System and method for connecting a portable audio player to an automobile sound system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An audio system, comprising:
- a portable electronic device having a display, a memory, and an audio file player;
a first portion of software saved at the portable electronic device and configured to initiate a displaying of a graphical interface item on the display, the graphical interface item comprising a name associated with an audio file saved in the memory;
a mounting location on the portable electronic device that includes a physical interface configured to communicatively couple the portable electronic device to a different electronic device having an associated display; and
an other portion of software saved at the portable electronic device and configured to communicate a representation of the graphical interface item to the different electronic device via the physical interface to facilitate a displaying of the representation on the associated display, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to communicate interface information to the different electronic device in order to allow a user to view at least a partial representation of a graphical user interface that includes the graphical interface item on the associated display, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a plurality of preprogramed soft buttons that are linked to respective audio information sources.
5 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Reexaminations
Accused Products
Abstract
An audio system and method are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an electronic device having a display, a memory, an audio file player, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the memory and the audio file player are secured. In one embodiment, the electronic device may be a portable MP3 player. The system may also include a processor or playlist engine that can maintain a first playlist and a second playlist. In practice, the first playlist may include a selection of audio content having a corresponding audio file saved in the memory of the electronic device. In one embodiment, the system may also include an automobile having an automobile sound system that has a speaker and an in dash sound system component, which may be removably coupled to the electronic device via a cable. The in dash sound system component may have a selector, which may be, for example, a button, that allows a user to select the first playlist for outputting via the speaker. The cable interconnecting the electronic device and the in dash sound system component may be capable of providing power to the electronic device in addition to communicatively coupling the electronic device to the automobile sound system.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. An audio system, comprising:
-
a portable electronic device having a display, a memory, and an audio file player; a first portion of software saved at the portable electronic device and configured to initiate a displaying of a graphical interface item on the display, the graphical interface item comprising a name associated with an audio file saved in the memory; a mounting location on the portable electronic device that includes a physical interface configured to communicatively couple the portable electronic device to a different electronic device having an associated display; and an other portion of software saved at the portable electronic device and configured to communicate a representation of the graphical interface item to the different electronic device via the physical interface to facilitate a displaying of the representation on the associated display, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to communicate interface information to the different electronic device in order to allow a user to view at least a partial representation of a graphical user interface that includes the graphical interface item on the associated display, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a plurality of preprogramed soft buttons that are linked to respective audio information sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An audio system, comprising:
-
a portable electronic device that has a display, a memory, and a processor; software saved at the portable electronic device and configured to direct the portable electronic device to save an audio file in the memory, to associate the audio file with a name, to include the name in a graphical menu of available content, to present the name on the display of the portable electronic device, and to communicate a collection of information comprising the name to a different electronic device that has an associated display such that a user can interact with the different electronic device;
(1) to navigate through a plurality of audio files;
(2) to view at least a portion of the graphical menu on the associated display, wherein the portion comprises the name; and
(3) to select an available audio file for processing; andwherein the portable electronic device is configured to communicate interface information to the different electronic device in order to allow the user to view the graphical menu on the associated display in a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of preprogramed soft buttons that are linked to respective audio information sources. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An audio system, comprising:
-
an automobile having a sound system that includes an electronic device with an associated display and a user interface mechanism; a mount communicatively coupled to the electronic device and configured to engage a physical interface of a portable electronic device that has a display, a memory, a processor, and software saved at the portable electronic device and configured to direct the portable electronic device to save an audio file in the memory, to associate the audio file with a name, to include the name in a menu of available content, to present the name on the display of the portable electronic device, and to communicate a collection of information comprising the name to the electronic device such that a user can interact with the electronic device;
(1) to navigate through a plurality of audio files;
(2) to view at least a partial representation of the menu on the associated display; and
(3) to select an available audio file for processing; andwherein the electronic device is configured to receive the collection of information and to present the partial representation of the menu on the associated display, further wherein the partial representation of the menu is presented on the associated display in a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of preprogrammed soft buttons that are linked to respective audio information sources. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification