Broadcast and recorded music management system particularly for use in automobile

• US 6,407,750 B1
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gioscia, Richard, Sonoda, Yumi, Zoels, Jan-Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US09/227,186
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 345/716-718, 345/727, 345/730, 345/738, 345/739, 345/748, 345/771, 345/773, 709/217, 709/219, 701/36, 369/30, 369/1, 369/7, 369/14, 369/33, 369/32, 381/77, 381/80, 381/81, 381/86, 381/88, 360/5
• US Class Current: 715/716
• 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: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data

Abstract

An audio system for managing broadcast and recording music and other audio works includes two principal components, an entertainment programming guide unit and a media manager unit. The programming guide unit, which preferably includes a graphical user interface, can be used to manage a number of recording media in a media deck of the media manager unit. The programming guide may also receive a radio broadcast schedule so that a user can select and record upcoming broadcast works in a memory unit of the media manager unit The programming guide may also download audio files from the internet.

Claims

1. An audio management system comprising:

a programming guide unit, said programming guide unit receiving multimedia content, the enclosure of said programming guide unit being adapted for incorporation into the structure of a mobile vehicle; and

a media manager unit including a user input device, said programming guide unit providing an input for directing said media manager unit to record said multimedia content on a recording medium when said media manager unit is interfaced to said programming guide unit, and said user input device providing a command for directing said media manager unit to record said multimedia content on a recording medium when said media manager unit is not interfaced to said programming guide unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said multimedia content is an audio work.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit and said media manager unit are enclosed within a common housing, said common housing being said enclosure.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said programming guide unit housing is separate and apart from said media manager unit housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit is enclosed within a programming guide unit housing, said media manager unit is enclosed within a media manager unit housing, said programming guide unit housing being said enclosure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit wirelessly accesses the internet to download audio files.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit is structurally adapted for incorporation into a control console of said mobile vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit is structurally adapted for incorporation into a dashboard of said mobile vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile vehicle is capable of transporting a person.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit processes a digital signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit processes an analog signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit includes a user interface, said user interface controlling said audio management system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said user interface comprises a touch-sensitive display.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said programming guide unit displays a broadcast schedule of said multimedia content to be broadcast.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said broadcast schedule is received via wireless radio broadcast.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said guide unit wirelessly accesses the internet to receive said broadcast schedule.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said media manager unit includes a media deck, memory, a processor, a user input device, and a transceiver.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said multimedia content is stored in said memory as an audio file.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said media deck reads said multimedia content from said memory.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said programming guide unit provides an input for directing said media manager unit to store said multimedia content within said memory.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said user input device provides an input for directing said media manager unit to store said multimedia content within said memory.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein said media deck contains a recording medium.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein said media deck reads a recording medium.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein said processor is controlled by said programming guide unit to record said multimedia content on a recording medium.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein said transceiver receives contextual information, said contextual information being provided to said programming guide unit.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said contextual information identifies a particular recording medium, said particular recording medium being incorporated within said media deck.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein said transceiver receives said multimedia content.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said transceiver receives said multimedia content when said media manager unit is not interfaced to said programming guide unit.

29. An audio management system comprising:

a first means, said first means receiving multimedia content and being structurally adapted for incorporation into a mobile vehicle; and

a second means including an input device, said second means being controlled by said first means to record said multimedia content on a recording medium when said second means is interfaced to said first means, and being controlled by said input device when said second means is not interfaced to said first means.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said first means wirelessly receives and displays a broadcast schedule of audio works to be broadcast.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein:

said second means further comprises a memory means; and

when a broadcast item is selected from said schedule with said first means, said first means records said selected item, as it is broadcast, in said memory means.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein said second means further comprises a memory means and a transceiver means such that data may be input to said second means through said transceiver means and stored in said memory means.

33. A method of managing multimedia content comprising:

incorporating a programming guide unit into a mobile vehicle;

receiving multimedia content, said programming guide unit performing said step of receiving said multimedia content; and

recording said multimedia content on a recording medium, a media manager unit performing said step of recording said multimedia content, said media manager unit including a user input device,

said programming guide unit providing an input for directing said media manager unit to perform said step of recording said multimedia content when said media manager unit is interfaced to said programming guide unit, and

said user input device providing a command for directing said media manager unit to perform said step of recording said multimedia content when said media manager unit is not interfaced to said programming guide unit.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said multimedia content is an audio work.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said programming guide unit is structurally adapted for incorporation into a control console of said mobile vehicle.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said programming guide unit is structurally adapted for incorporation into a dashboard of said mobile vehicle.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein said mobile vehicle is capable of transporting a person.