Digital audio devices

• US 7,460,440 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Susan M. Treyz, Treyz G. Victor
• Original Assignee: Susan M. Treyz, Treyz G. Victor
• Inventors: Treyz, Susan M., Treyz, G. Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska; Vit W
• Application Number:
  US11/960,578
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 368 10- 13, 368/46, 368/47, 368 72- 74, 368/250, 368/251, 340/624.69, 340/825.22, 379/93.5, 379/102.01, 379/102.03, 379/110.01, 455 301- 303, 455/3.06, 455/130, 455/142, 455/151.2, 455/186.1, 455/188.1, 455/188.2, 455/344, 455352-355
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/028 combined with a radio

Abstract

An alarm clock radio is provided that handles downloaded audio files and streaming digital audio files. The alarm clock radio may have buttons and displays that allow the user to adjust various alarm clock radio settings. The user may also adjust settings remotely over the Internet or over an in-home network. The user may customize the audio content that is provided with the alarm clock radio. Advertisements may be provided to the user. The user may be provided with an opportunity to subscribe to a content service. Content such as Internet radio station content, e-mail, news and other audio content may be provided to the user from the service. The user may set remainders for particular times and dates using the alarm clock radio. The alarm clock radio may also have a telephone handset. The alarm clock radio may have buttons and knobs and may provide on-screen options that allow the user to tune to AM and FM and Internet radio stations and to control the operation of the alarm clock radio.

Claims

1. An alarm clock radio that handles internet radio content that is provided to the alarm clock radio over an in-home network that is separate from the alarm clock radio and that handles audio that is provided to the alarm clock radio from an in-home computer, comprising:

control circuitry and memory;

short-range wireless communications circuitry that communicates with the in-home network over a short-range wireless communications link, wherein the control circuitry and memory are configured to use the short-range wireless communications circuitry to receive the internet radio content and are configured to use the short-range wireless communications circuitry to receive the audio provided from the in home computer;

speakers coupled to the control circuitry and memory through which the control circuitry and memory plays the internet radio content and the audio from the in-home computer to a user; and

a user interface with which the user sets an alarm time for the alarm clock radio.

2. The alarm clock radio defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one knob that allows the user to tune among internet radio stations.

3. The alarm clock radio defined in claim 1 wherein the audio is stored in the form of MP3 audio and wherein the control circuitry and memory are further configured to play the MP3 audio to the user with the speakers.

4. The alarm clock radio defined in claim 3 wherein the control circuitry and memory are further configured to receive subscription digital audio using the short-range wireless communications circuitry.