Abstract:
The invention, in its several embodiments, pertains to audiovisual consoles, more particularly to audiovisual consoles for use in cars. In some embodiments, a device is provided that includes a control user interface and a play user interface, wherein the control user interface is adapted to receive inputs to define a first list of audiovisual elements from which a user, via the play user interface, may select to play on a presentation device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/756,033 filed Jan. 3, 2006, entitled “Audiovisual Console Control Interface,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention, in its several embodiments, pertains to audiovisual consoles, more particularly to audiovisual consoles for use in cars. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Audiovisual devices, such as digital versatile or video disc (DVD) players, in vehicles are currently available. Furthermore, the capacity of digital media storage has greatly increased such that certain media devices are adapted to store a large amount of data, such as multiple movies or shows. A way to integrate these digital media storage devices with audiovisual devices in vehicles is highly desirable. Furthermore, a device adapted to enable a driver parent, for example, to determine which movies a child, for example, in a back seat may watch is also highly desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect, a device for a vehicle is provided. This device includes a control user interface, a play user interface, and a presentation device. The control user interface and the play user interface are operably connected with each other. Furthermore, the control user interface includes a display and one or more effectors. The display is adapted to display a first list of audiovisual elements, and the one or more effectors is adapted to receive one or more user input to generate a second list of audiovisual elements comprising one or more audiovisual elements from the first list. The play interface includes one or more input effectors adapted to receive a selection to play an audiovisual element from the second list. The presentation device is adapted to play the selected audiovisual element. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, a system is provided. This system includes a vehicle and a device mounted in an interior of the vehicle. The device includes a control user interface, a play user interface, and a presentation device, wherein the control user interface and the play user interface are operably connected with each other. The control user interface includes a display adapted to display a first list of audiovisual elements and one or more effectors adapted to receive one or more user input to generate a second list of audiovisual elements comprising one or more audiovisual elements from the first list. The play user interface includes one or more input effectors adapted to receive a selection to play an audiovisual element from the second list. The presentation device is adapted to play the selected audiovisual element. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a high-level diagram of an exemplary audiovisual console in plan view, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a high-level diagram of another exemplary audiovisual console in a side view, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a high-level diagram of an exemplary mounting location of an exemplary embodiment of the audiovisual console in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a high-level diagram of another exemplary mounting location of an exemplary embodiment of the audiovisual console in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a high-level diagram of an exemplary audiovisual console with various input effectors, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a high-level diagram of another exemplary audiovisual console with various input effectors, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a high-level diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the hierarchy of file control between two user interfaces, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a high-level diagram of another exemplary audiovisual console with a removable interface module, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a high-level diagram in perspective view of an exemplary hinged receiver adapted to receive the exemplary removable interface module of  FIG. 8 , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a high-level diagram in a side view of an exemplary audiovisual console having a DVD audiovisual console, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a high-level diagram in plan view of an exemplary power and signal interface to which a docked removable interface module and a DVD audiovisual console may be operably connected, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a high-level diagram of an audiovisual console with an exemplary power/signal interface, according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a schematic view of an exemplary system configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    An exemplary audiovisual console  100  is illustrated in plan view in  FIG. 1  and may be described for purposes of exemplary orientation as having a forward portion  110 , a mid-body portion  120 , and an aft portion  130 . In this example, the mid-body portion  120  includes a video screen (not shown) having an exterior surface  122 . The aft portion  130  may include a region or first user interface  132 , of one or more user input effectors, such as buttons, toggles, sliders, and touch pads. The first user interface is herein also referred to as a play user interface. The aft region or portion  130  may also include an interface  134 , such as an aperture and internal tray (not shown), for receiving, reading, and ejecting a media-bearing article or data store, such as a DVD. In addition, the aft portion  130  may also include external input ports  136 , for example, digital media ports such as an IEEE 1394 port and one or more universal serial bus (USB) ports. The exemplary audiovisual console  100  may be operably connected, for example, by way of an optical or an RF link, to a remote control unit  140  having a region, or second user interface  142 , of one or more user input effectors, such as buttons, toggles, sliders, or touch pads. The forward portion  110  may include a region or third user interface  112  of one or more user input effectors, such as buttons, toggles, sliders, touch pads, and a display. The third user interface  112 , also herein referred to as a control user interface, may further include a display or screen  114 , which may include touch screens, for displaying audiovisual elements, such as audiovisual files or portions thereof, and where, for example, the third user interface  112  may receive user input for selecting a displayed audiovisual element, e.g., file, for play. Input commands entered via the third user interface  112  may be processed by a processing unit or module  116  which may store to and retrieve files from a data store  118 . In addition, the forward portion  110  may also include external input ports  117 , for example, digital media ports such as an IEEE 1394 port and one or more universal serial bus (USB) ports. These external input ports  117 ,  136  may be adapted to operably attach other media-bearing articles, for example, thumb drives to the audiovisual console  100 . Some embodiments of the audiovisual console  100  may process input commands from the first user interface  132  and input commands from the third user interface  112  via one or more integrated processing modules  138  and in some embodiments of the audiovisual console  100  may process input commands from the first user interface  132  via a first signal processing module  138  and input commands from the third user interface  112  via a second signal processing module  116 , where the signals may interface via an interface module  119 . 
         [0021]    Illustrated in a side view in  FIG. 2 , the exemplary audiovisual console is shown having a screen or a presentation unit  224  that may be positioned or deployed  228  into an aft-facing direction for viewing. The first user interface  132  may control the viewing of an inserted media-bearing article  226 . In embodiments where the audiovisual console  100  may have a second user interface integral  142  to a remote controller  140 , the second user interface  142  may allow the user to control, for example, via push buttons or other effectors, the view of the inserted media-bearing article. The third user interface  112  may allow, for example by push buttons or other effectors, the user control of the play of the inserted media-bearing article  226  and allow the user to designate and control the play of auxiliary audio/video sources (not shown). 
         [0022]    Illustrated in a side view in  FIG. 3  is an exemplary mounting location of an exemplary embodiment of the audiovisual console  100  shown in a cab volume  300  of a vehicle having a forward seating position  310  and an aft seating position  320 . In this example, the audiovisual console  100  is positioned proximate to the ceiling  330  of the cab  300  and the seatback  312  of the forward seating position  310 . Illustrated in a top view in  FIG. 4  is the exemplary mounting location shown in this example as being mounted along a longitudinal axis of symmetry  332  of the vehicle. 
         [0023]    Illustrated in a plan view in  FIG. 5  is an exemplary embodiment of the audiovisual console  100  where the first user interface  132 , by way of example, comprises a select/menu rocker button, a stop button, a four-direction wheel with an enter button, a play/pause push button and a fast forward-skip forward/reverse-skip forward rocker button. In this example, the third user interface  112  comprises a select/menu rocker button, a stop button, a four-direction wheel with an enter button, a play/pause push button, a fast forward-skip forward/reverse-skip forward rocker button and an optional FM radio mode select button. In addition, the third user interface  112  in this example comprises a display  114  listing, e.g., video files from which the user may select and play. 
         [0024]    Illustrated in a plan view in  FIG. 6  is an exemplary embodiment of the audiovisual console  100  where the third user interface  112  comprises an optional FM radio mode select button and a power on/off push button, and further comprises a module  600  having a display  114 , listing in this example, video files from which the user may select and play, e.g., via a combination touchpad  610  having a four-way wheel pushbutton with an enter pushbutton. Some embodiments of the third user interface  112  have a pressure-sensitive or other touch screen where the file folder and file selection may be effected via a stylus, for example. The audio-visual files may be arranged within one or more file folders wherein the user may select via the third user interface, for example, the user may scroll through the folders using the touchpad, and select via the enter button, a file folder from which those designated as permitted viewing may be subsequently selected and controlled via the first user interface or the second user interface. 
         [0025]    An exemplary embodiment of the hierarchy of file control between two user interfaces is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Once the audiovisual media article is inserted into the audiovisual console and read and displayed at the contents of chapters, file folder or play list level, the user, via the third user interface  112 , may select a play list of audiovisual elements, particular video chapter range, or file folder (step  710 ). The first user interface  132  may default to allowing user play list selections only within one or more selection-enabled play list folders. This selection (step  710 ) may be made available via a signal path  712  to the first user interface  132  by way a signal interface (not shown) and may affect the first user interface  132  by enabling selectability within the enabled play list folder  714 . A user, via a first user interface  132 , may select (step  716 ) an audio/video file from within the play list selected (step  710 ) via the third user interface  112 . The first user interface  132  may default to allowing user play list selections only within one or more selection-enabled play list folders and only when an audio/video file has not been selected via the third user interface  112 . A user, via the third user interface  112 , may select from with the selected play list folder an audio/video element, e.g., file (step  718 ). This selection step  718  may be made available via a signal path  720  to the first user interface  132  by way of a signal interface (not shown) and may affect the first user interface  132  by overriding the present audio/video file selection (step  722 ) via the first user interface  132 , if any, and disabling further selection of audio/video files via the first user interface  132  until reset, for example, by the selection of a different play list folder to a restart of the audiovisual console  100 . The first user interface  132  may default to allowing user play control such as play, pause, fast forward, and reverse only when one or more play control operations have not been selected via the third user interface  112  and accordingly, a user may effect a play control operation (step  724 ) via the third user interface  112 . A user, via the third user interface  112 , may effect a play control operation (step  726 ). This selection step  726  may be made available via a signal path  728  to the first user interface  132  by way of a signal interface (not shown) and may affect the first user interface  132  by overriding the present play control operation (step  730 ) via the first user interface  132 , if any, and disabling further play control operation selection via the first user interface  132  until reset, for example, by the selection of a different play list folder to a restart of the audiovisual console  100 . Some embodiments of the second user interface  142  of a remote control unit  140  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), may combine the play list selection function of the third user interface  112  and the media play control of the first user interface  132 . When invoked, input signals received by the audiovisual console  100  from the remote control unit having play list selection commands may take precedent over commands and selections via the third user interface  112  and the second user interface  142 . 
         [0026]    Illustrated in a plan view in  FIG. 8  is an exemplary embodiment of the audiovisual console  100  where the third user interface  112  comprises a play/pause push button and an optional FM radio mode select button, and further comprises a removable interface module  810  having a display  802 , a combined touchpad and four-way wheel pushbutton with an enter pushbutton  804  and a processing module  814  for output to display and audio output ports to process audiovisual files. The third user interface  112  may further comprise a recessed receiving cradle  830  for receiving and securing the removable interface module  810 . The removable interface module  810  may include an audiovisual store  820  where audiovisual signals output by the processing module  814  of the removable interface module  810 —as drawn from the audiovisual store  820 —may be directed to the audiovisual display  224  ( FIG. 3 ) of the audiovisual console  100  via an auxiliary channel. In addition, the removable interface module  810  may have a first signal/power connector  812  that may receive a second signal/power connector  816  of the third user interface  112  or the recessed receiving cradle  830 . The removable interface module  810  may be a removable interface device that may display files and folders retrieved from its audio-visual store whether docked with the console or not. When docked, the removable interface device  810  may receive control input to display, via the audiovisual console display  224  ( FIG. 3 ), files and file folders, and the docked removable interface device  810 , via a signal interface  819  between the second signal/power connector  816  and the audiovisual console processing module  838 , may provide an input interface to control the play of the selected files of the audiovisual store or chapters of an inserted article of conveyance of audiovisual media, such as a DVD or files and folders retrieved by the audiovisual console processing module  838  from the audiovisual console data store  818 . 
         [0027]    Illustrated in perspective view in  FIG. 9  is an exemplary hinged receiver  910  for an exemplary removable interface module  810 . A protective transparent cover  920  may be integrated to one side of the exemplary hinged receiver  910 . 
         [0028]    Illustrated in a side view in  FIG. 10  is an exemplary audiovisual console  1000  having a DVD audiovisual console  1030 , as an example of an audiovisual console that receives and plays an inserted article of conveyance of audiovisual media, such as a DVD, that may be operably coupled to a mounting module  1010 , where, in this example, the mounting module  1010  includes the third user interface  112  and particularly includes a removable interface module  810 . 
         [0029]    Illustrated in a plan view in  FIG. 11  is a diagram of an exemplary power and signal interface  1100  to which a docked removable interface module may be operably connected and to which a DVD audiovisual console  1030  may be operably connected  1120 . Illustrated in a schematic in  FIG. 12  is an exemplary power/signal interface  1100  interposed between a docked removable interface module  810  and an audiovisual console  1000 . The exemplary power/signal interface  1100  may provide video, particularly s-video to the audiovisual console  1000  and may in combination or separately may provide composite video and component video. The exemplary power/signal interface  1100  may receive control signals from the audiovisual console  1000  that may include control signals originating from the second user interface  142  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of a remote control, or for example, the first user interface  132  (not shown in  FIG. 10 ) of the audiovisual console.  FIG. 12  shows the power/signal interface  1100  may be powered by an accessory line (ACC) and grounded (GND). Also shown in  FIG. 12  is the power/signal interface  1100  an optional set of audiovisual outputs, e.g., video, and two audio channels (i.e., left speaker, right speaker). The remote control unit  140  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) may be used to control the removable interface module  810 . The audiovisual console  1000  may receive command signals, for example, optical, infrared, RF, or wired or wireless signal from a remote control unit  140  and may provide the received command signals from the remote to the removable interface module  810  via the power/signal interface  1100 . The power/signal interface  1100  may also output audio and video signals as received from the removable interface module  810  via the input/output bus  1110 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 13  illustrates in schematic view an exemplary system configuration according to an embodiment of the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, a multi-media system includes an audiovisual console  1000  interfacing with an interfacing module  1100 . This exemplary system may receive, via a power/signal interface  1100 , remote command inputs from a multi-media station  1310  which may direct, as remote out, the selection of files and files folders of the removable interface module  810 . In addition, audio devices, such as an automobile radio system  1320  may be operably connected to the exemplary audiovisual console  1000 . 
         [0031]    Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those or ordinary skill in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the processes described herein may be embodied in hardware, in a set of program instructions—software, or both, i.e., firmware. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.