Multimedia device integration system

• US 20050239434A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ira Marlowe
• Original Assignee: Ira Marlowe
• Inventors: Marlowe, Ira M.
• Application Number:
  US11/071,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20050239434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/345
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• 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: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

An multimedia device integration system is provided. One or more after-market audio or video devices, such as a CD player, CD changer, digital media device (e.g., MP3 player, MP4 player, WMV player, Apple iPod, portable music center, or other device) satellite receiver (e.g., XM or Sirius receiver), DAB receiver, video device (e.g., DVD player), cellular telephone, or any other device or combinations thereof, is integrated for use with an existing OEM or after-market car stereo or video system, wherein control commands can be issued at the car stereo or video system and data from the after-market device can be displayed on the car stereo or video system. Control commands generated at the car stereo or video system are received, processed, converted into a format recognizable by the after-market device, and dispatched to the after-market device for execution. Information from the after-market device is converted into a format recognizable by the car stereo or video system, and dispatched to the car stereo or video system for display thereon. One or more auxiliary input sources can be integrated with the car stereo or video system, and selected using the controls of the car stereo or video system. A docking station is provided for docking a portable audio or video device for integration with the car stereo or video system.

Claims

1. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

a car stereo system;

an after-market device external to the car stereo system;

an interface positioned within the car stereo system and connected between the car stereo system and the after-market device for exchanging data and audio signals between the car stereo system and the after-market device;

means for processing and dispatching commands for controlling the after-market device from the car stereo system in a format compatible with the after-market device; and

means for processing and displaying data from the after-market device on a display of the car stereo system in a format compatible with the car stereo system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the after-market device comprises a CD player, CD changer, digital media player, Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receiver, satellite receiver, or a cellular telephone.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the digital media player comprises an MP3 player, an MP4 player, WMV player, or an Apple iPod.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more auxiliary input sources connected to the interface.

5. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

a car stereo system;

a cellular telephone external to the car stereo system;

an interface connected between the car stereo system and the cellular telephone for exchanging data and audio signals between the car stereo system and the cellular telephone;

means for processing and dispatching commands for controlling the cellular telephone from the car stereo system in a format compatible with the cellular telephone; and

means for processing and displaying data from the cellular telephone on a display of the car stereo system in a format compatible with the car stereo system.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising songs or music downloadable through the cellular telephone.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the songs or music are playable through the car stereo system using the interface.

8. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

a car video system;

a cellular telephone external to the car video system;

an interface connected between the car video system and the cellular telephone for exchanging data, audio, and video signals between the car video system and the cellular telephone;

means for processing and dispatching commands for controlling the cellular telephone from the car video system in a format compatible with the cellular telephone; and

means for processing and displaying data from the cellular telephone on a display of the car video system in a format compatible with the car video system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising songs or music downloadable through the cellular telephone.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the songs or music are playable through the car video system using the interface.

11. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

a car video system;

an after-market video device external to the car video system;

an interface connected between the car video system and the after-market video device for exchanging data, audio, and video signals between the car video system and the after-market video device;

means for processing and dispatching commands for controlling the after-market video device from the car video system in a format compatible with the after-market video device; and

means for processing and displaying data from the after-market video device on a display of the car video system in a format compatible with the car video system.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the after-market video device comprises a DVD player.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the interface is positioned within the car video system.

14. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

an interface in electrical communication with a car stereo system and an after-market device;

a plurality of configuration jumpers in the interface for specifying a first device type corresponding to the car stereo system and a second device type corresponding to the after-market device; and

a plurality of protocol conversion software blocks stored in memory in the interface for converting signals from the after-market device into a first format compatible with the car stereo system and for converting signals from the car stereo system into a second format compatible with the after-market device, wherein at least one of the protocol conversion software blocks are selected by the interface using settings of the plurality of configuration jumpers.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of protocol conversion software blocks allow a plurality of after-market devices to integrated with the car stereo system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of configuration jumpers are settable by a user.

17. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

an interface in electrical communication with a car video system and an after-market device;

a plurality of configuration jumpers in the interface for specifying a first device type corresponding to the car video system and a second device type corresponding to the after-market device; and

a plurality of protocol conversion software blocks stored in memory in the interface for converting signals from the after-market device into a first format compatible with the car video system and for converting signals from the car video system into a second format compatible with the after-market device, wherein at least one of the protocol conversion software blocks are selected by the interface using settings of the plurality of configuration jumpers.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of protocol conversion software blocks allow a plurality of after-market devices to integrated with the car video system.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of configuration jumpers are settable by a user.

20. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

an interface in electrical communication with a car stereo system and an after-market device;

first and second wiring harnesses attached to the interface, wherein the first wiring harness includes a first electrical configuration corresponding to the car stereo system and the second wiring harness includes a second electrical configuration corresponding to the after-market device; and

a plurality of protocol conversion software blocks stored in memory in the interface for converting signals from the after-market device into a first format compatible with the car stereo system and for converting signals from the car stereo system into a second format compatible with the after-market device, wherein at least one of the protocol conversion software blocks are selected by the interface using the first and second electrical configurations of the first and second wiring harnesses.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of wiring harnesses corresponding to additional device types and connectable to the interface.

22. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

an interface in electrical communication with a car video system and an after-market device;

first and second wiring harnesses attached to the interface, wherein the first wiring harness includes a first electrical configuration corresponding to the car video system and the second wiring harness includes a second electrical configuration corresponding to the after-market device; and

a plurality of protocol conversion software blocks stored in memory in the interface for converting signals from the after-market device into a first format compatible with the car video system and for converting signals from the car video system into a second format compatible with the after-market device, wherein at least one of the protocol conversion software blocks are selected by the interface using the first and second electrical configurations of the first and second wiring harnesses.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of wiring harnesses corresponding to additional device types and connectable to the interface.

24. A method for integrating an after-market device for use with a car stereo system comprising:

interconnecting the car stereo system and the after-market device with an interface;

determining a first device type corresponding to the car stereo system and a second device type corresponding to the after-market device;

loading a protocol conversion software block from memory in the interface using the first and second device types;

converting signals from the after-market device into a first format compatible with the car stereo system using the protocol conversion software block;

converting signals from the car stereo system into a second format compatible with the after-market device using the protocol conversion software block; and

exchanging converted signals between the car stereo system and the after-market device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of determining the first and second device types comprises determining jumper settings of the interface, wherein the jumper settings correspond to the first and second device types.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of determining the first and second device types comprises determining electrical configurations of wiring harnesses attached to the interface, wherein the electrical configurations correspond to the first and second device types.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of determining the first and second device types comprises allowing the user to specify a device type of the after-market device using the car stereo system.

28. A method for integrating an after-market device for use with a car video system comprising:

interconnecting the car video system and the after-market device with an interface;

determining a first device type corresponding to the car video system and a second device type corresponding to the after-market device;

loading a protocol conversion software block from memory in the interface using the first and second device types;

converting signals from the after-market device into a first format compatible with the car video system using the protocol conversion software block;

converting signals from the car video system into a second format compatible with the after-market device using the protocol conversion software block; and

exchanging converted signals between the car video system and the after-market device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of determining the first and second device types comprises determining jumper settings of the interface, wherein the jumper settings correspond to the first and second device types.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of determining the first and second device types comprises determining electrical configurations of wiring harnesses attached to the interface, wherein the electrical configurations correspond to the first and second device types.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of determining the first and second device types comprises allowing the user to specify a device type of the after-market device using the car video system.

32. A method for retrieving a song from an after-market device from a car stereo system comprising:

allowing a user to specify an alphanumeric character using controls of the car stereo system;

querying a database of songs in the after-market device using the alphanumeric character;

displaying a list of potentially matching songs in the after-market device on a display of the car stereo system; and

allowing the user to select a desired song from the list of potentially matching songs for playing the desired song on the car stereo system.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising allowing the user to specify one or more additional alphanumeric characters using the controls of the car stereo system.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising querying the remote database using the one or more additional alphanumeric characters and displaying a second list of potentially matching songs on the display of the car stereo system.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of allowing the user to specify the alphanumeric character comprises providing the user with a list of alphanumeric characters on the display of the car stereo and allowing the user to select a desired character from the list of alphanumeric characters.

36. A multimedia device integration system comprising:

a car audiovisual system;

a plurality of after-market devices external to the car audiovisual system;

an interface connected between the car audiovisual system and the plurality of after-market devices for exchanging data, audio, and video signals between the car audiovisual system and the plurality of after-market devices;

means for processing and dispatching commands for controlling the plurality of after-market devices from the car audiovisual system in at least one format compatible with at least one of the plurality of after-market devices; and

means for processing and displaying data from the plurality of after-market devices on a display of the car audiovisual system in a format compatible with the car audiovisual system.