Method for operating a playback unit in a vehicle, for playing back data stored on a data medium

• US 20010053686A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Becker GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wolf, Stefan, Lappe, Dirk, Hovestadt, Guido
• Granted Patent: US 7,062,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• 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 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• 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 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• 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: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85

Abstract

A system for use in a motor vehicle includes a wireless receiver that receives, over a wireless communication channel, supplemental information representative of the characteristics of the contents of a playback media, and provides received supplemental information indicative thereof. A playback device receives the received supplemental information and stores the received supplemental information in a non-volatile memory device. The playback unit may generate a request for supplement information in response to and indicative of a playback media inserted into the playback unit. The system may also include a wireless transmitter that receives the request and transmits the received request over the communication channel. In one embodiment, after the data medium has been inserted into the playback unit, the wireless transmitter (e.g., a car telephone) establishes a radio connection to a data server, and at least part of the characteristic data stored on the inserted data medium are read by the playback unit and are transmitted from the wireless transmitter to the data server, which compares these characteristic data with stored data to identify the data medium. After identifying the data medium, the data server transmits supplemental information to the playback unit, which stores the information in a memory device for on-demand retrieval and display. In another embodiment, a radio connection is established between a computing device and the wireless receiver. The computing device transmits characteristic data of selected data media over the radio connection to the wireless receiver, which provides the received data to the playback unit that stores the received data in a memory device for subsequent on-demand retrieval and display. In this embodiment, an operator can transfer to the motor vehicle the characteristic data stored in the computing device (e.g., personal computer) relating to selected data media.

Claims

1. A method of operating a playback unit suitable for use in a motor vehicle equipped with a wireless telephone that communicates with the playback unit, said method comprising:

transmitting a request for supplement information indicative of a playback media inserted into the playback unit, from the playback unit to a data server over a wireless communication channel via the wireless telephone;

receiving at the playback unit supplemental information representative of the characteristics of the contents of the playback media, wherein said supplemental information is transmitted by the data server over the wireless communication channel to the wireless telephone, which forwards the received supplemental information to the playback unit; and

storing the received supplemental information in a memory device accessible by the playback unit.

2. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising retrieving the received supplemental information stored in the memory device and displaying the received supplemental information on a motor vehicle display.

3. The method of

claim 2

, wherein the step of transmitting a request for supplemental information comprises transmitting a request for supplemental information from a CD player.

4. The method of

claim 2

, wherein the step of transmitting a request for supplemental information comprises transmitting a request for supplemental information from a DVD player.

5. The method of

claim 2

, wherein the step of transmitting a request for supplemental information comprises transmitting a request for supplemental information from a multimedia player.

6. The method of

claim 2

, wherein the step of transmitting a request for supplemental information is performed in response to inserting a memory card data medium into the playback unit.

7. The method of

claim 1

, wherein prior to said step of transmitting, checking if supplemental information associated with the data medium is stored in the memory device, and if not performing said step of transmitting.

8. The method of

claim 2

, wherein prior to said step of transmitting, checking if supplemental information associated with the data medium is stored in the memory device, and if not performing said step of transmitting.

9. A method of operating a playback unit suitable for use in a motor vehicle equipped with a wireless transceiver that communicates with the playback unit, said method comprising:

receiving at the playback unit supplemental information representative of the characteristics of the contents of the playback media, wherein said supplemental information is transmitted by a computing device over the wireless communication channel to the wireless transceiver, which forwards the received supplemental information to the playback unit; and

storing the received supplemental information in a memory device accessible by the playback unit.

10. The method of

claim 9

, wherein said computing device comprises a computer and a modem.

11. The method

claim 10

, wherein the step of receiving comprises receiving the supplemental information encoded in short-message-services standard (SMS) format.

12. The method of

claim 10

wherein said step of storing comprises storing the received supplemental information in a compressed format in the memory device.

13. A multimedia system for use in a motor vehicle, said system comprising:

a wireless receiver that receives, over a wireless communication channel, supplemental information representative of the characteristics of the contents of a playback media, and provides received supplemental information indicative thereof;

a non-volatile memory device; and

a playback device that receives said received supplemental information and stores said received supplemental information in said non-volatile memory device.

14. The multimedia system of

claim 13

, wherein said playback unit comprises a display device that displays data indicative of said received supplemental information associated with the playback media.

15. The multimedia system of

claim 14

, comprising means for generating a request for supplemental information indicative of a playback media inserted into said playback unit;

and

a wireless transmitter that receives said request and transmits said received request over the wireless communication channel.

16. The multimedia system of

claim 14

, wherein said playback unit comprises:

means for checking if said non-volatile memory device includes supplemental information associated with the playback media, and if so, for retrieving said stored supplemental information associated with the playback media and displaying data indicative of said stored supplemental information on said display.

17. The multimedia system of

claim 13

, wherein said playback unit comprises means for generating a request for supplement information in response to and indicative of a playback media inserted into said playback unit;

and

a wireless transmitter that receives said request and transmits said received request over said communication channel.