`CD
`fv>
`•Vj
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`CD
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`CO
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`05
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`CD
`O
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`
`PTO/SB/05 (05-05)
`Approved for use through 07/31/2006. OMB 0651-0032
`Doc Code:
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Underthe^PagemorkReduction^ActonMSjio^gersonsarejjeguiredJo^esgo^
`UTILITY
`Attorney Docket No.
`PATENT APPLICATION
`TRANSMITTAL
`
`First Inventor
`
`Title
`
`99879-00026
`Ira Marlowe
`
`Multiinvdia Device Integration System
`
`^/On/y for
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`
`
`provisiona^pplic3tion^jnde^^CF^^53(b)^ new non
`
`Express Mail Label
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`EV623706889US
`Commissioner for Patents
`ADDRESS TO: P. O. Box 1450
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`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
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`1. Q Fee Transmittal Form (e.g., PTO/SB/17)
`(Submit an original and a duplicate for fee processing)
`Applicant claims small entity status.
`See 37 CFR1.27.
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`2. HZI
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`3- GZ]
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`]
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`Specification
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`English Translation Document (if applicable)
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`CD Power of
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`If a CONTINUING APPLICATION, check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in the first sentence of the
`specification following the title, or in an Application Data Sheet under 37 CFR 1.76:
`CI! Continuation
`IZH Divisional
`[ZD Continuation-in-part (CIP) of prior application No.: 11/071,667
`Examiner Edward F. Urban
`2618
`Prior application information:
`Art Unit:
`19. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
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`b.
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`1713 Other: Transmittal Letter
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`[3
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`The address associated with Customer Number:
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`27614
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`OR n
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`Correspondence address below
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`Name
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`Address
`
`Michael R. Friscia
`McCarter & English, LLP
`100 Mulberry Street
`Four Gateway Center
`Newark
`USA
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`City
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`I Name V^nnt^jDe^
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`NJ
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`(973) 639-8493
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`Zip Code
`Email Address
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`07102
`mfriscia@mccarter.com
`
`Mu hael R. Friscia
`
`Z M O b
`
`33,884
`
`Date
`Registration No.
`^Attorney/Agent]
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.53(b). The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to file (and by the
`USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.11 and 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 12 minutes
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`3
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`Page 1 of 1125
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`*',1
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`Michael R. Friscia
`Partner
`
`Direct Dial: (973) 639-8493
`Direct Fax: (973) 297-6627
`E-mail: mfriscia@mccarter.com
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
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`
`McCarter & English, LLP
`Four Gateway Center
`100 Mulberry Street
`Newark, NJ 07102-4056
`tel 973.622.4444
`fax 973.624.7070
`www.mccarter.com
`
`fl|McCARTER
`—ENGLISH
`
`A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W
`
`Date: June 27, 2006
`
`Customer No.: 27614
`
`File: 99879-00026
`Inventor(s): Ira Marlowe
`Title: Multimedia Device Integration System
`Express Mail Label No.: EV 623706889 US
`
`Sir:
`
`Enclosed herewith please find the following documents in the above-identified application for Letters
`Patent of the United States:
`
`102
`36
`_X
`X
`X
`X
`
`Pages of Specification including claims 1-91 and 1 page of Abstract
`Sheets of Drawings (Figs. 1-24)
`Utility Patent Application Transmittal Form PTO/SB/05
`Unexecuted Declaration and Power of Attorney (1 sheet)
`Return-addressed Postcard
`Transmittal Letter (2 sheets)
`
`X
`
`Applicant claims small entity status
`
`Basic Filing Fee
`Additional Fees:
`Utility Search Fee
`Utility Examination Fee
`Total number of claims (including multiple dependent claims) 91
`Total number of claims in excess of 20, times $25 71
`Number of independent claims _7
`Number of independent claims minus 3, times $100 _4_
`Fee for multiple dependent claims ($360/$180)
`Fee for each additional 50 sheets exceeding 100 ($125)
`
`TOTAL FILING FEES:
`
`PRIORITY CLAIM:
`
`$ 150.00
`
`$
`$
`
`250.00
`100.00
`
`$ 1.775.00
`
`$ 400.00
`i 0.00
`$ 125.00
`
`s 2.800.00
`
`X Continuation-in-Part
`Continuation
`Divisional, of U.S. Application Serial
`This is a
`No. 11/071.667 filed March 3,2005. which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial No. 10/732.909
`filed December 10. 2003. which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial No. 10/316.961 filed
`December 11. 2002.
`
`HARTFORD
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`NEW YORK CITY
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`1
`i
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`<
`
`!
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`J
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`Page 2 of 1125
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`
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`Date June 27, 2006
`Page Two
`Customer Number 27614
`Express Mail Label NO.EV623706889US
`
`mMcCARTER
`% ENGLISH
`
`Please note that this application is being filed with an unexecuted Declaration and Power of Attorney.
`Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.53, the United States Patent and Trademark Office is respectfully requested to accept
`this application and accord a serial number and filing date as of the date that this application is deposited with
`the U.S. Postal Service for Express Mail. Further, it is respectfully requested that the NOTICE OF MISSING
`PARTS-FILING DATE GRANTED pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.53 be sent to the undersigned attorney.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`McCARTER & ENGLISH, LLP
`
`Michael R^Friscia
`Reg. No. 33,884
`
`MRF/jf
`Enclosures
`
`CERTIFICATE OF MAILING BY EXPRESS MAIL
`
`I hereby certify that this correspondence is being deposited with the United States Postal Service,
`postage prepaid, as "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee", Mailing Label No. EV623706889 to the
`Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 on (nl £y~~)
`\UViptv
`JanelieFava
`
`(date)
`
`ME1\5719693.1
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`Page 3 of 1125
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`1 A
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`--Aft) \
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`«/,
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`Express Mail Label No.: EV623706889US
`
`•
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`INVENTOR:
`
`IRA MARLOWE
`
`5
`
`TITLE:
`
`MULTIMEDIA DEVICE INTEGRATION SYSTEM
`
`10
`
`15
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`SPECIFICATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
`
`11/071,667, filed March 3, 2005, now U.S. Patent No.
`
`, which 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
`
`20
`
`applications are each expressly incorporated herein by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a multimedia device integration system. More
`
`25
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`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
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`30
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`factory-installed (OEM) or after-market car stereo and video systems.
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`l
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`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
`
`5
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`tapes to be played while driving. Such early systems were closed, in that external devices could
`
`not be easily integrated therewith.
`
`With advances in digital technology, CD players have been included with automobile
`
`audio systems. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) often produce car stereos having CD
`
`10
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`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
`
`15
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`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
`
`if the OEM radio is replaced with an after-market radio, the after-market radio also frequently is
`
`not operable with an external device.
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`20
`
`A particular problem with integrating after-market audio and video systems with existing
`
`car stereo and video systems is that signals generated by both systems are in proprietary formats,
`
`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
`
`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
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`5
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`car stereos for allowing external audio products to be integrated with the car stereo. However,
`
`such expansion modules only operate with and allow integration of external audio products
`
`manufactured by the same manufacturer as the OEM / after-market car stereo. For example, a
`
`satellite receiver manufactured by PIONEER, Inc., cannot be integrated with an OEM car radio
`
`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
`
`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
`
`system.
`
`Further, radio-frequency (RF) transmitters and cassette tape adapters have been
`
`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.
`
`However, such systems are often prone to interference, and do not provide high fidelity.
`
`Moreover, it would be desirable to provide an integration system that not only achieves
`
`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
`
`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
`
`information could be transmitted and displayed on both hardwired car stereo and video systems
`
`(e.g., radios installed in dashboards or at other locations within the car), or integrated for display
`
`on one or more software or graphically-driven radio systems operable with graphical display
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`5
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`panels. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a multimedia device integration system
`
`that allows a user to control more than one device, such as a CD or satellite receiver and one or
`
`more auxiliary sources, and to quickly and conveniently switch between same using the existing
`
`controls of the car stereo or video system. Still further, it would be desirable to provide a
`
`multimedia device integration system that allows for wireless integration of portable devices for
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`10
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`use with car audio and/or video systems, wherein full remote control of the portable device is
`
`provided at the controls of the car system.
`
`Accordingly, the present invention addresses these needs by providing a multimedia
`
`device integration system that allows a plurality of after-market devices, such as CD players, CD
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`15
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`changers, digital media devices (e.g., MP3 players, MP4 players, Apple iPod, WMV players,
`
`portable media centers, and other devices), satellite receivers, DAB receivers, auxiliary input
`
`sources, video devices (e.g., DVD players), cellular telephones, or any combination thereof, to be
`
`integrated into existing car stereo and video systems while allowing information to be displayed
`
`on, and control to be provided from, the car stereo or video system.
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`4
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a multimedia device integration system. One or more
`
`after-market audio devices, such as CD players, CD changers, digital media devices (e.g., MPS
`
`players, MP4 players, WMV players, Apple iPod devices, portable media centers, and other
`
`5
`
`devices), satellite receivers (e.g., XM or Sirius receivers), digital audio broadcast (DAB)
`
`receiver, or auxiliary input sources, can be connected to and operate with an existing stereo
`
`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
`
`at any available port of the car stereo, such as a CD input port, a satellite input, or other known
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`10
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`type of connection. If the car stereo system is an after-market car stereo system, the present
`
`invention generates a signal that is sent to the car stereo to keep same in an operational state and
`
`responsive to external data and signals. Commands generated at the control panel are received
`
`by the present invention and converted into a format recognizable by the after-market device.
`
`The formatted commands are executed by the after-market device, and audio therefrom is
`
`15
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`channeled to the car stereo. 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
`
`for display thereby. The formatted information could include information relating to a CD or
`
`MP3 track being played, channel, song, and artist information from a satellite receiver or DAB
`
`receiver, or video information from one or more external devices connected to the present
`
`20
`
`invention. The information can be presented as one or more menus, textual, or graphical
`
`prompts for display on an LCD display of the radio, allowing interaction with the user at the
`
`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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`5
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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.
`
`The user can select between the external audio device and the auxiliary input using the controls
`
`of the car stereo. The invention can automatically detect the type of device connected to the
`
`5
`
`auxiliary input, and integrate same with the car stereo.
`
`In another embodiment of the present invention, an interface is provided for integrating a
`
`plurality of auxiliary input sources with an existing car stereo system. A user can select between
`
`the auxiliary sources using the control panel of the car stereo. One or more after-market audio
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`10
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`devices can be integrated with the auxiliary input sources, and a user can switch between the
`
`audio device and the auxiliary input sources using the car stereo. Devices connected to the
`
`auxiliary input sources are inter-operable with the car stereo, and are capable of exchanging
`
`commands and data via the interface.
`
`15
`
`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
`
`after-market device external to the car stereo or video system; an interface positioned within the
`
`car stereo or video system and connected between the car stereo or video system and the after-
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`20
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`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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`6
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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,
`
`satellite receiver (e.g., XM or Sirius), digital media device {e.g., MPS, MP4, WMV, or Apple
`
`iPod device), video device {e.g., DVD player), cellular telephone, or any combination thereof.
`
`5
`
`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
`
`10
`
`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.
`
`15
`
`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 external to the car video system; an interface connected
`
`between the car video system and the after-market video device for exchanging data, audio, and
`
`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 after-market
`
`5
`
`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 after-market device; and a plurality of protocol conversion software blocks
`
`10
`
`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
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`15
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`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
`
`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
`
`5
`
`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 after-market device into a
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`10
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`first format compatible with the car stereo or video system using the protocol conversion
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`software block; and converting signals from the car stereo or video system into a second format
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`compatible with the after-market device using the protocol conversion software block.
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`The present invention further provides a multimedia device integration system that allows
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`for the wireless integration of a portable audio and/or video device with a car audio and/or video
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`system. The portable device could comprise a CD changer, CD player, satellite receiver (e.g.,
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`XM or Sirius), digital media device (e.g., MP3, MP4, WMV, or Apple iPod device), video
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`device (e.g., DVD player), or a cellular telephone. The portable device includes a wireless
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`interface and an integration subsystem positioned within the portable device. The wireless
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`interface establishes a wireless communications channel between the portable device and the car
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`system, and allows for the wireless exchange of control commands, data, video, and audio
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`signals between the portable device and the car system. The integration module receives control
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`commands issued at the car system and transmitted over the wireless channel, processes same
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`into a format compatible with the portable device, and dispatches same to the portable device for
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`execution thereby.
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`The integration module also receives data from
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`the portable device
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`(including, but not limited to, track information, song information, artist information, time
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`information, and other related information), processes the data into a format compatible with the
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`car system, and transmits same over the wireless channel to the car system for display thereon.
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`Optionally, the integration module could be positioned within the car system.
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`The integration module could also include a voice recognition subsystem for acquiring
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`spoken commands from a user, converting same into control commands compatible with the
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`portable device, and dispatching the processed control commands to the portable device for
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`execution thereby. The voice commands could be received at the car audio and/or video system
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`(i.e., using a microphone connected to the car audio and/or video system or some other vehicle
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`component), or at the portable device (i.e., using a microphone connected to or forming a part of
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`the portable device). Additionally, the integration module could include a speech synthesizer for
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`generating synthesized speech for conveying data generated by the portable device to a user.
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`The synthesized speech could be channeled to the car audio and/or video system by the
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`integration module to be played through the car audio and/or video system.
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`The present invention further provides a multimedia device integration system that allows
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`for the integration of a portable audio and/or video device with a car audio and/or video system
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`using a docking slot provided in the car system. The portable device includes an integration
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`module positioned within the portable device and an external interface for allowing electrical
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`communication with the car system via the docking slot. Optionally, the integration module
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`could be positioned within the car audio or video system. The integration module could also
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`include a voice recognition subsystem for acquiring spoken commands from a user, converting
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`same into control commands compatible with the portable device, and dispatching the processed
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`control commands to the portable device for execution thereby. Additionally, the integration
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`5 module could include a speech synthesizer for generating synthesized speech for conveying data
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`generated by the portable device to a user.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`These and other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the
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`following Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in connection with the accompanying
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`drawings, in which:
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the multimedia device integration system of the
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`present invention.
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`FIG. 2a is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a CD player is integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2b is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a MPS player is integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2c is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a satellite or DAB receiver is integrated with
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`a car radio.
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`FIG. 2d is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a plurality of auxiliary input sources are
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`integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2e is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the multimedia device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a CD player and a plurality of auxiliary
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`input sources are integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2f is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`wherein a satellite or DAB receiver and a plurality of auxiliary input source are integrated with a
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`car radio.
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`FIG. 2g is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`10 wherein a MP3 player and a plurality of auxiliary input sources are integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2h is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`wherein a plurality of auxiliary interfaces and an audio device are integrated with a car stereo.
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`FIG. 3 a is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
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`integrating a CD player or an auxiliary input source with a car radio.
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`FIG. 3b is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
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`integrating both a CD player and an auxiliary input source with a car radio, wherein the CD
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`player and the auxiliary input are switchable by a user.
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`FIG. 3c is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
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`integrating a plurality of auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
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`FIG. 3d is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
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`integrating a satellite or DAB receiver with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4a is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a CD player with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4b is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a MP3 player with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4c is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a satellite receiver with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4d is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a plurality of auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4e is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a CD player and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4f is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a satellite or DAB receiver and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4g is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a MPS player and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car stereo.
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`FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`allowing a user to switch between an after-market audio device and one or more auxiliary input
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`sources.
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`FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`determining and handling various device types connected to the auxiliary input ports of the
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`invention.
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`FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a docking statio