Audio/Visual server

• US 6,772,212 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: PhatNoise, Inc. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dowling, Brendan T., Lau, Dannie C., Benyamin, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Khanh Quang
• Application Number:
  US09/521,182
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/222, 709/225, 709/228, 709/232, 710/8, 710/10, 705/51, 364/514, 364/515
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42669 the medium being removable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

An audio/visual server is described that can be used to store and play audio/visual data. A removable hard disk (or other media) is connected to a dock that is in communication with a computer. While the removable hard disk is connected to the dock, audio/visual data can be transferred from the computer to the hard disk. After the hard disk is removed from the dock and connected to the audio/visual server, the server can access and play the audio/visual data. In one embodiment, the audio/visual server stores and plays music, emulates a disc changer, and communicates with an automobile stereo head unit. The interface with the head unit is programmable so that multiple head units can be supported.

Claims

1. An audio/visual server system, comprising:

a connecting unit adapted to be connected to an audio/visual data providing device that is in communication with an Internet;

an audio/visual server adapted to be in bidirectional communication with an audio/visual head unit by emulating a disc changer; and

a first storage device capable of being removably connected to said connecting unit and said audio/visual server for transferring audio/visual data from said audio/visual data providing device to said audio/visual server.

2. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said audio/visual server performs a method comprising;

receiving a request from said head unit to send audio/visual information to said head unit,

reading audio/visual data from said first storage device, and

sending audio/visual information to said head unit in response to said request and based on said audio/visual data.

3. An audio/visual server system according to claim 2, wherein:

said audio/visual information is an analog signal.

4. An audio/visual server system according to claim 2, wherein:

said audio/visual information is a digital signal.

5. An audio/visual server system according to claim 2, wherein said method further includes the step of:

playing said audio/visual data, said step of sending includes transmitting an output of said step of playing.

6. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said audio/visual server includes a second storage device, said second storage device stores user replaceable interface program code received from said first storage device, said audio/visual server communicates with said audio/visual head unit based on said user replaceable interface program code stored on said second storage device.

7. An audio/visual server system according to claim 6, wherein said audio/visual server performs a method comprising:

determining whether new user replaceable interface program code is to be loaded;

reading said new user replaceable interface program code from said first storage device if said new user replaceable interface program code is to be loaded; and

storing said new user replaceable interface program code on said second storage device if said new user replaceable interface program code is to be loaded.

8. An audio/visual server system according to claim 7, wherein said method further includes the step of:

decrypting said new user replaceable interface program code.

9. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said audio/visual server receives power from said head unit.

10. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said audio/visual server includes a switch which senses whether said first storage device is connected to said audio/visual server and prevents said audio/visual server from operating if said first storage device is not connected to said audio/visual server.

11. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said audio/visual data providing device is a computer;

said first storage device includes a first connector; and

said connecting unit comprises;

a cradle for receiving said first storage device,

a second connector adapted to connect to said first connector,

a conversion circuit connected to said second connector, and

a cable in communication with said conversion circuit and said computer.

12. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first storage device is a hard disk drive.

13. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said audio/visual data is compressed digital audio data.

14. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said connecting unit receives said audio/visual data from said audio/visual data providing device;

said first storage device receives said audio/visual data from said connecting unit;

said audio/visual server includes a music player;

said music player accesses said audio/visual data from said first storage device and provides a music output; and

said audio/visual server communicates said music output to said audio/visual head unit.

15. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein said audio/visual server comprises:

an input connector;

one or more processor readable storage devices capable of storing user replaceable interface program code received at said input connector and audio/visual data;

an output connector connected to said audio/visual head unit; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more processor readable storage devices and said output connector, at least one of said one or more processors engages in two-way communication with said audio/visual head unit based on said user replaceable interface program code.

16. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein said audio/visual server comprises:

a first processor, said first processor includes first memory for storing user replaceable interface program code, said first processor engages in two-way communication with said audio/visual head unit based on said user replaceable interface program code; and

a second processor in communication with said first storage device and said first processor, said second processor plays audio/visual data and creates a music output, said second processor communicates said music output to said audio/visual head unit.

17. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein said audio/visual server performs a method comprising:

receiving a request from said head unit to play a specific track; and

playing said specific track.

19. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said processor readable storage devices include removable media.

20. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said processor readable storage devices include a removable hard disk drive;

said hard disk drive stores a set of two or more play lists; and

each play list identifies at least one track stored on said hard disk drive.

21. An audio/visual server system according to claim 20, further including:

an input connector connected to said one or more processors; and

a dock connected to a computer, said removable hard disk drive capable of being removably connected to said dock and said input connector.

22. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said stored audio/visual data is compressed digital audio data.

23. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein said one or more processors perform a method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from said audio head unit to play a specific track; and

playing said specific track.

24. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein

said processor readable storage devices store user replaceable interface program code;

and

at least one of said one or more processors engages in two-way communication with said head unit based on said user replaceable interface program code.

34. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

connector includes a dock.

35. An audio/visual server system according to claim 1, wherein:

said head unit is an automobile head unit.

18. An audio/visual server system for use in conjunction with an audio head unit having a disc changer port, comprising:

one or more processor readable storage devices for storing audio/visual data, said one or more processor readable storage devices are not part of a disc changer;

a connection to said disc changer port; and

one or more processors in communication with at least a subset of said one or more processor readable storage devices and said connection, said one or more processors communicate with said audio head unit and send music information to said head unit based on said audio/visual data by emulating a disc changer.

36. An audio/visual server system according to claim 18, wherein:

said head unit is an automobile head unit.

25. A method for providing audio/visual data, comprising:

receiving a request to play audio/visual data, said request is received from an automobile control unit;

reading audio/visual data from a medium that is capable of receiving additional data from an audio/visual data providing device, said step of reading is performed in response to said request; and

sending a signal representing said audio/visual data in response to said request, said steps of receiving a request and sending a signal include emulating a disc changer.

26. A method according to claim 25, further including:

decoding said audio/visual data in order to create said signal representing said audio/visual data.

27. A method according to claim 26, further including the steps of:

loading said audio/visual data on said medium, said medium is removable; and

connecting said medium to a server after said step of loading, said steps of receiving, reading and sending are performed by said server.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein:

said audio/visual data is compressed digital audio data.

29. A method according to claim 25, wherein:

said request refers to a first track, said first track being one of a plurality of tracks on a play list;

said step of reading includes reading a first file representing said first track; and

said step of sending includes decoding said first file.

30. A method according to claim 25, wherein:

said audio/visual data is in mp3 format.

31. A method according to claim 25, wherein:

said medium is removable.

32. A method according to claim 28, wherein:

said step of sending includes communicating said signal representing said audio/visual data to said control unit; and

said step of sending includes communicating identification information about said audio/visual data to said control unit.

33. A method according to claim 28, wherein:

said step of sending includes communicating identification information about said audio/visual data for display on a user interface device.