Apparatus and methods for providing text information identifying audio program selections

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for providing text information which identifies audio program selections, such as musical selections, stored on a compact disk (CD). Digital identification numbers encoded on the disk are provided by a compact disk player to a digital processor having a memory storage device. The identification numbers include an album identification number, and the track number selected for play. The memory storage device has stored therein text data identifying a plurality of program selections, organized by album and track identification number. The identification signals provided by the CD player are used to address the proper identifying text data for the selection being played. The identifying text data may be organized for radio broadcast along with the musical selection, and a receiver is used to display the data in text form to identify the musical selection as it is being reproduced.

1. B  A broadcast apparatus for automatically providing text information identifying a recorded broadcast audio selection to a data receiver, comprising:
 compact disk player means for decoding and playing data recorded on a compact disk having an album recorded thereon in the form of multiple tracks each of which contains an audio selection, the data on the compact disk providing to the player means, in addition to the audio selection a  digital code data which is unique to the audio selection selected for play ;  
 track selection means for selecting a particular audio selection to be played; 
 digital processor means coupled to the player means and responsive to the digital code data and the track selection means for processing digital data;  
 testtext 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 the digital codes;  
 means for automatically providing the digital code data from the player means to the processor means, whereby the processor means recalls from the storage means the text information corresponding to the provided digital code 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;  
 data transmitter means including communications channel means for communicating data between two points, for transmitting on the communications channel means the recalled  text information at a time substantially concurrent withprior to the transmission of theeach audio selection corresponding thereto; and  
 data receiver means for receiving on the communications channel means the selected audio selection and the text information, for reproducing the selected audio selection using audio transducer means, and for displaying the corresponding text information on a display.  
 
     
     
       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 disk identification number which uniquely identifies the disk from other compact disks;  the plurality of audio selections includes musical selections, and further wherein the text information includes the  a name of each such musical selection and the  a name of the  an artist performing each such musical selection. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the text information further includes the  a name of the  an album in which each such musical selection appears. 
     
     
       4. A method of automatically providing to a data receiver text information identifying a recorded broadcast audio selection, comprising the steps of:
 providing a compact disk player for decoding and playing data recorded on a compact disk having an album recorded thereon in the form of multiple tracks each of which contains an audio selection, the data on the disk providing to the player in addition to the audio selection a  digital code data which identifies the audio selection;  
 providing track selection means for selecting a particular audio selection to be played; 
 providing a digital processor coupled to the player and responsive to the digital code data and the track selection means for processing digital data;  
 providing text storage means coupled to the digital processor and having stored therein text information identifying a plurality of audio selections and digital codes, where the text information is indexed in the text storage means by the digital codes;  
 providing automatically the digital code data from the player to the processor;  
 recalling from the storage means the text information corresponding to the provided digital code data;  
 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;   
 transmitting on the communications channel the text information at a time substantially concurrent with  prior to the transmission of the  each audio selection corresponding thereto;  
 receiving the selected audio selection and the text information;  
 reproducing at the data receiver the selected audio selection using audio transducer means; and  
 displaying on a display at the data receiver the text information corresponding thereto  to the selected audio selection.  
 
     
     
       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 disk from other compact disks; the stored  plurality of audio selections are musical selections and the text information includes the disk identification code along with the  a name of the  an artist performing the musical selections on that disk , and the  a names  of the musicals  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  text information further includes the  a name of the  an album in which the musical selection appears. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for automatically providing test  to a data receiver information corresponding to a recorded audio selection originating on a compact disk, comprising:
 compact disk player means for decoding and playing data recorded on a compact disk having stored thereon the  an album in the form of multiple tracks, each of which contains an audio selection, the data on the disk providing to the player means in addition to the audio selection a  digital code data which is unique to that audio selection;  
 track selection means for selecting a particular audio selection to be played; 
 processor means coupled to the player means and responsive to the digital code data and the track selection means for processing digital data;  
 testtext storage means coupled to the processor means and having stored therein text information corresponding to a plurality of audio selections and digital album codes, the text information being indexed by the digital album codes;  
 means for automatically providing the digital album code data from the player means to the processor means, whereby the processor means recalls from the storage means the test  text information corresponding to the provided digital code data, and 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 means remote 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 audio selection to the data receiver; and   
 display means located at a  the remote receiving site for displaying the recalled  text information at a time substantially concurrent with the reproduction of the selected 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 selected audio selection is a musical selection, and the text information includes the  a name of the musical 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 be played; 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    7  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 receiver means includes means for decoding the received digital message signal into the text message  information. 
     
     
       14. A method for automatically providing to a data receiver text information corresponding to a recorded audio selection originating on a compact disk, comprising the steps of:
 providing compact disk player means for decoding and playing data recorded on a compact disk having stored thereon the  an album in the form of multiple tracks, each of which contains an audio selection, the data on the disk providing to the player means in addition to the audio selection a  digital code data which is unique to that audio selection;  
 providing track selection means for selecting a particular audio selection to be played; 
 providing processor means coupled to the player means and responsive to the digital code data and the track selection means for processing digital data;  
 providing text storage means coupled to the processor means and having stored therein text information corresponding to a plurality of audio selections and digital codes, the text information being indexed by the digital codes;  
 providing the digital code data automatically form  from the player means to the processor means, whereby the processor means recalls from the storage means the text information corresponding to the provided digital code, and  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 means remote 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 the data receiver;   
 displaying at a  the remote receiving site the recalled  text information at a time substantially concurrent with the reproduction of the selected 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 selection using 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 selected audio selection is a musical selection, and the text information includes the  a name of the musical 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 be played; 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    14  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  data receiver includes the step of decoding the received encoded digital message signal into the text message  information. 
     
     
       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 audio selection 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.     
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein multiple audio selections and corresponding text information may be stored and recalled in the data receiver means. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the data receiver means further includes deletion means for deleting from memory stored selections and text information. 
     
     
       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. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24  where the indication is a visual indication. 
     
     
       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 be displayed at a time when the data receiver means is no longer communicating with the data transmitter means.     
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the data receiver means is portable. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communications channel means is wireless. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the text information is transmitted immediately prior to the transmission of the selected audio selection corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the text information is transmitted immediately after the transmission of the selected audio selection corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the digital code data is album code data that is unique to the album. 
     
     
       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.     
     
     
       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. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32  further including the step of deleting from memory stored selections and text information. 
     
     
       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 text information. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35  where the indication is a visual indication. 
     
     
       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 data receiver is disconnected from the communications channel.     
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 4  wherein the data receiver is portable. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 4  wherein the communications channel is wireless. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 4  wherein the text information is transmitted immediately prior to the transmission of the selected audio selection corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the digital code data is album code data that is unique to the album. 
     
     
       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 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 no longer receiving data from the communication means.     
     
     
       43. The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein multiple audio selections and corresponding text information may be stored and recalled in the data receiver means. 
     
     
       44. The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein the data receiver means further includes deletion means for deleting from memory stored selections and text information. 
     
     
       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. 
     
     
       46. The apparatus of  claim 45  where the indication is a visual indication. 
     
     
       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 be displayed at a time when the data receiver means is no longer communicating with the data transmitter means.     
     
     
       48. The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the data receiver means is portable. 
     
     
       49. The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the communications channel means is wireless. 
     
     
       50. The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the text information is transmitted immediately after the transmission of the audio selection corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       51. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the digital code data is album code data that is unique to the album. 
     
     
       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.     
     
     
       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. 
     
     
       54. The method of  claim 52  further including the step of deleting from memory stored selections and text information. 
     
     
       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 text information. 
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 55  where the indication is a visual indication. 
     
     
       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 the data receiver means is not receiving data from the communications channel.     
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 14  wherein the data receiver means is portable. 
     
     
       59. The method of  claim 14  wherein the communications channel is wireless. 
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 14  wherein the text information is transmitted immediately after the transmission of the selected audio selection corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the digital code data is album code data that is unique to the album.