Ira Marlowe
`
`From:
`Sent:
`To:
`Cc:
`Bcc:
`
`Nikolsky, Mark
`Fri 2/25/2005 6:53 PM (GMT-05:00)
`i.marlowe@blitzsafe.com
`Friscia, Michael
`
`Final Draft of CIP Application
`Subject:
`Attachments: 3784_001.pdf; 3783_001.pdf; 3787_001.pdf
`
`lra --
`
`Attached is a final draft of the CIP patent application on the Multimedia Device Integration System, which
`incorporates the revisions that we discussed. Also attached is a Declaration and Power of Attorney and a
`revised set of drawings. Please carefully review the application, and if any changes are necessary,
`please initial and date each change on the application.
`If the changes are substantial, please contact
`me. Also, please sign and date the Declaration and Power of Attorney, and provide the residence and
`citizenship information indicated on the form.
`
`Please return the application and the executed Declaration and Power of Attorney to us along with a
`check in the amount of $1,675.00 payable to the Commissioner for Patents to cover the cost of the filing
`fees.
`
`Best regards.
`
`Mark E. Nikolsky, Esq.
`McCarter & English, LLP
`Four Gateway Center
`100 Mulberry Street
`Newark, NJ 07102
`Phone: (973) 639-6987
`Fax: (973) 297-6624
`mailtozmnikolsky@mccarter.com
`
`<<3784_001.pdf>> <<3783_001.pdf>> <<3787_001.pdf>>
`
`This email message from the law firm of McCarter & English, LLP is for the sole use of the
`intended recipient(s)and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized
`review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please
`contact the sender by reply email(or helpdesk@mccarter.com) and destroy all copies of the
`original message.
`
`IPR2016—00418 — Ex. 2009
`Blitzsafe Texas, LDC, Patent Owner
`1
`
` IPR2016-00418 – Ex. 2009
` Blitzsafe Texas, LLC, Patent Owner
` 1
`
`

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`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`INVENTOR:
`
`IRA MARLOWE
`
`TITLE:
`
`MULTIMEDIA DEVICE INTEGRATION SYSTEM
`
`SPECIFICATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
`
`10/732,909 filed December 10, 2003, now U.S. Patent No.
`
`, which is a continuation-in-
`
`part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/316,961 filed December 11, 2002, now U.S. Patent
`
`No.
`
`, the entire disclosures of which applications are both expressly incorporated
`
`herein by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present
`
`invention relates to a multimedia device integration system. More
`
`specifically,
`
`the present
`
`invention relates to a multimedia device integration system for
`
`integrating after—market components such as satellite receivers, CD players, CD changers, digital
`
`media devices (e. g., MP3 players, MP4 players, WMV players, Apple iPod devices, portable
`
`media centers, and other devices), Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receivers, auxiliary audio
`
`sources, video devices (e.g., DVD players), cellular telephones, and other devices for use with
`
`factory~insta1led (OEM) or after-market car stereo and video systems.
`
`35
`
` 35
`
`

`
`RELATED ART
`
`Automobile audio systems have continued to advance in complexity and the number of
`
`options available to automobile purchasers. Early audio systems offered a simple AM and/or
`
`FM tuner, and perhaps an analog tape deck for allowing cassettes, 8—tracks, and other types of
`
`tapes to be played while driving. Such early systems were closed, in that external devices could
`
`not be easily integrated therewith.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`With advances in digital technology, CD players have been included with automobile
`
`audio systems. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMS) often produce car stereos having CD
`
`players and/or changers for allowing CDs to be played while driving. However, such systems
`
`often include proprietary buses and protocols that do not allow after-market audio systems, such
`
`as satellite receivers (e. g., XM satellite tuners), digital audio broadcast (DAB) receivers, digital
`
`media players (e.g., Apple iPod, MP3, MP4, WMV, etc.), CD changers, auxiliary input sources,
`
`video devices (e.g., DVD players), cellular telephones, and the like, to be easily integrated
`
`therewith. Thus, automobile purchasers are frequently forced to either entirely replace the OEM
`
`audio system, or use same throughout the life of the vehicle or the duration of ownership. Even
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`if the OEM radio is replaced with an after-market radio, the after~market radio also frequently is
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`not operable with an external device.
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`A particular problem with integrating after—market audio and video systems with existing
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`car stereo and video systems is that signals generated by both systems are in proprietary formats,
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`and are not capable of being processed by the after—market system. Additionally, signals
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`generated by the after-market system are also in a proprietary format that is not recognizable by
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`the car stereo or video system. Thus, in order to integrate after-market systems with existing car
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`stereo and video systems, it is necessary to convert signals between such systems.
`
`It known in the art to provide one or more expansion modules for OEM and after-market
`
`car stereos for allowing external audio products to be integrated with the car stereo. However,
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`such expansion modules only operate with and allow integration of external audio products
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`manufactured by the same manufacturer as the OEM / after-market car stereo. For example, a
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`satellite receiver manufactured by PIONEER, Inc., cannot be integrated with an OEM car radio
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`manufactured by TOYOTA or an after-market car radio manufactured by CLARION, Inc. Thus,
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`10
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`existing expansion modules only serve the limited purpose of integrating equipment by the same
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`manufacturer as the car stereo. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an integration system that
`
`allows any audio device of any manufacture to be integrated with any OEM or after~market radio
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`system.
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`Further, radio-frequency (RF) transmitters and cassette tape adapters have been
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`developed for allowing music from a device external to a car radio, such as a portable CD player,
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`15
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`to be played through the car radio using the FM receiver or the cassette deck of the radio.
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`However, such systems are often prone to interference, and do not provide high fidelity.
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`Moreover, it would be desirable to provide an integration system that not only achieves
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`integration of various audio and video devices that are alien to a given OEM or after-market car
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`20
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`stereo or video system, but also allows for information to be exchanged between the after-market
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`device and the car stereo or video system. For example, it would be desirable to provide a
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`system wherein station, track, time, and song information can be retrieved from the after-market
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`device, formatted, and transmitted to the car stereo or video system for display thereby, such as
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`at an LCD panel of the car stereo or on one or more display panels of a car video system. Such
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`information could be transmitted and displayed on both hardwired car stereo and video systems
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`(e.g., radios installed in dashboards or at other locations within the car), or integrated for display
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`on one or more software or graphically-driven radio systems operable with graphical display
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`panels. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a multimedia device integration system
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`that allows a user to control more than one device, such as a CD or satellite receiver and one or
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`more auxiliary sources, and to quickly and conveniently switch between same using the existing
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`controls of the car stereo or video system.
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`10
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`Accordingly, the present invention addresses these needs by providing a multimedia
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`device integration system that allows a plurality of after-market devices, such as CD players, CD
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`changers, digital media devices (e.g., MP3 players, MP4 players, Apple iPod, WMV players,
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`portable media centers, and other devices), satellite receivers, DAB receivers, auxiliary input
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`sources, video devices (e. g., DVD players), cellular telephones, or any combination thereof, to be
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`integrated into existing car stereo and video systems while allowing information to be displayed
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`on, and control to be provided from, the car stereo or video system.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to a multimedia device integration system. One or more
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`after-market audio devices, such as CD players, CD changers, digital media devices (e.g., MP3
`
`players, MP4 players, WMV players, Apple iPod devices, portable media centers, and other
`
`devices), satellite receivers (e.g., XM or Sirius receivers), digital audio broadcast (DAB)
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`receiver, or auxiliary input sources, can be connected to and operate with an existing stereo
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`system in an automobile, such as an OEM car stereo system or an after-market car stereo system
`
`installed in the automobile. The integration system connects to and interacts with the car stereo
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`at any available port of the car stereo, such as a CD input port, a satellite input, or other known
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`type of connection.
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`If the car stereo system is an after-market car stereo system, the present
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`invention generates a signal that is sent to the car stereo to keep same in an operational state and
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`responsive to external data and signals. Commands generated at the control panel are received
`
`by the present invention and converted into a fonnat recognizable by the after-market device.
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`The formatted commands are executed by the after-market device, and audio therefrom is
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`channeled to the car stereo.
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`Information from the after—market device is received by the present
`
`invention, converted into a format recognizable by the car stereo, and forwarded to the car stereo
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`for display thereby. The formatted information could include information relating to a CD or
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`MP3 track being played, channel, song, and artist infonnation from a satellite receiver or DAB
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`receiver, or video information from one or more external devices connected to the present
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`20
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`invention. The information can be presented as one or more menus,
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`textual, or graphical
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`prompts for display on an LCD display of the radio, allowing interaction with the user at the
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`radio. A docking port may be provided for allowing portable external audio devices to be
`
`connected to the interface of the present invention.
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`In an embodiment of the present invention, a dual—input device is provided for integrating
`
`both an external audio device and an auxiliary input with an OEM or after-market car stereo.
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`The user can select between the external audio device and the auxiliary input using the controls
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`of the car stereo. The invention can automatically detect the type of device connected to the
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`auxiliary input, and integrate same with the car stereo.
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`In another embodiment of the present invention, an interface is provided for integrating a
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`plurality of auxiliary input sources with an existing car stereo system. A user can select between
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`the auxiliary sources using the control panel of the car stereo. One or more after-market audio
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`devices can be integrated with the auxiliary input sources, and a user can switch between the
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`audio device and the auxiliary input sources using the car stereo. Devices connected to the
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`auxiliary input sources are inter-operable with the car stereo, and are capable of exchanging
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`commands and data via the interface.
`
`In another embodiment of the present invention, an interface is provided for integrating
`
`an external device for use with a car stereo or video system, wherein the interface is positioned
`
`within the car stereo or video system. The system comprises a car stereo or video system; an
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`after-market device external to the car stereo or video system; an interface positioned within the
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`car stereo or video system and connected between the car stereo or video system and the after-
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`20
`
`market device for exchanging data and audio or video signals between the car stereo or video
`
`system and the after-market device; means for processing and dispatching commands for
`
`controlling the after-market device from the car stereo or video system in a format compatible
`
`with the after-market device; and means for processing and displaying data from the after-market
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`device on a display of the car stereo or video system in a format compatible with the car stereo or
`
`video system. The after-market device could comprise one or more of a CD changer, CD player,
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`satellite receiver (e.g., XM or Sirius), digital media device (e.g., MP3, MP4, WMV, or Apple
`
`iPod device), video device (e.g., DVD player), cellular telephone, or any combination thereof.
`
`In another embodiment of the present invention, an interface is provided for integrating a
`
`cellular telephone for use with a car stereo or video system. The system comprises a car stereo
`
`or Video system; a cellular telephone external to the car stereo or video system; an interface
`
`connected between the car stereo or video system and the cellular telephone for exchanging data
`
`and audio or video signals between the car stereo or video system and the cellular telephone;
`
`means for processing and dispatching commands for controlling the cellular telephone from the
`
`car stereo or video system in a format compatible with the cellular telephone; and means for
`
`processing and displaying data from the cellular telephone on a display of the car stereo or video
`
`system in a format compatible with the car stereo or video system.
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`10
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`In another embodiment of the present invention, an interface is provided for integrating
`
`an external video system for use with a car video system. The system comprises a car video
`
`system; an after-market video device extemal to the car video system; an interface connected
`
`between the car video system and the after-market video device for exchanging data, audio, and
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`20
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`video signals between the car video system and the after-market video device; means for
`
`processing and dispatching commands for controlling the after—market video device from the car
`
`video system in a format compatible with the after-market video device; and means for
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`processing and displaying data from the after-market video device on a display of the car video
`
`system in a format compatible with the car video system.
`
`The present invention also provides an interface for integrating a plurality of aftermarket
`
`devices for use with a car stereo or video system using a single interface.
`
`In one embodiment,
`
`the system comprises an interface in electrical communication with a car stereo or video system
`
`and an after-market device; a plurality of configuration jumpers in the interface for specifying a
`
`first device type corresponding to the car stereo or video system and a second device type
`
`corresponding to the afier-market device; and a plurality of protocol conversion software blocks
`
`stored in memory in the interface for converting signals from the after-market device into a first
`
`format compatible with the car stereo or video system and for converting signals from the car
`
`stereo or video system into a second format compatible with the after-market device, wherein at
`
`least one of the protocol conversion software blocks are selected by the interface using settings
`
`of the plurality of configuration jumpers.
`
`In another embodiment, the system comprises an
`
`interface in electrical communication with a car stereo or video system and an after-market
`
`device; first and second wiring harnesses attached to the interface, wherein the first wiring
`
`harness includes a first electrical configuration corresponding to the car stereo or video system
`
`and the second wiring harness includes a second electrical configuration corresponding to the
`
`10
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`15
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`after-market device; and a plurality of protocol conversion software blocks stored in memory in
`
`20
`
`the interface for converting signals from the after-market device into a first format compatible
`
`with the car stereo or video system and for converting signals from the car stereo or video system
`
`into a second format compatible with the after-market device, wherein at least one of the
`
`protocol conversion software blocks are selected by the interface using the first and second
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`
`electrical configurations of the first and second wiring harnesses. A plurality of wiring harnesses
`
`can be provided for integrating a plurality of devices.
`
`The present invention also provides a method for integrating an after-market device for
`
`use with a car stereo or video system, comprising the steps of interconnecting the car stereo or
`
`video system and the after-market device with an interface; determining a first device type
`
`corresponding to the car stereo or video system and a second device type corresponding to the
`
`after-market device; loading a protocol conversion software block from memory in the interface
`
`using the first and second device types; converting signals from the aftermarket device into a
`
`10
`
`first format compatible with the car stereo or video system using the protocol conversion
`
`software block; and converting signals from the car stereo or video system into a second format
`
`compatible with the aftermarket device using the protocol conversion software block.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`These and other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the
`
`following Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in connection with the accompanying
`
`drawings, in which:
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the multimedia device integration system of the
`
`present invention.
`
`10
`
`I5
`
`FIG. 2a is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
`
`integration system of the present invention, wherein a CD player is integrated with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 2b is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
`
`integration system of the present invention, wherein a MP3 player is integrated with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 2c is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
`
`integration system of the present invention, wherein a satellite or DAB receiver is integrated with
`
`a car radio.
`
`FIG. 2d is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
`
`20
`
`integration system of the present invention, wherein a plurality of auxiliary input sources are
`
`integrated with a car radio.
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`l0
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`
`FIG. 2e is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
`
`integration system of the present invention, wherein a CD player and a plurality of auxiliary
`
`input sources are integrated with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 2f is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
`
`wherein a satellite or DAB receiver and a plurality of auxiliary input source are integrated with a
`
`car radio.
`
`10
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`15
`
`FIG. 2g is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
`
`wherein a MP3 player and a plurality of auxiliary input sources are integrated with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 2b is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
`
`wherein a plurality of auxiliary interfaces and an audio device are integrated with a car stereo.
`
`FIG. 3a is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a CD player or an auxiliary input source with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 3b is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
`
`integrating both a CD player and an auxiliary input source with a car radio, wherein the CD
`
`20
`
`player and the auxiliary input are switchable by a user.
`
`FIG. 3c is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a plurality of auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
`
`11
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`
`FIG. 3d is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a satellite or DAB receiver with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 4a is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a CD player with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 4b is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a MP3 player with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 4c is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a satellite receiver with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 4d is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a plurality of auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 4e is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a CD player and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`FIG. 41' is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`20
`
`integrating a satellite or DAB receiver and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
`
`FIG. 4g is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`integrating a MP3 player and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car stereo.
`
`12
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`
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`allowing a user to switch between an after—market audio device and one or more auxiliary input
`
`SOLIICCS.
`
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
`
`determining and handling various device types connected to the auxiliary input ports of the
`
`invention.
`
`FIG. 7a is a perspective View of a docking station according to the present invention for
`
`10
`
`retaining an audio device within a car.
`
`FIG. 7b is an end view of the docking station of FIG. 7a.
`
`FIGS. 8a-8b are perspective views of another embodiment of the docking station of the
`
`15
`
`present invention, which includes the multimedia device integration system of the present
`
`invention incorporated therewith.
`
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the components of the docking station of FIGS. 8a-
`
`8b.
`
`20
`
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
`
`integration system of the present invention, wherein the interface is incorporated within a car
`
`stereo or car video system.
`
`13
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`
`FIG. 11a is a diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
`
`integration system of the present invention for integrating a cellular telephone for use with a car
`
`stereo or video system; FIG. 11b is a flowchart showing processing logic for integrating a
`
`cellular telephone for use with a car stereo or video system.
`
`FIG. 12a is a diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the muitimedia device
`
`integration system of the present invention for integrating an after-market video device for use
`
`with a car video system; FIG. 12b is a flowchart showing processing logic for integrating an
`
`after-market video device for use with a car video system.
`
`FIG. 13a is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
`
`integration system of the present
`
`invention, wherein configuration jumpers and protocol
`
`conversion software blocks are provided for integrating after—market devices of various types
`
`using a single inte