(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`8 March 2001 (08.03.2001) Hlllllllllllllllllllllllllllll|||||||||||l|||l||||||l|||lllllllllllllllllllllll
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 01/17142 A2
`
`
`(51) International Patent Classification7:
`
`H04H
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/US00/23842
`
`(22) International Filing Date: 30 August 2000 (30.08.2000)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`English
`
`English
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`60/ 15 1,714
`Not furnished
`
`3] August 1999 (31.08.1999)
`29 August 2000 (29.08.2000)
`
`US
`US
`
`(71) Applicant: FULL AUDIO CORPORATION [US/US];
`247 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60604 (US).
`
`(74) Agents: PANIAGUAS, John, S. et a1.; Katten Muchin Za—
`vis, 525 W. Monroe Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60661
`(US).
`
`(81) Designated States (national): AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ,
`BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK,
`DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL,
`IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU,
`LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, M2, NO, NZ, PL, PT,
`RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA,
`UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian
`patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European
`patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE,
`IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF, CG,
`CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`Published:
`
`(72) Inventors: GLADWIN, 8., Christopher; 2001 West
`Wabansia Ave., # 301, Chicago,
`IL 60647 (US). BI,
`Depeng; 500 Old Oak Circle, Algonquin, IL 60102 (US).
`SPURGAT, Jeffrey, Jonathan; 7117 New Washburn
`Way, Madison, W153719 (US). CORTOPASSI, Michael;
`2210 North Brighton, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 (US).
`
`Without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt of that report.
`
`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the ”Guid-
`ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations " appearing at the begin-
`ning ofeach regular issue of the PCT Gazette.
`
`2‘
`
`Nf
`
`
`
`l'
`v-i
`[\
`Q (54) Title: STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR SELECTING, CONTROLLING AND SENDING INTERNET—BASED OR LO—
`V-l CAL DIGITAL AUDIO TO AN AM/FM RADIO OR ANALOG AMPLIFIER
`
`00 (57) Abstract: A system and method that allows a host PC to provide an analog audio signal for a radio or amplifier without inter-
`
`fering with the operation of the host PC. This invention also allows the audio signal to be selected and controlled by a remote device
`without interfering with the operation of the host PC.
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America
`
`Exhibit 1009
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`Page 1
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`

`

`WO 01/17142
`
`PCT/USOO/23842
`
`STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR SELECTING, CONTROLLING AND
`SENDING INTERNET-BASED OR LOCAL DIGITAL AUDIO TO AN
`
`AM/FM RADIO OR ANALOG AMPLIFIER
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims the benefit and priority of US. Provisional
`
`Application No. 60/151,714 filed on August 31, 1999.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Field of the Invention:
`
`The present invention relates to a structure and a method for selecting,
`
`controlling and sending Internet-based or digital audio to an AM/FM radio or
`
`amplifier.
`
`Description of the Drawings:
`
`10
`
`1 5
`
`There is an ever-increasing amount of audio content available as digital
`
`computer files (such as in the MP3 format like those found at www.mp3.com) or as
`
`streaming digital audio (such as using the streaming digital audio techniques in US
`
`20
`
`Patent 5579430). These new types of audio content can be played on a personal
`
`computer with a sound card, but cannot be played on a radio or stereo that is
`
`designed to receive and amplify analog audio signals. There are several techniques
`
`for converting a digital audio source to an analog signal that could be used by analog
`
`radio or amplifier, but these techniques interfere with the operation of the host PC
`
`25
`
`and would require use of the PC to select and control the audio, for example, on an
`
`analog radio. Thus, there is a need to provide a system which enables Internet-based
`
`or digital audio to be played, for example, on an analog radio without tying up a
`
`personal computer.
`
`30
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Briefly, the present invention relates to a system and method that
`
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`WO 01/17142
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`PCT/USOO/23842
`
`allows a host PC to provide an analog audio signal for a radio or amplifier without
`
`interfering with the operation of the host PC. This invention also allows the audio
`
`signal to be selected and controlled by a remote device without interfering with the
`
`operation of the host PC.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`These and other advantages of the present invention will be readily
`
`apparent from the following specification and attached drawing wherein:
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system in accordance with the present
`
`10
`
`invention, shown connected to a host personal computer, which, in turn, is connected
`
`to the Internet.
`
`FIG. 2 is a front view of a remote device which forms a part of the
`
`present invention.
`
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the remote device illustrated in FIG. 2.
`
`15
`
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a PC adapter which forms a part of the
`
`present invention.
`
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a universal serial bus (USB) connection
`
`between the host PC and the PC adapter in accordance with the present invention.
`
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the PC software components in accordance
`
`20
`
`with the present invention.
`
`FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the audio player in accordance with the present
`
`invention.
`
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a remote device manager in accordance with
`
`the present invention.
`
`25
`
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the USB audio driver in accordance with the
`
`present invention.
`
`FIG.10 is a flow chart of the USB remote device driver in accordance
`
`with the present invention.
`
`30
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`2
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`WO 01/17142
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`The present invention is adapted to interface with a host personal
`
`computer (PC) which, in turn, is adapted to be connected to the Internet in order to
`
`obtain audio sources from the Internet or other digital audio sources from any web
`
`server. The system generally identified with the reference numeral 20. The system
`
`5
`
`20 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a remote device 22, a PC adapter 24 and a
`
`host PC 26. The system 20 is adapted to enable various digital audio sources, for
`
`example, from the Internet or other digital audio sources, such as digital audio
`
`sources on any web server, to be played on an AM/FM radio or stereo amplifier 28
`
`without interfering with the operation of the host PC 10.
`
`l 0
`
`SYSTEM COMPONENTS
`
`Remote Device
`
`The remote device 22 (FIG. 2) may have a 160x160 graphical display
`
`15
`
`screen and control buttons. This display provides information about available audio
`
`content, information about how to select audio content, information about audio
`
`content that has been selected and other information. The control buttons are used
`
`to select and control audio content. As shown in FIG. 3, remote device 22 may
`
`connect to the PC adapter 24 over a radio link, for example, a 2-way wireless link.
`
`20
`
`The remote device 22 may have three buttons and one jogdial.
`
`Pressing the middle button brings back the previous screen. Pressing one of the other
`
`two buttons causes the content to be saved on host PC 26. Pressing the third button
`
`will initiate the purchase of the currently playing audio clip. The jogdial browses the
`
`list and pressing its middle button will selects and plays the clip.
`
`25
`
`PC Adapter
`
`The PC adapter 24 connects the host PC 26 over a universal serial bus
`
`(USB) port and broadcasts analog radio data to the AM/FM radio and stereo
`
`amplifier 28. This analog audio data is converted from digital audio data and
`
`30
`
`transmitted from the host PC over USB connection by the PC software as shown in
`
`q3
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`FIG. 5. Also, it bridges 2-way data between remote device 22 and the host PC 26. A
`
`block diagram of the PC adapter 24 is illustrated in FIG. 4.
`
`The microcontroller component encodes LCD display data and
`
`decodes button, dial and other remote control user inputs.
`
`Proxy Server
`
`The proxy server 29 serves as a digital audio portal site. The proxy
`
`server maintains a series of links to available digital audio sources on the Internet
`
`and formats information about these sites for display on the remote device 22.
`
`l 0
`
`PC Software
`
`The PC software illustrated in FIG. 5 gets digital audio data from audio
`
`files on the local disk and/or intemet streaming audio data. This data is organized as
`
`a play list. The play list is transferred to the remote device 22. The user selects and
`
`15
`
`plays a clip by using the control buttons on the remote device 22. The remote device
`
`22 then sends these commands to PC software which then plays this clip. The
`
`playing process is this: the PC software sends the address of the clip to the audio
`
`player. The audio player sends data to the USB audio driver which writes the audio
`
`data to USE. The PC adapter 24 will electronically converts the digital data into
`
`20
`
`analog data and broadcast the data over an unused FM channel. This channel is
`
`selectable.
`
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the PC software components on the host
`
`PC 26 and includes a tuner 30, an audio player 32, a remote device manager 34,
`
`universal serial bus (USB) audio driver 36 and a USB remote device driver 38.
`
`25
`
`FIGS 7-10 represent flow charts of the devices. A brief description of the software
`
`components is provided below.
`
`Tuner
`
`The tuner software allows the user to select intemet radio stations,
`
`local digital audio files, and intemet streaming audio to create playlists.
`
`30
`
`4
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`WO 01/17142
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`
`Audio Player
`
`The audio player software plays audio and runs in the background. It
`
`functions in a similar way as other popular audio players, like Reaknetwork=s G2
`
`player and Microsoft=s Windows Media Player. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the audio
`
`5
`
`player.
`
`USB Remote Device Driver
`
`This driver receives data from remote device manager and writes it to
`
`remote device 22 through a USB port. Also, it receives data from remote device 22
`
`10
`
`through the USB port and forwards it to remote device manager. FIG. 10 is a flow
`
`chart of the USB remote device driver.
`
`Remote Device Manager
`
`This component sends playlist and other information to the remote
`
`15
`
`device 22,.and it processes the commands sent from remote device 22. FIG. 8 is a
`
`flow chart of the remote device driver.
`
`USB Audio Driver
`
`This driver receives audio data from audio player and sends it to PC
`
`20
`
`adapter 26 through USB connection. FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the USB audio driver.
`
`Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention
`
`are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within
`
`the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
`
`specifically described above.
`
`25
`
`What is claimed and desired to be covered by a Letters Patent is as
`
`follows:
`
`5
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`WO 01/17142
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`PCT/USOO/23842
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`WE CLAIM:
`
`l.
`
`A system for converting audio digital data to audio analog data,
`
`said system including a host personal computer (PC), configured to receive
`
`5
`
`predetermined digital data, the system comprising:
`
`a PC adapter configured to be operably connected to said PC
`
`adapter by way of a predetermined digital data bus, said PC adapter also configured
`
`to be connected to a remote analog device, and including means for receiving said
`
`digital audio data from said host PC and converting said digital audio data to analog
`
`10
`
`audio data for playback by an analog device without interfering with the operation of
`
`the host PC.
`
`2.
`
`The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said analog device is
`
`located remotely from said PC adapter.
`
`1 5
`
`3.
`
`The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said analog device is
`
`coupled to said PC adapter by way of a radio link.
`
`4.
`
`The system as recited in claim 1, further including a remote
`
`20
`
`device, said remote device including means for selecting said digital data.
`
`5.
`
`The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said remote device is
`
`operatively connected to said PC adapter by way of a radio link.
`
`25
`
`6.
`
`The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said digital data bus is
`
`a serial bus.
`
`7.
`
`The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said serial bus is a
`
`universal serial bus (USB)
`
`30
`
`6
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`WO 01/17142
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`8.
`
`The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said analog device is
`
`9.
`
`The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said analog device is
`
`a radio.
`
`an amplifier.
`
`7
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`l/6
`
`
`
`22
`
`2—way wireless
`
`connection
`
`
`
`[Digital oudl°
`
`files 0“ local
`Analog audio
`
`
`
`disk
`broadcast over
`
`
`FM channel
`
`
`Digital audio
`from internet
`
`Host PC
`
`26
`
`PC Software
`
`
`
`Digital audio
`
`on any web
`server
`
`
`
`
`
`Internet audio sources
`
`Internet
`
`
`Connection over
`
`
`TCP/IP
`
`Audio 1
`
`Audio 2
`
`Audio 3
`
`
`
`I F
`
`IG. 2
`
`FIG.
`
`AM radio or
`stereo amplifier
`
`28
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET Yémamfiifll®ption of America
`
`Exhibit 1009
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`2/6
`
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEEWafiflbflfiiorfltfiétion of America
`
`Exhibit 1009
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`3/6
`
`/24
`
`USB
`connection to
`Host PC
`
`
`
`
`
`Radio
`transceiver
`
`
`
`
`
`.
`Microcontroller
`
`2—way wireless
`connection to
`Remote Device
`
`_
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Analog audio
`broadcast
`FM channel
`
`
`
`I
`
`FM
`
`Audio
`
`USB
`
`transmitter I DAC
`
`'Controller.
`
`PC Adapter
`
`FIG. 4
`
`
`
`Incoming data
`
`PC over USB bus
`
` From host PC
`
`Send data to host
`
`
`Data to
`
`Remote Device
`
`
`
`Forward dam to
`Audio codec
`
`
`
`Forward data to
`Remote Device
`
`
`communication
`
`
`microcontroiler
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 5
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEELarGBAH-(EorgfiaiionofAmerica
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`4/6
`
`Tuner
`
`32
`
`Audio player
`
`Rewszoggtce
`
`36
`
`USB audio driver
`
`USB Remote
`
`Device driver
`
`FIG. 6
`
`30
`
`34
`
`38
`
`audio clip address
`
`Local audio
`'
`file?
`
`no
`
`Read audio file
`
`Interpret audio
`data according to
`audio format
`
`Read audio data
`over internet
`
`
`
`Connects to the
`
`
`
`clip provider web
`
`
`
`server
`
`
`Connection
`sucessful?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`no
`
`
`
`Send audio data to
`
`USB audio driver
`
`
`
`
`Interpret audio
`data according to
`audio format
`
`Send audio data to
`USB audio driver
`
`
`End playing of this
`clip
`
`FIG. 7
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEEPavimBIkH-éorgcfiaition ofAmerica
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`
`
`222team£225g5289.0£5>03356Eo_u:<33.0m2:.33:
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEEWarbfifMCEorIZfiafion of America
`
`Exhibit 1009
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`Page 13
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`8:05.85um:Ea95m
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`
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`308%mm:59.25838
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1009 Page 13
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`
`
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`6/6
`
`Copy audio data
`into buffer
`
` Audio data
`
`
`
`
`More
`buffer?
`
`Write data to USB
`
`
`
`
`port
`
`
`
`no
`
`
`FIG. 9
`
`
`
`playlist and other information
`about audio content from
`
`
`Write the data to
`
`
`
`
`Remote Device manager
`
`USB port
`
`
`
`
`
`More data from
`
`More data from
`Remote Device
`Remote Device
`
`
`
`
`manager?
`
`yes
`
`
`
`
`
`Send data to
`
`Remote Device
`manager
`
`
`
`FIG.
`
`IO
`
`SUBSTITUTE SH EEYarbmcE0r®6a)ion of America
`
`Exhibit 1009
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`