Abstract:
An electronic music marker device is provided with a cord and a plug coupled to the device housing such that the cord and the plug are adaptable so as to fit into the device housing with a cap to enclose and conceal the cord and plug. The cap is coupled to the housing by a hinge and lock mechanism such that when unlocked, the cap can be opened and the retractable cord with the plug such as a USB port attached thereto, can be released from the device housing to connect to an external device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to electronic music markers with integrated communication port.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    With rapid increase in portable electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) enabled mobile telephones, there has been a steady increase in these devices capable of performing more operations.  
           [0005]    Sony Corporation and its U.S. subsidiary, Sony Electronics, Inc., introduced a so called e-marker which is capable of “bookmarking” a music clip while being played on a radio and is capable of recalling the information related to the bookmarked music clip such as the name of the song, the artist, the album containing the song and so on. Using the e-marker, a user can conveniently access the music clip information that the user listened to on the radio at a later time without the need to memorize the information or wait hopefully for the disc jockey on the radio station to provide that information. In this manner, if the user wants to, for example, purchase the music album which the user has marked using the e-marker, the user can easily identify the necessary information related to the marked music clip from the e-marks provided by the e-marker.  
           [0006]    The presently available e-marker devices are provided with a USB port for connection to a personal computer and the like for accessing the user&#39;s e-marker account over an internet connection. The existing configuration of the e-marker devices is such that the device itself in its entirely must be plugged into the cradle which, in turn, is connected to the personal computer&#39;s input port such as a USB port, thus allowing synchronization of the data stored in the e-marker device with the user&#39;s e-marker account accessed at www.emarker.com website.  
           [0007]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown e-marker device  1 A and cradle  1 B. E-marker device  1 A is provided with a housing comprising body  101  and cap  102 . Body  101  is provided with e-mark button  103  which is configured for user input commands. Also, as shown, there are provided on body  101  display panels  104   a  and  104   b  which are configured to display the number of user inputted e-marks and the type of registered broadcast station for the corresponding e-marks, respectively. Finally, body  101  includes USB port  105  which is permanently fixed onto body  101  such that, as will be discussed in further detail below, body  101  may be placed on top of cradle  1 B with USB port  105  capable of being plugged into the corresponding port on cradle  1 B.  
           [0008]    Cap  102  can be attached to body  101  when access to USB port  105  is unnecessary. As shown, cap  102  is provided with a pair of release/lock buttons  106  on either side of cap  102  such that by depressing release/lock buttons  106  when cap  102  is locked with body  101 , cap  102  can be released from a locked position and access to USB port  105  can be obtained. Furthermore, cap  102  is provided with hole  107  substantially at its edge position such that link chain  108  can be looped through hole  107  to allow the user to attach the e-marker device to a key chain or the like.  
           [0009]    Referring back to FIG. 1, cradle  1 B is provided with cradle base  110  substantially flat on its bottom surface (not shown) to rest cradle  1 B on a flat surface such as a desktop and a book shelf. On the other side of the bottom surface of cradle  1 B is receiving section  111  substantially positioned on the middle of cradle  1 B, where USB port  112  is provided for connection to USB port  105  of the e-marker device. Also shown in FIG. 1 is cable  113  attached to cradle  1 B with USB port  114  at its other end. In this manner, cradle  1 B can be connected to an external gateway devices such as a personal computer and the like for accessing the user&#39;s e-marker account over an internet connection.  
           [0010]    With the e-marker device connected to cradle  1 B via the pair of USB ports,  105 ,  112 , the e-marker device can transfer user marked data (for example, data marks) to the user&#39;s e-marker account by connecting USB port  114  of cradle  1 B to the personal computer or other peripheral device which can provide access to the user&#39;s e-marker account over an internet connection.  
           [0011]    With increase in the different types of electronic devices that can be connected to a personal computer, the space requirement for accommodating all such devices at a user&#39;s desk at home or at a working area continues to rise. For example, with personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as Palm Pilots and Handspring Visors, generally, cradles are provided to allow the user to synchronize data from these PDAs to the user&#39;s computer such that data can be duplicated and stored on the user&#39;s computer for backup and storage purposes. The cradle connected to the user&#39;s computer usually by a short cable, requires some space near the computer such that it can remain connected to the user&#39;s computer for ease of data synchronization.  
           [0012]    Indeed, while the PDAs provide one example, there are other handheld devices commercially available that require connection to a user&#39;s computer for purposes of data exchange, storage and the like. With the rise in the number of different types of such devices, the area near a computer&#39;s connection ports (generally found on the back panel of a personal computer, for example) and the vicinity around the computer itself is more cluttered and crowded. While the infra-red (IR) ports are provided with some devices and computers as well for data exchange therebetween, physical connection between the cradles of the handheld devices and the personal computers still remain the predominant connection presently available.  
           [0013]    Given the above, it would be desirable to provide handheld, portable electronic devices such as e-marker devices that do not require a cradle for connection to a personal computer and the like for data exchange and storage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    In view of the foregoing, in one embodiment, an e-marker device is provided which incorporates the function and capability of a cradle such that the e-marker device can be directly connected to a gateway device such as a personal computer and the like for data communication and transfer.  
           [0015]    An electronic music marker with integrated communication of one embodiment includes a housing having a main body portion and a cap portion, the cap portion pivotally mounted to the main body portion at a first edge such that the cap portion is configured to pivot about the first edge between an open position and a closed position, and a communication port connected to the housing via a retractable cable, where the housing substantially encases the communication port and the retractable cable when the cap portion is in the closed position.  
           [0016]    In another embodiment, there is provided a method including pivotally mounting a cap portion of a housing to a main body portion of the housing at a first edge such that the cap portion is configured to pivot about the first edge between an open position and a closed position, and connecting a communication port to the housing via a retractable cable, where the housing substantially encases the communication port and the retractable cable when the cap portion is in the closed position.  
           [0017]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates an e-marker device and its cradle;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an e-marker device with a retractable cord and hinged cap;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 illustrates the e-marker device of FIG. 2 with the hinged cap in an open position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 illustrates the e-marker device of FIG. 2 with the hinged cap in a closed position; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of an e-marker device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an e-marker device with a retractable cord and hinged cap. Referring to FIG. 2, e-marker device  200  is provided with main body portion  201  and cap portion  202 . Cap portion  202  is connected to main body portion  201  by hinge portion  206  described in further detail below. Also shown in FIG. 2 is lock/release button  205  provided on cap portion  202 . On main body portion  201 , there are provided e-marker button  203  for user input commands and a pair of display panels  204   a,    204   b  which are configured to display the number of user inputted e-marks and the type of registered broadcast station for the corresponding e-marks, respectively.  
         [0024]    As discussed above, in uncapped position, by depressing the lock/release button  205  from a closed position (not shown), cap portion  202  may be opened from main body portion  201  as shown. In particular, when the user depresses lock/release button  205  and pushes cap portion  202  away from main body portion  201 , cap portion  202  pivots away from main body portion  201  while still attached to main body portion  201  at hinge portion  206 . Thereafter, USB port  208  connected to main body portion  201  by retractable cord  207  may be taken out of USB port housing portion  209  (for example, a cavity in the main body portion) of main body portion  201  for connection to a corresponding USB port (not shown) of a personal computer and the like.  
         [0025]    In this manner, in one embodiment, the use of a cradle can be eliminated and e-marker device  200  can be directly connected to the personal computer for data exchange and transfer. Indeed, by physically integrating USB port  208  with retractable cord  207  for direct connection to a user&#39;s personal computer, the use of a cradle can be eliminated. Retractable cord  207  is provided with sufficient length so as to easily connect USB port  208  to the user&#39;s personal computer while the user holds e-marker device  200  in the user&#39;s hand.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate one embodiment of e-marker device  200  of FIG. 2 with hinged cap portion  202  in open and closed positions, respectively. As shown, in the open position of FIG. 3 with USB port  208  secured in USB port housing portion  209  of main body portion  201  in e-marker device  200 , cap portion  202  may be pivotally rotated about hinge portion  206  such that sufficient clearance can be provided for USB port  208  to be taken out of USB port housing portion  209  of main body portion  201 . Furthermore, cap portion  202  is provided with cap portion cavity  210  sufficient in size for receiving protruded portion of USB port  208  in the housed position such that cap portion  202  may receive the entire protruded portion of USB port  208  in the housed position.  
         [0027]    Referring back to FIG. 3, lock/release portion  205  is provided with latch portion  301  which is configured to latch with latch receiving portion  302  provided on main body portion  201 . In one embodiment, lock/release portion  205  of cap portion  202  is integrally coupled with latch portion  301  in a spring biased manner such that when the depression of lock/release portion  205  is removed (for example, by removing a user&#39;s finger from applying pressure on lock/release portion  205 ), lock/release portion  205  is configured to return to its original position by the spring loaded mechanism (not shown).  
         [0028]    Accordingly, when retractable cord  207  and USB port  208  are completely housed in main body portion  201 , cap portion  202  may be pivoted in the counter-clockwise rotation such that latch portion  301  fixedly latches with latch receiving portion  302 . In this manner, as shown in FIG. 4, cap portion  202  can be securely latched to main body portion  201  in the closed position completely encasing retractable cord  207  and USB port  208 .  
         [0029]    Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, further shown is hole  303  provided substantially at the edge position of cap portion  202  its edge position such that link chain  304  can be looped through hole  303  to allow the user to attach e-marker device  200  to a key chain or the like. Furthermore, since cap portion  202  is securely latched to main body portion  201  of e-marker device  200  by the latch mechanism comprising, for example, latch portion  301  and latch receiving portion  302 , cap portion  202  can be prevented from accidentally opening.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the e-marker device. As can be seen, there is provided an e-marker device shown in opened position  50 A and closed position  50 B. Similar to the device shown in FIG. 2, the e-marker device shown in FIG. 5 includes main body portion  51  and cap portion  52 . Cap portion  52  is pivotally connected to the main body portion  51  by hinge mechanism  53  such that cap portion  52  may be opened and closed by rotating cap portion  52  about hinge mechanism  53 . Also provided on main body portion  51  is e-button  54  for user input commands and display panel  55 . In one embodiment, display panel  55  may be configured with a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), for example, for displaying text and image information corresponding to the user&#39;s input commands on display panel  55 . Furthermore, key chain hole  56  is also provided on cap portion  52  such that the user can conveniently attach the e-marker device to a key chain and the like to improve portability.  
         [0031]    As can be seen by comparing the two illustrations in FIG. 5, when cap portion  52  is opened ( 50 A), the user is able to access USB port  58  connected to main body portion  51  by retractable cord  57  for direct connection to a personal computer and the like. On the other hand, when USB port  58  and retractable cord  57  are returned to main body portion  51 , cap portion  52  may be pivotally rotated to completely encase USB port  58  and retractable cord  57  within main body portion  51 .  
         [0032]    In operation, when the user wishes to transfer the e-marked data marks from the e-marker device  200  to the user&#39;s e-marker account via a gateway device connected to the internet, the user depresses lock/release portion  205  on cap portion  202  of e-marker device  200 . With a slight pressure from the user&#39;s finger onto cap portion  202  substantially near lock/release portion  205 , cap portion  202  pivots about hinge portion  206  and cap portion  202  opens, exposing USB port  208 .  
         [0033]    Cap portion  202  is configured such that when in an open position, USB port  208  is substantially completely exposed to be able to connect to a corresponding USB port at the gateway device. Having opened cap portion  202 , the user may then connect USB port  208  of e-marker device  200  to a corresponding USB port of the gateway device connected to the internet. Thereafter, when the user enters the user&#39;s e-marker account information and accesses the user&#39;s e-marker account via the gateway device, the user may transfer the data marks representing “bookmarked” music pieces broadcast over radio or television stations, and thereafter, the information related to the bookmarked music pieces may be displayed at a display terminal (not shown) of the gateway device. The information related the bookmarked music pieces may include, for example, the title of the music piece, the name of the artist of the bookmarked music piece, the name of the album of the bookmarked music piece, billboard chart information related to the bookmarked music piece, and ordering information to purchase a CD of the music piece such as a direct website link information to a vendor such as Amazon.com and CDNow.  
         [0034]    Further information relating to the operation of the e-marker device can be found in pending application Ser. No. 09/126,007 filed on Jul. 29, 1998 and application Ser. No. 09/401,103 filed on Sep. 22, 1999, both assigned to Sony Corporation, joint-assignee of the present application with Sony Electronics, Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, the disclosures of each of which are herein incorporated in their entirely by reference for all purposes.  
         [0035]    While the e-marker device with an integrated retractable cord is described above with a USB interface communication port, in one embodiment, the interface communication port may include other types of interface communication ports such as a serial port, and an infra-red (IR) port for wireless connection. Furthermore, in one embodiment, wireless communication ports for e-marker device may include Bluetooth ports which uses low power radio frequency to enable wireless connection between devices up to approximately 33 feet, and configured to connect to a gateway device such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDAs), a web-enabled television set, a mobile telephone with wireless internet access.  
         [0036]    Additionally, in one embodiment, a display panel and an input button are provided on the housing, where the user can input a user command using the input button and in accordance thereto, a corresponding data information is displayed on the display panel. The display panel may be configured to illuminate when the data information corresponding to the user input command is displayed on the display panel.  
         [0037]    In the manner described above in one embodiment, a USB port and a connection cable such as a retractable cord may be integrated with the e-marker device without sacrificing the functionality of the e-marker device such that the need for a cradle to connect the e-marker device to a personal computer and the like can be eliminated.  
         [0038]    Furthermore, since the USB port is retractably integrated into the e-marker device, a user can significantly enhance the portability of the e-marker device, eliminating the need for a cradle connected to a personal computer to access the user&#39;s e-marker account over the internet. Indeed, a user can easily connect the USB port integrated into the e-marker device to any personal computer or devices that have corresponding USB port and access to the internet to allow communication between the e-marker device and the user&#39;s e-marker account.  
         [0039]    Various other modifications and alterations in the structure and method of operation of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the present invention and that structures and methods within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.