'5 ’ Express Mail Label No. EL548971255US
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`3.E’.../..I...F/.?..T.;.r...
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`i
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`3 UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`M
`m ll En i
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`a
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`ty)
`(Only for new nonprovrsional app/icatrons under 37 CFR 1.53(b))
`TO THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`Box Patent Application
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`Docket No.
`9309/1
`Total Pages in this Submissiep I
`86
`S:
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`Transmitted herewith for filing under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) and 37 C.F.R. 1.53(b) is a new utility patent application for an
`invention entitled:
`udio Device Integration System
`
`1
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`and invented bysl
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`raMarlowe
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`If a CONTINUATION APPLICATION, check appropriate box and supply the requisite information:
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`Cl Continuation Cl Divisional J Continuation-in-part(CIP) ofprior application No.:
`Which is a:
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`El Continuation
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`Enclosed are:
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`Application Elements
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`Specification having
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`56
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`pages and including the followingi
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`3.
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`Descriptive Title of the Invention
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`b. El Cross References to Related Applications (if applicable)
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`c.
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`Statement Regarding Federally-sponsored Research/Development (if applicable)
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`EDD Background of the Invention
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`Reference to Sequence Listing, a Table. or a Computer Program Listing Appendix
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`VI
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`Brief Summary of the Invention
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`8 Brief Description of the Drawings (if filed)
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`E Detailed Description
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`Claim(s) as Classified Below
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`EB Abstract of the Disclosure
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`Paggl of4
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`P01USML/REV06
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`Honda Exhibit 1002
`Page 1 of 1216
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`UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`(Small Entlty)
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`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR 1.53(b))
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`Docket No.
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`9809/1
`i
`[ Total Pages in this Submission
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`86
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`i
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`Application Elements (Continued)
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`Drawing(s) (when necessary as prescribed by 35 USC 113)
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`2!
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`XI
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`Formal
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`Number of Sheets
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`Informal
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`24
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`see 37 CFR. 1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
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`incorporated by reference therein.
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`a b c d
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`Honda Exhibit 1002
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`UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
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`1
`(Only for new nonprov/s/onal applications under 37 CFR 1.53(b))
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`Accompanying Application Parts (Continued)
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`Docket No.
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`9309/1
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`Total Pages in this Submission
`86
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`17. 8 Applicant claims small entity status. See 37 CFR 1.27.
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`published pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(1). Applicant hereby certifies that the invention disclosed
`in this application has not and will not be the subject of an application filed in another country, or
`under a multilateral international agreement, that requires publication of applications 18 months
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`Warning
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`UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`($ma" E_nt_Ity)
`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR 1.53(b))
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`#.
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`Docket No.
`9809/1
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`Total Pages in this Submission
`86
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`Fee Calculation and Transmittal
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`For
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`Total Claims
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`lndep. Claims
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`CLAIMS AS FILED
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`#Allowed
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`- 20 =
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`- 3 =
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`34
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`2
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`54
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`5
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`Multiple Dependent Claims (check if applicable)
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`E]
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`OTHER FEE (specify purpose)
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`Fee
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`$306.00
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`$84.00
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`$000
`$370.00
`$0.00
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`BASIC FEE
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`to cover the filing fee is enclosed.
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`Charge the amount of
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`Credit any overpayment.
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`Dated:
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`Signature
`
`Michael R. Friscia
`Registration No. 33,884
`Wolff & Samson
`5 Becker Farm Road
`Roseland, NJ 07068-1776
`Tel: (973) 533-6599
`Fax: (973) 436-4499
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`1
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`«'2
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`INIHE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Box: Patent Application
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`Re:
`
`Our file:
`
`9809/1
`
`Applicant:
`Serial No;
`
`Filing Date:
`Title:
`
`Ira Marlowe
`
`Audio Device Integration System
`
`Enclosed for filing in the United States Patent and Trademark Office is the following:
`
`Patent Application (56 pages)
`Utility Patent Application Transmittal
`Informal Drawings (FIG. 1-7), 24 pages
`Transmittal Sheet
`
`Postcard Receipt
`
`CONDITIONAL PETITION
`
`If any extension of time is required for tl1e submission of the above-identified items,
`Applicant requests that this be considered a petition therefor.
`Please charge any additional
`charges or any other charges relating to this matter to deposit account of the writer, Account No.
`06-2143. A duplicate copy of this letter is enclosed.
`
`lly submitted,
`
`(Ll\0Z/
`
`Date
`
`o. 33,884
`Registration
`Wolff & Samson
`5 Becker Farm Road
`
`Roseland, NJ 07068-1776
`Tel: (973) 533-6599
`Fax: (973) 436-4499
`I hereby certify that this correspondence is being deposited with the United States Postal
`Service, postage prepaid as “Express Mail Post Office to A ressee,” Mailing Label No.
`El.54897l255US to
`o : Paten Application, Assistant Commi s’
`er or Patents, Washington,
`D.C. 20231 on
`’
`
`. Friscia
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`Express‘Mail Label N0.: EL54897l255US
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`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`INVENTOR:
`
`IRA MARLOWE
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`TITLE:
`
`AUDIO DEVICE INTEGRATION SYSTEM
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`SPECIFICATION
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to an audio device integration system. More specifically,
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`the present invention relates to an audio device integration system for integrating aftcr—market
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`components such as satellite receivers, CD players, CD changers, MP3 players, Digital Audio
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`Broadcast (DAB) receivers, auxiliary audio sources, and the like with factory—installed (OEM) or
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`after-market car stereo systems.
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`RELATED ART
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`Automobile audio systems have continued to advance in complexity and the number of
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`options available to automobile purchasers. Early audio systems offered a simple AM and/or
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`C FM tuner, and perhaps an analog tape deck for allowing cassettes, 8-tracks, and other types of
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`tapes to be played while driving. Such early systems were closed, in that external devices could
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`not be easily integrated therewith.
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`With advances in digital technology, CD players have been included with automobile
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`audio systems. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMS) often produce car stereos having CD
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`players and/or changers for allowing CDs to be played while driving. However, such systems
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`often include proprietary buses and protocols that do not allow after—market audio systems, such
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`as satellite receivers (e.g., XM satellite tuners), digital audio broadcast (DAB) receivers, MP3
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`players, CD changers, auxiliary input sources, and the like, to be easily integrated therewith.
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`Thus, automobile purchasers are frequently forced to either entirely replace the OEM audio
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`system, or use same throughout the life of the vehicle or the duration of ownership. Even if the
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`OEM radio is replaced with an aftermarket radio, the after—market radio also frequently is not
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`operable with an external device.
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`A particular problem with integrating after-market audio systems with existing car
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`stereos is that signals generated by the car stereo is in a proprietary format, and is not capable of
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`being processed by the after—market system. Additionally, signals generated by the after-market
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`system are also in a proprietary format that is not recognizable by the car stereo. Thus, in order
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`to integrate after-market systems with car stereos, it is necessary to convert signals between such
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`systems.
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`It known in the art to provide one or more expansion modules for OEM and after-market
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`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—rnarket car stereo. For example, a
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`satellite receiver manufactured by PIONEER, lne., 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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`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
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`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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`Moreover, it would be desirable to provide an integration system that not only acl1icves
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`integration of various‘ audio devices that are alien to a given OEM or after-market stereo system,
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`but also allows for information to be exchanged between the after-market device and the car
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`stereo. For example, it would be desirable to provide a system wherein station, track, time, and
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`song information can be retrieved from the after-market device, formatted, and transmitted to the
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`car stereo for display thereby, such as at an LCD panel of the car stereo. Such information could
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`be transmitted and displayed on both hardwired radio systems (e.g.,
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`radios installed in
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`dashboards or at other locations within the car), or integrated for display on one or more software
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`or graphical1y—driven radio systems operable with graphical display panels. Additionally, it‘
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`would be desirable to provide an audio integration system that allows a user to control more than
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`one device, such as a CD or satellite receiver and one or more auxiliary sources, and to quickly
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`and conveniently switch between same using the existing controls of the car stereo.
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`Accordingly,
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`the present
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`invention addresses these needs by providing an audio
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`integration system that allows a plurality of audio devices, such as CD players, CD changers,
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`MP3 players, satellite receivers, DAB receivers, auxiliary input sources, or a combination
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`thereof, to be integrated into existing car stereos while allowing information to be displayed on,
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`and control to be provided from, the car stereo.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to an audio device integration system. One or more after-
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`market audio devices, such as a CD player, CD changer, MP3 player, satellite receiver (e.g., XM
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`tuner), digital audio broadcast (DAB) receiver, or auxiliary input source, can be connected to and
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`operate with an existing stereo system in an automobile, such as an OEM car stereo system or an
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`after—market car stereo system installed in the automobile. The integration system connects to
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`and interacts with the car stereo at any available port of the car stereo, such as a CD input port, a
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`satellite input, or other known type of connection. If the car stereo system is an after—market car
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`stereo system, the present invention generates a signal that is sent to the car stereo to keep same
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`in an operational state and responsive to external data and signals. Commands generated at the
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`control panel are received by the present invention and converted into a format recognizable by
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`the afier—market audio device. The formatted commands are executed by the audio device, and
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`audio therefrom is channeled to the car stereo.
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`Information from the audio device is received by
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`the present invention, converted into a format recognizable by the car stereo, and forwarded to
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`the car stereo for display thereby. The formatted information could include information relating
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`to a CD or MP3 track being played, channel, song, and artist information from a satellite receiver
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`or DAB receiver, or video information from one or more external devices connected to the
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`present invention. The information can be presented as one or more menus, 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 is provided for allowing portable external audio devices to be connected
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`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
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`both an .extemal 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—marl(et 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 tl1c 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.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAW]NGS
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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
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`is a block diagram showing the audio device integration system of the present
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`invention.
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`FIG. 2a is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the audio 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 audio device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a MP3 player is integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 21:
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`is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the audio 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 audio 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 audio 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. 21' 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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`wherein a MP3 player and a plurality of auxiliary input sources are integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2b 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. 3a 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 thc 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 MP3 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 afier-inarket audio device and one or more auxiliary input
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`SOUICCS.
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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 station according to the present invention for
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`retaining an audio device within a car.
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`FIG. 7b is an end view of the docking station of FIG. 7a.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to an audio device integration system. One or more after-
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`market audio devices, such as a CD player, CD changer, MP3 player, satellite receiver, digital
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`audio broadcast (DAB) receiver, or the like, can be integrated with an existing car radio, such as
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`an OEM car stereo or an after-market car stereo. Control of the audio device is enabled using the
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`car radio, and information from the audio device, such as channel number, channel name, artist,
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`track, time, and song information, is retrieved form the audio device, processed, and forwarded
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`to the car radio for display thereon. The information channeled to the car radio can include video
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`from the external device, as well as graphical and menu-based information. A user can review
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`and interact with information via the car stereo. Commands from the car radio are received,
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`processed by the present
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`invention into a format recognizable by the audio device, and
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`transmitted thereto for execution. One or more auxiliary input channels can be integrated by the
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`present invention with the car radio. The user can switch between one or more audio devices and
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`one or more auxiliary input channels using the control panel buttons of the car radio.
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`As used herein, the term “integration” or “integrated” is intended to mean connecting one
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`or more external devices or inputs to an existing car radio or stereo via an interface, processing
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`and handling signals and audio channels, allowing a user to control the devices via the car stereo,
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`and displaying data from the devices on the radio. Thus, for example, integration of a CD player
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`with a car stereo system allows for the CD player to be remotely controlled via the control panel
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`of the stereo system, and data from the CD player to be sent to the display of the stereo. Of
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`course, control of audio devices can be provided at locations other than the control panel of the
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`radio without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Further, as used herein,
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`the term “inter—operable” is intended to mean allowing the external audio device to receive and
`1
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`process commands that have been formatted by the interface of the present invention, as well as
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`allowing a car stereo to display information that is generated by the external audio device and
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`processed by the present invention.
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`Additionally, by the term “inter-operable,” it is meant
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`allowing a device that is alien to the environment of an existing OEM or after—market car stereo
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`to be utilized thereby.
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`Also, as used herein, the terms “car stereo” and “car radio” are used interchangeably and
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`are intended to include all presently existing car stereos and radios, such as physical devices that
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`are present at any location within a vehicle,
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`in addition to software and/or graphically— or
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`display—driven receivers. An example of such a receiver is a software—driven receiver that
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`operates on a universal LCD panel within a vehicle and is operable by a user via a graphical user
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`interface displayed on the universal LCD panel.
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`Further, any future receiver, whether a
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`hardwired or a software/graphical receiver operable on one or more displays,
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`is considered
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`within the definition of the terms “car stereo” and “car radio,” as used herein, and is within the
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`spirit and scope of the present invention.
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the audio device integration (or interface) system of
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`the present invention, generally indicated at 20. A plurality of devices and auxiliary inputs can
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`be connected to the interface 20, and integrated with an OEM or after—market car radio 10. A
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`CD player or changer 15 can be integrated with the radio 10 via interface 20. A satellite radio or
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`DAB receiver 25, such as an XM radio satellite receiver or DAB receiver known in the art, could
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`be integrated with the radio 10, via the interface 20. Further, an MP3 player could also be
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`integrated with the radio 10 via interface 20. Moreover, a plurality of auxiliary input sources,
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`illustratively indicated as auxiliary input sources 35 (comprising input sources 1 through n, n
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`being any number), could also be integrated with the car radio 10 via interface 20. Optionally, a
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`control head 12, such as that commonly used with afier—market CD changers and other similar
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`devices, could be integrated with the car radio 10 via interface 20, for controlling any of the car
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`radio 10, CD player/changer 15, satellite/DAB receiver 25, MP3 player 30, and auxiliary input
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`sources 35. Thus, as can be readily appreciated, the interface 20 of the present invention allows
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`for the integration of a multitude of devices and inputs with an OEM or after—market car radio or
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`stereo.
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`FIG. 2a is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the audio device interface
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`system of the present invention, wherein a CD player/changer 15 is integrated with an OEM or
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`after—market car radio 10. The CD player 15 is electrically connected with the interface 20, and
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`exchanges data and audio signals therewith. The interface 20 is electrically connected with the
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`car radio 10, and exchanges data and audio signals therewith.
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`In a preferred embodiment of the
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`present
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`invention,
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`the car
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`radio 10 includes a display 13 (such as an alphanumeric,
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`electroluminescent display) for displaying information, and a plurality of control panel buttons
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`14 that normally operate to control the radio 10. The interface 20 allows the CD player 15 to be
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`controlled by the control buttons 14 of the radio 10. Further, the interface 20 allows information
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`from the CD player 15, such as track, disc, time, and song information, to be retrieved therefrom,
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`processed and formatted by the interface 20, sent to the display 13 of the radio 10.
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`Importantly, the interface 20 allows for the remote control of the CD player 15 from the
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`radio 10 (e.g., the CD player 15 could be located in the trunk of a car, while the radio 10 is
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`mounted on the dashboard of the car). Thus, for example, one or more discs stored within the
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`CD player 15 can be remotely selected by a user from the radio 10, and tracks on one or more of
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`the discs can be selected therefrom. Moreover, standard CD operational commands, such as
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`pause, play,
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`stop,
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`fast
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`forward,
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`rewind,
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`track forward, and track reverse (among other
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`commands) can be remotely entered at the control panel buttons 14 of the radio 10 for remotely
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`controlling the CD player 15.
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`FIG. 2b is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`wherein an MP3 player 30 is integrated with an OEM or after-market car radio 10 via interface
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`20. As mentioned earlier, the interface 20 of the present invention allows for a plurality of
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`disparate audio devices to be integrated with an existing car radio for use therewith. Thus, as
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`shown in FIG. 2b, remote control of the MP3 player 30 via radio 10 is provided for via interface
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`20. The MP3 player 30 is electronically interconnected with the interface 20, which itself is
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`electrically interconnected with the car radio 10. The interface 20 allows data and audio signals
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`to be exchanged between the MP3 player 30 and the car radio 10, and processes and formats
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`signals accordingly so that instructions and data from the radio 10 are processable by the MP3
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`player 30, and vice versa. Operational commands, such as track selection, pause, play, stop, fast
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`forward, rewind, and other commands, are entered via the control panel buttons 14 of car radio
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`10, processed by the interface 20, and formatted for execution by the MP3 player 30. Data from
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`the MP3 player, such as track, time, and song information, is received by the interface 20,
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`processed thereby, and sent to the radio 10 for display on display 13. Audio from the MP3
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`player 30 is selectively forwarded by the interface 20 to the radio 10 for playing.
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`FIG. 2c is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`wherein a satellite receiver or DAB receiver 25 is integrated with an OEM or after-market car
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`radio 10 via the interface 20. Satellite/DAB receiver 25 can be any satellite radio receiver
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`known in the art, such as XM or Sirius, or any DAB receiver known in the art.
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`The
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`satellite/DAB receiver 25 is electrically interconnected with the interface 20, which itself is
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`electrically interconnected with the car radio 10. The satellite/DAB receiver 25 is remotely
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`operable by the control panel buttons 14 of the radio 10. Commands from the radio 10 are
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`received by the interface 20, processed and fonnatted thereby, and dispatched to the
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`satellite/DAB receiver 25 for execution thereby.
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`lnfonnation from the satellite/DAB receiver 25,
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`including time, station, and song information, is received by the interface 20, processed, and
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`transmitted to the radio 10 for display on display 13. Further, audio from the satellite/DAB
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`receiver 25 is selectively forwarded by the interface 20 for playing by the radio 10.
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`FIG. 2d is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`wherein one or more auxiliary input sources 35 are integrated with an OEM or after—1narket car
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`radio 10. The auxiliary inputs 35 can be connected to analog sources, or can be digitally coupled
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`with one or more audio devices, such as after—market CD players, CD changers, MP3 players,
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`satellite receivers, DAB receivers, and the like, and integrated with an existing car stereo.
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`Preferably, four auxiliary input sources are connectable with the interface 20, but any number of
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`auxiliary input sources could be included. Audio from the auxiliary input sources 35 is
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`selectively forwarded to the radio 10 under command of the user. As will be discussed herein in
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`greater detail, a user can select a desired input source from the auxiliary input sources 35 by
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`depressing one or more of the control panel buttons 14 of the radio 10. The interface 20 receives
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`the command initiated from the control panel, processes same, and connects the corresponding
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`input source from the auxiliary input sources 35 to allow audio therefrom to be forwarded to the
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`radio 10 for playing. Further, the interface 20 determines the type of audio devices connected to
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`the auxiliary input ports 35, and integrates same with the car stereo 10.
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`As mentioned previously,
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`the present
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`invention allows one or more external audio
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`devices to be integrated with an existing OEM or after—market car stereo, along with one or more
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`auxiliary input sources, and the user can select between these sources using the controls of the
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`car stereo. Such “dual input” capability allows operation with devices connected to either of the
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`inputs of the device, or both.
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`Importantly, the device can operate in “plug and play” mode,
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`wherein any device connected to one of the inputs is automatically detected by the present
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`invention, its device type determined, and the device automatically integrated with an existing
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`OEM or after—market car stereo. Thus, the present invention is not dependent any specific device
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`type to be connected therewith to operate. For example, a user can first purchase a CD changer,
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`plug same into a dual interface, and use same with the car stereo. At a point later in time, the
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`user could purchase an XM tuner, plug same into the device, and the tuner will automatically be
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`detected and integrated with the car stereo, allowing the user to select from and operate both
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`devices from the car stereo. It should be noted that such plug and play capability is not limited to
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`a dual input device, but is provided for in every embodiment of the present invention. The dual-
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`input configuration of the preset invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2e-2h and described below.
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`FIG. 2e is a