Dual-mode MP3 player

• US 6,631,098 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prolific Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Prolific Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Chou, Wen-Hwa, Chang, Chin-Yao
• Primary Examiner(s): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/895,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 369/2, 369/6, 369/7, 369/1, 369/10-12, 369/25, 369/21, 369/4, 369/20, 369/22, 369/19, 320/114, 360/72.2, 360/7
• US Class Current: 369/7
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/00057 MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 audio layer III [MP3]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/60 Solid state media details of solid state memory devices G11C
• 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

Abstract

“A portable MP3 player has two operation modes. In a first mode, the portable MP3 player operates independently. A controller in the MP3 player reads first MP3 files from internal memory and a MP3 decoder is utilized for decoding the MP3 files. In addition, the audio data are output to an earphone or a speaker. In a second mode, a ducking station is provided for placing the portable MP3 player, which has an extended memory device, e.g. CD-ROM, for storing second MP3 files. The controller of the portable MP3 player accesses the second MP3 files via interfaces that are connected when the portable MP3 player is placed on the ducking station. The MP3 decoder of the portable player is also utilized to decode the second MP3 files and the corresponding audio data are output through the ducking station.”

Claims

1. A dual-mode MP3 player assembly, comprising:

a ducking station comprising;

a connecting base;

a first interface with one end connected to said connecting base; and

at least one extended memory device for storing a plurality of first MP3 files, wherein another end of said first interface is connected to said extended memory device; and

a portable MP3 player comprising;

a housing having a connecting portion selectively placed on said connecting base of the ducking station;

an internal memory within the housing for storing a plurality of second MP3 files;

a MP3 decoder within the housing for decoding the first MP3 files and the second MP3 files to generate corresponding decoded data;

an audio generator within the housing connected with said MP3 decoder for generating audio signals to drive a speaker or an earphone according to the decoded data;

a second interface with one end connected to the connecting portion of the housing, wherein the second interface is connected to the first interface when the housing is placed on the connecting base of the ducking station;

a controller connected to the internal memory, the MP3 decoder and the second interface, wherein if the housing is placed on the connecting base of the ducking station, the controller accesses the first MP3 files on the extended memory device via the second interface and the first interface, and the controller transmits the first MP3 files to the MP3 decoder to play the first MP3 files, and if the housing is not placed on the connecting base of the ducking station, the controller accesses the second MP3 files from the internal memory and the second MP3 files are transmitted to the MP3 decoder and the audio generator to play the second MP3 files.

2. The MP3 player assembly of claim 1, wherein the ducking station further comprises an outlet connected to an ear phone or a speaker and the outlet is connected to the portable MP3 player via the connecting base of the ducking station when the portable MP3 player is placed on the ducking station.

3. The MP3 player assembly of claim 1, wherein the ducking station further comprises an internal speaker connected to the portable MP3 player via the connecting base of the ducking station when the portable MP3 is placed on the ducking station.

4. The MP3 player assembly of claim 1, wherein the first interface and the second interface comprise USB(EPP, RS232, parallel port, serial port, SCSI, etc.).

5. The MP3 player assembly of claim 1, wherein the extended memory device is a CD-ROM, a CD/RW, a CD-R or a hard disk.