USRE41544EExpiredUtilityPatentIndex 52

Audio transmission, recording and reproducing system

Assignee: SONY CORPPriority: Jan 24, 1996Filed: Aug 28, 2008Granted: Aug 17, 2010

Est. expiryJan 24, 2016(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:OZAWA KAZUNORI TONE NOBUHIRO ASAI MASAHIRO

G11B 31/00G11B 2220/2516H04H 60/27G11B 2020/10592G11B 27/34G11B 20/00007G11B 20/00086G11B 31/003G06F 3/162G11B 2220/2537G11B 31/02H04H 20/82G11B 2020/10546H04H 20/40H04H 60/22G11B 2220/17G11B 27/105G11B 20/10527

PatentIndex Score

Cited by

References

136

Claims

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

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

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 reproducing 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 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.

21. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from a computer - based apparatus, the controller being a wireless controller; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display image data related to the audio data; a processor configured to control at least one storage unit and said expander; and a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller.

22. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from a computer - based apparatus; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display image data related to the audio data; a processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander; and a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller, the personal computer standard bus including a PCI bus.

23. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from a computer - based apparatus; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data, the storage unit being a hard disk; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display image data related to the audio data; a processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander; and a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller.

24. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from a computer - based apparatus; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display image data related to the audio data, the external display configured to reproduce moving image data received from a server; a processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander; and a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller.

25. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from a computer - based apparatus; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display image data related to the audio data; a processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander; and a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller, the personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector.

26. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from a computer - based apparatus; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display image data related to the audio data; a processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander; a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller; and a video card configured to compress and expand moving images.

27. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from a computer - based apparatus; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display image data related to the audio data; a processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander; a video card configured to compress and expand moving images; and a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller, the personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the video card.

28. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from a computer - based apparatus; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display image data related to the audio data; a processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander; a video card configured to compress and expand moving images; and a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller, wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data processed by the video card, and the moving image data received from the computer - based apparatus includes an audio and video database.

29. An audio reproducing and location providing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from an external device; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; and a location unit configured to provide a location function and output the location, the location unit configured to provide the location function using location data from global positioning satellites ( GPS ).

30. An audio reproducing and location providing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from an external device; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a location unit configured to provide a location function and output the location, the location unit configured to provide the location function using location data from global positioning satellites ( GPS ) , the location data received from the GPS being reproduced on an external display.

31. An audio reproducing and location providing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from an external device, the controller being a wireless controller; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a location unit configured to provide a location function and output the location.

32. An audio reproducing apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive compressed digital audio data from an external device, the controller being a wireless controller; a storage unit configured to store the compressed digital audio data; an expander configured to expand compressed digital audio data and output digital audio data; a connector configured to connect an external display configured to display moving image data related to the audio data; and a processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander.

33. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the personal computer standard bus includes a PCI bus.

34. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the storage unit is a hard disk.

35. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data received from a server.

36. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector.

37. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising:
a video card configured to compress and expand moving images.

38. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the video card.

39. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data processed by the video card, the moving image data received from the computer- based apparatus which includes an audio and video database.

40. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

41. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 40 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

42. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 40 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

43. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 40 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

44. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

45. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the storage unit is a hard disk.

46. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data received from a server.

47. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector.

48. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 22 , further comprising:
a video card configured to compress and expand moving images.

49. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 48 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the video card.

50. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 48 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data processed by the video card, the moving image data received from the computer- based apparatus which includes an audio and video database.

51. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

52. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 51 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

53. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 51 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

54. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 51 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

55. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

56. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the personal computer standard bus includes a PCI bus.

57. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data received from a server.

58. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector.

59. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 23 , further comprising:
a video card configured to compress and expand moving images.

60. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 59 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the video card.

61. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 59 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data processed by the video card, the moving image data received from the computer- based apparatus which includes an audio and video database.

62. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

63. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 62 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

64. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 62 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

65. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 62 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

66. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

67. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the personal computer standard bus includes a PCI bus.

68. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the storage unit is a hard disk.

69. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector.

70. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 24 , further comprising:
a video card configured to compress and expand moving images.

71. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 70 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the video card.

72. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 70 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data processed by the video card, the moving image data received from the computer- based apparatus which includes an audio and video database.

73. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

74. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 73 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

75. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 73 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

76. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 73 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

77. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

78. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the personal computer standard bus includes a PCI bus.

79. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the storage unit is a hard disk.

80. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data received from a server.

81. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 25 , further comprising:
a video card configured to compress and expand moving images.

82. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 81 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the video card.

83. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 81 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data processed by the video card, the moving image data received from the computer- based apparatus which includes an audio and video database.

84. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

85. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 84 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

86. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 84 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

87. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 84 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

88. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

89. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the personal computer standard bus includes a PCI bus.

90. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the storage unit is a hard disk.

91. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data received from a server.

92. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector.

93. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the video card.

94. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data processed by the video card, the moving image data received from the computer- based apparatus which includes an audio and video database.

95. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

96. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 81 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

97. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 81 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

98. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 81 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

99. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

100. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the personal computer standard bus includes a PCI bus.

101. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the storage unit is a hard disk.

102. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data received from a server.

103. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector.

104. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

105. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 104 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

106. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 104 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

107. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 104 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

108. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

109. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein the personal computer standard bus includes a PCI bus.

110. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein the storage unit is a hard disk.

111. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein the external display is configured to reproduce moving image data received from a server.

112. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector.

113. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

114. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 113 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

115. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 113 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

116. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 113 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

117. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

118. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

119. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 118 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

120. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 118 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

121. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 118 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

122. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the controller is a wireless controller.

123. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

124. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 123 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

125. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 123 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

126. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 123 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

127. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the location unit is configured to provide a location function using location data from global positioning satellites ( GPS ).

128. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the location data received from the GPS is reproduced on an external display.

129. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

130. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 129 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

131. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 129 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

132. The audio reproducing and location providing apparatus according to claim 129 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

133. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein the audio reproducing apparatus is portable.

134. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 133 , further comprising:
a battery which is chargeable.

135. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 133 , further comprising:
a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.

136. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 133 , further comprising:
a keyboard.

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