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for playback of recordings and communication with a remote database to obtain information about the recordings, comprising:

a recorded signal output device to reproduce a recorded signal from a recording;

a display to display at least textual data;

a memory to store a textual recording name of the recording for output to said display in response to output of the recorded signal by said recorded signal output device;

a communication device to generate and detect dual-tone multifrequency signals to communicate with the remote database; and

a controller, coupled to said recorded signal output device, said display, said memory and said communication device, to control said apparatus to establish communication with the remote database, query the remote database based on information in the recorded signal reproduced from the recording and supply the textual recording name of the recording from the remote database to said memory.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the recording is stored on a storage medium in said apparatus during playback of the recording.

2. An apparatus for playback of recordings and communication with a remote database to obtain information about the recordings, comprising:

an enclosure;

a recorded signal output device, disposed in said enclosure, to reproduce a recorded signal from a recording;

a controller, disposed in said enclosure and coupled to said recorded signal output device, to control said apparatus;

a display, mounted at a first surface of said enclosure and coupled to said controller, to display at least textual data;

a memory, disposed in said enclosure and coupled to said controller, to store a textual recording name of the recording for output to said display in response to output of the recorded signal by said recorded signal output device; and

a communication device, disposed in said enclosure and coupled to said controller, to obtain the textual recording name by establishing communication with the remote database without using a modem or an ISDN terminal adapter, querying the remote database based on information in the recorded signal reproduced from the recording and supplying the textual recording name of the recording from the remote database to said memory.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said communication device generates and detects dual-tone multifrequency signals to communicate with the remote database.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising an interface, coupled to said communication device and mounted at a second surface of said enclosure, for external communication using a standard set by one of the Electronic Industry Association and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the remote database is connected to a public computer network and said apparatus is connected to a local network coupled to the public computer network,

wherein said apparatus further comprises a network interface, coupled to said communication device and mounted at a second surface of said enclosure, for external communication with the local network, and

wherein at least one of said controller and said communication device provide a TCP/IP stack for communication with the remote database via said network interface and the local and public computer networks.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the recording is stored on a storage medium in said apparatus during playback of the recording.