Interactive sound reproducing
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An audio system configured to connect to a separate computer that is configured to provide audio information from any one of a plurality of sources, including digital music files stored on the computer and a network accessible by the computer, the audio system comprising:
- (a) a sound reproduction system comprising;
a housing;
control circuitry located within the housing for receiving control commands;
audio signal processing circuitry located within the housing for processing audio signals for reproduction;
one or more speakers for reproducing audio signals processed by the audio signal processing circuitry; and
a connector configured to provide a physical and electrical connection exclusively between the sound reproduction system and the computer, wherein the connection includes one or more signal paths configured to (i) receive audio information from the computer corresponding to the digital music files stored on the computer and audio information from the network via the computer, and (ii) transmit to the computer signals for controlling the computer; and
(b) a remote control device configured to transmit signals representing at least a first type of command from a user and a second type of command from a user to the control circuitry of the sound reproduction system, wherein the first type of command is a command to control a user function of the sound reproduction system and the second type of command is a command to control a user function of the computer,wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the signals from the remote control and, in response to receiving such signals;
(i) control the user function of the sound reproduction system when the user issues a command of the first type, and(ii) transmit to the computer, via a signal path of the connector, a signal for controlling the user function of the computer when the user issues a command of the second type.
1 Assignment
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An audio system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. An audio system configured to connect to a separate computer that is configured to provide audio information from any one of a plurality of sources, including digital music files stored on the computer and a network accessible by the computer, the audio system comprising:
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(a) a sound reproduction system comprising; a housing; control circuitry located within the housing for receiving control commands; audio signal processing circuitry located within the housing for processing audio signals for reproduction; one or more speakers for reproducing audio signals processed by the audio signal processing circuitry; and a connector configured to provide a physical and electrical connection exclusively between the sound reproduction system and the computer, wherein the connection includes one or more signal paths configured to (i) receive audio information from the computer corresponding to the digital music files stored on the computer and audio information from the network via the computer, and (ii) transmit to the computer signals for controlling the computer; and (b) a remote control device configured to transmit signals representing at least a first type of command from a user and a second type of command from a user to the control circuitry of the sound reproduction system, wherein the first type of command is a command to control a user function of the sound reproduction system and the second type of command is a command to control a user function of the computer, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the signals from the remote control and, in response to receiving such signals; (i) control the user function of the sound reproduction system when the user issues a command of the first type, and (ii) transmit to the computer, via a signal path of the connector, a signal for controlling the user function of the computer when the user issues a command of the second type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 71, 73)
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28. An audio system configured to connect to a computer that has a plurality of user functions, a subset of the user functions relating to control of audio information, the audio system comprising:
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(a) a sound reproduction system comprising; a housing; control circuitry located within the housing for receiving control commands; audio signal processing circuitry located within the housing for processing audio signals for reproduction; one or more speakers for reproducing audio signals processed by the audio signal processing circuitry; and a connector configured to provide a physical and electrical connection exclusively between the sound reproduction system and the computer, wherein the connection includes one or more signal paths configured to (i) receive audio information from the computer, and (ii) transmit the computer signals for controlling the computer; and (b) a remote control device configured to transmit signals representing at least a first type of command from a user and a second type of command from a user to the control circuitry of the sound reproduction system, wherein the first type of command is a command to control a user function of the sound reproduction system and the second type of command is a command to control a user function of the computer relating to control of audio information, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the signals from the remote control and, in response to receiving such signals; (i) control the user function of the sound reproduction system when the user issues a command of the first type, and (ii) transmit to the computer, via a signal path of the connector, a signal for controlling the user function of the computer when the user issues a command of the second type. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 74)
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55. An audio system configured to connect to a separate computer that has a plurality of user functions, a subset of the user functions relating to control of audio information, and is configured to provide audio information from any one of a plurality of sources, including digital music files stored on the computer and a network accessible by the computer, the audio system comprising:
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(A) a sound reproduction system comprising; a housing; control circuitry located within the housing for receiving control commands; audio signal processing circuitry located within the housing for processing audio signals for reproduction; one or more speakers for reproducing audio signals processed by the audio signal processing circuitry; an connector located at least partially within the housing that is configured to provide a physical and electrical connection exclusively between the sound reproduction system and the computer, wherein the connection includes one or more signal paths configured to (i) receive audio information from the computer corresponding to the digital music files stored on the computer and audio information from the network via the computer, (ii) transmit to the computer signals for controlling the computer, and (iii) receive signals from the computer; and (B) a remote control device configured to transmit signals representing at least a first type of command from a user and a second type of command from a user to the control circuitry of the sound reproduction system, wherein the first type of command is a command to control a user function of the sound reproduction system and the second type of command is a command to control a user function of the computer, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the signals from the remote control and, in response to receiving such signals; (i) control the user function of the sound reproduction system when the user issues a command of the first type, and (ii) transmit to the computer, via a signal path of the connector, a signal for controlling the user function of the computer when the user issues a command of the second type. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 72, 75)
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62. A system comprising:
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(A) a computer having a plurality of user functions, a subset of the user functions relating to control of audio information, and comprising; (a) a storage device configured to store a plurality of digital music files, each music file including within the music file at least a first and second type of metadata that characterizes the music file; and (b) a display for displaying a user interface configured to present a first assemblage of the plurality of music files in a first set of groups according to the first type of metadata associated with the music files, and, in response to a user selection of a group in the first assemblage, present a second assemblage of the music files in the selected group, wherein the second assemblage presents the music files in the selected group in a second set of groups according to the second type of metadata associated with the music files in the selected group; (B) a sound reproduction system comprising; (a) a housing; (b) control circuitry located within the housing for receiving control commands; (c) audio signal processing circuitry located within the housing for processing audio signals for reproduction; (d) one or more speakers for reproducing audio signals processed by the audio signal processing circuitry; and (e) a connector configured to provide a physical and electrical connection exclusively between the sound reproduction system and the computer, wherein the connection includes one or more signal paths configured to (i) receive audio information from the computer, and (ii) transmit to the computer signals for controlling the computer; and (C) a remote control device configured to transmit signals representing at least a first type of command from a user and a second type of command from a user to the control circuitry of the sound reproduction system, wherein the first type of command is a command to control a user function of the sound reproduction system and the second type of command is a command to control a user function of the computer relating to control of audio information, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the signals from the remote control and, in response to receiving such signals; (i) control the user function of the sound reproduction system when the user issues a command of the first type, and (ii) transmit to the computer, via a signal path of the connector, a signal for controlling the user function of the computer when the user issues a command of the second type. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 76)
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Specification