Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Multi-Media Wireless System
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a media system, more specifically
to a wireless
media system that includes at least one group of media wirelessly connected to
a controller.
The controller includes a storage device for storing media thereon. The system
further includes
a remote unit for selectively controlling the controller to output music from
the at least one group
of speakers. The system is advantageous in that each of the remote unit, the
speakers and the
controller include a transceiver that is able to transmit and receive
instruction signals. A user is
able to use the remote unit to access and control the controller from a
different room via the
transceiver in the speakers. The at least one speaker group also include
amplifiers for
amplifying the received signals in order to further transmit the received
signals to at least one of
a second speaker group, the controller, and the remote unit. The media system
may be used
with at least one of a home entertainment center, a laptop computer and a
desktop computer.
Description of the Prior Art
Numerous multi-music wireless systems have been provided in prior art. For
example,
U.S. Patents No. 3,757,220, 5,867,223, 6,212,282, 5,425,370, 5,930,370,
6,466,832, 5,673,323,
5,946,343, 6,608,907, 5,793,980, 5,995,155, 6,671,325, European Patent No.
EP1318504 and
International Patent No. WO/33474 all are illustrative of such prior art.
While these units may be
suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be
as suitable for the
purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
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U.S. Patent Number 3,757,220
Inventor: Abel
Issued: September 4, 1973
A wireless multi-channel FM receiver suitable for use in a classroom by
students to
selectively receive different instructional material simultaneously
transmitted on different
channels by an instructor. The receiver includes an RF antenna; RF narrow band
filter circuit
responsive to transmitted signals received by the antenna and selectively
tunable to different
channels for selectively passing received RF signals of only a single channel;
and RF amplitude-
limiter responsive to RF filter circuit output and having a bandwidth
including, but not necessarily
limited to or centered on, all RF channels; and detector responsive to the RF
output of the
amplifier-limiter and also having a bandwidth including, but not necessarily
limited to or centered
on, all of the RF channels.
U.S. Patent Number 5.867,223
Inventor: Schindler, et al.
Issued: February 2, 1999
A home entertainment and information system is provided which assigns and
transmits audio
programming to audio output devices. Digital and analog signals from a variety
of program
sources are received by the home entertainment and information system. The
system assigns
and transmits to an audio output device a program that is distinct from
programs assigned and
transmitted to other audio output devices within the same system, and thus
where two users are
viewing different programs visually displayed on the same or different
monitors, they hear the
audio portion of the respective program they are viewing through individual
audio output devices.
An audio output device is also assignable to a remote control device such that
when a program
is selected using the remote control device, the audio portion of the program
is transmitted to the
assigned audio output device.
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U.S. Patent Number 6,212,282
Inventor: Mershon
Issued: April 3, 2001
A wireless speaker system includes a remote speaker device cooperating with a
transmission
unit. The remote speaker device includes a remote wireless communication
device connected to
a speaker via a digital to analog converter. The remote speaker device also
includes a keypad.
The transmission unit comprises an analog to digital converter and a source
wireless
communication device. The transmission unit may be connected to a home audio
source such
as a stereo. The transmission unit may also include a control device for
controlling the home
audio source via the keypad. The wireless speaker system allows access to a
home audio
system from virtually any location.
U.S. Patent Number 5,425,101
Inventors: Woo, et al.
Issued: June 13, 1995
A decoder in a multiservice communication system receives a plurality of
services as
data streams, including video, audio, teletext, and utility data, multiplexed
in sequence of frames.
Each service defines a virtual channel. Virtual channel packets contained in
the multiplex include
information for locating the data streams that compose the virtual channels
and information for
decrypting the data streams. Each virtual channel packet is transmitted in the
multiplex each
session of frames. When a user selects more than one virtual channel at a
given time, the
decoder extracts a virtual channel packet for a first selected virtual channel
in a first session.
The decoder can then provide the decrypted data streams for the first selected
virtual channel to
peripheral equipment. The decoder stores the information for locating and
decrypting such data
streams. In each succeeding session, the decoder extracts another selected
virtual channel
packet and provides the decrypted data streams for that selected virtual
channel and for all
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previously authorized selected virtual channels. When a virtual channel packet
for each selected
virtual channel has been processed, the decoder repeats the cycle thereby
providing the data
streams for each selected virtual channel.
U.S. Patent Number 5.930.370
Inventors: Ruzicka
Issued: July 27, 1999
An apparatus for realistically reproducing sound, particularly for sound based
on a stereophonic
signal having dialog and effects and associated with an accompanying video
image. The
apparatus includes a front speaker located in proximity to the video image for
providing acoustic
output based upon a summation signal of the component left and right (L+R)
channels of the
audio signal. A rear speaker located to the rear of the viewing area provides
acoustic output
based upon a difference signal, (L-R) or (R-L), between the left and right
channels. Left and right
speakers located to the respective left and right sides of the viewing area.
The left and right
channels speakers reproduce in one embodiment the respective left and right
channels of the
audio signal and in a second embodiment reproduce a difference signal, (L-
.beta.R) or (R-
.beta.L), where beta. is a gain which may vary or may be a value fixed between
zero and unity.
Output to the left and right speakers is band limited to substantially filter
out frequency
components below a predetermined threshold. A bass speaker may also be
provided to output
the low frequency components of a (L+R) summation signal. The (L+R) summation
signal input
to the front speaker assists in localizing dialog to the video image. The (L-
.beta.R) or (R-.beta.L)
difference signal substantially removes dialog sound so that the side and rear
speaker output
primarily comprises sonic ambience and surround sound effects. Band limiting
the left and right
speakers further assists in localizing dialog to the video image.
Alternatively, in yet another
embodiment, a monophonic signal may be applied to at least one embodiment of
the system to
enable production of a spatially enhanced surround sound effect.
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U.S. Patent Number 6,466,832
Inventors: Zuqert, et al.
Issued: October 15, 2002
A wireless transmission system for transmitting audio data. The system
includes a transmitter
which re-frames the audio data into a plurality of packets and wirelessly
transmits at least two copies
of each packet during substantially non-overlapping periods, and one or more
receivers which
receive the plurality of packets and assess a quality level of at least one of
the copies thereof, so as to
extract the audio data from one of the copies having a desired quality level.
Preferably, the receivers
include respective back-transmitters, which transmit control commands back to
the transmitter,
responsive to the data.
U.S. Patent Number 5,673,323
Inventors: Schotz, et al.
Issued: September 30, 1997
An analog spread spectrum wireless speaker system for use in consumer audio
applications for providing reliable and high fidelity stereo sound. The system
includes a
transmitter that accommodates any analog input from a variety of audio devices
such as
compact disk players, cassette players, AM/FM tuners and transmits this
information in the 2.4-
2.4835 GHz band to a receiver at a remote location. The receiver is capable of
reproducing the
audio signal with good frequency and signal-to-noise performance.
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U.S. Patent Number 5,946,343
Inventors: Schotz, et al.
Issued: August 31, 1994
This invention discloses a digital wireless speaker system for use in consumer
audio
applications. A digital radio frequency transmitter is connected to an analog
or digital audio
source and a digital radio frequency receiver provides for reception of the
transmitted audio
information in remote locations. In addition, the digital receiver will be
able to receive control
information to implement such things as volume, tone controls, or other
auxiliary information.
This allows the user to listen to high quality audio in a variety of locations
without the need of
independent stereos or external wires. The system is based on digital
circuitry to improve the
performance of the system and provide for compact disc quality sound. The
digital circuitry
incorporates forward error correction techniques and interleaving to enable
the system to
account for errors in transmission and thus improve the overall performance of
the system.
U.S. Patent Number 6,608,907
Inventors: Lee
Issued: August 19, 2003
An audio output apparatus having a wireless speaker is provided in an
apparatus which outputs
audio signal of 5.1 channel. In the audio output apparatus, an audio signal
encoded in
accordance with an IEEE 1394 protocol is received by a sub-woofer speaker
through an IEEE
1394 communication line, is decoded in the sub-woofer speaker, is modulated by
a spread
spectrum FM modulation method, and is then transmitted to a plurality of
wireless-connected
speakers so as to be outputted. When the audio signal encoded by an IEEE 1394
communication protocol is outputted to the sub-woofer speaker through a first
interface circuit,
the encoded audio signal is, in accordance with a control signal from a
controller provided in the
sub-woofer speaker, received by a second interface circuit, and is decoded in
real time by a
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decoder so as to output it externally while, at the same time, it is modulated
by a spread
spectrum FM modulation method, and is then transmitted to the wireless-
connected plurality of
speakers so as to be demodulated and outputted.
U.S. Patent Number 5,793.980
Inventors: Glaser, et al.
Issued: August 11, 1998
An audio-on-demand communication system provides real-time playback of audio
data
transferred via telephone lines or other communication links. One or more
audio servers include
memory banks which store compressed audio data. At the request of a user at a
subscriber PC,
an audio server transmits the compressed audio data over the communication
link to the
subscriber PC. The subscriber PC receives and decompresses the transmitted
audio data in
less than real-time using only the processing power of the CPU within the
subscriber PC.,
According to one aspect of the present invention, high quality audio data
compressed according
to lossless compression techniques is transmitted together with normal quality
audio data.
According to another aspect of the present invention, metadata, or extra data,
such as text,
captions, still images, etc., is transmitted with audio data and is
simultaneously displayed with
corresponding audio data. The audio-on-demand system also provides a table of
contents
indicating significant divisions in the audio clip to be played and allows the
user immediate
access to audio data at the listed divisions. According to a further aspect of
the present
invention, servers and subscriber PCs are dynamically allocated based upon
geographic
location to provide the highest possible quality in the communication link.
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U.S. Patent Number 5,995.155
Inventors: Schindler, et al.
Issued: November 30, 1999
An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system
with a
large screen VGA quality monitor as the display of choice. The system has
digital satellite
broadcast reception, decompression and display capability with multiple radio
frequency remote
control devices which transmit self identifying signals and have power
adjustment capabilities.
These capabilities are used to provide context sensitive groups of keys which
may be defined to
affect only selected applications running in a windowing environment. In
addition, the remote
control devices combine television and VCR controls with standard personal
computer keyboard
controls. A keyboard remote also integrates a touchpad which is food
contamination resistant
and may also be used for user verification. Included in the system is the
ability to recognize
verbal communications in video signals and maintain a database of such text
which is
searchable to help identify desired programming in real time.
U.S. Patent Number 6,671,325
Inventors: Lee, et al.
Issued: December 30, 2003
A system for transmitting, receiving, recovering, and reproducing digitized
samples of
analog signals while concealing unrecoverable digitized samples of analog
signals to maintain a
level of fidelity in reproducing the analog signals. The digitized samples of
the analog signals are
burst transmitted such that the probability of interference with the
transmission and thus
corruption of the digitized samples of the analog signals is minimized. The
digitized samples are
received without synchronizing a receiving clock with a transmitting clock to
capture the digitized
samples of the analog signals. The digitized samples are converted from
various sampling rates
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to digitized samples of the analog signals having a rate. Any large groups of
digitized samples
that are in error or corrupted in transmission are softly muted to avoid
annoying clicks. Any long
term difference between a transmit clock and a receive clock is tracked and
the digitized
samples are interpolated or decimated to eliminate any underrun or overrun of
the digitized
samples.
European Patent Number EP1318504
Inventors: Hendricks, et al.
Issued: November 6, 2003
An architectural sound enhancement system (200) is provided for installation
in a space
having a suspended ceiling (210) to provide integrated masking, background,
and paging
functions. The system includes an array of flat panel speaker units (201), a
central paging
transmitter (220), and a wireless remote control unit (222). The speaker units
are adapted to be
installed in a selected location within a suspended ceiling grid and can be
moved to a new
location as needed and desired. Each speaker unit is self-contained and
includes, in one
embodiment, an electronics module (204) housing a system controller with radio
frequency
detection capability, a sound generator having a library of stored sounds, an
audio effects
processor including an equalizer, a sound enhancer, an audio pre-amplifier, an
audio power
amplifier, and a flat panel speaker (208). The system controller is adapted to
receive control
signals from the remote control unit and to control the volume and
equalization of the speaker
unit as well as to select sounds from the sound library for reproduction and
to upload new
sounds from the remote control unit to the library. Paging announcements are
transmitted
wirelessly from the central paging transmitter and received by selected ones
of the speaker units
for broadcasting a page or other audio message.
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International Patent Number WO00/33474
Inventors: Knab, et al.
Issued: June 8, 2000
A multi-channel wireless speaker system using multiplexed channel combining
and
frequency diversity is described. The invention is directly applicable to the
communication of
audio signals between audio signal generators, such as home theater systems,
stereo
amplifiers, radio receivers, and other similar audio systems. This invention
is adapted to provide
multiple audio signals (211-217) on a single communication channel. It is
specifically adapted to
be used with RF wireless (207) and/or AC power line communication channels.
This invention
avoids the requirement for dedicated wiring connecting the audio signal source
and the audio
speakers. Moreover, this invention permits a large number of audio signals
(211-217) to be
separately modulated (201 a-201 n) and summed (204) on a single composite
signal as well as a
receiver able to demodulate and demux the composite into the many audio
signals which are
capable of connection to speakers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a media system, more specifically
to a wireless
media system that includes at least one group of media wirelessly connected to
a controller.
The controller includes a storage device for storing media thereon. The system
further includes
a remote unit for selectively controlling the controller to output music from
the at least one group
of speakers. The system is advantageous in that each of the remote unit, the
speakers and the
controller include a transceiver that is able to transmit and receive
instruction signals. A user is
able to use the remote unit to access and control the controller from a
different room via the
transceiver in the speakers. The at least one speaker group also include
amplifiers for
amplifying the received signals in order to further transmit the received
signals to at least one of
a second speaker group, the controller, and the remote unit. The media system
may be used
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with a home entertainment center, a laptop computer or a desktop computer.
Also other uses
are video, computer networks, etc.
The multi-media wireless system is a multi-functional system that can produce
any type
of data, be it audio, video or general digital data from and provide said data
to numerous
devices. It does this by having a main controller that stores, sorts, and
transmits all the data to
other devices, then when requested by a remote unit or to the controller
itself, transmits the data
to a device or remote unit. The device could be a wireless speaker, wireless
television controller,
or wireless computer. When the information is then transmitted it is received
by all devices, and
then retransmitted to other devices, except to remote units. Should the remote
unit request data,
the signal request is sent to the main controller via at least one of line-of-
sight and transmission
through at least one of the devices back to the main controller if it is out
of range or sight for
transmission. The full advantage provided by this system is that data can be
accessed through
devices wirelessly to themselves or to a remote unit that are not even in the
same vicinity as the
main controller. It gives the freedom of mobility and does not need to have
wires to communicate
with one another.
The main controller may be included in any convention home electronic
equipment
including but not limited to a stereo system for audio, or a set-top
television receiver for receiving
satellite or cable transmissions, a computer server connected via a LAN or a
WAN, or even a
desktop or laptop computer. Preferably, the controller includes a plurality of
input and output
(I/O) ports including at least one of a USB port, coaxial cable port, an RJ-45
port and antenna
hookups, for a wide range of flexibility and adaptability for each
environment.
The devices connected to the main controller include at least one of wireless
speakers,
to a desktop or laptop computer. Also a television receiver device that is
used in place of
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multiple satellite boxes, digital cable boxes, or VCR/DVD components, when all
of the previous
media can be transmitted from the main controller to the television receiver
and can play the
above mentioned, with just one receiver instead of multiple devices for
multiple televisions.
Additionally, devices including wireless security cameras or a car stereo are
selectively
connected to and able to communicate with the main controller. The car stereo
can trade
information with the main controller and the stereo is able to selectively
receive data from other
storage devices having data stored thereon. These storage devices include
memory cards and
portable hard disk drives. In order for it to transmit to the main controller
it must be within 300
feet of the main controller or closer. Remotes can be used with the car stereo
or security
camera's just as the speakers are.
Also the system includes a remote access function whereby wireless security
cameras
are connected to and controlled by the main controller. A user can selectively
connect to the
main controller using a cellular phone with picture or video capabilities for
viewing the video
data being recorded by any one of the security cameras connected to the main
controller. The
user enters a security code, and chooses which cameras they want to view, or
view all cameras
data. Also as a remote function, the cellular user could also direct at least
one of audio and
video data to be output by a respective one of the electronic devices
connected to the main
controller.
The remote unit is able to control the main controller via input buttons.
Additionally, the
remote unit may include output means whereby audio and/or video data is output
therefrom. In
this embodiment the remote unit includes at least one speaker and one display
screen for
outputting the at least one video and audio data. The display screen is able
to display at least
one of a received television broadcast, a DVD movie, or even a recorded
digital home movie.
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The remote unit also may include an input device such as a microphone. Another
remote unit
could be a personal digital assistant for selective interaction with computers
wirelessly and
extracts or uploads files directly to the computer or network server. Each can
be used as a
listening device and also a wireless microphone device.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media wireless
system that
overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.
Another, secondary object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless
system including a controller having media stored thereon.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media wireless
system
including at least one group of devices for outputting media stored within the
controller.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless system
including a remote unit for selectively controlling the controller.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media wireless
system
wherein the devices in the at least one group of devices include transceivers
for sending and
receiving at least one of instruction signals and content signals.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide wherein the remote
unit includes
a transceiver for sending and receiving at least one of instruction signals
and content signals.
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Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless system
wherein the controller includes a transceiver for receiving instruction
signals and sending
content signals.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless
system wherein the controller is controlled by the remote unit transmitting
instruction signals to
through the speaker transceiver for receipt by the controller.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-music
wireless system
wherein a plurality of speaker groups are selectively connected to the
controller for outputting
content therefrom.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media wireless
system
wherein the controller can selectively output different content on any or all
of the plurality of
speaker groups connected thereto.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless system
wherein the speakers in each speaker group further include an amplifier for
amplifying the at
least one of instruction signal and content signal for better transmission to
at least one of a
second speaker group and the remote unit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media wireless
system
wherein the controller can be formed as a set-top box for connection with a
home theater
system, a USB unit for connection and use with a laptop computer, and a media
card for
insertion within a CPU of a desktop computer.
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Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless system
wherein the controller is able to selectively control, manage, store content
such as data.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media wireless
system
wherein the remote unit includes a storage device and receives, stores and
outputs desired
content a listening device such as headphones. Also a small microphone input,
for transmitting
or recording live audio to the controller.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless
system wherein the remote unit includes a display for displaying textual
information about what
content is playing on all speaker groups.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless system
that is simple and easy to use.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-media
wireless
system device that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description
proceeds.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the
description to
follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing,
which forms a part
hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in
which the invention
may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to
enable those
skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that
other embodiments may
be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the
scope of the
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invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate
the same or similar
parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a
limiting sense, and
the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present
invention will
become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when
considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the
same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein;
FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of the multi-media wireless system of the
present
invention in use;
FIGURE 2 is a front view of the audio remote controller of the multi-media
wireless
system of the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a front view of a television remote for use with the multi-media
wireless
system of the present invention;
FIGURE 4 is a front view of a palm computer remote for use with the multi-
media
wireless system of the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a front view of a speaker for use with the multi-media wireless
system of the
present invention being formed as a sound card;
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FIGURE 6 is a front view of a television device for use with the multi-media
wireless
system of the present invention being formed as a sound card;
FIGURE 7 is a front view of the audio controller of the multi-media wireless
system of the
present invention;
FIGURE 8 is a front view of a portable computer controller of the multi-media
wireless
system of the present invention;
FIGURE 9 is a front view of the video controller of the multi-media wireless
system of the
present invention;
FIGURE 10 is a front view of the controller of the multi-music wireless system
of the
present invention being formed as a sound card; and
FIGURE 11 is flow diagram of the multi-media wireless system of the present
invention;
and
FIGURE 12 is block diagram of the multi-media wireless system of the present
invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference
characters denote
similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the
multi-music wireless
system of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used,
the following
numbering is used throughout the various drawing Figures.
the multi-media wireless system of the present invention
12 audio remote
10 14 remote IR transmitter
16 remote antenna
18 remote speaker
headphone adapter
22 microphone adapter
15 24 recharge electrodes
26 microphone
28 cursor buttons
remote display
32 power indicator
20 34 television remote
36 tv remote IR transmitter
38 tv remote antenna
tv remote speaker
25 42 tv remote display
44 tv remote power indicator
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46 tv remote microphone
48 tv remote cursor buttons
50 palm computer remote
52 palm computer IR transmitter
54 palm computer antenna
56 palm computer speaker
58 palm computer display
60 palm computer microphone
62 palm computer power indicator
64 speaker
66 speaker antenna
68 wired remote controller port
70 power port
72 speaker IR receiver
74 speaker power indicator
76 television device
78 tv device antenna
80 tv device IR receiver
82 tv device CD\DVD
84 tv device power indicator
86 audio controller
88 audio controller controls
90 audio controller display
92 audio controller IR receiver
94 cable/satellite out
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96 cable/satellite in
98 a/v ports
100 audio controller antenna
102 speaker ports
104 fiber port
106 portable computer controller
108 computer antenna
110 I/O connector
112 video controller
114 video controller display
116 video controller USB port
118 video controller IR receiver
120 power indicator
122 CD/DVD
124 cable out
126 cable/digital in
128 satellite in
130 a/v adapters
132 s-video in
134 fiber optic plug in
136 power cable plug-in
138 computer
140 sound card
142 sound card antenna
144 sound card controller
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146 video camera
148 cellular phone
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention.
This
discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to
those particular
embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other
embodiments as
well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is
directed to appended
claims.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference
characters denote
similar elements throughout the several views, Figures 1 through 12 illustrate
the multi-media
wireless system of the present invention indicated generally by the numeral
10.
FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of the multi-media wireless system 10,
hereinafter the
"system" of the present invention in use. The system 10 includes a plurality
electronic devices
wirelessly connected to one another. A user is able to selectively control any
respective one of
the electronic devices connected as part of the system 10 using any other
electronic device.
Each component includes a transceiver for at least one of sending and
receiving data signals
and command signals. Additionally, each component includes an amplifier for
amplifying the
received signal and further broadcasting the received signal to at least one
other component of
the system 10 of the present invention.
Figure 1 shows a plurality of electronic controller devices able to
selectively store content
data and control the system 10 of the present invention. The controller
devices include an audio
controller 86, a video controller 112, a portable computer controller 106, a
desktop computer
138, and a remote server 139. The audio controller 86 has a storage device for
storing audio
data therein. The audio controller 86 also includes a plurality of
input/output (I/O) ports for
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selectively connecting additional electronic devices thereto. These devices
includes but are not
limited to a CD player, a cassette deck, a record player and a minidisk
player. The video
controller 112 also includes a storage device for storing audio/video data
thereon. The video
controller also includes a plurality of I/O ports for connecting additional
devices thereto. Devices
able to be connected to the video controller 112 include but are not limited
to a VCR, a DVD
player, a VCD player and a set-top satellite/cable connector box. The portable
computer
controller 106 is selective connected to a laptop computer and is able to
communicate with the
computer to allow access to predetermined data stored thereon. The desktop
computer
controller 138 is at least one of an internal controller card and an external
controller card
connected to an I/O port. The server controller 139 is a software application
able to be run on a
system that allows remote systems access thereto.
The controllers 86, 106, 112, 138, 139 are connected to a plurality of
input/output
devices. Group A is speakers 64 for outputting sound therefrom. Group A is
illustrated as a
single pair of speakers but a plurality of pairs of speakers 64 can be
connected to the system for
outputting sound therefrom. Additionally, the plurality of pairs of speakers
can be located in
different locations from one another such as in different rooms of a house.
Group B are video
display devices 76 for displaying video data thereon. The video devices 76 are
able to output
audio/video data therefrom. Group B may include a plurality of video display
devices located in
different locales such as in different rooms throughout a house. Group C is a
portable computer
and group D is a desktop computer. Each one of the computers in groups C and D
are able to
output audio and video data thereon. Group E is at least one video camera 146.
The video
camera is able to capture and transmit audio/video data. Preferably, a
plurality of video cameras
146 are connected to the system 10 of the present invention.
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The system 10 is controlled using at least one of an audio remote 12, a video
remote 34,
a personal digital assistant 50 and a cellular phone. Each one of the above
remotes includes
input buttons corresponding to predetermined instructions for operating the
system 10 of the
present invention. The remotes are able to communicate with any of the
controllers 86, 112,
106, 138, 139 and the groups of I/O devices (Groups A-E). Upon communicating
with the above
devices, the user is able to selective operate all system functions when in
the presence of any
device connected to the system 10.
The primary object of the system 10 is to provide the user the ability to have
desired
stored audio and video data provided to any one of a plurality of output
devices. The desired
stored data is stored within any of the controllers or is provided by an
electronic devices
connected to any one of the controllers. The user can use any one of the
remote devices to
transmit instruction signals which are received by at least one of an I/O
device and a controller.
The instruction signal includes content identification data which represents
content the user
desires to be output by an output device. If the signal is received by an I/O
device, the
instruction signal is further transmitted to the desired controller. The
controller receives the
instruction signal and causes desired content to be retrieved and transmitted
as a content signal
to a desired output device for output thereby.
FIGURE 2 is a front view of the audio remote controller of the multi-media
wireless system of the present invention. The remote unit 12 is able to
selectively control the
system 10 of the present invention. The remote unit 12 is portable and can be
easily transported
to and from a plurality of locales and is used to control the system 10 from
any one of the
respective locales. The remote unit includes an IR transmitter 14 and an
antenna 16. The
remote unit 12 also includes a speaker 18 for outputting sound therefrom. The
remote unit 12
further includes a headphone jack 20 and a microphone jack 22. A user can
selectively connect
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headphones to the headphone jack 20 and have audio data output therefrom. A
microphone
can be selectively connected to the microphone jack 22 for at least one of
inputting audio data
and inputting instructions for controlling the system 10 of the present
invention. Additionally, the
remote unit has, a microphone 26 positioned on a face side thereof. The user
can selectively
input instructions via the microphone 26 of the remote unit 12. Cursor buttons
28 are also
positioned on a face side of the remote unit 12 and allow the user directional
navigation of the
system 10 of the present invention. A remote display unit 30 is further
included on the remote
unit 12. The display unit 30 allows the user to visual see stored data and/or
components
connected to the system 10. Alternatively, the display screen 30 can display
video data thereon.
A user can selectively determine what data is to be output by an output device
of the
system 10 of the present invention. The remote unit 12 generates a specific
instruction signal
depending on user entered commands. The generated instruction signal is
transmitted by the IR
transmitter 14 for receipt by at least one of an I/O device and a controller.
The instruction signal
directs the controller to retrieve desired stored audio or audio/video data.
The controller then
transmits the desired data to a respective output device for output thereof.
Alternatively, the
desired data is transmitted to the remote unit 12 and received by the antenna
16 thereof. The
received desired data is output by at least one of the speaker 18, the video
display 30 and the
headphone jack 20 of the remote unit. This allows the user to access the data
when the user is
not in the presence of any of the I/O devices connected to the system.
The audio remote 12 is preferably used to access audio data stored in the
audio
controller 86 as shown in Figure 1. The user can selectively scroll through
the stored data using
the directional keypad 28. The data is viewable on the display screen 30. The
user can
CA 02657009 2009-03-03
selectively determine which audio data is the desired audio data to be output
by the system 10 of
the present invention.
FIGURE 3 is a front view of a television remote for use with the multi-media
wireless
system of the present invention. The television remote 34 of the system 10 of
the present
invention is able to control audio-visual functions of the system 10. Thus,
the video remote 34 is
able to control at least one of a television, a DVD player, a VCR and a set-
top cable/satellite
decoder box.
The remote unit includes an IR transmitter 36 and an antenna 38. The remote
unit 12
also includes a speaker 40 for outputting sound therefrom. The remote unit 34
has a
microphone 46 positioned on a face side thereof. Cursor buttons 48 are also
positioned on a
face side of the remote unit 34 and allow the user directional navigation of
the system 10 of the
present invention. A remote display unit 30 is further included on the remote
unit 34. The display
unit 42 allows the user to visual see stored data and/or components connected
to the system 10.
Alternatively, the display screen 42 can display video data thereon.
A user can selectively determine what data is to be output by an output device
of the
system 10 of the present invention. The remote unit 34 generates a specific
instruction signal
depending on user entered commands. The generated instruction signal is
transmitted by the IR
transmitter 36 for receipt by at least one of an I/O device and a controller.
The instruction signal
directs the controller to retrieve desired stored audio or audio/video data.
The controller then
transmits the desired data to a respective output device for output thereof.
Alternatively, the
desired data is transmitted to the remote unit 34 and received by the antenna
38 thereof. The
received desired data is output by at least one of the speaker 40 and the
video display 42 of the
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remote unit 34. This allows the user to access the data when the user is not
in the presence of
any of the I/O devices connected to the system.
FIGURE 4 is a front view of a personal digital assistant remote 50 for use
with the multi-
media wireless system of the present invention. The PDA remote 50 is able to
selectively
control the audio and audio-visual data stored in any of the controllers of
the system 10 of the
present invention.
The remote unit includes an IR transmitter 36 and an antenna 38. The remote
unit 12
also includes a speaker 40 for outputting sound therefrom. The remote unit 34
has a
microphone 46 positioned on a face side thereof. Cursor buttons 48 are also
positioned on a
face side of the remote unit 34 and allow the user directional navigation of
the system 10 of the
present invention. A remote display unit 30 is further included on the remote
unit 34. The display
unit 42 allows the user to visual see stored data and/or components connected
to the system 10.
Alternatively, the display screen 42 can display video data thereon.
A user can selectively determine what data is to be output by an output device
of the
system 10 of the present invention. The remote unit 34 generates a specific
instruction signal
depending on user entered commands. The generated instruction signal is
transmitted by the IR
transmitter 36 for receipt by at least one of an I/O device and a controller.
The instruction signal
directs the controller to retrieve desired stored audio or audio/video data.
The controller then
transmits the desired data to a respective output device for output thereof.
Alternatively, the
desired data is transmitted to the remote unit 34 and received by the antenna
38 thereof. The
received desired data is output by at least one of the speaker 40 and the
video display 42 of the
remote unit 34. This allows the user to access the data when the user is not
in the presence of
any of the I/O devices connected to the system.
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FIGURE 5 is a front view of a speaker for use with the multi-media wireless
system of the
present invention being formed as a sound card. The speaker 64 is one of I/O
devices
connected to the system. Figure 5 shows only a single speaker 64. However, it
is preferable
that the system 10 includes a plurality of speakers positioned in different
locales. Ideally, there
would be at least a pair of speakers 64 in each locale to adequately output
audio data therefrom.
The speaker includes an IR receiver 72 and an antenna 66. The speaker also
includes a power
indicator 74, an input port 68 and a power port 70.
The IR receiver 72 receives the instruction signal from any one of the remote
units as
described above with respect to Figures 2 - 4. Upon receiving the instruction
signal, circuitry
within the speaker 64 causes the instruction signal to be further transmitted
via the antenna 66
for receipt by any one of the controller units. The controller units then
transmit a content signal
for receipt by the speaker 64 via the antenna 66. The circuitry within the
speaker 64 receives
the signal and outputs the data contained therein.
FIGURE 6 is a front view of a television device for use with the multi-media
wireless
system of the present invention being formed as a sound card. The video
controller device 76
as shown in Figure 6 is intended to be connected to a monitor such as a
television. The
controller 76 includes an IR receiver 80 and an antenna 78. Also included is
an input device 82
such as a CD/DVD. The video controller 76 has a storage device and is able to
store data
therein. The video controller 76 is able to selectively receive instruction
signals from any of the
remote units discussed hereinabove. The instruction signal is received via IR
port 80. The
video controller retrieves the stored data and transmits the stored data via
the antenna 78 to be
output on a respective I/O device connected thereto such as a television
and/or speakers.
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Additionally, the remote unit can direct the video controller 76 to output the
data stored on
medium received within the input device 82.
FIGURE 7 is a front view of the audio/visual controller of the multi-media
wireless system
of the present invention. The AN controller 86 has a front side 87 and a rear
side 89.
Positioned on the front side 87 are control buttons 88 for selectively
controlling at least one of
the controller 86 and at least one external device connected to the controller
86. Also positioned
on the front of the AN controller is a display screen 90 for displaying a
visual representation of
the data currently being output by the output device connected to the system
10. An IR port 92
for receving instruction signals is positioned on the front side 87. An
antenna 100 for selectively
broadcasting and receiving content signals therefrom is also positioned on the
AN controller
100.
The rear side 89 includes a cable input 94 for receiving a broadcast
television signal and
cable output 96 for outputting that signal to an output device connected
thereto. A plurality of
AN ports 98 are positioned on the rear side 89 for selectively connected
external electronic
devices to the AN controller 86. Upon connection to the AN ports 98, the
devices are
selectively controllable in the manner described above by the system 10 of the
present invention.
The AN controller 86 further includes speaker ports 102 for selectively
connecting speakers
thereto. Preferably, these speakers are home-theater speakers for outputting
audio data
associated with the video data being output on the monitor connected thereto.
However, the
audio-video data of a desired program may be wirelessly transmitted to a
monitor and speakers
positioned in a different locale than the AN controller 86.
The AN controller 86 further includes a storage device able to store at least
one of
audio, video, and AN data thereon. A computer is selectively connectablel via
a port 104 for
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CA 02657009 2009-03-03
adding and updating the data stored therein. The user of the system can
selectively determine
that data stored in the storage device of the AN controller 86 be output to a
desired output
device using a remote control as described hereinabove with respect to Figures
2 - 4.
FIGURE 8 is a front view of a portable computer controller 106 of the multi-
media
wireless system of the present invention. The portable computer controller 106
is shown herein
as an external device that is selectively connectable to an I/O port on a
portable computer via a
connection wire 110. Preferably, the connection wire is at least one of a USB
wire and a firewire
cord. The controller 106 includes an antenna 108 for sending and receiving
content and
instruction signals therefrom. Upon connection to a portable computer via the
connection cord
110, the controller 106 allows a user to access data stored on the portable
computer. The user
can selectively determine which data is to be made available for navigation by
a user using one
of the remote units as shown in Figures 2 - 4.
The user is able to selectively navigate and manipulate the selected data
stored on the
personal computer and determine desired data to be output on an I/O device
connected to the
system. The personal computer preferably has at least one of audio data, video
data, and
audio-visual data stored thereon. The data can be stored in any known format
including but not
limited to MP3 and MPEG formats. Upon inputting a command in a remote unit, an
instruction
signal is generated and transmitted from the remote to at least one of an I/O
device and the
controller 106. If the instruction signal is transmitted to and received by an
I/O device, the I/O
device amplifies and transmits the instruction signal for receipt by the
controller 106. The
controller decodes the instruction signal and retrieves the data desired by
the user. The desired
data is encoded as a content signal and transmitted from the antenna 108 for
receipt by an
antenna of at least one of an I/O device connected to the system such as
speakers 64, video
display monitor and a remote unit for output therefrom.
CA 02657009 2009-03-03
Alternatively, the portable computer controller 106 can be formed as PC card
for insertion
into a PCMCIA slot type II or type III slot on a laptop computer.
FIGURE 9 is a front view of the cable/satellite controller 112 of the multi-
media wireless
system of the present invention. The controller 112 has a front side 113 and a
rear side 115.
Positioned on the front side 113 is a display screen 114 for displaying a
visual representation of
the data currently being output by the output device connected to the system
10. An IR port 118
for receiving instruction signals is positioned on the front side 113. An
antenna 111 for
selectively broadcasting and receiving content signals therefrom is also
positioned on the
controller 112. The front side 115 further includes a plurality of CD/DVD
players 122 for
selectively receiving medium having data stored thereon.
The rear side 115 includes a cable input 124 for receiving a broadcast
television signal
and cable output 128 for outputting that signal to an output device connected
thereto.
Preferably, the input 124 is able to receive a digital television signal
broadcast by a cable and/or
satellite provider. A plurality of AN ports 130 are positioned on the rear
side 115 for selectively
connected external electronic devices to the controller 112. Upon connection
to the AN ports
130, the devices are selectively controllable in the manner described above by
the system 10 of
the present invention. The controller 112 further includes video output ports
132 and 130. As
shown herein, port 130 is a fiber optic port able to output digital data to a
video display device.
Output port 132 is an S-video output able to output a super video signal
therefrom to a video
display device. These output ports are described for purpose of example only
and any output
port for outputting at least one of analog and digital video data may be
included in the controller
112 of the system 10 of the present invention.
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CA 02657009 2009-03-03
The controller 112 further includes a storage device able to store at least
one of audio,
video, and AN data thereon. A computer is selectively connectable for adding
to and updating
the data stored therein. The user of the system can selectively determine that
data stored in the
storage device of the controller 112 be output to a desired output device
using a remote control
as described hereinabove with respect to Figures 2 - 4.
FIGURE 10 is a front view of the card controller 140 of the multi-music
wireless system of
the present invention being formed as a sound card. The card controller 140 is
the controller
unit for selectively controlling a desktop computer 138 as shown in Figure 1.
The card is
selectively inserted into an expansion slot on a motherboard of a computer.
The card can be
formed as at least one of a PCI and an AGP card for insertion in a respective
slot on the
motherboard. The card controller 140 includes a transmitter 144 and an
antennat 142 for
broadcasting and receiving at least one of instruction and content signals
therefrom.
As the card is part of a desktop computer, the card allows the user to have
any data
stored thereon be output by the system 10 of the present invention.
Additionally, the user can
use executable software on the desktop to computer to allow the desktop
computer to function
as a remote unit similar to the manner discussed above with specific reference
to Figures 2 - 4.
Data can be transmitted from the desktop computer for output by one of the I/O
devices
connected to the system.
Additionally, the desktop computer is selectively connectable to at least one
of a wide
area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN). Upon connection to either
the WAN or
LAN, the system 10 is then able to access any data across the respective
network. Thus, this
connection allows the user to use a remote unit to send an instruction signal
to the controller 140
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to access data that is located on a specific network and have that data be
broadcast an output
by an I/O device connected to the system 10 of the present invention.
FIGURE 11 is flow diagram of the multi-media wireless system of the present
invention.
This diagram details how data is selected and then output by the system 10 of
the present
invention. At step S102, the user uses a remote unit to transmit an
instruction signal including a
selection. Thereafter, the system determines if the user is in the same room
as the controller in
step S104. If the user is in the same room as the controller then the process
continues at step
S108. If however, the user is not in the same room, then step S105 shows that
the instruction
signal is received by an I/O device, such as speakers and that instruction
signal is then amplified
and further transmitted to the controller in step S106. Once the signal is
received by the
controller in step S108, the controller retrieves data as directed by the
instruction signal as in
step S110. Upon retrieving the data, the data is transmitted as a content
signal to a desired I/O
device such as speaker as shown in step S112. The content signal is then
received by an I/O
device and a determination is made as to whether the desired I/O device has
received the
desired data as shown in step S113. If the desired I/O device received the
content signal
containing the desired data, then the data is output by the device as in step
S116. If the I/O
device that received the content signal is not the desired device, then the
process continues at
step S114. The content signal is then further transmitted to the desired I/O
device and the data
contained in the content signal is output as in step S116. The system then
determines if
additional data is to be retrieved and output by the system in step S118. If
not, the system ends
at step S120. If the user desires to select additional data, the process
begins again at step
S102.
It is important to note that this process is the same irregardless of the data
selected at
step S102. The data selected is at least one of audio data, video data, and
audio-visual data.
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FIGURE 12 is block diagram of the multi-media wireless system of the present
invention.
Figure 12 shows the internal circuitry present in any one of the controllers
described in Figures
- 9 hereinabove. The controller includes a processor 78 for controlling
operation thereof.
5 Input 22, storage device 80 and a transceiver 82 are connected to the
processor 78. Also
connected to the processor 78 are a plurality of output devices 99. The output
devices 99 are
also connected to the transceiver 82. The output devices include a first
output 150 having a first
switch 152, a second output 154 having a second switch 156, a third output 158
having a third
switch 160 and a fourth output 162 having a fourth switch 164.
The user selectively inputs an instruction using the input 22 of the system
10. The input
22 is any means of inputting instructions into the system including but not
limited to remote units
and control buttons. The input 22 directs the processor to retrieve data
stored on the storage
device 80 for output by at least one of the output devices 99. The processor
78 also causes a
respective one of the output switches to move from a first open position to a
second closed
position. The processor 78 then directs the retrieved data to be transmitted
by the transceiver
82 to the respective output having the switch in the second closed position.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or
more together
may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from
the type described
above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described
and are
pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the
details above, since it will
be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes
in the forms and
details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those
skilled in the art
34
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without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the
present invention
that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various
applications without
omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute
essential characteristics of
the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
