Patent Application
20070070856
The present invention relates to a portable MP3 transfer accessory that transfers music from a CD (compact disc) directly to an MP3 player, or transfers video and audio from a DVD to an MP3 player. More particularly, this MP3 transfer accessory includes an MP3 docking station that electronically connects the transfer accessory to the MP3 player and also includes a CD receiving station for receiving therein a music CD. Additionally, an LCD screen permits the user to select the desired tracks of music to be copied from the CD and to upload the selected music tracks to the MP3 player in MP3-readable format.
Music CD's have replaced audio/music cassette tapes, such that most music “aficionados” own dozens of music CD's that they have collected over a long period of time. Most music CD users take a large number of CD's from their CD collection for transport and use them in their vehicles, camping, vacations, and the like, for playing on a CD player. This transport of CD's becomes a physical problem when transporting multiple CD's to the various locations desired where the user may want to listen to the music. Some users solve the problem of physically carrying around their CD's by using a computer to convert one or more CD's in their collection into a format that they can play on a portable MP3 player or other music player, such as the APPLE iPod® device. This conversion process works by loading the music CD into a computer C drive, using ripping software to copy the music to the computer's hard drive, and then using the same or separate software to encode the music into a format such as MP3 or WAV that can be loaded onto a portable MP3 player. After loading a portable music player's memory with a compressed version of music from the original CD's, there is no need to carry around the original CD's. This manual process works fine as long as the number of CD's that need conversion is very small. If a user has dozens of CD's that they would like to load onto a portable music player or other device, they have to manually load and repeat this process for each CD one by one. This process can require many hours of attention by the user to keep loading and attending to the CD's being converted.
Some people use an audio CD changer, such as the SONY Mega 300 CD Changer, to store and manage playback of their CD's through a home sound system. Many digital jukebox devices, such as the ESCIENT Fireball product, can control such audio CD changers and some can even copy one or more CD's in the CD changer to the jukebox hard drive or onto a CD-R/RW in an encoded format such as MP3. Once the music on the CD's have been encoded, they can be used for playback on the jukebox device itself or from any CD playback device that supports the encoded format. For example, some digital jukebox devices have a port allowing for direct transfer of compressed CD's onto a portable music device. The problem with the audio CD changer conversion approach is that in order for the CD music to be copied, they must actually be played through the audio port at regular speed (1×). By requiring playback through the audio port for the data to be accessible for copying means, it could take dozens or hundreds of hours for a large CD collection to be converted to a compressed format. This is not practical in such situations.
Therefore, there remains a need for an MP3 transfer accessory for directly transferring music tracks from a music CD to an MP3 player without the use of complex computer hardware and software. Additionally, there is a need for a transfer accessory that is faster and has an easier system and method for transferring the music tracks of multiple music CD's to an MP3 player.
CD recorders having various accessories, designs, configurations and materials of construction have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0117464 to AKITA discloses the use of a computer that is normally functional for converting one or more CD's in their collection into a format which can be played on a portable MP3 player or other music player, such as the APPLE iPod device. The conversion process works by loading the music CD into a computer CD drive, using ripping software to copy the music to the computer's hard drive, and then using the same or separate software to encode the music into a format such as MP3 or WAV that can be loaded onto a portable player. After loading a portable music player's memory with a compressed version of music from the original CD's, there is no need to carry around the original CD's. This prior art publication does not disclose or teach the concept and structure of a portable MP3 transfer accessory for transferring music tracks from a CD of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,404 to KELLER discloses a compact disc recording device that includes a housing, sound receiving means for receiving audio signals, a compact disc recorder for recording onto a compact disc, and data storage structure in the housing for scoring audio signals. The compact disc recording device is configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in the data storage structure, and the compact disc recording device includes means for selecting a set of sound tracks from the music library to be recorded onto a compact disc by the compact disc recorder. The housing includes a display which identifies at least one sound track of the music library. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the concept and structure of a portable MP3 transfer accessory for transferring music tracks from a CD of the present invention.
None of the aforementioned prior art references disclose or teach the structure, design and configuration for an MP3 transfer accessory for directly transferring music tracks from a music CD directly to an iPod® or MP3 player device, as claimed in the present invention.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an MP3 transfer accessory for directly transferring music tracks from a music CD to an MP3 player without the use of a computer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that increases the speed and efficiency of transferring music tracks on CD's to the MP3 player since the user does not have to link the MP3 player to a computer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that has a CD cartridge being integrally connected to the MP3 transfer accessory for receiving multiple music CD's therein.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that includes an LCD screen for displaying the progress of transferring the music tracks from the CD, as well as to allow the user to specify which music tracks to copy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that reads the music CD, rips the music tracks and compresses the music tracks into a user-defined bitrate of an MPEG3 format.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that is easy to use with minimal operational push-button functions on the transfer accessory.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an MP3 transfer accessory for transferring music from a CD to an MP3 player: The MP3 transfer accessory includes a portable housing having a CD receiving station for receiving therein a CD to be uploaded to an MP3 player. The CD receiving station includes a CD reader for reading the music tracks on the CD placed in the CD receiving station. The transfer accessory further includes means for reading the data in the CD reader and for converting the CD format to MP3 readable format; such reading means include music transfer software and hardware. The housing further includes an integral MP3 docking station for receiving an MP3 player therein for receiving music from the CD placed in the CD receiving station. The MP3 docking station includes a docking connector for electrically connecting the MP3 player to the transfer accessory. The housing further includes an LCD screen for displaying data as to the CD music track being copied and as to the CD music tracks to be copied. The MP3 transfer accessory includes a power supply for providing power to the transfer accessory, and also includes a battery charger device, a battery pack or an electrical 110V plug for connecting to an electrical 110V outlet. Also provided is a power button for activating and deactivating the power supply.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The MP3 transfer accessory device 10 and its component parts of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are represented in detail by FIGS. 1 to 7 of the patent drawings. The MP3 transfer accessory device 10 is used for the transferring of multiple music tracks 14 from a CD (compact disc) 12 to an MP3 player 16 or an iPod® 16p. It is understood that the track titles and album titles on the music CD's 12 are recognized by using an updatable, music recognition database, such as GRACE NOTE™, or any other similar database. Further, when the present invention refers to an MP3 player 16, it should be understood to include any portable multimedia player, such as an iPod® 16p.
As shown in
The front wall 26 of accessory housing 20 includes a CD receiving station slot 46 for receiving therein the music CD 12 to be uploaded to the MP3 player 16. The CD receiving station slot 46 includes a CD reader 48 for reading the music tracks 14 on the CD 12 placed within the CD receiving station slot 46.
The first (right side) sidewall 30 includes an opening 50 for receiving a plug inlet connector member 52. As shown in
The battery compartment 44 within bottom wall 24 is used for receiving one or more standard batteries 62 or a 9V battery 62b, as shown in
As shown in
It should be understood that the use herein of MP3 is intended to include any compressed audio format, including, but not limited to, MP4, WMA, and AAC. Also, the use herein of CD is intended to include DVD, and the transfer of video and audio from the DVD to the player unit 10.
The MP3 transfer accessory device 100 and its component parts of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention are represented in detail by
The MP3 transfer accessory device 200 and its component parts of the second alternate embodiment of the present invention are represented in detail by
As shown in
Once the MP3 transfer accessory device 10 has been electrically charged by the above charging means 17, 60, 62b or 62p, the transfer accessory device 10 is now in an operational mode. The user now turns on the power button 58 for activating the power supply 60. The user then inserts a CD 12 into the CD receiving station slot 46, where then the CD reader 48 converts the music tracks 14 selected by the user. Simultaneously, the user inserts the MP3 player 16 to the MP3 docking station compartment 36, which then initiates the transfer of the music tracks 14 of CD 12 to the MP3 player 16. The music 15 will copy seamlessly and directly from the CD 12 to the iPod® 16p. When the transfer is completed, the user then deactivates the power button 58 to an “OFF” mode.
Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention to provide an MP3 transfer accessory for directly transferring music tracks from a music CD without the use of complex software on a computer for the transfer of the music tracks to an iPod or MP3 player device.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that increases the speed and efficiency of transferring music tracks on CD's to the MP3 player since because the user does not have to link the MP3 player to a computer.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that has a CD cartridge being integrally connected to the MP3 transfer accessory for receiving multiple music CD's therein.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that includes an LCD screen for displaying the progress of transferring the music tracks from the CD, as well as to allow the user to specify which music tracks to copy.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that reads the music CD, rips the music tracks and compresses the music tracks into a user-defined bitrate of an MPEG3 format.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that is easy to use with minimal operational push-button functions on the transfer accessory.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an MP3 transfer accessory that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.
A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.
