Audio converter device and method for using the same

• US 20050198210A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Distributed Media Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Janik, Craig M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/015 PDA [personal digital assistant] or palmtop computing devices used for musical purposes, e.g. portable music players, tablet computers, e-readers or smart phones in which mobile telephony functions need not be used touch-screen interfaces G10H2220/096
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/061 MP3, i.e. MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, lossy audio compression
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/211 Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound beam G10H2220/405
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00007 Time or data compression or expansion audio compression based on psychoacoustics G10L19/00; data processing for reproducing audio data at different playback speeds G10L21/04; video compression H04N19/00; data compression per se H03M7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast

Abstract

An audio converter device and a method for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, the audio converter device receives the digital audio data from a first device via a local area network. The audio converter device decompresses the digital audio data and converts the digital audio data into analog electrical data. The audio converter device transfers the analog electrical data to an audio playback device.

Claims

1. A converter device to playback digital media, the converter device comprising:

a local area network port to receive portions of a digital media file stored on a local server;

a volatile memory buffer to store the portions of the digital media file;

a microprocessor to convert a portion of the digital media file stored in the volatile memory buffer into a format usable by a conventional media playback system;

firmware to control the transfer of the portions of the digital media file into the volatile memory buffer such that there is no interruption of media playback;

a user interface to allow a user to navigate through a hierarchical presentation of data associated with the digital media file; and

an infrared receiver to receive instructions from a remote controller for the transfer of the converted portion of the digital media file to the conventional media playback device.

2. The converter device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface to allow users to manipulate the transfer of both the digital media file and the converted portion of the digital media file.

3. The converter device of claim 1, further comprising a portable electronic device to allow users to manipulate the transfer of both the digital media file and the converted portion of the digital media file.

4. The converter device of claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

5. The converter device of claim 1, further comprising a display to present data associated with the digital media file received from the local server.

6. The converter device of claim 1, further comprising a local area network adaptor.

8. The converter device of claim 2, further comprising:

a user interface to allow a user to navigate through a hierarchical presentation of data associated with the digital media file.

9. The converter device of claim 8, further comprising a user interface to allow users to manipulate the transfer of both the digital media file and the converted portion of the digital media file.

10. The converter device of claim 8, further comprising a portable electronic device to allow users to manipulate the transfer of both the digital media file and the converted portion of the digital media file.

11. The converter device of claim 10, wherein the portable electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

12. The converter device of claim 8, further comprising a display to present data associated with the digital media file received from the local server.

13. The converter device of claim 8, further comprising a local area network adaptor.

7. A converter device to playback digital media, the converter device comprising:

a local area network port to receive portions of a digital media file stored on a local server;

a volatile memory buffer to store the portions of the digital media file;

a microprocessor to convert a portion of the digital media file stored in the volatile memory buffer into a format usable by a conventional media playback system;

firmware to control the transfer of the portions of the digital media file into the volatile memory buffer such that there is no interruption of media playback, wherein the firmware is operable to control the transfer of the portions of the digital media file into the volatile memory buffer while the microprocessor is converting portions of the digital media file to avoid interruption of media playback.

14. A converter device for receiving and converting a digital media stream from a server, the converter device comprising:

a port to communicate with the server via a local area network;

a user interface control device;

one or more non-volatile flash memories to store converter control firmware operable to cause the port to start receiving the digital media stream from the server in response to activation of the user interface control device, wherein the user interface control device comprises an infra red (IR) remote control.

15. The converter device of claim 14, wherein the user interface control device includes a button integral to a housing of the converter device.

16. The converter device of claim 14, further comprising a buffer memory to store the digital media stream received.