Vehicular audio data file handling apparatus system and method

• US 6,608,993 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Ficco, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ward, Ronald J.
• Application Number:
  US09/598,749
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/403, 455/414, 455/412, 455/418, 455/419, 455/466, 455/550, 455/561, 455/66, 455/556, 455/557, 455/45, 455/186.1, 455/344, 455/345, 455/346, 455/414.3, 369/6, 369/7, 725/92
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/08 among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information

Abstract

An audio data file-handling device which may receive one or more audio data files from a base station. This file transfer may be accomplished utilizing wireless transmissions. Furthermore, the base station may accumulate one or more audio data files from a variety of content sources and communication paths. An audio data file distribution system which accumulates audio data files in a base station and uploads at least one accumulated audio data file to an audio data file handling device. A user interface, such as a wireless control unit, may send a trigger signal to the base station either directly or via the audio data file-handling device. This triggering signal triggers the upload of audio data files from the base station to the audio data file-handling device. The triggering signal may also be generated upon a vehicle start condition or upon the arrival of a designated time. Furthermore, cellular or other wireless networks may be utilized to transfer audio data files over long distances.

Claims

1. An audio data file handling apparatus, comprising:

a wireless receiving unit, said wireless receiving unit receiving at least one audio data file;

a memory operatively connected to said wireless receiving unit;

a controller operatively connected to said wireless receiving unit and said memory; and

a condition detector operatively connected to said controller;

said controller monitoring said condition detector such that when said condition detector detects satisfaction of the condition, said controller triggers a base station to upload at least one audio data file to said wireless receiving unit,

said controller storing the audio data file received from the base station via said wireless receiving unit in said memory,

said condition detector detecting a start condition of a vehicle in which the audio data file handling apparatus is located.

2. A method of transferring audio data files to an audio data file handling apparatus, comprising:

receiving a plurality of compressed audio data files;

accumulating the compressed audio data files in a storage device;

utilizing a mobile phone to wirelessly transmit at least a portion of the accumulated, compressed audio data files to the audio data file handling apparatus;

storing the compressed audio data files received by the audio data file handling apparatus in a memory;

decompressing at least one of the stored audio data files upon a command from a user; and

sending the decompressed audio data file to a sound reproduction device.

3. A method of transferring audio data files to an audio data file handling apparatus, comprising:

receiving a plurality of compressed audio data files;

accumulating the compressed audio data files in a storage device;

wirelessly transmitting at least a portion of the accumulated, compressed audio data files to the audio data file handling apparatus;

storing the compressed audio data files received by the audio data file handling apparatus in a memory;

decompressing at least one of the stored audio data files upon a command from a user;

sending the decompressed audio data file to a sound reproduction device; and

detecting a start condition of a vehicle in which the audio data file handling apparatus is located;

said wireless transmitting step transmitting at least a portion of the accumulated, compressed audio data files to the audio data file handling apparatus when said detecting step detects the start condition.