Interactive audio transmission receiving and playback system

• US 5,790,423 A
• Filed: 06/14/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audible Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Audible Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lau, Edwin J., Katz, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILLIPS, MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US08/490,537
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 455/3.1, 364/514, 358/335, 360/73.14, 360/72.3, 360/74.2, 360/132, 379/88, 379/89, 395/428, 369/60, 369/69, 369/75.1, 369/76, 369/272, 369/273, 369/274, 369/288
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/18 on copying information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information

Abstract

The present invention includes a system for transmitting, receiving, storing and replaying a user selected program, which has a service center including an electronic user accessible interface and an electronically stored library of user selectable programs. It includes a base unit having an electronic interface that is electronically interconnectable with the service center'"'"'s user interface to receive the user selected programs, and an output port that interconnects the base unit with a cassette.

The cassette includes a data input port for the reception of electronic data representing the selected programs from the base unit output port, and a memory storage to store the electronic data. The cassette is insertable into and interconnectable with electromechanical components of a standard magnetic tape audio cassette player whereby the stored program selections are transmitted from the cassette to the audio cassette player for broadcasting.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting, receiving, storing and replaying a user selected program, comprising:

(a) a service center including;

i. an electronic user accessible interface;

ii. an electronically stored library of user selectable programs;

iii. an electronic control system functioning to receive a plurality of user program selections through said interface, and to select said program selections from said library, and to output said programs in the form of compressed electronic data through said interface;

(b) a base unit including;

i. an electronic interface being electronically interconnectable with said user accessible interface of said service center and functioning to receive said user selected programs;

ii. a base unit data interface port functioning to electronically interconnect said base unit with a cassette data interface port disposed on a cassette;

iii. a user activatable service center instruction device being electronically interconnected with said base unit and functioning to transmit user generated program selections through said electronic interface to said service center;

(c) a cassette including;

i. a cassette data interface port being electronically interconnectable with said base unit data interface port, for the reception of electronic data representing user selected programs into said cassette;

ii. a cassette electronic signal processing means being electronically connected with said cassette data interface port and functioning to process said electronic data;

iii. a memory storage means being interconnected with said signal processing means and functioning to store said compressed electronic data in memory locations that are addressable by said signal processing means said compressed electronic data includes bit values in specified bit locations that indicate whether the program selection represented by said compressed electronic data is an original work or a copy of an original work;

iv. a cassette function control means being interconnectable with mechanical components of an audio cassette player and functioning to detect movements of said mechanical components of said audio cassette player and to translate said movements into electronic cassette function controls;

v. a cassette electronic program data output means being electronically connected to said signal processing means and disposed to electronically interface with an input read head of said audio cassette player, whereby electronic signals representative of said stored program selections are transmitted by said data output means to said input read head for processing by said audio cassette player.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the compressed electronic data is transmitted from said service center interface as an original work, and wherein the compressed electronic data is stored within said cassette as a copy of an original work.

3. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said electronic data is input and stored in said cassette in a compressed digital data format, and said cassette electronic signal processing means includes a digital signal processor to decompress said compressed digital data.

4. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said base unit further includes a second digital data input port for receiving digital data from a source other than said service center, and a digital signal processor is included within said base unit to electronically compress the digital data input through said second input port.

5. A system as described in claim 4 wherein said cassette function control means further includes an electronic data output control means functioning to receive said electronic rotation signals and to control the transmission output from said cassette through said output means.

6. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said base unit includes a memory storage device for storing compressed digital data from said service center interface for later user selectable outputting into a cassette.

7. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said service center instruction device includes a telephone keypad and a speaker and a microphone for voice communication between the user and said service center.

8. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said base unit further includes a visual display means functioning to provide visual information about the program data within said base unit to a viewer.

9. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said electronic data is input and stored in said cassette in a digital format, and transmitted from said cassette output means in an analog format.

10. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said cassette function control means includes at least one capstan detection means being engaged within said housing and functioning to detect the movement of a capstan of said audio cassette player as an indication of the play mode of said audio cassette player.

11. A system as described in claim 10 wherein two said capstan detection means are provided, said two capstan detection means being disposed in a forward edge of said cassette in an equal spaced-apart relationship relative to a centrally disposed cassette electronic program data output means.

12. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said cassette function control means includes a rotatable spindle means being engaged within said housing and being engagable with a rotating spindle drive component of said audio cassette player.

13. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said rotatable spindle means includes a rotatable portion which rotates in engagement with said spindle drive components of said audio cassette player, and a rotation detection means which detects the speed of rotation of said rotatable portion and provides electronic rotation signals indicative of said speed of rotation.

14. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said rotation detection means also detects the direction of rotation of said rotatable portion and provides electronic rotation signals indicative of said direction of rotation.

15. A system as described in claim 14 wherein said rotation detection means includes an electro-optical detector which detects pulses of light and which generates said electronic rotation signals based thereon.

16. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said rotatable spindle means includes a spindle rotation brake mechanism being disposed within said housing and functioning to halt the rotation of said rotatable portion.

17. A system as described in claim 16 wherein the activation of said brake mechanism is dependent upon the rotational speed of said rotatable portion.

18. A system as described in claim 17 wherein said brake mechanism is not activated when the rotational speed of said rotatable portion is in the play mode, but is activated when the rotational speed of said rotatable portion is in the fast forward and reverse mode.

19. A system as described in claim 18 wherein said brake mechanism includes an electrically activatable solenoid.

20. A system as described in claim 1, further including at least one user activatable control switch being disposed within said cassette housing and functioning to provide user program selection control of the transmitted output through said output means.

21. A portable electronic cassette for the storage and replay of electronic data, comprising:

a cassette housing having a size and shape for operative insertion within a standard audio cassette player device;

a data input port means being disposed within said housing and functioning to receive electronic signal data in a compressed digital data format;

an electronic signal processing means being electronically connected with said data input port means and functioning to process said electronic signal data, said electronic signal processing means includes a digital signal processor to decompress said electronic signal data received in a compressed digital data format;

a memory storage means being interconnected with said signal processing means and functioning to store said electronic signal data in a compressed digital data format in memory locations that are addressable by said signal processing means;

a cassette function control means being interconnectable with mechanical components of said audio cassette player and functioning to detect movements of said mechanical components of said audio cassette player and to create electronic cassette function control signals responsive to said movements;

a cassette electronic program data output means being electronically connected to said signal processing means and disposed to electronically interface with an input read head of said audio cassette player, whereby electronic signals representative of said stored program selections are transmitted in an analog format by said data output means to said input read head for processing by said audio cassette player.

22. An electronic cassette as described in claim 21 wherein said cassette function control means includes at least one capstan detection means being engaged within said housing and functioning to detect the movement of a capstan of said audio cassette player as an indication of the play mode of said audio cassette player.

23. An electronic cassette as described in claim 22 wherein two said capstan detection means are provided, said two capstan detection means being disposed in a forward edge of said cassette in an equal spaced-apart relationship relative to a centrally disposed cassette electronic program data output means.

24. An electronic cassette as described in claim 21 wherein said cassette function control means includes a rotatable spindle means being engaged within said housing and being engagable with a rotating spindle drive component of said audio cassette player.

25. An electronic cassette as described in claim 24 wherein said rotatable spindle means includes a rotatable portion which rotates in engagement with said spindle drive components of said audio cassette player, and a rotation detection means which detects the speed of rotation of said rotatable portion and provides electronic rotation signals indicative of said speed of rotation.

26. An electronic cassette as described in claim 25 wherein said rotation detection means also detects the direction of rotation of said rotatable portion and provides electronic rotation signals indicative of said direction of rotation.

27. An electronic cassette as described in claim 26 wherein said rotation detection means includes an electro-optical detector which detects pulses of light and which generates said electronic rotation signals based thereon.

28. An electronic cassette as described in claim 25 wherein said cassette function control means further includes an electronic data output control means functioning to receive said electronic rotation signals and to control the transmission output from said cassette through said output means.

29. An electronic cassette as described in claim 24 wherein said rotatable spindle means includes a spindle rotation brake mechanism being disposed within said housing and functioning to halt the rotation of said rotatable portion.

30. An electronic cassette as described in claim 29 wherein the activation of said brake mechanism is dependent upon the rotational speed of said rotatable portion.

31. An electronic cassette as described in claim 30 wherein said brake mechanism is not activated when the rotational speed of said rotatable portion is in the "play" mode, but is activated when the rotational speed of said rotatable portion is in the "fast forward" and "reverse" mode.

32. An electronic cassette as described in claim 31 wherein said brake mechanism includes an electrically activatable solenoid.

33. An electronic cassette as described in claim 21, further including at least one user activatable control switch being disposed within said housing and functioning to provide user program selection control of the transmitted output through said output means.