Audio transmission, recording and reproducing system

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.

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 reproducting 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 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.    
     
     
       21. A base station apparatus comprising:
   a base station body having four exterior sides in rectangular form with an interior cavity, the interior cavity configured to receive an entirety of an audio reproducing apparatus therein;        a power supply terminal configured to supply power to a battery of the audio reproducing apparatus, the power supply terminal of the base station on upper surface of a lower portion of the base station body, the power supply terminal of the base station configured to mate with and electrically connect to a power supply terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus; and        a fixing portion configured to fix the base station body on a wall,        the audio reproducing apparatus including,      a data terminal configured to receive compressed digital audio data from an external device;        a memory configured to store the compressed digital audio data,        an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data, and        the power supply terminal configured to mate with and electrically connect to the power supply terminal of the base station, the power supply terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus located on a lower surface of the audio reproducing apparatus.        
     
     
       22. A base station apparatus comprising:
   a base station body including a recess portion configured to receive an audio reproducing apparatus therein;        a power supply terminal configured to supply power to a battery of the audio reproducing apparatus; and        a fixing portion configured to fix the base station body on a wall,        the audio reproducing apparatus including,      a data terminal configured to receive compressed digital audio data from an external device,        a memory configured to store the compressed digital audio data, and        an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data.        
     
     
       23. The base station recited in  claim 22 , further comprising:
   a data terminal configured to exchange data between a network and the audio reproducing apparatus.      
     
     
       24. The base station recited in  claim 23 , wherein the data terminal of the base station is connected to the network through an ISDN line.  
     
     
       25. The base station recited in  claim 23 , wherein the data terminal of the base station is configured to mate with and electrically connect to the data terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus.  
     
     
       26. The base station recited in  claim 22 , wherein the power supply terminal of the base station is configured to mate with and electrically connect to a power supply terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus.  
     
     
       27. The base station recited in  claim 22 , wherein the base station body has four exterior sides in rectangular form with an interior cavity, the interior cavity configured to receive an entirety of the audio reproducing apparatus therein.  
     
     
       28. The base station recited in  claim 22 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus includes a power supply terminal configured to mate with and electrically connect to the power supply terminal of the base station, the power supply terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus located on a lower surface of the audio reproducing apparatus.  
     
     
       29. A system comprising:
   a base station; and        an audio reproducing apparatus,        the base station including,      a base station body including a recess portion configured to receive the audio reproducing apparatus therein;        a power supply terminal configured to supply power to a battery of the audio reproducing apparatus; and        a fixing portion configured to fix the base station body on a wall,          the audio reproducing apparatus including,      a power supply terminal configured to mate with and electrically connect to the power supply terminal of the base station;        a data terminal configured to receive compressed digital audio data from an external device;        a memory configured to store the compressed digital audio data; and        an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data.        
     
     
       30. The system recited in  claim 29 , wherein the base station further comprises a data terminal configured to exchange data between a network and the audio reproducing apparatus.  
     
     
       31. The system recited in  claim 30 , wherein the data terminal of the base station is connected to the network through an ISDN line.  
     
     
       32. The system recited in  claim 30 , wherein the data terminal of the base station is configured to mate with and electrically connect to the data terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus.  
     
     
       33. The base station recited in  claim 30 , wherein the power supply terminal of the base station is configured to mate with and electrically connect to a power supply terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus.  
     
     
       34. The system recited in  claim 33 , wherein the data terminal and power supply terminal of the base station is located on an upper surface of a lower portion of the base station body, and the data terminal and power supply terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus is located on a lower surface of the audio reproducing apparatus.  
     
     
       35. A system comprising:
   a base station; and        an audio reproducing apparatus,        the base station including,      a base station body having four exterior sides in rectangular form with an interior cavity, the interior cavity configured to receive an entirety of the audio reproducing apparatus therein;        a power supply terminal configured to supply power to a battery of the audio reproducing apparatus, the power supply terminal of the base station on upper surface of a lower portion of the base station body, the power supply terminal of the base station configured to mate with and electrically connect to a power supply terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus; and        a fixing portion configured to fix the base station body on a wall,          the audio reproducing apparatus including,      a data terminal configured to receive compressed digital audio data from an external device;        a memory configured to store the compressed digital audio data;        an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; and        the power supply terminal configured to mate with and electrically connect to the power supply terminal of the base station, the power supply terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus located on a lower surface of the audio reproducing apparatus.        
     
     
       36. The system recited in  claim 35 , wherein the base station further comprises a data terminal configured to exchange data between a network and the audio reproducing apparatus.  
     
     
       37. The system recited in  claim 36 , wherein the data terminal is connected to the network through an ISDN line.  
     
     
       38. The system recited in  claim 36 , wherein the data terminal of the base station is configured to mate with and electrically connect to the data terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus, the data terminal of the base station is located on the upper surface of the lower portion of the base station body, and the data terminal of the audio reproducing apparatus is located on the lower surface of the audio reproducing apparatus.