External conditions audio playback system and method

• US 20080211661A1
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dean A. Craine
• Original Assignee: Dean A. Craine
• Inventors: Gifford, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,982,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/522
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/351 Environmental parameters, e.g. temperature, ambient light, atmospheric pressure, humidity, used as input for musical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/131 Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/381 Road, i.e. sounds which are part of a road, street or urban traffic soundscape, e.g. automobiles, bikes, trucks, traffic, vehicle horns, collisions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/55 for traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/71 using meteorological information

Abstract

A method and system that controls the playback of different audio or video files in a motor vehicle mounted electronic device that includes a plurality of different audio or video files and an audio file player software program. The electronic device is connected to at least one external sensor that measures one of the following: the motor vehicle'"'"'s current location, the time of day, and/or the weather or temperature. The software program is designed to automatically play the audio file when the external condition occurs. When the driver is driving and listening to the electronic device, the audio or video files that are automatically played based on the occurrence of the linked external conditions.

Claims

1. An external condition controlled audio playback device, comprising:

a. an audio or video file playback electronic device, said electronic device including a plurality of audio files or recordings songs used and means for hearing said audio files or recordings;

b. means for detecting at least two external conditions; and

,

c. a software program used to control the playback of said audio files or recorded songs from said electronic device, said software program enabling some audio files to be selectively tagged to the detection or occurrence of an external condition so that when the external condition is detected or occurs, said audio files associated with said external condition automatically are playback.

2. The playback device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio files are placed in one or more playlist that are tagged to a particular external condition which is automatically played when the external condition is detected or occurs.

3. The playback device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said software program includes a first menu page that enables individual audio files to be tagged to a specific external condition.

4. The playback device, as recited in claim 1, further including a motor vehicle where said electronic device is located.

5. The playback device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said external conditions include one of the following from the following list of external conditions:

the location of said motor vehicle, the speed of said motor vehicle, the time of day, the weather conditions, or the traffic conditions.

6. The playback device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said software program includes an External Condition menu page that enables the user to list different external conditions capable of being tagged to said audio files.

7. The playback device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said software program includes a first menu page that enables individual audio files to be tagged to a specific external condition.

8. The playback device, as recited in claim 6, wherein said software program includes an External Condition menu page that enables the user to list different external conditions capable of being tagged to said audio files.

9. The playback device, as recited in claim 1, further including a motor vehicle where said electronic device is located.

10. The playback device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said external conditions include one of the following from the following list of external conditions:

the location of said motor vehicle, the speed of said motor vehicle, the time of day, the weather conditions, or the traffic conditions.

11. A method of automatically playing back audio files from a playback device located in a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:

a. selecting a motor vehicle;

b. selecting an audio playback electronic device capable of playing audio files or recordings according to the occurrence of selected external conditions;

c. associating at least one audio file with an external condition; and

,

d. driving said motor vehicle so that when a selected external condition occurs, the audio file associated with said external condition is automatically played back.