A MULTI-FUNCTION REMOVABLE FACEPLATE

Abstract: The functionality of a removable faceplate on an entertainment system, such as a vehicular radio, is enhanced beyond its typical theft-prevention function. In a first embodiment, the removable faceplate contains a rendering system, such as an audio amplifier and headphones, for rendering content material. In this embodiment, the removable faceplate may contain a tuner device for receiving broadcast content material. In another embodiment, the removable faceplate contains a memory device that can be used to play back recorded content material, or to store-and-forward information or content material to or from the base unit. In another embodiment, the faceplate contains a "buy" switch that can be used to create a purchase request for an item that is associated with the received broadcast content material, and the memory device is used to store-and-forward this purchase request to a vendor via a base station.

Description: A Multi-Function Removable Faceplate BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of consumer electronics, and in particular to an electronic device that receives content material, such as a vehicular radio or television receiver. 2. Description of Related Art The use of removable faceplates on vehicular radios is becoming increasingly common. The radio and faceplate are designed such that the base unit that remains when the faceplate is removed is inoperative. Typically, the purpose of the removable faceplate is to prevent theft of the base unit, and associated damage to the vehicle, by minimizing the economic gain that is realizable by the theft. That is, because the resale value of a base unit without a faceplate is minimal, a thief has little incentive to break into the vehicle to steal the base unit. As vehicular televisions become increasingly popular, removable faceplates can be also expected to be used to discourage their theft. For ease of reference and understanding, an audio system paradigm for the receipt and rendering of content material will be presented herein, although it will be recognized that the principles presented herein are substantially independent of the form of the content material. Any number of techniques can be employed to disable the base unit when the faceplate is removed. In a straightforward embodiment, the faceplate merely provides a mechanical function that makes the base-unit more ergonomic. In an example of such an embodiment, the base unit contains recessed switches, and the faceplate contains corresponding rods that provide protrusions for activating these recessed switches. The faceplate also typically contains other devices, such as the display unit, so as to provide a "blank" panel on the base unit when the faceplate is removed. The lack of a display unit also minimizes the resale value of the base unit, even if a potential buyer is willing to use other means for activating the recessed switches. In other embodiments, the faceplate contains all of the signal processing components of the device, while the base unit contains the power supply and speaker amplifiers. In a more complex embodiment, the faceplate contains a security element, such as a key or a certification instrument, and the base unit queries the faceplate for the key or certification before it activates the other components of the radio or television. Note that, in a conventional system, the removable faceplate serves is also unusable when it is detached from the base unit. Typically, the user removes the faceplate upon exiting the vehicle, carries the faceplate about, then reattaches the faceplate upon reentering the vehicle. While the faceplate is carried about, its only function is to discourage the theft of the base unit. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to increase the versatility of a removable faceplate. It is a further object to provide a means of receiving or rendering content material via the faceplate when the faceplate is removed from its corresponding base unit. It is a further object of this invention to provide a means of transferring information to and from the base unit. It is a further object of this invention to facilitate a purchase of an item that is related to received content material. These objects and others are achieved by a variety of techniques. In a first embodiment, the removable faceplate contains a rendering system, such as an audio amplifier and headphones, for rendering content material. In this embodiment, the removable faceplate may contain a tuner device for receiving broadcast content material. In another embodiment, the removable faceplate contains a memory device that can be used to play back recorded content material, or to store-and-forward information or content material to or from the base unit. In another embodiment, the faceplate contains a "buy" switch that can be used to create a purchase request for an item that is associated with the received broadcast content material, and the memory device is used to store-and-forward this purchase request to a vendor via a base station. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is explained in further detail, and by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates an example entertainment system having a base unit and a removable faceplate in accordance with this invention. FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of an entertainment system in accordance with this invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative example block diagram of an entertainment system in accordance with this invention. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features or functions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates an example entertainment system 100 having a base unit 300 and a removable faceplate 200 in accordance with this invention. As noted above, a vehicular audio system is used herein as a paradigm for an entertainment system with a removable faceplate, although other systems may also employ a removable faceplate to discourage theft. Consistent with prior art systems with removable faceplates, the base unit 300 renders content material via speakers 310, and the faceplate 200 contains controls 210 that control the rendering of the content material. The base unit 300 is typically permanently mounted in a vehicle, whereas the removable faceplate 200 is portable, and is intended to be easily carried by the user when it is detached from the base unit 300. FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of the entertainment system 100 in accordance with this invention. As in a conventional system, the base unit 300 is configured to be inoperative when the faceplate 200 is detached. This functional relationship between the base unit 300 and the faceplate 200 is illustrated in FIG. 2 (and FIG. 3) by the security device 230 in the faceplate 200, and the controller 330 in the base unit 300. The controller 330 interacts with the security device 230, and enables or disables the other components of the base unit 300 in dependence upon whether an authentic faceplate 200 is attached. In some embodiments, the base unit 300 is configured to a unique faceplate 200, thus preventing the use of a counterfeit or substitute faceplate. Any of a variety of other techniques, such as the use of recessed switches in the base unit discussed above, can be used to substantially preclude the use of the base unit 300 when the faceplate 200 is detached. Because removable faceplates for discouraging theft are common in the art, and the invention is independent of the means used to provide this function, the details are not discussed further herein. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the removable faceplate 200 includes a receiver 240 that receives content material, and a rendering system 250 that renders the received content material, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The receiver 240 may be, for example, a conventional AM/FM radio receiver, and the rendering system 250 is an audio amplifier that supplies the received content material to a set of headphones 260. By providing the faceplate 200 with the capability of receiving and rendering content material, the faceplate 200 is able to serve as a portable radio receiver when it is not attached to the base unit 300. Power can be supplied by a battery, which may be internal to the faceplate 200 or as an auxiliary device that is configured to couple to the faceplate 200 in the same manner as the base unit 300. In this manner, the user is not merely carrying about a security device, but, rather, is carrying about a device that serves a useful purpose independent of its security function. Other functions may also be provided in the faceplate 200, independent of, or in addition to, the receiving 240 and rendering 250 devices. For example, the faceplate 200 may be configured to be a cellular telephone or pager that is operational within the vehicle or as a portable device, or may be configured as a recording device for receiving dictation, a processing device for recording appointments and similar PDA functions, and so on. In the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the base unit 300 includes an audio amplifier 350 for rendering the content material that is received by the faceplate receiver 240 via the speakers 310. Also illustrated in FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of a base unit 300 includes a memory 380 that may be used to store and play back other content material. This memory 380 may be a conventional solid state memory device, or a device that stores and/or retrieves information to and from another medium, such as a magnetic disk or tape, a laser disc, and so on. That is, for example, the memory 380 may be a conventional CD or cassette player and/or recorder that is included in the base unit 300, or other mass storage device. Copending U.S. patent application "Virtual Jukebox", serial number 09/326,506, filed 4 June 1999 for Pieter van der Meulen, Attorney Docket PHA 23,417, discloses the storage of a collection of MPEG or Philips' DCC audio compressed audio recordings on a conventional hard disk drive, and is incorporated by reference herein. This patent application discloses the feasibility of storing hundreds of CD-length recordings on a conventional 10GB hard disk drive, and specifically notes its utility in vehicular audio systems. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative example block diagram of an entertainment system 100' in accordance with this invention. In this example embodiment, the removable faceplate 200 includes a memory 280. By including a memory 280 that can communicate information to or from the base unit 300, the removable faceplate 200 can serve a store-and- forward function, in addition to its primary function of discouraging theft. By providing a store-and-forward transfer capability, the faceplate can be used to transfer information, for example, between a vehicular system and a home entertainment system. Using the example of a 10GB hard-disk drive as the memory device 380 of the base unit 300 as disclosed in the above referenced "Virtual Jukebox" patent application, the memory 280 of the faceplate 200 can be used to transfer select copies of a user's home music collection to the user's automobile. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the memory 280 of the faceplate 200 has a capacity of 40 megabytes, thereby allowing for the storage of the contents of a typical full-length (50 minute) audio CD in an MPEG or Philips' DCC audio compressed format. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the removable faceplate 200 receives the content material into its memory 280 when it is detached from the base unit 300 and coupled to the base station 400, and transfers the content material to the memory 380 when it is subsequently attached to the base unit 300. Any of a variety of techniques, including wired or wireless communications, can be used to transfer the content material or other information between the removable faceplate 200 and the base station 400. Also illustrated in FIG. 3, the base unit 300 includes a receiver 340, having similar functionality to the receiver 240 presented above for receiving content material. Copending U.S. patent application "Method and System for Purchasing Content Related Material", serial number , filed for Nicholas Mankovich and Michael Epstein, Attorney Docket (Disclosure 700798), discloses a system for supporting impulse purchases that are based on content material that is received by an entertainment device. The referenced patent application discloses the use of a "buy" button on the receiving device to place a purchase request for an item that is associated with the content material that is currently being presented, and is incorporated by reference herein. In the referenced patent, a portable device is also disclosed for transferring information to and from a vehicular system. In the present invention, the faceplate 200 provides this function, in addition to the security function of a conventional removable faceplate. Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a "buy" button 290 on the faceplate 200 to facilitate a purchase of an item that is associated with content material that is received by the base unit 300, via, for example, the receiver 240 of FIG. 2, or the receiver 340 of FIG. 3. Consistent with the referenced copending U.S. patent application "Method and System for Purchasing Content Related Material", when the content material is being presented by the base unit 300, the user presses the "buy" button 290 on the faceplate 200, and thereby effects a storage of an identifier of an item that is associated with the received content material into the memory 280 of the faceplate 200 of FIG. 3. When the faceplate 200 is brought in proximity of a base station 400 that has direct or indirect access to the provider of the item whose identifier is stored in the memory 280, a purchase request is communicated from the faceplate 200 to the base station 400 to effect the purchase of the identified item. The base station 400 and/or the base unit 300 may also be configured to provide other services to the faceplate 200, such as recharging the faceplate's batteries. The base station 400 may also include a corresponding receptacle for receiving the faceplate 200, such that the base station 400 can utilize the aforementioned functions of the faceplate 200, such as the features provided by the receiver 240, the memory 280, and so on. In like manner, the memory 280 may be uploaded by the base station 400 to receive content material from conventional devices such as CD players, cassette players, and so on. As will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure, different combinations of the aforementioned capabilities may be provided in the removable faceplate 200 in accordance with this invention. For example, a removable faceplate 200 may contain both the memory 280 and the rendering system 250, thereby allowing the faceplate 200 to be used as a portable playback device that renders content material that is stored in the memory 280. In like manner, this removable faceplate embodiment may also include the receiver 240, so that the memory 280 can receive broadcast content material from the receiver 240. In this manner, a purchase request may also be submitted while the faceplate is detached from the base unit, and later transferred to the base system 400 or other device having access to the provider of the item to be purchased. The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. An entertainment system (100) comprising a base unit (300) that is configured to render content material, and a faceplate (200) that is attachable and detachable from the base unit (300), wherein the base unit (300) is configured to render the content material only when the faceplate (200) is attached to the base unit (300), and the faceplate (200) includes a memory (280) that is configured to store information that is intended to be communicated between the base unit (300) and a base system (400). 2. The entertainment system (100) of claim 1, further including a receiving system (240, 340) that is configured to receive the content material, and wherein the information that is stored in the memory (280) is dependent upon the content material, and the faceplate (200) is configured to transmit the information to the base system (400) after the faceplate (200) is detached from the base unit (300). 3. The entertainment system (100) of claim 2, further including an input system (290) that is configured to accept a purchase request, and wherein the information that is stored in the memory (280) includes an identification of an item that is associated with the content material that is received when the purchase request is accepted. 4. The entertainment system (100) of claim 3, wherein the faceplate (200) includes the input system (290). 5. The entertainment system (100) of claim 1, wherein the faceplate (200) is configured to receive the information from the base system (400) when the faceplate (200) is detached from the base unit (300), and to communicate the information to the base unit (300) when the faceplate (200) is attached to the base unit (300). 6. The entertainment system (100) of claim 1, wherein the faceplate (200) is configured to receive the information from the base unit (300) when the faceplate (200) is attached to the base unit (300), and to communicate the information to the base system (400) when the faceplate (200) is detached from the base unit (300). 7. A faceplate (200) that is configured to be attachable to a base unit (300) to enable an operation of the base unit (300), comprising: a memory (280) that is configured to store information to facilitate a store- and-forward communication of the information between the base unit (300) and a base system (400). 8. The faceplate (200) of claim 7, further comprising a receiver (240) that is configured to receive content material from a source, and a rendering system (240) that is configured to render the content material, and wherein the information is dependent upon the content material and is stored in the memory (280) when the faceplate (200) is attached to the base unit (300), and the information is communicated to the base system (400) when the faceplate (200) is detached from the base unit (300). 9. The faceplate (200) of claim 7, wherein the information includes content material that is stored in the memory (280) when the faceplate (200) is detached from the base unit (300), and is communicated to the base unit (300) when the faceplate (200) is attached to the base unit (300). 10. The faceplate (200) of claim 7, wherein the information includes content material that is stored in the memory (280) when the faceplate (200) is detached from the base unit (300), and is communicated to the base system (400) when the faceplate (200) is coupled to the base system (400). 11. The faceplate (200) of claim 7, further including a rendering system (240) that is configured to render content material. 12. The faceplate (200) of claim 11, wherein the information includes the content material. 13. A faceplate (200) that is configured to be attachable to a base unit (300) to enable an operation of the base unit (300), comprising: a rendering system (240) that is configured to render content material. 14. The faceplate (200) of claim 13, further comprising at least one of: a receiver (240) that is configured to receive the content material from a source, a telephone device, and a pager device.

Inventors: EPSTEIN MICHAEL A, PASIEKA MICHAEL S, EPSTEIN, MICHAEL, A., PASIEKA, MICHAEL, S.
Applicants: KONINKL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04H
IPC codes: B60R11, H04B1