Apparatus, method and database for control of audio/video equipment

• US 7,065,287 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1999
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: D&M Holdings US Incorporated (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dean, Michael P., Heredia, Rafael, Young, Randolph G., Priddy, Sean S., Greer, Frank U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/453,023
• Time in Patent Office: 2,392 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 386/124, 386/125, 386/126, 386/45, 386/105, 386/104, 386/106, 386/46, 386/1, 386/4, 386/52, 386/40, 386/92, 386/95, 386/98
• US Class Current: 386/281
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 : End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

Control of audio/video equipment is provided by an apparatus constructed like a computer, with audio and video subsystems. The audio subsystem includes a programmable analog mixer and several analog and digital multiplexers to route and mix multiple inputs to multiple outputs. Databases are stored in computer mass storage to record preferences for playback of digital versatile discs, compact discs and audio files stored in the mass storage device, such as MP3 files. The playback preferences may include video output format, language, surround sound mode, etc. for DVDs and surround sound effects for CDs and audio files.

Claims

1. A method of controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

selecting a first source from among inputs including at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

based at least in part on the selection of the first source, selecting a first output for the first source from among outputs including a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device;

routing the first source to the first output;

selecting up to three additional sources of input;

determining amount of mixing of the first source and the three additional sources; and

routing the first source and the three additional sources to the first output and up to three additional outputs with the amount of mixing previously determined.

2. An apparatus controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

a source selection circuit to select a first source from among inputs including at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

an output selection circuit, responsive to the selection of the first source, to select a first output for the first source from among outputs including a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device; and

a multiplexer circuit to route the first source to the first output;

wherein each input has an associated default output, and wherein the output selection circuit is operative to select the default output associated with the first source.

3. An apparatus controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

a source selection circuit to select a first source from among inputs including at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

an output selection circuit, responsive to the selection of the first source, to select a first output for the first source from among outputs including a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device;

a multiplexer circuit to route the first source to the first output; and

a playback preference database associating playback preferences with recording identifiers;

wherein the output selection circuit is operative to obtain a recording identifier corresponding to the first source, and to select the first output using previously stored preferences from the playback preference database.

4. A method of controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

selecting a first source from among available sources, wherein the available sources include at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

based on the selection of the first source, selecting a first output from among available outputs, where the available outputs include a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device; and

routing the first source to the first output;

wherein each available input has an associated default output, and wherein the selected first output is the default output of the selected first source.

5. A method of controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

selecting a first source from among available sources, wherein the available sources include at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

based on the selection of the first source, selecting a first output from among available outputs, where the available outputs include a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device;

routing the first source to the first output;

obtaining a recording identifier corresponding to the first source; and

comparing the recording identifier with previously stored identifiers in a playback preference database;

wherein the first output is selected for the first source using previously stored preferences.

6. A method of controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

selecting a first source from among available sources, wherein the available sources include at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

based on the selection of the first source, selecting a first output from among available outputs, where the available outputs include a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device;

routing the first source to the first output;

selecting a second source from among the available sources not selected as the first source;

based on the selection of the second source, selecting a second output from among the available outputs not selected for the first output; and

routing the second source to the second output;

wherein each available input has an associated default output, and wherein the selected first output is the default output of the selected first source, and the selected first output is the default output of the selected second source.

7. A method of controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

selecting a first source from among available sources, wherein the available sources include at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

based on the selection of the first source, selecting a first output from among available outputs, where the available outputs include a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device;

routing the first source to the first output;

selecting a second source from among the available sources not selected as the first source;

based on the selection of the second source, selecting a second output from among the available outputs not selected for the first output;

routing the second source to the second output;

obtaining a recording identifier corresponding to the first source; and

comparing the recording identifier with previously stored identifiers in a playback preference database;

wherein the first output is selected for the first source using previously stored preferences.

8. A method of controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

selecting a first source from among available sources, wherein the available sources include at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

based on the selection of the first source, selecting a first output from among available outputs, where the available outputs include a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device;

routing the first source to the first output;

selecting a second source from among the available sources not selected as the first source;

based on the selection of the second source, selecting a second output from among the available outputs not selected for the first output;

routing the second source to the second output;

obtaining a recording identifier corresponding to the second source; and

comparing the recording identifier with previously stored identifiers in a playback preference database;

wherein the second output is selected for the second source using previously stored preferences.

9. A method of controlling audio/video devices, comprising:

selecting a first source from among inputs including at least two of a computer file, a computer data connection, a digitally encoded disc player, a radio tuner, a television audio decoder, an MPEG decoder, a S/PDIF input, a microphone, an external video signal and an external audio signal;

selecting a first output for the first source from among outputs including a computer mass storage device and at least one of speakers, headphones, an audio tape device, and a video tape device;

routing the first source to the first output

selecting up to three additional sources of input;

determining amount of mixing of the first source and the three additional sources; and

routing the first source and the three additional sources to the first output and up to three additional outputs with the amount of mixing previously determined.