Apparatus and methods for providing text information identifying audio program selections

Patent RE40836 Issued on July 7, 2009.

Patent References

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More ...

Inventor

Mankovitz, Roy J.

Application

No. 09796684 filed on 03/01/2001

US Classes:

455/66.1Having diverse art device

Examiners

Primary: Sobutka, Philip J

Foreign Patent References

2214739 GB 09/01/1989
64-068028 JP 03/01/1989

International Classes

H04H 40/00
H04H 60/00

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. .[.B.]. .Iadd.A b.Iaddend.roadcast apparatus for automatically providing text information identifying a recorded broadcast audio selection .Iadd.to a datareceiver.Iaddend., comprising: compact disk player means for .Iadd.decoding and .Iaddend.playing .Iadd.data recorded on .Iaddend.a compact disk having .Iadd.an album recorded thereon in the form of .Iaddend.multiple tracks each of which contains an audioselection, the .Iadd.data on the compact .Iaddend.disk providing to the player means.Iadd., .Iaddend.in addition to the audio selection .[.a.]. digital code .Iadd.data .Iaddend.which is unique to the audio selection .[.selected for play.]. ;.Iadd.track selection means for selecting a particular audio selection to be played;.Iaddend. digital processor means coupled to the player means .Iadd.and responsive to the digital code data and the track selection means for processing digitaldata.Iaddend.; .[.test.]. .Iadd.text .Iaddend.storage means coupled to the digital processor means and having stored therein text information identifying a plurality of audio selections and digital codes, the text information being indexed by thedigital codes; means for automatically providing the digital code .Iadd.data .Iaddend.from the player means to the processor means, whereby the processor means recalls from the storage means the text information corresponding to the provided digitalcode .Iadd.data and, in response to the track selection means and the text information, provides digital data representing the text information identifying the selected audio selection.Iaddend.; .Iadd.data .Iaddend.transmitter means .Iadd.includingcommunications channel means for communicating data between two points, .Iaddend.for transmitting .Iadd.on the communications channel means .Iaddend.the .[.recalled.]. text information at a time substantially .[.concurrent with.]. .Iadd.prior to.Iaddend.the transmission of .[.the.]. .Iadd.each .Iaddend.audio selection corresponding thereto; and .Iadd.data .Iaddend.receiver means for receiving .Iadd.on the communications channel means .Iaddend.the .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.audio selection andthe text information, for reproducing the .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.audio selection using audio transducer means, and for displaying the corresponding text information .Iadd.on a display.Iaddend..

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which .[.the player means includes track selection means for selecting a particular track to be played; the digital code includes a track identification number identifying the track selected for play, and a diskidentification number which uniquely identifies the disk from other compact disks;.]. the .Iadd.plurality of .Iaddend.audio selections include.Iadd.s .Iaddend.musical selections, and .Iadd.further wherein .Iaddend.the text information includes .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.name of each such .Iadd.musical .Iaddend.selection and .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.name of .[.the.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.artist performing each such musical selection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1.Iadd., .Iaddend.in which the text information further includes .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.name of .[.the.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.album in which each such musical selection appears.

4. A method of automatically providing .Iadd.to a data receiver .Iaddend.text information identifying a recorded broadcast audio selection, comprising the steps of: providing a compact disk player for .Iadd.decoding and .Iaddend.playing.Iadd.data recorded on .Iaddend.a compact disk .Iadd.having an album recorded thereon in the form of .Iaddend.multiple tracks each of which contains an audio selection, the .Iadd.data on the .Iaddend.disk providing to the player in addition to the audioselection .[.a.]. digital code .Iadd.data .Iaddend.which identifies the audio selection; .Iadd.providing track selection means for selecting a particular audio selection to be played;.Iaddend. providing a digital processor coupled to the player.Iadd.and responsive to the digital code data and the track selection means for processing digital data.Iaddend.; providing text storage means coupled to the digital processor and having stored therein text information identifying a plurality of audioselections and digital codes, where the text information is indexed in the text storage means by the digital codes; providing automatically the digital code .Iadd.data .Iaddend.from the player to the processor; recalling from the storage means the textinformation corresponding to the provided digital code .Iadd.data.Iaddend.; .Iadd.formatting, in response to the track selection means and the text information, digital data representing the text information identifying the selected audio selection; providing a communications channel for communicating data between two points;.Iaddend. transmitting .Iadd.on the communications channel .Iaddend.the text information at a time .[.substantially concurrent with.]. .Iadd.prior to .Iaddend.the transmissionof .[.the.]. .Iadd.each .Iaddend.audio selection corresponding thereto; receiving the .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.audio selection and the text information; reproducing .Iadd.at the data receiver .Iaddend.the .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.audio selection usingaudio transducer means; and displaying .Iadd.on a display at the data receiver .Iaddend.the text information corresponding .[.thereto.]. .Iadd.to the selected audio selection.Iaddend..

5. The method of claim 4 in which the .[.step of providing the digital code includes providing a track identification number identifying the track selection for play and providing a disk identification number which uniquely identifies the diskfrom other compact disks; the stored.]. .Iadd.plurality of audio selections are musical selections and the .Iaddend.text information includes .[.the disk identification code along with the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.name of .[.the.]. .Iadd.an.Iaddend.artist performing the musical selections .[.on that disk.]. , and .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.name.[.s.]. of the musical.[.s.]. selections .[.contained on that disk along with the track on which each selection is contained.]. .

6. The method of claim 5 in which the .[.stored test.]. .Iadd.text .Iaddend.information further includes .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.name of .[.the.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.album in which the musical selection appears.

7. Apparatus for automatically providing .[.test.]. .Iadd.to a data receiver .Iaddend.information corresponding to a recorded audio selection .Iadd.originating on a compact disk.Iaddend., comprising: compact disk player means for.Iadd.decoding and .Iaddend.playing .Iadd.data recorded on .Iaddend.a compact disk having stored thereon .[.the.]. .Iadd.an album in the form of multiple tracks, each of which contains an .Iaddend.audio selection, the .Iadd.data on the .Iaddend.diskproviding to the player means in addition to the audio selection .[.a.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.code .Iadd.data .Iaddend.which is unique to that audio selection; .Iadd.track selection means for selecting a particular audio selection to beplayed;.Iaddend. processor means coupled to the player means .Iadd.and responsive to the digital code data and the track selection means for processing digital data.Iaddend.; .[.test.]. .Iadd.text .Iaddend.storage means coupled to the processor meansand having stored therein text information corresponding to a plurality of audio selections and .Iadd.digital album .Iaddend.codes, the text information being indexed by the .Iadd.digital album .Iaddend.codes; means for automatically providing the.Iadd.digital album .Iaddend.code .Iadd.data .Iaddend.from the player means to the processor means, whereby the processor means recalls from the storage means the .[.test.]. .Iadd.text .Iaddend.information corresponding to the provided .Iadd.digital.Iaddend.code .Iadd.data.Iaddend., and .Iadd.in response to the track selection means and the identified text information, provides formatted digital data representing the text information identifying the selected audio selection; data receiver meansremote from the compact disk player means for receiving digital data; communication means for establishing a communications link to the data receiver, and for communicating the text information prior to the transmission of each corresponding audioselection to the data receiver; and.Iaddend. display means located at .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.remote receiving site for displaying the .[.recalled.]. text information at a time substantially concurrent with the reproduction of the .Iadd.selected.Iaddend.audio selection by the player means.

.[.8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including: transmitter means for transmitting the recalled text information and the audio selection corresponding thereto; and receiver means for receiving the audio selection and the text information,for reproducing the audio selection using audio transducer means, and for displaying the corresponding text information..].

.[.9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the text information is transmitted substantially concurrent with the transmission of the audio selection..].

.[.10. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the received audio selection is reproduced substantially concurrent with the display of the corresponding text information..].

11. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.audio selection is a musical selection, and the text information includes .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.name of the .Iadd.musical .Iaddend.selection.

.[.12. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the compact disk player means includes means for playing a compact disk having multiple tracks each of which contains an audio selection, and track selection means for selecting a particular track to beplayed; the code includes a track identification number identifying the track selected for play, and a disk identification number which uniquely identifies the disk from other compact disks..].

13. The apparatus of claim .[.8.]. .Iadd.7 .Iaddend.where the text information .[.recalled by the processor means.]. is in the form of an encoded digital message signal .[.which is transmitted by the transmitter means;.]. and the receivermeans includes means for decoding the received digital message signal into the text .[.message.]. .Iadd.information.Iaddend..

14. A method for automatically providing .Iadd.to a data receiver .Iaddend.text information corresponding to a recorded audio selection .Iadd.originating on a compact disk.Iaddend., comprising the steps of: providing compact disk player meansfor .Iadd.decoding and .Iaddend.playing .Iadd.data recorded on .Iaddend.a compact disk having stored thereon .[.the.]. .Iadd.an album in the form of multiple tracks, each of which contains an .Iaddend.audio selection, the .Iadd.data on the .Iaddend.diskproviding .Iadd.to .Iaddend.the player means in addition to the audio selection .[.a.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.code .Iadd.data .Iaddend.which is unique to that audio selection; .Iadd.providing track selection means for selecting a particular audioselection to be played;.Iaddend. providing processor means coupled to the player means .Iadd.and responsive to the digital code data and the track selection means for processing digital data.Iaddend.; providing text storage means coupled to theprocessor means and having stored therein text information corresponding to a plurality of audio selections and .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.codes, the text information being indexed by the .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.codes; providing the .Iadd.digital.Iaddend.code .Iadd.data .Iaddend.automatically .[.form.]. .Iadd.from .Iaddend.the player means to the processor means, whereby the processor means recalls from the storage means the text information corresponding to the provided .Iadd.digital.Iaddend.code.[., and.]. .Iadd.data; formatting, in response to the track selection means and the identified text information, digital data representing the text information identifying the selected audio selection; providing data receiver meansremote from the compact disk player means for receiving digital data; providing communication means for establishing a communications link to the data receiver, and for communicating the text information and corresponding selected audio selection to thedata receiver;.Iaddend. displaying at .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.remote receiving site the .[.recalled.]. text information at a time substantially concurrent with the reproduction of the .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.audio selection by the player means.

.[.15. The method of claim 14 further including the steps of: transmitting the recalled text information and the audio selection corresponding thereto; receiving the audio selection and the text information; reproducing the audio selectionusing audio transducer means; and displaying the corresponding text information..].

.[.16. The method of claim 15 in which the text information is transmitted substantially concurrent with the transmission of the audio selection..].

.[.17. The method of claim 15 in which the received audio selection is reproduced substantially concurrent with the display of the corresponding text information..].

18. The method of claim 14 in which the .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.audio selection is a musical selection, and the text information includes .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.name of the .Iadd.musical .Iaddend.selection.

.[.19. The method of claim 14 in which the compact disk player means includes means for playing a compact disk having multiple tracks each of which contains an audio selection, and track selection means for selecting a particular track to beplayed; the cod includes a track identification number identifying the track selected for play, and a disk identification number which uniquely identifies the disk from other compact disks..].

20. The method of claim .[.15.]. .Iadd.14 .Iaddend.where the .[.transmitted.]. text information .[.recalled by the processor means.]. is in the form of an encoded digital message signal; and the .[.step of receiving.]. .Iadd.data receiver.Iaddend.includes the step of decoding the received .Iadd.encoded .Iaddend.digital message signal into the text .[.message.]. .Iadd.information.Iaddend..

.Iadd.21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data receiver means further includes: storage means for storing the selected audio selection and the text information corresponding thereto; and recall means for recalling the selected audioselection and the text information, whereby the selected audio selection may be played while the text information is displayed, at a time when the data receiver means is no longer receiving data from the data transmitter means..Iaddend.

.Iadd.22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein multiple audio selections and corresponding text information may be stored and recalled in the data receiver means..Iaddend.

.Iadd.23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the data receiver means further includes deletion means for deleting from memory stored selections and text information..Iaddend.

.Iadd.24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the data receiver means further includes an indication to the user of the amount of unused memory available for the storage of additional audio selections and corresponding text information..Iaddend.

.Iadd.25. The apparatus of claim 24 where the indication is a visual indication..Iaddend.

.Iadd.26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data receiver means further includes: storage means for storing the received text information; and recall means for recalling the stored text information, whereby the text information may bedisplayed at a time when the data receiver means is no longer communicating with the data transmitter means..Iaddend.

.Iadd.27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data receiver means is portable..Iaddend.

.Iadd.28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications channel means is wireless..Iaddend.

.Iadd.29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the text information is transmitted immediately prior to the transmission of the selected audio selection corresponding thereto..Iaddend.

.Iadd.30. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the text information is transmitted immediately after the transmission of the selected audio selection corresponding thereto..Iaddend.

.Iadd.31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital code data is album code data that is unique to the album..Iaddend.

.Iadd.32. The method of claim 4 wherein the data receiver further includes the steps of: storing the received audio selection and the text information corresponding thereto; and recalling the stored audio selection and text information,whereby the audio selection may be played while the text information is displayed, at a time when the data receiver is not receiving data from the communications channel..Iaddend.

.Iadd.33. The method of claim 32 further including the steps of storing and recalling in the data receiver multiple audio selections and corresponding text information..Iaddend.

.Iadd.34. The method of claim 32 further including the step of deleting from memory stored selections and text information..Iaddend.

.Iadd.35. The method of claim 32 wherein the data receiver further includes the step of providing an indication to the user of the amount of unused memory available for the storage of additional audio selections and corresponding textinformation..Iaddend.

.Iadd.36. The method of claim 35 where the indication is a visual indication..Iaddend.

.Iadd.37. The method of claim 4 wherein the data receiver further includes the steps of: storing the received text information; and recalling the stored text information, whereby the text information may be displayed at a time when the datareceiver is disconnected from the communications channel..Iaddend.

.Iadd.38. The method of claim 4 wherein the data receiver is portable..Iaddend.

.Iadd.39. The method of claim 4 wherein the communications channel is wireless..Iaddend.

.Iadd.40. The method of claim 4 wherein the text information is transmitted immediately prior to the transmission of the selected audio selection corresponding thereto..Iaddend.

.Iadd.41. The method of claim 4, wherein the digital code data is album code data that is unique to the album..Iaddend.

.Iadd.42. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the data receiver means further includes: storage means for storing the received audio selection and the text information corresponding thereto; and recall means for recalling the stored audioselection and text information, whereby the audio selection may be played while the text information is displayed, at a time when the data receiver means is no longer receiving data from the communication means..Iaddend.

.Iadd.43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein multiple audio selections and corresponding text information may be stored and recalled in the data receiver means..Iaddend.

.Iadd.44. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the data receiver means further includes deletion means for deleting from memory stored selections and text information..Iaddend.

.Iadd.45. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the data receiver means further includes an indication to the user of the amount of unused memory available for the storage of additional audio selections and corresponding text information..Iaddend.

.Iadd.46. The apparatus of claim 45 where the indication is a visual indication..Iaddend.

.Iadd.47. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the data receiver means further includes: storage means for storing the received text information; and recall means for recalling the stored text information, whereby the text information may bedisplayed at a time when the data receiver means is no longer communicating with the data transmitter means..Iaddend.

.Iadd.48. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the data receiver means is portable..Iaddend.

.Iadd.49. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the communications channel means is wireless..Iaddend.

.Iadd.50. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the text information is transmitted immediately after the transmission of the audio selection corresponding thereto..Iaddend.

.Iadd.51. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the digital code data is album code data that is unique to the album..Iaddend.

.Iadd.52. The method of claim 14 wherein the data receiver means further includes the steps of: storing the received audio selection and the text information corresponding thereto; and recalling the stored audio selection and text information,whereby the audio selection may be played while the text information is displayed, at a time when the data receiver means is not receiving data from the communications channel..Iaddend.

.Iadd.53. The method of claim 52 further including the steps of storing and recalling in the data receiver means multiple audio selections and corresponding text information..Iaddend.

.Iadd.54. The method of claim 52 further including the step of deleting from memory stored selections and text information..Iaddend.

.Iadd.55. The method of claim 52 wherein the data receiver means further includes the step of providing an indication to the user of the amount of unused memory available for the storage of additional audio selections and corresponding textinformation..Iaddend.

.Iadd.56. The method of claim 55 where the indication is a visual indication..Iaddend.

.Iadd.57. The method of claim 14 wherein the data receiver means further includes the steps of: storing the received text information; and recalling the stored text information, whereby the text information may be displayed at a time when thedata receiver means is not receiving data from the communications channel..Iaddend.

.Iadd.58. The method of claim 14 wherein the data receiver means is portable..Iaddend.

.Iadd.59. The method of claim 14 wherein the communications channel is wireless..Iaddend.

.Iadd.60. The method of claim 14 wherein the text information is transmitted immediately after the transmission of the selected audio selection corresponding thereto..Iaddend.

.Iadd.61. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital code data is album code data that is unique to the album..Iaddend.

Other References

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