Patent Application
20080201658
The present invention relates to a wireless media player device. More particularly, the present invention relates to wearable media player device which is fully wirelessly operable, a system including the same, and a method for operating the same.
Portable media players, such as iPod™ devices, available from Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, California, and other MP3 players, are typically carried in a case which may be attached or hooked to a waist belt, bag, purse, or the like. Such a case may also be wearable around the neck. Headphones or earphones are typically plugged in, for example, to a Headphones and AV port of an iPod™.
Wireless headphones are also available for such MP3 players. For example, Logitech® Bluetooth Headphones for iPod™, available from Logitech, Inc., Fremont, Calif., has a wireless adapter which connects directly to an iPod™ and transmits signals using Bluetooth technology. The user can adjust volume, select, play, and pause tracks from the wireless headset. The wireless adapter uses the same plug-in port for the wired headphones and earphones (and the remote port) of an iPod™.
Some companies also offers FM transmitters for iPod™, for example, iTrip®, available from Griffin Technology, Nashville, Tenn., which send audio signals (music) wirelessly from the iPod™ to any FM radio in the user's car, house, party place, and the like. Such FM transmitters also directly connect to the iPod™ via the Headphone and AV port and the Remote port thereof.
A wireless media player device includes (a) a flash memory, (b) a main processor adapted to process digital signals and to control wireless communications, the main processor including first and second interfaces adapted to wirelessly communicate with an external host computer and an external headset, respectively, (c) a signal antenna coupled to the main processor, (d) a power circuit coupled to the main processor, adapted to provide power to components of the media player device, (e) a wireless charger adapted to receive power from an external power source and charge the power circuit, and (f) a display provided on a surface of the media player device. The media player device is wearable and may further include a casing and an attacher (such as a wrist band) adapted to fasten the media player device onto a user such that the display is visible from the user.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the invention.
Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of a wireless media player device and system, and a method for operating the same. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.
In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The media player device 10 is fully operable and playable without being in direct contact with any external devices, such as a power source, host computer, and headphones. That is, all of the communications and interactions, such as charging, downloading, and reproducing from headphones are performed wirelessly. Thus, the media player device 10 may lack such direct contact connectors.
Referring back to
The power circuit 18 includes a rechargeable battery, and is coupled to the main processor 14. The power circuit 18 provides the power to components of the media player device 10. The wireless charger 20 is coupled to the power circuit 18, and may be part of the power circuit 18. The wireless charger 20 receives power from an external power source (not shown), and charges the power circuit (the battery). For example, the wireless charger 20 includes a coil or power antenna so as to receive electromagnetic energy from an electromagnetic field generated by the external source.
The wireless media player device 10 may further include a global positioning system (GPS) circuit 28 coupled with the co-processor 30. The co-processor 30 may also control the GPS circuit 28.
The display 22 is provided on the surface of the media player device 10 such that it can be viewed by a user. The wireless media player device 10 may further include a display controller 34 coupled to the co-processor 34, which is dedicated to control the display 22. The display 22 may display at least one of the following items: an indication of a status of data which is being transmitted or downloaded; an indication of the data stored in the flash memory; the current date and time; a position of the apparatus in accordance with the GPS; a strength of a signal being received; the title of a music piece or audio file being played, and a battery status. For example, a small icon may be flashing or blinking when a file is being downloaded, or an audio file is being transmitted (i.e., being reproduced form the headset) to indicate the process. A list of the file names stored in the flash memory 12 may be presented in response to a user command.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the wireless media player device 10 may further include a touch screen 32 to provide a user input device integrated with the display 22. The display 22 may be a flexible polymer film display, and displays one or more control buttons in addition to the items described above. The display screen may have a display mode to indicate various information and an input mode to receive a user's input via the touch screen. The user presses a displayed control button to enter a corresponding command. The display controller 34 may be configured so as to determine the depressed position (for example, display coordinates) and send the position signal to the co-processor 30. The co-processor 30 processes the input commands as well as controlling graphics through the display controller 34. The input commands may be sent to the main processor 14 to respond.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the wireless media player device 10 may further include an input device 36 adapted to input a user's control command, such as at least one control button 46 (see
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the media player device 10 may also be controlled from the headset 26. In this case, the second interface in communication with the headset 26 is capable of receiving a user's commands which are wirelessly transmitted from external headset 26. For example, the headset 26 may have a command input device, such as push buttons similar to that on the media player device 10, or a control ring adapted to receive a user's control commands. The user may adjust the volume, select, play and pause tracks of the audio data in a similar manner as a conventional wireless headphones. The control commands are wirelessly transmitted form the headset 26 to the media player device 10. The media player device 10 receives the commands via the antenna 16, and the main processor 14 thereof processes the commands.
While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
The present disclosure may be related to the following commonly assigned applications/patents: This application claims priority from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/811,224 filed Jun. 6, 2006 entitled “WIRELESS MEDIA PLAYER DEVICE AND SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME” which is hereby incorporated by reference, as if set forth in full in this document, for all purposes. The respective disclosures of these applications/patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60811224 | Jun 2006 | US |
