Portable sound reproducing system and method

• US 20060195206A1
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MPMan.com, Inc
• Original Assignee: SigmaTel Incorporated (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Hwang, Jung-ha, Moon, Kwang-su
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,700 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

A portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data includes a plurality of inputs, a non-removable data storage, a display, an audio output, at least one processor, and a battery. The plurality of inputs includes a forward input, a play control input, and a random input. The non-removable data storage stores compressed digitized audio data. The at least one processor is responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the non-removable data storage for reproduction by the audio output and to provide information to the display.

Claims

1. A portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data, the portable audio device comprising:

a plurality of inputs, including a forward input, a play control input, and a random input;

a non-removable data storage to store compressed digitized audio data;

a display;

an audio output;

at least one processor, responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs, to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the non-removable data storage for reproduction by the audio output and to provide information to the display;

a battery; and

wherein, when a first selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, the display provides at least one of the first selection'"'"'s title, type, remaining playtime, and reproduction time;

wherein, when a second selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced and in response to selection of the forward input for a first amount of time, the portable audio device advances to another selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein, when a third selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the play control input, the portable audio device stops playing the third selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein, after the portable audio device stops playing the third selection of compressed digitized audio data, a subsequent selection of the play control input causes the portable audio device to resume reproducing the third selection of compressed digitized audio data;

wherein, in response to selection of the random input, the portable audio device reproduces selections of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the non-removable data storage in a random order; and

wherein, when the portable audio device is in a selected mode of operation and a voltage of the battery falls below a selected level, the display provides an indication relating to a power level of the battery.

2. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein the compressed digitized audio data is compressed according to a Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) compression standard.

3. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of inputs includes a reverse input and wherein, when a fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the reverse input, the portable audio device begins playing the fourth selection from a beginning of the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data;

4. The portable audio device of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of buttons, including:

a reverse button, wherein the reverse input is selected when the reverse button is depressed;

a forward button, wherein the forward input is selected when the forward button is depressed; and

a play/stop button, wherein the play control input is selected when the play/stop button is depressed.

5. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein selecting the play control input for an extended period turns the portable audio device off.

6. The portable audio device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a repeat input and wherein, in response to selection of the repeat input, the portable audio device reproduces at least one selection of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the non-removable data storage in a repetitive manner.

7. The portable audio device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter/receiver to receive compressed digital sound data from a host computer.

8. The portable audio device of claim 7, wherein the transmitter/receiver receives program data from the host computer.

9. The portable audio device of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter/receiver to receive compressed digital sound data from a data vending machine via a telecommunications network.

10. A portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data, the portable audio device comprising:

a plurality of inputs, including a forward input and a play control input;

a non-removable data storage to store compressed digitized audio data;

a display;

a transmitter/receiver to releasably connect to an external device to communicate data to and from the external device, the data including compressed digitized audio data;

an audio output;

at least one processor, responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs, to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the non-removable data storage for reproduction by the audio output and to provide information to the display;

a battery; and

wherein, when a first selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced in response to selection of the play control input, the display provides at least one of the first selection'"'"'s title, type, remaining playtime, and reproduction time;

wherein, when a second selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced and in response to selection of the forward input for a first amount of time, the portable audio device advances forward to another selection of compressed digitized audio data; and

wherein the display provides an indication relating to a power level of the battery.

11. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the indication is a low power level indication.

12. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the compressed digitized audio data is compressed according to a Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) compression standard.

13. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a reverse input, and wherein:

when a third selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the reverse input, the portable audio device begins playing the third selection from a beginning of the third selection of compressed digitized audio data.

14. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein:

when a third selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the play control input, the portable audio device stops playing the third selection of compressed digitized audio data.

15. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein:

after the portable audio device stops playing a third selection of compressed digitized audio data in response to selection of the play control input, a subsequent selection of the play control input causes the portable audio device to begin reproducing the third selection of compressed digitized audio data.

16. The portable audio device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of buttons, including:

a forward button, wherein the forward input is selected when the forward button is depressed; and

a play/stop button, wherein the play control input is selected when the play/stop button is depressed.

17. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein selecting the play control input for an extended period turns the portable audio device off.

18. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of inputs includes a random input and wherein, in response to selection of the random input, the portable audio device reproduces selections of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the non-removable data storage in a random order.

19. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor includes first and second processors.

20. The portable audio device of claim 19, wherein the first processor determines which input signals are being selected and the second processor decompresses compressed digital audio data.

21. The portable audio device of claim 20, wherein the first processor functions as a CPU and the second processor functions as a DSP.

22. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the external device comprises a personal computer.

23. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the external device comprises a data vending machine attached to a telecommunications network.

24. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the type provided by the display comprises a type of music.

25. The portable audio device of claim 10, wherein the first selection and the second selection of compressed digitized audio data include different selections of music.

26. A portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data, the portable audio device comprising:

a plurality of inputs, including a reverse input, a play control input, and a random input;

a non-removable data storage to store compressed digitized audio data;

a transmitter/receiver to releasably connect to an external device to communicate data to and from the external device, the data including compressed digitized audio data;

an audio output;

at least one processor, responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs, to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the non-removable data storage for reproduction by the audio output;

a battery; and

wherein a first selection of compressed digitized audio data is reproduced in response to selection of the play control input;

wherein, after a second selection of compressed digitized audio data has been reproduced and before a third selection of compressed digitized audio data is reproduced, in response to selection of the reverse input for a first amount of time, the portable audio device begins playing the second selection from a beginning of the second selection; and

wherein, in response to selection of the random input, the portable audio device reproduces selections of the compressed digitized audio data stored in the non-removable data storage in a random order.

27. The portable audio device of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of buttons, including:

a reverse button, wherein the reverse input is selected when the reverse button is depressed; and

a play/stop button, wherein the play control input is selected when the play/stop button is depressed.

28. The portable audio device of claim 26, wherein, when a fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data is being reproduced, in response to selection of the play control input, the portable audio device stops playing the fourth selection of compressed digitized audio data.

29. The portable audio device of claim 26, further comprising:

a display to display letters and numbers;

wherein, when the portable audio device is in a selected mode of operation and a voltage of the battery falls below a selected level, the display provides an indication relating to a power level of the battery.