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 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. A portable 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 processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander and to control upload of compressed digital content data to an external apparatus; and   a personal computer standard bus configured to transfer data between the processor and the controller.   
     
     
       22. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the personal computer standard bus includes a PCI bus. 
     
     
       23. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:
 a video card configured to compress and expand moving images.   
     
     
       24. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the video card. 
     
     
       25. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the storage unit is a hard disk. 
     
     
       26. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the personal computer standard bus is configured to transfer data between the processor and the connector. 
     
     
       27. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:
 a battery which is chargeable.   
     
     
       28. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:
 a keyboard.   
     
     
       29. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the keyboard is configured to be attached to the portable audio reproducing apparatus. 
     
     
       30. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:
 a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.   
     
     
       31. A portable 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 processor configured to control at least said storage unit and said expander and to control upload of compressed digital content data to an external apparatus; and   a video unit configured to compress and expand moving images.   
     
     
       32. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the storage unit is a hard disk. 
     
     
       33. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:
 a battery which is chargeable.   
     
     
       34. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:
 a keyboard.   
     
     
       35. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the keyboard is configured to be attached to the portable audio reproducing apparatus. 
     
     
       36. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:
 a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.   
     
     
       37. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the expander includes the video unit. 
     
     
       38. A portable 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 processor configured to control upload of compressed digital content data to an external apparatus; and   a location unit configured to provide a location function and output the location.   
     
     
       39. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the storage unit is a hard disk. 
     
     
       40. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:
 a video unit configured to compress and expand moving images.   
     
     
       41. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising:
 a battery which is chargeable.   
     
     
       42. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising:
 a keyboard.   
     
     
       43. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the keyboard is configured to be attached to the portable audio reproducing apparatus. 
     
     
       44. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising:
 a headphone connector which outputs the expanded audio data.   
     
     
       45. The portable audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the location unit configured to provide the location function using location data from global positioning satellites (GPS).