Audio transmission, recording and reproducing system

• US 5,870,710 A
• Filed: 01/22/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1996
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ozawa, Kazunori, Asai, Masahiro, Tone, Nobuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAX, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/785,958
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 704/500, 704/201
• US Class Current: 704/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• 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 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10592 specifically adapted for recording or reproducing multichannel signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/17 Card-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2537 Optical discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 31/003 with radio receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/02 with automatic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/22 per use
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information

Abstract

An audio recording and reproducing apparatus includes a controller for controlling the entire behaviors, hard disc for write and read of audio data, audio compression/expansion circuit for expanding compressed audio data, and external I/O port. The audio recording and reproducing apparatus is connected to a network service center to obtain desired music data from storage of the network service center and to store it in the hard disc.

Claims

1. An audio reproducing apparatus, comprising:

control means for controlling entire behaviors;

storage means for writing and reading data;

audio expanding means for expanding compressed audio data;

external I/O means for transferring incoming and outgoing data, the transferring of incoming and outgoing data operative to charge an account associated with the transfer of such incoming and outgoing data; and

a personal computer standard bus for transmitting data among said control means, said storage means, said audio expanding means and said external I/O means, so that compressed audio data is stored in said storage means, and said compressed audio data is transferred to and expanded by said audio expanding means to be audibly reproduced.

2. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is a card-shaped recording medium.

3. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is a card-shaped hard disc.

4. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said personal computer standard bus is one of external buses including an ISA bus used in AT compatible machines and local buses including a PCI bus.

5. An audio recording apparatus, comprising:

control means for controlling entire behaviors;

storage means for writing and reading data;

audio compressing means for compressing audio data;

external I/O means for transferring incoming and outgoing data; and

a personal computer standard bus for transmitting data among said control means, said storage means, said audio compressing means and said external I/O means, wherein incoming data sent in a predetermined format is transferred through said external I/O means, and compressed audio data is generated from the transferred incoming data and stored in said storage means, the transferring of incoming and outgoing data operative to charge an account associated with the transfer of such incoming and outgoing data.

6. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said storage means is a card-shaped recording medium.

7. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said storage means is a card-shaped hard disc.

8. The audio recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said personal computer standard bus is one of external buses including an ISA bus used in AT compatible machines and local buses including a PCI bus.

9. An audio recording and reproducing system, comprising:

an audio recording and reproducing apparatus incorporating control means for controlling entire behaviors;

storage means for writing and reading data;

audio expanding means for expanding compressed audio data;

external I/O means for transferring incoming and outgoing data, the transferring of incoming and outgoing data operative to charge an account associated with the transfer of such incoming and outgoing data;

first functional means removably attached to said audio recording and reproducing apparatus to add a supplementary function to said audio recording and reproducing apparatus; and

second functional means removably attached to said audio recording and reproducing apparatus to add a new function to said audio recording and reproducing apparatus.

10. The audio recording and reproducing system according to claim 9, wherein said first functional means has a structure that can contain the entirety of said audio recording and reproducing apparatus.

11. The audio recording and reproducing system according to claim 9, wherein said first functional means has a communication function and/or a power supply function.

12. The audio recording and reproducing system according to claim 9, wherein said second functional means is in form of a card that can be held within said audio recording and reproducing apparatus.

13. An audio recording and reproducing system comprising:

an audio recording and reproducing apparatus incorporating control means for controlling entire behaviors, storage means for writing and reading data, audio expanding means for expanding compressed audio data, and external I/O means for exchanging incoming data;

first functional means removably attached to said audio recording and reproducing apparatus to add a supplementary function to said audio recording and reproducing apparatus; and

second functional means removably attached to said audio recording and reproducing apparatus to add a new function to said audio recording and reproducing apparatus,

wherein said second functional means adds the function of at least one of video compression, facsimile transmission, wireless transmission, pager, navigation and wire transmission.

14. The audio recording and reproducing system according to claim 13, wherein said first functional means has a structure that can contain the entirety of said audio recording and reproducing apparatus.

15. The audio recording and reproducing system according to claim 13, wherein said first functional means has a communication function and/or a power supply function.

16. The audio recording and reproducing system according to claim 13, wherein said second functional means is in form of a card that can be held within said audio recording and reproducing apparatus.

17. An audio data transmission method, comprising the steps of:

receiving desired audio data through a communication line from an audio data base storing a plurality of pieces of audio data;

storing said audio data in a receiver to thereafter reproduce the audio data within the receiver, wherein

said audio data base is configured to send out to said receiver data in a predetermined transmission format for and to charge the service to an account of said receiver, the data in a predetermined transmission format including the audio data.

18. The audio data transmission method according to claim 17, wherein said receiver obtains audio data by decomposing the data in said predetermined transmission format.

19. The audio data transmission method according to claim 17, wherein said audio data base and said receiver are connected via public telephone line.

20. An information receiving apparatus, comprising:

means for choosing desired audio data from an audio data base storing a plurality of pieces of audio data;

means for receiving desired audio data through a communication line and for storing the chosen audio data; and

means for reproducing the stored audio data, wherein in response to receipt of the desired audio data an account associated with the receipt of desired audio data is charged.