Personal music device with a graphical display for contextual information

• US 6,421,305 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gioscia, Richard, Zoels, Jan-Christoph, Sonoda, Yumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZAMANI, ALI A
• Application Number:
  US09/190,260
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/159, 345/169, 345/636, 369/24, 369/30, 369/30.06, 369/33, 369/34, 369/37
• US Class Current: 369/30.06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/36 Signals on record carriers or on containers and recorded by the same method as the main recording
• 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

Abstract

An audio system for playing recordings of audio programming includes a relatively large display device on which contextual information about the audio programming may be displayed. The contextual information is recorded on the same recording medium as the audio programming and may include any textual information or graphic images related to the audio programming or the artists who produced it. Preferably, the audio system is a personal, portable audio system which is battery-operated and which reads mini-discs.

Claims

1. An audio system for reading audio/visual content, wherein said content having audio programming and contextual information relating to said audio programming, said system comprising:

a processor;

an audio transducer;

a display device;

a recording medium for storing said content;

a recorder/reader comprising;

a recorder for writing said content onto said recording medium; and

a reader for reading said content from said recording medium, wherein said reader;

separates said audio programming from said contextual information;

transfers said audio programming from said reader to said processor over an audio signal link; and

transfers said contextual information from said reader to said processor over a data signal link, said data signal link being separate and distinct from said audio signal link.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said recording medium is removably interfaced with said recorder/reader.

3. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said reader is controlled by said processor to receive said content stored on said recording medium.

4. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said processor:

displays said contextual information on a display device;

supplies said audio signal to said audio transducer; and

accepts payment for compiling said content on said recording medium.

5. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

6. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a touch screen.

7. The audio system of claim 6, wherein said touch screen receives user input.

8. The audio system of claim 7, wherein said user input is transmitted to said processor for controlling display of said contextual information and playback of said audio programming.

9. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising a user input device for controlling said processor in accessing and displaying said content.

10. The audio system of claim 9, wherein said user input device comprises one of a trackball and a selection button and a four-way button and a selection button.

11. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said audio transducer comprises one of a speaker and a headphone.

12. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said audio system is a self-contained, battery-powered personal audio system.

13. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said processor is connected to a computer network for receiving said content from said computer network.

14. The audio system of claim 1, wherein said content further comprises on of an image signal and a text signal.

15. An audio system for reading audio/visual content, wherein said content having audio programming and contextual information relating to said audio programming, said system comprising:

recording medium means for storing said content;

recorder means for writing said content onto said recording medium means; and

reader means for reading said content from said recording medium means, wherein said reader means;

separates said audio programming from said contextual information;

transfers said audio programming from said reader means to a processor over an audio signal link; and

transfers said contextual information from said reader means to said processor over a data signal link, said data signal link being separate and distinct from said audio signal link.