Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for automatically playing a recorded message, from a uniquely formatted encrypted CD, correlated to a specific date and a time of day as an option on a CD clock radio or the like. Disclosed are means for distinguishing the unique CD format and thereafter following a prescribed process for decrypting and playing. Otherwise all device functions and options operate in their conventional modes.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electronic alarm clock equipped with a CD player. More particularly, it relates to a CD player clock device for playing date/time correlated material. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Clock radios, which provide for a user to choose when and to what they will awaken are well known. Users may awaken to an alarm signal, AM or FM radio stations, or a CD or tape recording. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,067 to Herold discloses apparatus for transferring information from a server as a function of data input to the server so that a user may preselect a message to be played at a specific time. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,494 discloses a radio alarm clock with a capability to display user input reminders for calendar events. 
     The choices offered to users for waking sounds are limited to user chosen CDs, radio bands and stations, or perhaps a previously set reminder. It would be desirable to have other wake-up sound options. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contemplates an additional function for CD Alarm Radios, which allows a user to wake to recorded information uniquely correlated to the calendar date and time of day. This is accomplished by providing in the CD player device an apparatus for distinguishing between standard format CD recordings or specially formatted CD recordings formatted in accordance with the invented device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout to refer to the same elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a CD player in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustrative CD format useful with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface panel suitable for use with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a logic flow diagram of the operation of the present invention in ALARM mode 
     FIG. 5 is a logic flow diagram of the operation of the present invention in ON mode; and 
     FIG. 6 is a logic flow diagram of the operation of the invented device present invention in SLEEP mode. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows the major components of a clock radio embodying the present invention in block form. Those elements of the device common in the prior art function are well understood by those skilled in the art and will not be described in great detail. 
     The present invention is embodied in device  10 , which may be a CD Clock radio or the like. Device  10  includes Radio function  12 , Display function  14 , Human Machine Interface function  16 , CD Reader function  18 , Processor  20 , Clock Calendar function  22 , Audio function  24 , Decode function  26 , and Alarm function  28 . 
     Processor  20  includes logic, inter alia, in accordance with the present invention, for determining whether a standard CD or one in accordance with the invention is inserted. If a standard CD is detected operation of device  10  proceeds as usual according to typical CD or CD clock radio functions. 
     FIG. 2 represents an illustrative CD header and track format in accordance with the invention. While an exemplary track format is shown and described, those having skill in the art will appreciate that other formats or track layouts may be employed. 
     For the operation of the present invention it is necessary, however, that processor  20  be appropriately programmed for recognizing the CD format and function accordingly. FIG. 2, thus, shows key elements of a CD message track  30 , in keeping with the present invention. Segment  32  contains Code Key designating the special CD readable by processor  20  (FIG.  1 ). Code Key segment  32  is used by processor  20 , as will be described below, for decrypting the remainder of track  30 . CDs formatted in keeping with the present invention may be played only in CD players whose processors are appropriately programmed. 
     The Seek Matrix is encoded in segment  34 ; and Function Control, in segment  36 . A Future Use segment  38  is reserved for follow-on features and functionality, which may arise in the future. Message segment  40  follows Future Use segment  38 . Processor  20  uses the information in Seek Matrix segment  34  to determine which Message track in Message segment  40  corresponds to a specific date and time of date. 
     Function Control segment  36  is designated to hold CD provider-specific information about how to interpret or respond to events in a customized manner. For example, a CD provider may decide that preview of CD messages corresponding to future dates is not allowed. Function Control segment  36  could be used to communicate that functionality to the device of the invention. 
     Providers of CDs formatted for use in device  10 , FIG. 1, create content correlated to particular dates, and further, to general times of day. By way of example, a CD provider may choose seasonal, daily inspirational messages for morning and evening listening by subscribers. Providers may distribute such CDs on a monthly, quarterly or other temporal basis to those subscribers having a device such as that shown in FIG.  1 . The encrypted content may only be played on players equipped with a decrypting processor  20 . 
     FIG. 3 shows an exemplary user interface panel  50  for communicating with processor  20 , FIG.  1 . Panel  50 , related to interface box  16 , FIG. 1, is strictly illustrative and is shown to provide an understanding of the options functionally available to a user of a device in accordance with the present invention. Obviously, other arrangements and combinations are within the skill of art. Rectangular push buttons are shown for, simplicity but other means, such as dials, sliders or the like, for enabling user selection of options are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, several options such as ON/OFF, VOLUME, SNOOZE, SLEEP, CLOCK SET, ALARM SET and the like are standard in the clock radio art. The following description emphasizes functions new or modified as part of the present invention. 
     A CD clock radio type device in accordance with the present invention operates in a conventional manner unless a CD formatted in a special manner as exemplified in FIG. 2 is inserted. Thus, user option input boxes ALARM/ON/OFF  52 , SNOOZE  54 , CLOCK SET  56 , ALARM SET  58 , SLEEP  60 , CD MODE  62 , VOLUME  64 , and RADIO/CD/BUZZER  66  function normally if a standard CD is inserted or no CD is present. CD MODE box  62  provides additional function when a CD format such as depicted in FIG. 2 is encountered. The same is true of REPEAT box  70 . PREVIEW box  72  and REVIEW box  74  functions operate as shown in FIG. 5 only when a specially formatted CD, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, is inserted. REPEAT, PREVIEW and REVIEW operate normally for a standard format CD. 
     User option selections and the subsequent operation of device  10 , FIG. 1, will be more clearly understood having reference to FIGS. 3 through 6. 
     FIG. 4 shows the logic followed by processor  20 , FIG. 1, in response to user option choices in the ALARM mode. FIG. 4 illustrates the logic executed when a user of device  10 , FIG. 1, desires that device  10  operate as an alarm. The logic begins at terminal  100 . At test  102 , the logic determines whether sound from a buzzer, radio or CD has been chosen by the user. Operation of device  10  proceeds in a conventional manner, well understood in the art, if a buzzer alarm or radio alarm is desired as indicated at steps  104  and  106 , respectively. 
     If the user has chosen CD, then the logic determines at test  108  whether a CD is in position and, if so, in which of at least two formats it is recorded. Not shown, but well understood, is the generation of an alert to the user in the case where no CD has been loaded. If the logic finds a CD in a standard format, conventional operation proceeds at step  110 . 
     Upon finding a specialized, non-standard format such as described in connection with FIG. 2, the logic decodes the Code Key ( 32 , FIG. 2) at step  112 . Thereafter the logic obtains the current date and time from the clock/calendar ( 22 , FIG. 1) at step  114 . Next, at step  116 , the logic locates within Seek Matrix  34 , FIG. 2, a date/time entry corresponding to the current date/time obtained in step  114 , and plays the appropriate CD track at step  118 . The logic then awaits further user input or for an end of track condition. If the logic receives an off signal from the user as indicated at test  120 , then CD play is shut down at step  122  and device  10  operation ends at terminal  124 . 
     If no user Off actuation is detected at test  120 , then the logic checks at step  126  whether the user has hit the snooze button. If so, at step  128 , the logic ceases CD play. After waiting a predetermined period of time at step  130 , CD play restarts at step  132  and the logic branches back to step  120 . 
     If, however, there is no SNOOZE request, the logic then checks if an end of track condition is detected at step  134 , whence the logic branches back to step  120 . 
     Once the end of track is reached, CD play is stopped at step  136  and the logic checks at step  138  for a user selection of repeat mode. If not found, operation of device  10  ceases at terminal  142 . 
     If the user has chosen REPEAT mode, then at step  140  the logic looks at the Function Control data ( 36 , FIG. 2) and uses that information to select a track. Control is passed to step  120  for playing the selected track. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the logic performed in processor  20  when user options are entered in the ON, i.e. non-ALARM mode. When a device such as device  10 , FIG. 1, is in the ON-mode, processor  20  begins at terminal  200  and at test  202  the logic determines whether a standard or specially formatted CD is present as above described. If processor  20  determines that a standard CD is present, conventional operation occurs as indicated at step  204 . Having detected a specially formatted CD, the logic of step  206  decodes a key such as a Code Key  32  in FIG.  2 . The logic next obtains a current date and time at step  208  and at step  210  finds the track using Seek Matrix  34 , FIG. 2, corresponding to the current date and time. At step  212 , the CD is played. At step  214 , the logic tests whether the PREVIEW mode has been set by the user. If so, the logic stops the CD player at step  216  while awaiting a user input completing the desired advance date and time of day at step  218 . Thereafter, at step  220 , the logic utilizes the user input advance date and time of day to find track matching that date and time of day in the Seek Matrix and control returns to step  212 . 
     If at step  214 , the PREVIEW mode was not found to be set, a test is made at step  222  to determine whether a REVIEW mode is active. If so, control passes to step  216 . If REVIEW mode has not been activated, a test is made at step  224  to determine whether the end of track has been reached. If not, control is returned to step  214 . 
     However, if the end of track has been reached, play of the CD is stopped at step  226  and the logic checks at step  228  to see if REPEAT mode has been activated. If not, the operation of device  10  concludes at step  230 . If, however, the REPEAT mode has been activated, the logic then goes to step  232  to select a track for REPEAT play based on the contents of function control  36  in FIG.  2 . Thereafter, control returns to step  212 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the logic performed in Processor  20  when user options are entered in the SLEEP, i.e. non-ALARM mode. The logic begins at terminal  300 . At step  302 , the logic determines whether the CD is in a standard or special format and, if it is a standard format CD, conventional operation ensues as indicated at step  304 . 
     If, however, a specially formatted CD has been inserted, the logic proceeds to decode a key at step  306  and to obtain the current date and time at step  308 . Having obtained the current date and time of day, the logic uses a Seek Matrix on the CD to find the track on that CD corresponding to the current date and time of day at step  310 . At step  312 , the CD is played and at step  314  the logic executing in processor  20  awaits input of play time by the user of device  10 . At step  316 , a test is made to see if that time has elapsed. If it has, then at step  318 , play of the CD ceases and operation of device  10  stops at step  320 . If, however, the time has not yet elapsed, then at step  322  the logic determines whether the end of track has been reached. If not, control is returned to step  316 . If, however, the end of track has been reached, then at step  324  play of the CD ceases. The logic then selects the next track in accordance with the contents of the function control segment of the CD at step  326  and play of the CD commences at step  328 . Thereafter, control returns to step  316 . 
     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above and other modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.