Abstract:
A method of recording a plurality of audio signals associated with an entertainment sound system ( 42 ) of an automotive vehicle ( 12 ) includes an audio input ( 20 ). A plurality of audio signals ( 18 ) is transmitted from the audio input ( 20 ) to a controller ( 24 ) within the automotive vehicle ( 12 ). A preferred plurality of audio signals ( 36 ) is acoustically played on the entertainment sound system ( 42 ). A recorder ( 28 ) is actuated to record the preferred plurality of audio signals ( 34 ) onto an electronic medium ( 30 ) within the vehicle ( 42 ). Consequently, the preferred plurality of audio signals ( 34 ) is recorded onto the electronic medium ( 30 ). An acoustical transmission of the preferred plurality of audio signals ( 34 ) received from said audio input ( 20 ) is halted at a halting point. Finally, the acoustical transmission is resumed from the electronic medium ( 30 ), from the halting point simultaneously as the plurality of audio signals ( 18 ) continues being recorded.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 201-1312) entitled “Personal Audio Recorder In A Vehicular Entertainment Sound System Using Recommended Audio Signals”, that is simultaneously filed herewith and the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a vehicular entertainment sound system (VESS), and more specifically, to a method for selectively recording and playing back a plurality of audio sources in a VESS.  
           [0004]    2. Background Art  
           [0005]    The automotive vehicle has become a venue where many individuals listen to news, traffic, and entertainment programs. By its very nature, the ability to listen to a desired program in a vehicle is significantly limited. For example, the length of time an individual spends in a vehicle rarely coincides with the duration of the program listened to by that person. Further, many times the desired program may not even be broadcasted during the time period an individual is in the vehicle. As a result, the individual is frequently prevented from listening to a desired program in its entirety.  
           [0006]    There are many situations in which an occupant cannot listen to an entire audio program. A driver may be required to lower the volume of the VESS for short periods of time to allow him to focus on his driving. Typical situations demanding such action include occasions when unfavorable road conditions exist or when the driver must concentrate on the directions in which he should be driving. Other circumstances requiring the volume to be significantly lowered are when an occupant of the vehicle wishes to engage in a conversation with another person. For whatever reason the volume must be lowered, the individual is prevented from listening to a complete audio program in the vehicle. Such an adverse result is undesirable.  
           [0007]    Currently, there exists a radio tape recorder for use in association with a VESS. This device allows a user to record radio broadcasts received by the VESS onto an audiocassette tape. Unfortunately, the recorder fails to provide the listener with a time-delayed version of the program being recorded while such program is being concurrently broadcasted. Accordingly, an individual who misses a portion of a program presently being recorded cannot listen to such portion and the remainder of the broadcast until the entire program has been recorded onto the audiocassette tape. Further, in comparison to RAM or hard disk drive as a medium, audiocassette tapes provide inferior sound quality and are subject to a shorter life span. The radio tape recorder also fails to independently provide users with audio programs that may appeal to the user. This device only records audio programs at the very moment the user activates it.  
           [0008]    An automobile radio recording system has been introduced that permits a user to continuously record the contents of a radio program onto electronic media and then transfer such contents onto an audiocassette tape or compact disk. Unfortunately, similar to the previous device the automobile recorder fails to provide the listener with a time-delayed version of the program being recorded as long as such program is being simultaneously broadcasted. It also fails to independently provide the user with desired audio programs without the user&#39;s immediate activation of the device.  
           [0009]    A programmable radio has been introduced that allows for the selective recording of desired broadcasts. The device has voice recognition software that initiates recording of the broadcast when certain words or phrases are identified by the software. However, similar to the previous devices, the programmable radio is not an ondemand system that allows the user to delay a broadcast for an arbitrary period of time.  
           [0010]    A recovery recorder system for audio and video programs continuously records a brief span of a broadcast onto a short-term memory medium. If in viewing or listening to the program the user decides that he would like a copy of the program, a control logic command is executed that causes the material on the short-term storage medium to be transferred to a long-term storage medium. Consequently, a user has a copy of the entire broadcast even though he actuates the system after a portion of the program has already been broadcasted. Unfortunately, this system fails to allow the user to effectively pause the live radio broadcast and then immediately resume playing such broadcast from the same point as long as the program is being simultaneously broadcasted. This device also fails to independently record audio programs appealing to the user without the user&#39;s specific identification of such programs.  
           [0011]    Digital recorders for television allow users to pause a television program being broadcasted and to subsequently resume playing the program from the same point. Unfortunately, this device does not provide any benefit to occupants of automobiles who wish to time-delay a broadcasted radio program. Also, the digital recorder has no feature to record an audio-only program.  
           [0012]    In the context of the Internet and personal computers, technology exists for time-delay of radio broadcasts. However, this technology does not apply to FM, AM, or satellite broadcasts. Therefore, this technology falls short of helping an individual who wishes to listen to particular programs on his VESS.  
           [0013]    There is a need to provide vehicular occupants with audio programs suited to their taste and at times when they demand such programs. Therefore, there is a need for a method of selectively recording a plurality of audio sources for a VESS.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention provides a system that effectively pauses a live radio broadcast for a selected time period in a VESS. The invention also allows selective recording of audio signals congruent to previous audio signals listened to by the user. Further, the invention allows selective recording of audio signals identified by the user.  
           [0015]    In carrying out the present invention, a method and system are provided for recording a plurality of audio signals in a VESS. The method and system provide the user with a selective plurality of desired audio signals upon his demand.  
           [0016]    There is disclosed herein a method of recording a plurality of audio signals associated with a VESS. The method includes an audio input associated with an automotive vehicle. The plurality of audio signals is transmitted through the audio input to a controller within the automotive vehicle. A preferred plurality of audio signals is acoustically played on the VESS. A recorder is then actuated to record the preferred plurality of audio signals onto an electronic medium within the vehicle. The preferred plurality of audio signals is recorded for a recording time period onto the electronic medium within the vehicle. The controller suspends acoustical play of the preferred plurality of audio signals received from the audio input. This suspension begins at a halting point, at which time the recorder also begins to record the audio signals. Finally, the acoustical play is resumed from the halting point concurrently as the plurality of audio signals is being recorded. The acoustical play is resumed from the electronic medium within the vehicle.  
           [0017]    In a further aspect of this invention, a control system associated with an automotive vehicle includes a controller that receives audio signals and data corresponding to the audio programs so as to compile a user profile. The controller then employs the user profile as a point of comparison for subsequently received audio programs and their accompanying data. If the data of the subsequently received audio program is congruent with the user profile, the controller actuates a recorder to record the audio program for the user.  
           [0018]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, the control system associated with the automotive vehicle includes a controller that actuates a recorder to record an audio program upon detecting a programmable recording signal. In operation, the user enables the recording by selecting a programmable recording signal associated with the audio program he wishes to record.  
           [0019]    One advantage of the invention is that a user may pause the acoustical transmission of a live radio broadcast in a VESS at an arbitrary point for an arbitrary period of time and then subsequently resume the broadcast from the same point. Another advantage of the invention is that a user may have access to a wide selection of audio programs suited to his personal taste and needs.  
           [0020]    Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be had to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a personal audio recording system associated with an automotive vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a flow chart depicting a method of time-delaying an acoustical transmission of a preferred plurality of audio signals in an automotive vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting a method of providing a recommended plurality of audio signals within an automotive vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a personal audio recording system  10  associated with an automotive vehicle  12  is illustrated. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the personal audio recording system  10  includes a central server  14  for processing a plurality of data  16  related to a plurality of audio signals  18 .  
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the personal audio recording system  10  further includes an audio input  20  and a data input  22  each associated with the automotive vehicle  12 .  
         [0027]    The audio input  20  transmits the plurality of audio signals  18  to a controller  24  disposed within the automotive vehicle  12 . As is widely known in the art, the plurality of audio signals  18  may be acoustically played on a conventional radio for a user to hear. A typical audio input  20  may include at least one of a radio antenna, a radio tuner, a compact disk player, a digital video disk player, a satellite radio receiver, a cellular phone, a telematics unit, and a microphone. Obviously, the specific type of audio input  20  used may vary as the invention requires.  
         [0028]    The data input  22  typically receives the plurality of data  16  from the central server  14  and then transmits the plurality of data  16  to the controller  24 . The plurality of data  16  preferably includes at least one of a program schedule, a program description, a recommendation, and a preference vector related to the plurality of audio signals  18 . Typical data inputs  22  may be at least one of a cellular phone, a packet-based network, a data radio antenna and tuner, a short range connection, a virtual floating network, and a removable medium. Of course, the specific type of data input  20  may vary as well, should circumstances require it.  
         [0029]    A personal audio recorder  28  within an automotive vehicle  12  preferably includes the controller  24 , a recorder  28 , an electronic medium  30 , and a user interface  32 . The controller  24  receives the plurality of audio signals  18  from the audio input  20  and the plurality of data  16  from the data input  22 .  
         [0030]    Upon actuation by a user, the controller  24  encodes a preferred plurality of audio signals  34  and commands the recorder  28  to record the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  and its corresponding preferred plurality of data  36  onto the electronic medium  30 . Preferable forms of the electronic medium  30  include a flash memory chip, a dynamic RAM, and a hard disk drive. Upon further actuation by the user, the controller  24  may then decode the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  and retrieve them from the electronic medium  30 . The personal audio recorder  28  may also employ the user interface  32  for receiving manual feedback  38  from an occupant of the vehicle. Such manual feedback  38  is discussed in greater detail in the description for FIG. 3.  
         [0031]    The controller  24  selectively transmits the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  and a recommended plurality of audio signals  40  to the VESS  42 . The VESS  42  includes various conventional automobile stereo components. These components may include, but are not limited to, recorders, compact disk players, audiocassette players, MP3 players, speakers, radio tuners, volume controls, and tone controls. Further, the VESS  42  serves as an audio output for providing the desired audio program to the listener in the format he so desires. Most typically, the VESS  42  uses speakers to acoustically play the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  for the user&#39;s listening pleasure. In other situations, the VESS  42  may record the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  onto removable media by way of a VESS component. These are only a few examples of the different means a user may benefit from the audio output.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a flow chart illustrates a method of time-delaying an acoustical transmission of a preferred plurality of audio signals  34  in an automotive vehicle  12  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In operation, the method of the present invention is initiated at step  44  and then immediately proceeds to step  46 . In step  46 , the controller  24  receives a plurality of audio signals  18  from an audio input  20 . For example, the controller  24  may receive radio broadcast signals from a radio antenna and a radio tuner associated with the vehicle  12 . Obviously, other forms of audio input  20  may be used, as the invention requires. Having performed step  46 , the sequence proceeds to step  48 .  
         [0033]    In step  48 , the user selects a preferred plurality of audio signals  34  of the plurality of audio signals  18  received from the audio input  20 . For example, the user may select a specific radio program to be acoustically played on the VESS  42 . The user may do so by simply choosing a frequency on a radio tuner. The preferred plurality of audio signals  34  is then transmitted from the controller  24  to the VESS  42  for the next operation in step  50 .  
         [0034]    In step  50 , the VESS  42  acoustically plays the preferred plurality of audio signals  34 . A component of the VESS  42 , such as speakers, receives these signals  18  from the controller  24 . Then, the sequence proceeds to step  52 .  
         [0035]    In step  52 , the controller  24  determines whether the user has requested a time-delay in the acoustical transmission of the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  within the automotive vehicle  12 . As one skilled in the art would understand, there are various ways of actuating such a request. For example, the user may simply press a button thereby closing an electric circuit with the controller  24  and consequently prompting the controller  24  for the time-delay. Alternatively, the user may speak a command word received by a controller  24  having voice recognition capability. Actuating the request can be accomplished in many different ways.  
         [0036]    If in step  52  the controller  24  determines that no request has been made, then the sequence returns to step  46 . However, if the controller  24  determines otherwise, then the sequence proceeds to step  54 .  
         [0037]    In step  54 , the controller  24  determines whether the request for the time-delay is the first of such request since power up of the system. If the controller determines that the user has requested a time-delay for the first time since power up of the system, then the sequence proceeds to step  56 .  
         [0038]    In step  56 , the controller  24  actuates the VESS  42  to stop acoustically playing the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  at a halting point. For example, the controller  24  may accomplish this step by ending transmission of the signals  34  to the VESS  42 . Further, as the VESS  42  ceases to acoustically play the preferred plurality of signals  34 , the controller  24  simultaneously begins to encode the signals  34  as they are received from the audio input  20  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The controller  24  typically encodes the signals  34  from an analog format to a digital format. Preferably, the digital format is an MP3 format. However, the digital format may vary, as the invention requires. Then, the sequence proceeds to step  58 .  
         [0039]    In step  58 , the controller  24  typically actuates the recorder  28  to begin recording the preferred plurality of audio signals  34 . The recorder  28  stores the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  onto an electronic medium  30 . Then, the sequence proceeds to step  64 .  
         [0040]    However, if in step  54 , the controller determines that the request for a time-delay is not the first of such request since power up of the system, then the sequence proceeds to step  60 . In step  58 , the controller  24  actuates the VESS  42  to stop acoustically playing the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  at a halting point. Meanwhile, as the VESS  42  stops acoustically playing the signals  34 , the controller  24  simultaneously continues to encode the signals  30  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As in step  56 , the controller  24  typically encodes the signals  18  from an analog format to a digital format. Preferably, the digital format is an MP3 format. Then, the sequence proceeds to step  62 .  
         [0041]    In step  62 , the controller  24  continues to actuate the recorder  28  to record the preferred plurality of audio signals  34 . As in step  58 , the recorder  28  stores the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  onto an electronic medium  30 . Then, the sequence proceeds to step  64 .  
         [0042]    In step  64 , the controller  24  determines whether the user has requested a continuation in the acoustical transmission of the preferred plurality of audio signals  34 . A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that there are various ways of actuating such a request, as demonstrated in step  52 . The user may selectively request the continuation after an arbitrary period of time has passed since halting the acoustical transmission.  
         [0043]    If the controller  24  determines that the user has not requested a continuation of the acoustical transmission within the automotive vehicle  12 , then the sequence repeats step  64 . However, if the controller  24  determines that the user has requested the continuation, then the sequence proceeds to step  66 .  
         [0044]    In step  66 , the controller  24  preferably decodes the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  starting at the halting point. The controller typically decodes the signals  34  from a digital format to an analog format. The preferred plurality of audio signals  34  is then transmitted from the controller  24  to the VESS  42  for the next operation in step  68 .  
         [0045]    In step  68 , the VESS  42  acoustically plays the preferred plurality of audio signals  34 . As mentioned in step  48 , a component of the VESS  42 , typically the speakers, receives the signals  34  and acoustically plays the signals  34  for the user to hear. Further, as the VESS  42  resumes acoustically playing the signals  34 , the controller  24  simultaneously continues to encode the signals  34  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As in step  54 , the controller  24  typically encodes the signals  34  from an analog format to a digital format. Preferably, the digital format is an MP3 format. Then, the sequence proceeds to step  70 .  
         [0046]    In step  70 , the controller  24  continues to actuate the recorder  28  to record the preferred plurality of audio signals  34 . As in step  58 , the recorder  28  stores the preferred plurality of audio signals  34  onto an electronic medium  30 . Then, the sequence returns to step  46 .  
         [0047]    Thus, a method of time-delaying an acoustical transmission of a preferred plurality of audio signals  34  in an automotive vehicle  12  is provided. Accordingly, a user may selectively pause and resume the acoustical transmission of a preferred plurality of audio signals  34  as the signals  34  are simultaneously being received by the controller  24 .  
         [0048]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow chart depicts a method of providing a recommended plurality of audio signals within an automotive vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. In operation, the method of the present invention is initiated at step  72  and then immediately proceeds to step  74 . In step  74 , a controller  24  receives a plurality of audio signals  18  from an audio input  20 . For example, the controller  24  may receive radio broadcast signals from a radio antenna and a radio tuner associated with the automotive vehicle  12 . Then, the sequence continues to step  76 .  
         [0049]    In step  76 , the controller  24  receives a plurality of data  16  from the data input  22 . In a preferred embodiment, the data input  22  receives the plurality of data  16  from a central server  14  that processes the plurality of data  16 . Typically, the plurality of data  16  comprises at least one of a program description, a program schedule, a recommendation, and a preference vector associated with the plurality of audio signals  18 . Elements of the preference vector may include relative weightings of different audio types. Alternatively, the controller  24  can store, on the electronic medium  30 , multiple preference vectors for different users. For example, a program description may classify an audio program by at least one of a genre, a style, an artist, a song title, and an album. Examples of genre typically include, but are not limited to, music, traffic news, international news, financial news, controversial talk, and comedy programs. The operation then proceeds to step  78 .  
         [0050]    In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of audio signals  18  and the corresponding plurality of data  16  may be received by the controller  24  if the user selects the specific frequency broadcasting the audio signals  18  and data  16 . In an alternative embodiment, the audio signals  18  and the data  16  are received from various sources at a single time without actuation by the user.  
         [0051]    In step  78 , the controller determines whether the VESS  42  has been powered up. If the VESS  42  is not powered up, then the sequence immediately proceeds to step  86 . If, however, the VESS  42  is powered up, then the sequence continues to step  80 .  
         [0052]    In step  80 , the user selects a preferred plurality of audio signals  34  of the plurality of audio signals  18  received by the audio input  20 . The preferred plurality of audio signals  34  composes an audio program listened to by the user for a predetermined minimum time period. For example, if the VESS  42  is powered up, this step may be accomplished when the user selects a frequency on a radio tuner and listens to a financial news broadcast for a minimum of two minutes. Further, the user may also employ the user interface  32  to input into the controller  24  a manual feedback  38  that describes the type of audio programs he would like to hear. These examples are only a couple of the many different ways the user may choose a desired audio program. The sequence then continues onto step  82 .  
         [0053]    In step  82 , the controller  24  detects the preferred plurality of data  36  and the manual feedback  38 , each describing characteristics of an audio program the controller  24  may record. For example, according to step  78  the user may be listening to a financial news broadcast on a particular radio station. Then, pursuant to step  80 , the controller  24  detects the data  36  identifying the financial news broadcast. The data  36  may include the time of the broadcast, the frequency of the broadcast, and a description of the genre or style of the broadcast. Of course, various other ways of identifying a desired program may be used. Then, the sequence proceeds to step  84 .  
         [0054]    In step  84 , the controller  24  uses the preferred plurality of data  36  and the manual feedback  38  to format a user profile. For example, the user profile may include the particular genres or styles of audio programs that the user listens to along with the frequency in which he listens to these programs. Further, the user profile may also include the artist names, song titles, and other descriptions of the audio programs he wishes to hear. Then, the sequence proceeds to step  86 .  
         [0055]    In step  86 , it is determined whether the plurality of data  16  is congruent to the user profile, with the user profile being compiled from the audio programs listened to by the user and the manual feedback inputted into the system by the user.  
         [0056]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, step  86  is accomplished by the controller  24  within the automotive vehicle  12 . For example, a controller determines that a preference vector associated with a financial news broadcast is congruent to a user profile if the user has in the past frequently listened to financial news on that VESS  42 . Also, the controller  24  may determine the program description associated with a financial news broadcast is congruent to a user profile if the user selected such a program by inputting a proper identification in the manual feedback  38 . On the other hand, a plurality of a data  16  associated with a financial broadcast would not be congruent to a user profile if the user has never listened to a financial news broadcast on the VESS  42  or has never selected such a program through the user interface  32 . Obviously, these are only a few examples of carrying out this step of the invention.  
         [0057]    In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, step  86  is performed by the central server  14 . The central server  14  preferably employs a recommender system based on collaborative filtering. As one skilled in the art would understand, a collaborative filtering algorithm is a standard method of generating recommendations. Pursuant to this embodiment, the controller  24  typically uses the data input  22  to transmit the user profile to the central server  14 . The central server  14  then searches its database for user profiles of neighbors. Neighbors are other individuals that have preferences in audio programs similar to those of the user. The central server typically searches for mismatches between the neighboring profiles and the user profile. Subsequently, the central server flags data  16  associated with these mismatched audio programs as recommendations for the user and then transmits these recommendations to the controller  24 .  
         [0058]    The controller  24  receives the recommendation and begins to record upon detecting a recording signal. The recommendation may take the form of at least one of an artist name, song title, program description, and program schedule. The recording signal typically is at least one of a plurality of data  16  and a plurality of audio signals  18  that matches the recommendation. For example, if a neighbor frequently listens to controversial talk broadcasts and the user never has, a recommendation may indicate that the user may also appreciate controversial talk broadcasts. The controller  24  may receive a plurality of data  16  specifying broadcast schedules of various controversial talk broadcasts on several different frequencies. Accordingly, the time of the broadcast is the recording signal. Upon reaching the time of broadcast of the controversial talk program, the controller selects the corresponding frequency and prepares to record for the scheduled period. Another example employs the plurality of audio signals  18  as the recording signal. For instance, the user may have inputted manual feedback  38  into the controller  24  commanding the recorder to record traffic reports. The controller  24  may employ voice recognition software to detect the word “traffic” and begin recording for a predetermined time period upon detecting the word. These examples only illustrate typical methods of carrying out step  86 .  
         [0059]    If, in step  86 , the controller  24  determines that the plurality of data is not congruent to the user profile, then the sequence returns to step  74 .  
         [0060]    However, if the controller  24  determines that the plurality of data  16  is congruent to the user profile, then the sequence proceeds to step  88 . In step  88 , the controller  24  encodes a recommended plurality of audio signals  40  associated with the plurality of data  16  congruent to the user profile. The controller  24  usually encodes the recommended plurality of audio signals  18  from an analog format to a digital format. Preferably, the digital format is an MP3 format; however, it may be otherwise as the invention requires. Further, the controller  24  actuates the recorder  28  to record the recommended plurality of audio signals  40  onto the electronic medium  30 . Then, the sequence proceeds to step  90 .  
         [0061]    In step  90 , the controller  24  provides the user with access to the recommended plurality of audio signals  40 . For example, the controller  24  may employ the user interface  32  to inform the user that a recommended plurality of audio signals  40  is available to him. The user may acoustically play the recommended plurality of audio signals  40  by actuating the controller  24  to do so. Upon actuation, the controller  24  retrieves the recommended plurality of audio signals  40  from the electronic medium  30  and preferably decodes the recommended plurality of audio signals  40  from a digital to an analog format. Then, the controller  24  transmits the recommended plurality of audio signals  40  to the VESS  42  for acoustical transmission.  
         [0062]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.