External conditions audio playback system and method

• US 8,390,469 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dean A. Craine
• Original Assignee: Dean A. Craine
• Inventors: Crowe, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/184,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/425.5, 307/10.1, 342/357.1, 342/357.13, 701/1, 701/36
• US Class Current: 340/692
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 4/00 Processes for removing metallic material from surfaces, not provided for in group C23F1/00 or C23F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 1/80 Etching

Abstract

A method and system that controls the playing of different audio or video files by an electric device in a motor vehicle that includes a plurality of different audio or video files and an audio file player software program. The electronic device is coupled to at least one external sensor that measures one of the following: the motor vehicle'"'"'s current location, the time of day, and/or the weather or temperature. The software program is configured to automatically play the audio file associated with an external condition when the external condition occurs. When the motor vehicle is operating, and the occupant is listening to the electronic device, the audio or video files are automatically played based on the occurrence of the linked external condition.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle located, external condition controlled audio playback device, comprising:

a. an electronic device for playing audio files inside a motor vehicle, said electronic device configured to play individual audio files when said motor vehicle is operated;

b. means for detecting or monitoring the occurrence of at least two external conditions while said motor vehicle is operating, said two conditions being from a group of conditions that includes at least the following external conditions;

the current location of the electronic device, the day of the week, the time of day, the weather condition, and the traffic condition;

c. a plurality of audio files selected by a user of said motor vehicle configured to be played by said electronic device, said audio files being associated with at least one said external condition from said group of conditions; and

,

d. a software program configured to monitor for said external conditions and configured to automatically play said audio files using said electronic device when said external conditions associated with said audio files occur or are detected while said motor vehicle is operated, and when different said external conditions occur or are detected, said software program automatically changes and plays said audio files associated with different said external conditions.

2. The playback device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio files are placed in one or more playlist and selectively tagged to one said external condition from said group of conditions so that when said external condition occurs or is detected, said audio files in said playlist associated with said external condition are automatically played.

3. The playback device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said software program is loaded into the memory of said playback device.

4. The playback device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said software program includes a first menu page that presents a plurality of said audio files that can be played by said electronic device and enables individual audio files to be selectively and individually tagged to a specific external condition.

5. The playback device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said software program includes an External Condition menu page that enables a user to list different external conditions capable of being tagged to said audio files.

6. A user input external condition controlled audio file play system, comprising:

a. an audio electronic device configured to automatically play audio files associated with at least two external conditions when said external conditions are detected or occur, said external conditions are from a group of external conditions containing at least the following external conditions;

the location of the electronic device, the time of day, the weather condition, and the traffic condition;

b. means for detecting or monitoring the occurrence of at least two external conditions from said group of external conditions coupled to said electronic device; and

,

c. a software program configured to allow a user to manually associate at least some of said audio files to be played when two said external conditions occur or detected, said software program also configured to automatically change said audio files when different external conditions occur or detected.

7. A method of automatically playing different audio files through an electronic device in a motor vehicle based on different external conditions that may be detected or occur while operating the motor vehicle, said method comprises the following steps:

a. selecting an audio electronic device configured to play audio files stored thereon or on internal or external storage device, said audio files being associated with one of the following external conditions from the following group of external conditions;

the current location of said motor vehicle, the day of the week, the time of day, the weather condition, and the traffic condition;

b. operating said motor vehicle;

c. monitoring for the occurrence or the detection of at least one of said external condition from the group of external conditions;

d. automatically playing with said electronic device said audio files associated with said external condition when said external condition occur or detected while operating said motor vehicle; and

,

e. automatically changing and playing said audio files with said electronic device when external condition associated with said audio files occurs or is detected.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein step a further includes the sub-step of first arranging said audio files in a playlist and then tagging said playlist to one of said external conditions from said group of external conditions, so that when said external condition occurs or is detected, said audio files in said playlist tagged to said external condition are played by said electronic device.