Vehicle player system

• US 20030110057A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Pisz, James T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,441,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/022 Control panels

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a user-definable multimedia or digital library are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and methods for selecting and playing multimedia or digital files from within the library. The selection and playback systems and methods involve a limited number of user activated buttons, which are implemented both for mapping directly to storage locations of particular multimedia or digital files, and for accepting and playing a multimedia or digital file once selected. The limited number of buttons required for the various features of these systems and methods provide vehicle operators, such as automobile drivers, with a safe mechanism and procedure for retrieving and playing customized play lists and particular songs while driving.

Claims

1. A method for selecting and playing a multimedia file, comprising:

a) selecting a multimedia file from a library of multimedia files, each multimedia file within the library being associated with a description and with a unique coordinate comprising a plurality of axis values, said selecting comprising the steps of;

(1) activating at least one of a set of user-operated controls, each assigned to an axis different from the axes to which the other user-operated controls are assigned, the activating causing a selection of a value on the axis to which said user-operated control is assigned; and

(2) viewing the description associated with the multimedia file whose axes values are selected by said user-operated controls as it appears on a display system;

b) accepting the multimedia file that is displayed on said display system; and

c) playing the multimedia file that is accepted by said selection-acceptance system on a player system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia file comprises an audio track.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia file comprises a digital file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising playing additional multimedia files in a pre-determined sequence.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the coordinate system comprises three axes and three user-operated controls.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the user-operated control comprises a button.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the button is a touch-screen button.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the accepting the multimedia file comprises activating a button.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the button is a touch screen button.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the button is a rocker button.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the button is voice activated.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection of a value comprises selecting an axis value from a group consisting of numbers, letters, names, and category indicia.

13. A multimedia player for playing a selected multimedia file comprising:

a) a selection system for selecting a multimedia file to be played from a library of multimedia files, each multimedia file within the library being associated with a description and with a unique coordinate comprising a plurality of axis values, said selection system comprising;

(1) a set of user-operated controls, each;

(a) assigned to an axis different from the axes to which the other user-operated controls are assigned; and

(b) configured to allow a user to select a value on the axis to which said user-operated control is assigned;

(2) a display system for displaying the description associated with the multimedia file whose axes values are selected by said user-operated controls;

b) a selection-acceptance system for accepting the multimedia file that is displayed on said display system; and

c) a multimedia player for playing the multimedia file that is accepted by said selection-acceptance system.

14. The multimedia player of claim 13 wherein the multimedia file comprises an audio track.

15. The multimedia player of claim 13 wherein the multimedia file comprises a digital file.

16. The multimedia player of claim 13, further comprising playing additional multimedia files in a pre-determined sequence.

17. The multimedia player of claim 13 wherein the coordinate system comprises three axes and three user-operated controls.

18. The multimedia player of claim 13 wherein the user-operated control comprises a button.

19. The multimedia player of claim 18 wherein the button is a touch-screen button.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the button is voice activated.

21. The multimedia player of claim 13 wherein the selection-acceptance system comprises a button.

22. The multimedia player of claim 21 wherein the button is a touch-screen button.

23. The multimedia player of claim 21 wherein the button is a rocker button.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the button is voice activated.

25. The multimedia player of claim 13 wherein the axis value is selected from a group consisting of numbers, letters, names, and category indicia.

26. A method of programming a multimedia player with a library of multimedia files, comprising:

a) selecting a multimedia file having a description from a catalog of files;

b) assigning a unique coordinate to the selected multimedia file, the unique coordinate comprising a plurality of axis values;

c) repeating steps (a) and (b) one or more times to select other multimedia files;

d) creating a library of the selected multimedia files and their coordinate values; and

e) downloading the library into the multimedia player.

27. Computer-readable media containing instructions executable by a computer that, when loaded and executed on a computer, performs a method of programming a multimedia player with a library of multimedia files, including:

a) selecting a multimedia file having a description from a catalog of multimedia files;

b) assigning a unique coordinate to the selected multimedia file, the unique coordinate comprising a plurality of axis values;

c) repeating steps (a) and (b) one or more times to select other multimedia files;

d) creating a library of the selected multimedia files and their coordinate values; and

e) downloading the library into the multimedia player.

28. A method of selecting and playing a multimedia file with a single button, comprising:

a) selecting a multimedia file from a library of multimedia files, each multimedia file within the library being associated with a description and with a unique coordinate comprising a plurality of axis values, said selecting comprising the steps of;

(1) activating at least one of a set of user-operated controls, each assigned to an axis different from the axes to which the other user-operated controls are assigned, the activating causing a selection of a value on the axis to which said user-operated control is assigned; and

(2) viewing the description associated with the multimedia file whose axes values are selected by said user-operated controls as it appears on a display system;

b) activating a button a first time to accept the multimedia file that is displayed on said display system; and

c) activating the button a second time to play the multimedia file that is accepted by said selection-acceptance system on a multimedia player system.

29. A multimedia player for selecting and playing a multimedia file comprising:

a) a selection system for selecting a multimedia file to be played from a library of multimedia files, each multimedia file within the library being associated with a description, said selection system configured in a standard faceplate layout and comprising;

(1) a set of user-programmable controls arranged in a horizontal row, each of the user-programmable controls mapped to at least one of the library of multimedia files and configured to allow a user to select a multimedia file to which it is mapped;

(2) a display screen, disposed horizontally above the set of user-operated controls, for displaying the description associated with the multimedia file selected by the user-programmable controls; and

b) a playback apparatus for playing the multimedia file that is displayed on the display screen.