(12) United States Patent
`Bhogal et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,629,197 B1
`Sep. 30, 2003
`
`US006629197B1
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STORING
`DIGITAL AUDIO DATA AND EMULATING
`MULTIPLE CD_CHANGER UNITS
`
`6,137,047 A * 10/2000 Sugiyama .................. .. 84/626
`6,137,677 A * 10/2000 Ganthier et al. .......... .. 361/683
`6,182,242 B1 * 1/2001 Brogan et al. .............. .. 714/26
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Kulvir Singh Bhogal, Austin, TX (US);
`Nizamudeen Ishmael, Jr,’ Austin, TX
`(US); Baljeet Singh Baweja, Austin,
`TX (US); Mandeep Sidhu, Austin, TX
`(Us)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USO 154(k)) by 0 days'
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(51)
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`_
`App1'NO"09/704’570
`Filed:
`Nov. 3, 2000
`
`7
`Int. Cl. .............................................. .. G06F 12/00
`US. Cl. ...................... .. 711/111; 711/163; 711/164;
`369/2; 369/6; 709/219; 703/24
`Field of Search .............................. .. 369/1, 2, 6, 7;
`703/24, 25; 711/111, 163, 164; 709/219
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,131,089 A * 7/1992 Cole ......................... .. 703/24
`531613131 A 11/1992 Borchardt et a1‘
`369/1
`
`' ' ' ' ' " 369/2
`369/75.1
`_ _ _ n 381/86
`369089
`703/24
`_ 703/24 X
`369/32
`395/825
`. . . . . .. 369/2
`395/500
`
`8/1993 Masaru ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
`5’235’568 A
`5,253,218 A * 10/1993 Suzuki .... ..
`5,339,362 A * 8/1994 Hams _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
`5,457,677 A * 10/1995 Yamashita et aL
`5,473,765 A * 12/1995 Gibbons et a1_ __
`5,475,836 A * 12/1995 Harris et a1, ____ __
`5,633,843 A * 5/1997 Gupta et al.
`5,640,592 A *
`6/ 1997 R410 ~~~~~~~~~~~ --
`5,790,481 A
`8/1998 Meitner . . . . .
`537943013 A : 8/1998 McBrearty
`2 *
`$332225; ilt'a'l"
`70304
`6’O35’116 A * 30000 Terada et a1‘
`369”
`6:041:03 A
`3/2OOO Lakhansingh _
`701/213
`6,055,478 A * 4/2OOO Heron ________ __
`6,061,306 A
`5/2000 Buchheim .................... .. 369/2
`6,117,186 A * 9/2000 Wydall et al. ............... .. 717/9
`
`"
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`DE
`EP
`JP
`JP
`W0
`
`019546380 A1 * 6/1996
`29921681
`12/1999
`999549 A2 11/1999
`403192426 A * 8/1991
`07271525 A * 10/1995
`WO 00/11793
`3/2000
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`......... .. G06F/13/12
`
`G06F/3/06
`........... .. G06F/3/08
`
`19546380'*
`Engh_sh translanon of
`“Audio Services Repair Forum—computer emulated cd
`changer”, http://WWW.d]cafe.com, Oct. 9, 1999.
`“The KraZyKarl.com Car MP3 Player”, http://WWW.kra
`Zykarl.com/mp3car, Aug. 18, 2000.
`“AiWa car CD—MP3 player”, http://slashdot.org, May 6,
`2000
`Moore, “HoW Do I Create a Streaming Audio Java Applet?”,
`Dr_ Dobb’s Journal, V_ 23, n_ 5, pp‘ 122F124, May 1998_
`*
`_
`_
`‘med by exammer
`Primary Examiner—Aristotelis M. Psitos
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jeffrey S. LaBaW; Joseph
`R. BurWell
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for processing digital audio data is presented. A
`Control Signal for a CD_Changer unit is received and inter_
`preted by a digital audio unit that stores digital audio
`
`data/?les and that determines a CD-chan er unit 0 eration
`g
`.
`.
`p
`that Would be performed by the CD-changer unit in response
`to the CD-changer unit receiving the control signal. The
`digital audio unit then emulates the CD-changer unit opera
`tion. The CD-changer unit to be emulated by the digital
`audio unit can be selected. The digital audio data stored by
`the digital audio unit can be organized as virtual CD-ROMs.
`By emulating the Operations of multiple types of
`CD-changer units, a single digital audio unit can be inserted
`in many different digital audio systems, thereby extending
`the functionality of a digital audio system to include storage
`of softcopy digital audio ?les that may be accessed through
`controls and commands for a CD-changer unit.
`
`17 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`EMULATOR UNIT
`
`DIGITAL AUDIO FILE
`DATABASE
`E
`
`DIP SWITCH DETECTION
`UNIT
`w
`
`SIGNAL ANALYZER UNIT
`
`DIGITAL AUDIO FILE DB
`MANAGER UNIT
`@
`
`SIGNAL/COMMAND
`GENERATION UNIT
`316 ~
`
`Sagas/gig“
`DATABASE
`g
`
`USER 'NTERFACE UN'T
`
`SIGNAL/COMMAND
`INTERPRETER UNIT
`%
`
`USER
`CONFIGURABILITY UNIT
`
`Petitioner Toyota Motor Corp. Exhibit 1008
`1008.0001
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 30, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of3
`
`US 6,629,197 B1
`
`11°
`\
`
`CPU
`
`114 ’\1
`
`RAM
`
`134
`
`2
`DISPLAY
`ADAPTER
`
`136
`
`2
`
`N 113
`
`DISPLAY
`
`116 ’\,
`
`ROM _
`
`118 ’\.1
`
`I/O ADAPTER —
`
`USER INTERFACE w 128
`ADAPTER
`
`USER INPUT
`DEVICE M 130
`
`122
`
`COMMUNICATION
`ADAPTER
`
`4
`
`COMMUNICATION
`LINK
`
`2
`
`p
`
`FIG. 1
`
`200
`
`CAR STEREO UNIT
`E
`
`DIGITAL AUDIO STORAGE AND
`CD-CI-IANGER EMULATOR UNIT
`2%
`
`CD-CHANGER
`UNIT
`2M
`
`USER
`CONTROLS
`E
`
`DIGITAL AUDIO
`FILES
`A;
`
`FIG. 2
`
`CD-ROM's
`E
`
`Petitioner Toyota Motor Corp. Exhibit 1008
`1008.0002
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 30, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 0f 3
`
`US 6,629,197 B1
`
`EMULATOR UNIT
`3Q
`
`DIGITAL AUDIO FILE
`DATABASE
`§_0§
`
`DIP SWITCH DETECTION
`UNIT
`m
`
`SIGNAL ANALYZER UNIT
`Q29
`
`DIGITAL AUDIO FILE DB
`MANAGER UNIT
`306
`
`—
`
`SIGNAL/COMMAND
`GENERATION UNIT
`316
`
`——
`
`sig'ggg??l
`DATABASE
`
`L312.
`
`USER INTERFACE UNIT
`@
`
`SIGNAL/COMMAND
`INTERPRETER UNIT
`314
`
`USER
`CONFIGURABILITY UNIT
`310
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Petitioner Toyota Motor Corp. Exhibit 1008
`1008.0003
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 30, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`US 6,629,197 B1
`
`I
`
`BEGIN
`
`I
`
`V
`PERFORM STARTUP INITIALIZATION
`&
`
`V
`
`DETECT THE TYPE OF CD-CHANGER TO BE EMULATED
`119.4
`
`Y
`
`WAIT FOR SIGNALS/COMMAND FROM THE BASE UNIT
`@
`
`SIGNALS/
`COMMAND
`RECEIVED?
`@
`
`NO
`
`DETERMINE TYPE OF COMMAND BASED ON EMULATED TYPE OF CD-CHANGER UNIT
`59
`
`PERFORM PROCESSING ASSOCIATED WITH RECEIVED COMMAND
`Q
`
`RETURN DATA TO BASE UNIT
`m
`
`UNIT SHUTDOWN?
`
`NO
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Petitioner Toyota Motor Corp. Exhibit 1008
`1008.0004
`
`

`
`US 6,629,197 B1
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STORING
`DIGITAL AUDIO DATA AND EMULATING
`MULTIPLE CD-CHANGER UNITS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`portable digital audio device, this user might become frus
`trated from the inability to play digital audio ?les through
`the car stereo system.
`Essentially, the user is required to deal With digital audio
`?les stored in different formats that can only be used on
`certain equipment. The user may continue to use CDs from
`a CD collection in a personal computer, home stereo, and car
`stereo. The user may also record digital audio ?les from a
`personal CD collection to create a digital audio ?le library,
`Which is enhanced With ?les purchased or legally shared and
`doWnloaded from the Internet. The library of digital audio
`?les might be archived on a personal computer, but these
`?les can be temporarily copied to a portable digital audio
`device.
`Once a user has built a personal digital audio ?le library,
`the user may become frustrated With the inability to play
`back digital audio ?les on certain equipment. For example,
`a user may be required to remember Which digital audio ?les
`are oWned only in a CD-ROM format. The user must then
`physically transfer CD-ROMs betWeen locations When the
`user desires to playback the digital audio on these CDs in
`different locations. Data in hardcopy format, such as CDs, is
`becoming increasingly inconvenient in a computing envi
`ronment in Which devices are continually connected via the
`Internet and in Which data can be easily transferred in
`softcopy format.
`In order to reduce the number of times in Which a user
`must physically transfer CDs to and from an audio system,
`many users have enhanced audio systems With a
`CD-changer unit that stores many audio CDs and that alloWs
`another piece of equipment in the audio system to control the
`CD-changer unit. In contrast to an audio unit that receives
`and plays a single CD, the CD-changer unit acts as a jukebox
`for storing, choosing, and playing many CDs. The user then
`has easy access to playing many CDs at any given time.
`The CDs stored Within a CD-changer unit, hoWever,
`might represent only a small subset of the user’s digital
`audio library. The user is still required to physically transfer
`the digital audio ?les in a physical medium, ie the
`CD-ROMs. When compared With the ease of transferring
`and using digital audio ?les in softcopy format With certain
`types of equipment, one can understand the inconvenience
`of continuing to use a CD library in hardcopy format. This
`is particularly frustrating given the Widely held assumption
`that CDs Were to be the ultimate format for storing and
`playing digital audio.
`Currently oWned audio equipment may be adequate
`except for the fact that the audio equipment does not have
`the ability to receive, store, or play digital audio ?les that are
`available only in softcopy format. Updating an audio system
`by replacing audio equipment in this situation seems expen
`sive and unnecessary. Many audiophiles desire an alterna
`tive solution that alloWs them to keep their presently-oWned
`audio equipment While updating the system With neW func
`tionality for receiving, storing, or playing digital audio ?les
`in softcopy format. This situation is particularly true for
`those persons Who have previously purchased expensive
`CD-changer units that Were Widely regarded as necessary
`equipment for easy access to CDs.
`Therefore, it Would be advantageous to provide a system
`in Which audio equipment can be enhanced With function
`ality for receiving, storing, or playing digital audio ?les in
`softcopy format. It Would be particularly advantageous to
`augment an existing system containing a CD-changer unit
`With the desired functionality Without having to physically
`modify the equipment in the existing audio system.
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to an improved data pro
`cessing system and, in particular, to a method and apparatus
`for enhancing storage and playback of digital audio data.
`2. Description of Related Art
`While portable CD players have been Widely available for
`many years, other types of digital audio devices,
`applications, and services have recently become very popu
`lar. CD-ROM players are standard equipment on many
`personal computers, and many free or commercially avail
`able applications alloW a user to record digital audio data
`from a CD onto the hard drive of a personal computer.
`Internet connections have also become standard features
`on most home computers. With the expanding commercial
`uses of the Internet, many neW applications and devices have
`been developed and are being developed that connect to the
`Internet and use the Internet in a variety of Ways. With the
`increasing availability of broadband connections, many
`home computers noW have the ability to transmit and receive
`large amounts of data With relative ease. As a consequence,
`large digital audio ?les are noW commonly transmitted
`across the Internet. In addition, many softWare applications
`and services are available for alloWing users to buy and/or
`share digital audio ?les.
`As With many digital appliances and devices, portable
`digital audio devices have become Internet-enabled in some
`manner. Relatively inexpensive portable devices noW pro
`vide the ability to store large amounts of digital audio data
`in standard or ?ash random access memory (RAM).
`Typically, the digital audio data has been doWnloaded from
`the Internet or recorded from a CD onto a hard drive of a
`personal computer, and the digital audio data is then trans
`ferred into the digital audio device or into a ?ash RAM
`component that is subsequently placed into the digital audio
`device.
`Although other data formats are also popular, the most
`popular ?le format for digital audio data is MP3, a form of
`MPEG-3 compression and encoding. Hence, as shorthand or
`slang, many portable digital audio devices are knoWn as
`MP3 players. MP3 ?les can be doWnloaded through the
`Internet and stored into an MP3 player.
`With the popularity of the MP3 ?le format and other types
`of digital audio ?les, many traditional types of digital audio
`equipment are being enhanced to receive and store digital
`audio ?les. Home stereos and car stereos are noW manufac
`tured With the capability of either directly storing and
`playing digital audio ?les and/or interfacing With digital
`audio storage devices, such as MP3 players.
`While many people have become accustomed to purchas
`ing neW digital devices With the neWest capabilities, many
`people are disappointed With the trend of replacing devices
`that are otherWise fully functional except for the fact that the
`older devices do not have the neWest functionality. For
`example, a user may oWn a relatively neW car stereo system
`that contains a sophisticated CD changer unit With digital
`radio capability for so-called satellite broadcast, CD-quality
`radio. HoWever, the user may noW frequently use a neWer
`portable digital audio device, such as an MP3 player, and
`because the car stereo system lacks an interface for the
`
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`
`Petitioner Toyota Motor Corp. Exhibit 1008
`1008.0005
`
`

`
`US 6,629,197 B1
`
`3
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A method, an apparatus, a system, and a computer pro
`gram product for processing digital audio data is presented.
`A control signal for a CD-changer unit is received and
`interpreted by a digital audio unit that stores digital audio
`data/?les. The digital audio unit determines a CD-changer
`unit operation that Would be performed by the CD-changer
`unit in response to the CD-changer unit receiving the control
`signal. The digital audio unit then emulates the CD-changer
`unit operation. The CD-changer unit to be emulated by the
`digital audio unit can be selected from a set of CD-changer
`units. In one case, the digital audio unit can detect a control
`signal for a CD-changer unit and then automatically select
`the type of CD-changer unit to be emulated based on the
`detected control signal. In a second case, the digital audio
`unit can receive a user selection for selecting a type of
`CD-changer unit to be emulated. The softcopy digital audio
`?les stored Within the digital audio unit are thereby accessed
`through the controls and commands for a CD-changer unit.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The novel features believed characteristic of the invention
`are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,
`further objectives, and advantages thereof, Will be best
`understood by reference to the folloWing detailed descrip
`tion When read in conjunction With the accompanying
`draWings, Wherein:
`FIG. 1 depicts a computer architecture in Which the
`present invention may be implemented;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting the relationship
`betWeen the present invention and other components in an
`audio system;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting functional units that
`may be incorporated into a digital audio storage and
`CD-changer emulator unit in accordance With a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIG. 4 is a ?oWchart shoWing some of the processing that
`may be performed by a digital audio ?le storage and
`CD-emulator unit in accordance With a preferred embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`With reference noW to FIG. 1, a diagram depicts the
`architecture of a data processing system in Which the present
`invention may be implemented. The present invention is a
`digital audio system that is preferably embodied in a mobile
`or portable package and has a basic computer architecture.
`Those of ordinary skill in the art Will appreciate that the
`hardWare in FIG. 1 may vary depending on the system
`implementation. For example, the system may have one or
`more processors, and other peripheral devices may be used
`in addition to or in place of the hardWare depicted in FIG.
`1. The depicted examples are not meant to imply architec
`tural limitations With respect to the present invention. In
`addition to being able to be implemented on a variety of
`hardWare platforms, the present invention may be imple
`mented in a variety of softWare environments. A typical
`operating system or softWare runtime environment may be
`used to control program execution Within the data process
`ing system.
`Data processing system 110 contains central processing
`unit (CPU) 112 connected to internal system bus 113, Which
`interconnects random access memory (RAM) 114, read-only
`memory (ROM) 116, and input/output adapter 118, which
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`supports various I/O devices, such as disk units 122 or other
`devices not shoWn. System bus 113 also connects commu
`nication adapter 124 that provides access to communication
`link 126. User interface adapter 128 connects various user
`devices, such as user input device 130, or other devices not
`shoWn, such as a touch screen, stylus, etc. Display adapter
`134 connects system bus 113 to display device 136.
`Since the data processing system is preferably embodied
`as a mobile unit, the internal components may be selected to
`enhance the mobility of the digital audio unit. ROM 116 may
`be a ?ash ROM so that is may be updated With neW softWare
`and data, and RAM 114 may be expanded through the use
`of ?ash memory cards and other types of removable RAM.
`The system may contain additional processors, such as
`digital signal processors (DSPs). Disk storage unit 122 may
`be an IBM MicrodriveTM unit that is capable of storing large
`amounts of digital audio data, other types of data, or
`softWare in a small form factor While being rugged enough
`for portable use. System 110 may be controlled through a
`softWare application executing on the personal computer to
`alloW a user to select various modes of operation, to load
`data on the system. System 110 may also contain other types
`of digital stereo components, such as a digital radio tuner,
`digital satellite radio receiver, etc.
`Communication adapter 124 may alloW system 110 to be
`connected to a personal computer or other device for obtain
`ing digital audio data and other types of data or for updating
`?ash ROM. Communication adapter 124 may also include
`netWork support for connecting system 110 to a local area
`netWork or to the Internet. In addition, communication
`adapter 124 may support various types of Wireless connec
`tions and personal area netWorks. It should also be noted that
`the other devices to Which the portable digital audio device
`interfaces may have a similar computer architecture.
`The present invention may be implemented on a variety of
`hardWare and softWare platforms, as described above. More
`speci?cally, though, the present invention is directed to
`providing a digital audio device for interfacing With other
`audio devices and providing emulation of a CD-changer
`unit. The present invention may be used in a variety of
`digital audio applications and environments, such as a home
`stereo system or a car stereo system. HoWever, for ease of
`presentation and to emphasiZe the necessity for mobile
`digital audio, the examples focus on a car stereo system that
`interfaces With a digital audio device containing the present
`invention. In addition, the present invention is preferably
`embodied in a portable digital audio device.
`As noted above, many audiophiles desire an alternative
`for keeping their presently-oWned audio equipment While
`updating the equipment With neW functionality for
`receiving, storing, or playing digital audio ?les in softcopy
`format. This scenario is particularly true for those persons
`Who have previously purchased expensive CD-changer units
`that Were Widely regarded as necessary equipment for easy
`access to a library of CDs.
`Typically, CD-changer units and car stereo units are
`designed so that they are compatible only if they are made
`by the same manufacturer. In other Words, CD-changers and
`car stereos usually have a proprietary interface, and no
`industry standard currently exists for interfacing different
`makes of CD-changers and car stereos.
`By recogniZing the demand for softcopy digital audio ?les
`and the issue of backWard compatibility, the present inven
`tion takes advantage of the interface betWeen stereo units
`and CD-changer units to implement a methodology for
`providing access to softcopy digital audio ?les. The present
`
`Petitioner Toyota Motor Corp. Exhibit 1008
`1008.0006
`
`

`
`US 6,629,197 B1
`
`5
`invention emulates the CD-changer interface, Which is usu
`ally a hardwired interface for providing access to hardcopy
`digital audio ?les stored on CDs that are stored Within the
`CD-changer, so that a stereo unit using the CD-changer
`interface can access softcopy digital audio ?les through its
`CD-changer interface. In addition, the present invention
`enables a CD-changer to “piggyback” on a digital audio
`device containing the present invention so that the current
`jukebox functionality of storing and accessing CDs Within a
`CD-changer is still available.
`With reference noW to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts the
`relationship betWeen the present invention and other com
`ponents in an audio system. System 200 shoWs a car stereo
`system containing car stereo unit 202, CD-changer unit 204,
`and digital audio storage and CD-changer emulator unit 206,
`hereinafter termed “emulator unit” for ease of reference. Car
`stereo unit 202 represents one or more stereo components,
`such as a tuner, CD -player, equalizer, etc., that may be found
`in the dashboard of a vehicle for easy access by a user. Car
`stereo unit 202, Which can be understood as a type of base
`unit, is assumed to have user controls 208 for requesting the
`loading/unloading and playback of CDs stored Within a
`CD-changer unit. Again, depending on the environment in
`Which the present invention is deployed, other types of base
`units may be present, such as a home stereo unit and/or
`ampli?er/integrator rather than a car stereo unit. User con
`trols 208 may be physical controls, like push buttons and
`dials, or user controls 208 may be virtual controls presented
`Within a graphical user interface.
`CD-changer unit 204 represents a unit that stores and
`loads CD-ROMs 210 on command in a manner similar to a
`jukebox. In a typical car stereo system, a car stereo unit
`interfaces directly With a CD-changer through an appropri
`ate cable linking the tWo units. In accordance With a pre
`ferred embodiment of the present invention, emulator unit
`206 resides as an intermediary unit betWeen car stereo unit
`202 and CD-changer unit 204. Emulator unit 206 interfaces
`and communicates With both the car stereo unit and the
`CD-changer unit. In addition, emulator unit 206 contains
`digital audio ?les 212 that may be accessed by a user
`through car stereo unit 202 in Which digital audio ?les 212
`are organiZed as virtual CD-ROMs, as explained in more
`detail further beloW.
`These units may be linked through a variety of commu
`nication links. Physical cables may be used to connect the
`emulator unit With the car stereo/base unit and/or the
`CD-changer unit. Alternatively, a Wireless communication
`link may be used, such as infrared, BluetoothTM, or some
`type of Wireless personal area netWork, and the choice of
`communication link may depend on the deployed environ
`ment and the form factors of one or more of the units. In a
`typical car stereo, a CD-changer unit is kept in the trunk of
`a vehicle because the CD-changer unit may be relatively
`large and not easily hidden in a glovebox or under a seat. The
`emulator unit of the present invention may be implemented
`in a variety of form factors so that it may be located in a
`variety of positions Within a vehicle. In the example of
`interfacing With a car stereo unit, the emulator unit might be
`incorporated into a dashboard, or the emulator unit might be
`connected to a CD-changer unit and collocated With the
`CD-changer unit. Alternatively, the emulator unit may be
`positioned in an independent docking station that accepts
`portable electronics, possibly in a standard manner such that
`the docking station also accepts other types of MP3 players.
`When the docking station does not contain an emulator unit,
`hoWever, the base unit and the CD-changer unit may con
`tinue to function cooperatively. As another alternative, the
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`emulator unit of the present invention may be physically
`coupled With the base unit or the CD-changer unit through
`electronic contact rather than by Wire or Wireless commu
`nication links. Again, those of ordinary skill in the art Will
`appreciate that the hardWare and softWare that are used to
`support the present invention may vary depending on the
`system implementation.
`The manner in Which the emulator unit operates to
`enhance the car stereo system by adding the functionality of
`storing and playing digital audio ?les in softcopy format is
`described in more detail in the folloWing ?gures.
`With reference noW to FIG. 3, a block diagram depicts
`functional units that may be incorporated into a digital audio
`storage and CD-changer emulator unit in accordance With a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention. Emulator
`unit 302 contains user interface unit 304, Which enables user
`input into the emulator unit in various manners.
`In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a
`portable device, so the emulator unit may contain a user
`interface similar to interfaces found on other types of
`commercially available, portable, digital audio devices. The
`user interface unit interprets user selection of physical
`controls on the exterior of the emulator unit, such as
`“Play”,“ReWind”,“Fast Forward”, “Shuf?e”,“Playlists”,etc.
`In addition, the emulator unit may contain a standard CD
`slot for accepting one or more CDs directly into the emulator
`unit, and the emulator unit may contain other components
`for accepting other types of physical media, such as cassette
`tapes, etc. Alternatively, the emulator unit may not have an
`exterior user interface and is only controlled electronically
`through another device.
`The emulator unit may also physically interface With a
`personal computer through a variety of means, such as a
`docking station or With direct connections like serial, Uni
`versal Serial Bus (USB), or parallel I/O connections, in a
`manner similar to that found on other types of commercially
`available portable digital audio devices. The user interface
`unit can accept and interpret commands received from an
`external device that directs the operation of the emulator
`unit. For example, user interface unit 304 can accept a
`command directing the emulator unit to store digital audio
`?les in the emulator device, in Which case user interface unit
`304 operates in conjunction With digital audio ?le database
`manager unit 306 to allocate space and store the doWnloaded
`?les in digital audio ?le database 308. Examples of the types
`of digital audio ?les that may be stored Within the emulator
`unit include, Without limitation, “.WAV”,“.WMA”,“.AU”,
`“.MIDI”,“.VOC”, “.MP2”,and “.MP3” formatted ?les.
`User interface unit 304 also accepts commands to con
`?gure emulator unit 302, in Which case user interface unit
`304 operates in conjunction With user con?gurability unit
`310 to set certain operational parameters or modes Within
`emulator unit 302 that direct emulator unit 302 to operate in
`a particular manner. The operational parameters may be
`stored in either ?ash ROM, RAM, or other memory media
`as necessary. The functionality of the emulator unit may be
`accomplished through a variety of hardWare and softWare
`Within the emulator unit. The softWare may be stored in a
`combination of ROM and RAM and may be updated With
`neWer versions of softWare.
`While the emulator unit of the present invention may
`operate With some functions similar to that of many com
`mercially available portable digital audio devices, the emu
`lator unit also provides additional functionality by taking
`advantage of the interface betWeen stereo units and
`CD-changer units to implement a methodology for provid
`ing access to softcopy digital audio ?les.
`
`Petitioner Toyota Motor Corp. Exhibit 1008
`1008.0007
`
`

`
`US 6,629,197 B1
`
`7
`CD-changer speci?cation database 312 contains opera
`tional information about various models of CD-changer
`units and the manner in Which emulator unit 302 can
`interface With a particular type of CD-changer unit. User
`interface unit 304 may receive commands that direct user
`con?gurability unit 310 to update or retrieve information
`Within CD-changer speci?cation database 312. A user may
`control a selection of a particular type of CD-changer unit,
`after Which the emulator unit operates in a particular manner
`that is compatible With the CD-changer to Which the emu
`lator unit is connected.
`By selecting a CD-changer in this manner, signal/
`command interpreter unit 314 can detect speci?c control
`indications from the car stereo unit or base unit. The control
`indications may be in a variety of forms, such as analog
`signals, digital signals, digital commands, etc. In a conven
`tional stereo system, signals or commands are sent directly
`from the base unit to the CD-changer unit. In the present
`invention, the user can instruct the emulator unit that it is
`connected to a particular type of CD-changer unit, and the
`emulator unit can monitor its connection With the base unit
`for signals or commands of a certain type as stored Within
`the CD-changer speci?cation database in association With
`the selected type of CD-changer.
`In a similar manner, signal/command generation unit 316
`can generate speci?c signals/commands and data to be
`returned to the car stereo unit or base unit. In a conventional
`stereo system, data is sent directly to the base unit from the
`CD-changer unit. In the present invention, the user can
`instruct the emulator unit that it is connected to a particular
`type of CD-changer unit, and the emulator unit can generate
`data in the necessary format to be sent to the base unit via
`its connection With the base unit as stored Within the
`CD-changer speci?cation database in association With the
`selected type of CD-changer.
`The emulator unit is capable of operating in a variety of
`different modes: pass-thru mode; end-unit mode; combina
`tion mode; and learning mode. The pass-thru mode may
`operate in tWo manners. In a ?rst manner, the emulator unit
`merely receives and forWards commands from the base unit
`to the CD-changer unit and also receives and forWards data
`from the CD-changer unit to the base unit. In a second
`manner, the emulator unit may listen for commands from the
`base unit but otherWise merely acts as a bus for transferring
`signals back and forth from the base unit to the actual
`CD-changer unit.
`In the end-unit mode, the emulator unit replaces the
`CD-changer unit entirely and emulates the presence of a
`CD-changer unit. Digital audio ?les are collected from many
`sources and are organiZed in a variety of Ways, such as genre
`of music, artist, etc. The emulator unit alloWs a user, through
`the appropriate user interface, to organiZe the digital audio
`?le database in a variety of manners, such as by grouping the
`?les by directory or folder. HoWever, the emulator unit also
`provides a manner in Which the user can organiZe the digital
`audio ?les as virtual CDs, and this organiZational informa
`tion is also stored Within digital audio ?le database 308. In
`other Words, the emulator unit provides multiple Ways for a
`user to map tracks, Which are stored as digital audio ?les
`Within the emulator unit, from the database to virtual CDs.
`If the emulator unit also provides a component for receiving
`physical media directly, the emulator unit can also scramble
`the tracks on the physical media so that those tracks are also
`mapped to virtual CDs. In the end-unit mode, the emulator
`unit accepts commands from the base unit and retrieves the
`requested digital data, Whether the data is merely a listing of
`tracks on virtual CDs or actual digital audio data. The data
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`is then returned to the base unit. The base unit is unaWare
`that the CD-changer does not eXist and, in essence, thinks
`that it is actually communicating With an emulator unit.
`In a combination mode, the emulator unit is physically
`connected betWeen the base unit and the CD-changer unit, as
`shoWn in FIG. 2, but the emulator unit Works in conjunction
`With the CD-changer unit. The emulator unit still maps
`tracks, Which are stored as digital audio ?les Within the
`emulator unit, from the database to virtual CDs or from a
`direct physical media to virtual CDs. HoWever, the emulator
`may also read tracks and track information from the actual
`CD-changer