System and method for delivery of audio content correlated to the calendar date and/or time of day

• US 6,920,089 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott Bowman Steinbach
• Original Assignee: Scott Bowman Steinbach
• Inventors: Steinbach, Scott Bowman
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TAN X
• Application Number:
  US10/264,108
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 369/22, 369/23, 369/19, 369/20, 369/21, 369/6, 369/7, 368/72, 368/73, 368/94, 368/109, 368/156, 368/272, 368/244, 368/250, 455/344, 455/349, 455/351, 340/500, 340/501, 340/506
• US Class Current: 369/22
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/02 at preselected times, e.g. alarm clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/028 combined with a radio
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/003 with radio receiver

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for automatically playing a recorded message, from a uniquely formatted encrypted CD, correlated to a specific date and a time of day as an option on a CD clock radio or the like. Disclosed are means for distinguishing the unique CD format and thereafter following a prescribed process for decrypting and playing. Otherwise all device functions and options operate in their conventional modes.

Claims

1. A system for delivering audio content correlated to the time and/or date of a calendar comprising:

a compact disk drive coupled to multiple processors, wherein said multiple processors implement enhanced CD functionality and reside on a printed circuit board, and wherein said multiple processors control clock and display functions, and to transfer control, command and digital audio data to and from said compact disk drive and wherein said multiple processors determine whether a compact disk inserted into said compact disk drive is a particular format for accessing and playing a track, having a date and time of day indicator, when said track date and time match with a current date and time of day in said calendar and clock; and

a user display coupled to said printed circuit board;

an input device coupled to said printed circuit board;

a radio module coupled to said printed circuit board; and

an audio output device operable to select an audio signal from said radio module or said compact disk drive.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said user display comprises a liquid crystal display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a keyboard and or volume and function selector controls.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio output device comprises at least one speaker.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said compact disk drive interfaces to said printed circuit board via an Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said multiple processors comprise:

a first processor tasked with clock and display functions; and

a second processor tasked with transfer control, command and digital audio data to and from said compact disk drive, and wherein said first and second processor pass data communicate with each other via an internal bi-directional digital data bus.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said audio output device comprises an audio multiplexer, audio amplifier and the operator controls.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said enhanced CD functionality is implemented by code executed by said multiple processors, wherein said code detects enhanced compact disks.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said enhanced compact disks comprise either time/date enhanced CD format or the sequential enhanced CD format.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said multiple processors communicate data such as time, date, track information, play and stop commands.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio output device comprises two single channel audio amplifiers that condition and amplify signals received from the compact disk drive or said radio module for output to at least one speaker.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein said keyboard comprises a 12 key matrix design to enter the parameters and data.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein said radio can be digitally tuned based on keyboard input.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said multiple processors receive an input for and decode a key code on said compact disk indicating said particular format, and treat said compact disk as a conventional compact disk when said key code is not detected.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein a desired play mode from among a plurality of possible play modes.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said plurality of possible play modes comprises SLEEP, SNOOZE, REPEAT, REVIEW and PREVIEW.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein a particular compact disk format comprises an encrypted header key for use in decrypting compact disk track data.

18. The system of claim, 16, wherein said header additionally comprises a function control segment having compact disk specific rules for use.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising search and function control segment for a compact disk specific mode when said play mode is PREVIEW or REVIEW.