MPEG portable sound reproducing system and a reproducing method thereof

• US 20020072818A1
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MPMan.com, Inc
• Original Assignee: Texas MP3 Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Hwang, Jung-Ha, Moon, Kwang-Su
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/007 Transform coding, e.g. discrete cosine transform
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/00014 the compressed signal being an audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/00057 MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 audio layer III [MP3]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• 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 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1006 Data managing, e.g. manipulating data before writing or reading out, data bus switches or control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/16 Storage of analogue signals in digital stores using an arrangement comprising analogue/digital [A/D] converters, digital memories and digital/analogue [D/A] converters

Abstract

Disclosed is an MPEG portable sound reproducing system and a method for reproducing sound data compressed using the MPEG method. The inventive system includes power supply means for supplying operational power to the system, the power supply means being realized through a secondary battery; power processing means for rectifying power supplied from the power supply means to stable voltage and current; information display means for displaying numbers and combinations of letters related to operational states of the system; control means for controlling all operations of converting and reproducing sound data compressed using the MPEG method; data storage means for storing MPEG-compressed sound data in a designated address according to signals output from the control means; information selecting means for selecting general operations to reproduce, download, and apply selected sound data stored in the data storage means; sound reproducing means for converting sound data stored in the data storage means into a format audible to users according to signals output from the control means; and transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving sound data and program data from external devices.

Claims

1. An MPEG portable sound reproducing system, comprising:

power supply means for supplying operational power to the system, the power supply means being realized through a secondary battery;

power processing means for rectifying power supplied from the power supply means to stable voltage and current;

information display means for displaying numbers and combinations of letters related to operational states of the system;

control means for controlling all operations of converting and reproducing sound data compressed using the MPEG method;

data storage means for storing MPEG-compressed sound data in a designated address according to signals output from the control means;

information selecting means for selecting general operations to reproduce, download, and apply selected sound data stored in the data storage means;

sound reproducing means for converting sound data stored in the data storage means into a format audible to users according to signals output from the control means; and

transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving sound data and program data from external devices.

2. The sound reproducing system of claim 1, wherein the power processing means supplies charging current to a secondary battery of the power supply means when the power processing means receives external power through an adapter.

3. The sound reproducing system of claim 1, wherein the information selecting means comprises:

a forward switch for advancing to a subsequent selection when pressed for under second, and which quickly plays a present selection when continually pressed for over one second;

a reverse switch for returning to a beginning of the present selection if the selection is in mid-play or reversing to the previous selection if between selections when pressed for under one second, and which quickly plays data in reverse when continually pressed for a predetermined amount of time of over one second;

a play/stop switch reproducing data when pressed one time, and in a play mode, discontinuing a play mode when pressed then cutting off the power;

a repeat switch for replaying the present selection when pressed one time, repeating all selections when pressed two times, and canceling all repeat commands when continually pressed; and

a random switch for randomly reproducing the selections in a random order when pressed.

4. The sound reproducing system of claim 1, wherein the control means comprises:

a CPU for controlling operations related to converting digital data stored using the MPEG method into an audible format;

an interrupter controller for outputting a control signal to control the CPU when an input/output operation is ended or an error occurs in the same;

a power controller for outputting control signals to stably supply power applied from the power processing means as operational power of the CPU, and cutting off power when an error occurs;

a keyboard interface for interfacing key select signals applied from the information selecting means;

an LCD controller for controlling electric current supplied to a matrix of the information display means to control display during operation of the inventive sound reproducing system;

an extended ROM interface for interfacing a connection with extended ROM, added to extend a scope of programs or memory;

a timer for counting time information needed for data downloading and reproducing the downloaded data, and data interrupting required to operate the system;

a bus bridge access controller outputting control signals for controlling a bus, the bus transmitting data;

a controller for controlling input/output of data transmitted and received;

a flash ROM controller for activating the flash ROM according to interrupter control signals applied from the CPU;

a DSP interface outputting control signals for controlling an input/output of digital sound data compressed by the MPEG method; and

a clock drive which processes a generator clock of a generator to a predetermined state and drives the same to the CPU as clock signals.

5. The sound reproducing system of claim 1, wherein the data storage means comprises:

a RAM, which is a volatile memory element that loses data when power is cut off, for loading application software and temporarily storing the same while a reproducing operation is being executed after power is supplied to the system; and

a flash ROM, which is a volatile memory element that does not lose data when the power is cut off, for storing and erasing sound data, and data related to application software and other digital data.

6. The sound reproducing system of claim 1, wherein the sound reproducing means comprises:

a DSP portion for processing digital sound data compressed using the MPEG method to a predetermined state; and

an audio portion which converts sound signals input from the DSP portion into an audible format.

7. A sound reproducing method for an MPEG portable sound reproducing system comprising the steps of:

initializing the system when power is supplied to information selecting means;

loading a main program and completing booting of required software; and

downloading and reproducing stored sound data, if the set up of the operational environment is completed, according to signals output from the information selecting means, a state of operational power, and whether connection is made to an external power supply and to external telecommunications systems, etc.

8. The sound reproducing method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

detecting, after a CPU and all circuits have been initialized, if errors exist in the main program; and

running the main program and completing booting of required software if it is detected that the main program is in a normal state, and outputting an error signal and discontinuing further execution if errors are detected in the main program.

9. The sound reproducing method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

determining, when key signals are detected being input from the information selecting means, if the key signal is a power OFF signal;

determining, if the key signal is not a power OFF signal, if the key signal is a sound data reproducing signal;

determining, if the key signal is not a sound data reproducing signal, if the key signal is a forward signal;

determining, if the key signal is not a forward signal, if the key signal is reverse signal;

determining, if the key signal is not a reverse signal, if the key signal is a stop signal;

determining, if the key signal is not a stop signal, if the key signal is a repeat signal;

determining, if the key signal is not a repeat signal, if the key signal is a random signal; and

performing operations corresponding to the detected signal.

10. The sound reproducing method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

comparing, if it is determined that operational power of the power supply means is in a low state, a detected power with a predetermined standard value;

displaying, if it is determined that the detected power is too low to perform operation of the system, a warning message, storing present data, and cutting off the power; and

displaying, if it is determined that the detected power is sufficient to continue operation of the system, a message instructing charging of the system.

11. The sound reproducing method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

performing the reproducing operation of the sound data using power from an external power source when it is determined that power from the same is being supplied; and

determining a power state of the power supply means and performing a charging operation.

12. The sound reproducing method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying information of a selected sound data selection and of a presently playing selection when a reproducing signal is detected from the information selecting means.

13. The sound reproducing method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

searching data, received from an external telecommunications system, and determining if an error exists in the data;

requesting the re-transmission of the data if it is detected that an error exists in the same; and

storing the received data in a designated address after reception of the data is completed if it is detected that no error exists in the same.