Patent Abstract:
An in-vehicle audio browser includes a first set of buttons that are configured to select a preset item. A second set of buttons move forward and backward through a list of items in the audio browser. A third button selects among multiple bands associated with the audio browser. A fourth button activates a function that varies depending on the selected band. The audio browser supports primary audio control bands that affect the audio outputs when selected and conditional audio control bands that do not affect the audio output unless some action on the band requires audio output.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to an audio browser for vehicles and, more particularly, to the application of a common usability model to multiple modes of operation of the vehicle car stereo. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many car stereo systems (including vehicle computer systems and vehicle entertainment systems) include multiple bands, such as AM, FM1, FM2, and CD. The selected band represents the operating state of the car stereo (e.g., receiving AM stations, receiving FM stations, or playing an audio CD). After selecting a particular band, the user selects a preset button to select between radio stations (or CD in a CD Changer) or a tuning buttons (seek and/or scan) to tune a particular radio station (or select a particular CD track). 
   Certain vehicle computer systems provide the opportunity to add new features and functions to existing car stereo systems. For example, a vehicle computer system may provide navigational functions in addition to conventional car stereo functions. 
   As more functions are added to car stereos (or other vehicle computer systems), it may be necessary to add additional buttons to the car stereo to support the new functions. It is important to minimize the number of changes to the current car stereo model to allow the user the easiest adoption path for the new functionality and minimize the negative effects of putting more secondary activities into the car environment. The primary task of a driver of a vehicle is the driving of the vehicle, not manipulating the car stereo controls. Adding a significant number of new buttons to support the new car stereo functions may distract the driver from the primary task of driving the vehicle. Therefore it is important to provide a usability model that is familiar to the user of the car stereo to minimize distractions while driving the vehicle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The systems and methods described herein provide a common usability model for multiple modes of operation of a car stereo system. The basis of the invention is the extension of the current car stereo into a more flexible “audio browsing” model. The common usability model extends the typical car stereo usability model with new functionality while maintaining the typical car stereo functions that have been learned by many vehicle users. By maintaining typical car stereo functions, users can more easily interact with a more intelligent device because they already know how to perform, for example, the radio and CD player functions. The addition of a small number of buttons to implement new car stereo functionality minimizes the differences between the new audio browser and conventional car stereos to the user of the new audio browser. 
   According to one aspect of the invention, an audio browser includes a first set of buttons that select a preset item. A second button selects between a set of primary audio control bands and a set of conditional audio control bands. A third button selects a band from the set of bands selected by the second button. 
   Another embodiment of the invention includes a fourth button that activates a function that varies based on the selected band. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to reference like components and features. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of an in-vehicle audio browser. 
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a procedure for handling operation of the “BND” button. 
       FIGS. 3–8  illustrate a car stereo faceplate in different modes of operation. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows an example implementation of an in-vehicle audio browser  20 . The audio browser  20  has a centralized computer  21  coupled to various peripheral devices, including speakers  25 , vehicle battery  26 , and antenna(s)  27 . The computer  21  is assembled in a housing  28  that is sized to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard, similar to a conventional car stereo. Preferably, the housing  28  has a form factor of a single DIN (Deutsche Industry Normen). But, it possibly could be housed in a 2 DIN unit or other special form factor for an OEM. The methods and systems described herein may be applied to any type of vehicle computer system, vehicle entertainment system, or vehicle stereo system. In a particular embodiment, the in-vehicle audio browser is a car stereo system. 
   The computer  21  runs an open platform operating system which supports multiple applications. Using an open platform operating system and an open computer system architecture, various software applications and hardware peripherals can be produced by independent vendors and subsequently installed by the vehicle user after purchase of the vehicle. This is advantageous in that the software applications do not need to be dedicated to specially designed embedded systems. The open hardware architecture is preferably running a multitasking operating system. One preferred operating system is a Windows® brand operating system sold by Microsoft Corporation, such as “Windows Xp™”, “Windows NT®”, “Windows CE™”, or other derivative versions of Windows®. A multitasking operating system allows simultaneous execution of multiple applications. 
   The computer  21  includes at least one storage media which permits the vehicle user to store and transfer data (i.e. audio content) and possible new programs. One aspect of the invention is the ability to introduce new audio content into the in-vehicle environment. The purpose of the storage media component is to allow for the transportation of audio content in a format that can be played back and navigated by the audio browser. The storage media must either be removable or have some other mechanism (such as wireless access) for update. In the illustrated implementation, the computer  21  has a CD ROM (or DVD-ROM) drive  29  which reads application-related CDs, as well as musical, video, game, or other types of entertainment CDs. In this manner, the CD ROM drive  29  performs a dual role of storage drive and entertainment player. A CD can then be used to transport the audio content to the audio browser. Also, a hard disk drive (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) is included on the computer module which can be used for storing both application programs and user data. In combination with an optional 802.11x interface  24  the hard disk drive can have audio content wirelessly transported to the audio browser. 802.11x represents a family of IEEE standards for wireless networks used for the wireless communication of data between various devices. Alternatively, other wireless communication standards may be used to communicate data between the audio browser  20  and another computing device, such as a personal computer providing data to and from the audio browser. 
   The computer  21  has an optional smart card reader  31 , and dual PCMCIA card sockets  32  which accept PCMCIA card types II and III or CF cards. Hereinafter, the acronym “PC-Card” will be used in place of the acronym “PCMCIA.” The smart card and/or any bulk storage PC-Card (memory or hard drive) can also be used to transport audio content to the audio browser. 
   The storage drives are mounted in a stationary base unit  33  of housing  28 . The base unit  33  is constructed and sized to be fixedly mounted in the dashboard. The housing  28  also has a faceplate  34  which is pivotally mounted to the front of the base unit  33 . The faceplate can be rotated to permit easy and convenient access to the storage drives. It is possible to build an audio browser without a pivoting faceplate, but there still has to be a way to access to the removable storage media. This could be done by having a CF card reader mounted vertically on the faceplate, or having only 802.11x access to an internal hard drive. 
   Faceplate  34  functions as an operator interface, having a keypad  35  and a display  36 . The faceplate is mountable for viewing by a vehicle operator. The display  36  is preferably a backlit LCD panel having a rectangular array of pixels that are individually selectable for illumination or display. However, it is also possible to have only a set of alpha-numeric (text) enunciator for the display. An enunciator based display will have to have a defined set of areas to display band, preset, and song information. An exemplary set of areas are: 3 characters band area, 1 character preset number area, 10 character preset title area, and 15 character song information area. 
   The LCD panel is preferably a medium-resolution, bit-mapped display system having at least 10,000 pixels. In the described implementation, the array of pixels has a size of at least 256×64 pixels, which is quite limited in comparison to most desktop displays. The operating system of computer  21  interacts with faceplate keypad  35  and faceplate display  36  as peripheral devices when the faceplate  34  is attached to the housing  28 . The operating system will allow for and abstract display models for both the enunciator based display type and bitmap based display. The keypad  35  includes multiple number keys, labeled “1” through “6”. 
   The faceplate  34  has a “Rev” button  40  that represents a reverse (or rewind) function, a “Play/Pause” button  42  that toggles operation between play and pause functions, and a “Fwd” button  44  that represent a forward (or advance) function. The faceplate  34  also has a volume control input  38 , an “ACT” button  46  that represents an “action” function, a “SRC” button  48  that represents a “source” function, and a “BND” button  50  that represents a “band” function. The operation of the action, source, and band functions are discussed in greater detail below. 
   A CD slot  52  allows a CD, such as a music CD, to be inserted into the CD ROM drive  29 . Alternatively, a CD may be inserted into CD ROM drive  29  by pivoting or otherwise moving faceplate  34  such that the CD ROM drive is accessible by the user. A power button  54  toggles power to the vehicle computer system  20 . 
   In general, the audio browser  20  is used to integrate new audio content and sources onto one user model and one open platform hardware and software architecture. The basic mode of operation is the playback of audio content that has arrived at the audio browser via the required removable media. This audio content has been collected and organized on some remote device (such as a personal computer) and delivered to the audio browser for playback. The audio content will include configuration information to instruct the audio browser as to which audio content is associated with which band/preset content and if there are special instructions needed for the behavior of the other buttons on the faceplate. 
   The configuration file is represented in an XML manifest. The manifest contains exemplary information about the behavior and type for each band/preset. 
   Here is an example of the XML: 
   
     
       
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               &lt;?xml version=“1.0” encodinq=“utf-8”?&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;Manifest Version=“0.5” ID=“2452346234” 
             
             
                 
               Name=“MikkyA_Stuff”&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Bands CurrentBand=“FM”&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Band ID=“FM” Title=“FM” Type=“radio” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               CurrentPreset=“1”&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“88.5” Title=“KPLU 88.5” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Setting=“1” Freq=“FM:88.5”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“96.5” Title=“KPNT 96.5” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Setting=“2” Freq=“FM:96.5”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;/Band&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;Band ID=“WM1” Title=“WM1” Type=“playlist” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               CurrentPreset=“2”&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“NPR-ME” Title=“Morning 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Edition” Setting=“1” Src=“Band0\Preset0\Preset0.ASX” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentIndex=“” CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“Market” Title=“Market Place” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Setting=“3” Src=“Band0\Preset2\Preset2.ASX” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentIndex=“” CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“CBC-W@6” Title=“CBC” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Setting=“4” Src=“Band0\Preset3\Preset3.ASX” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentIndex=“” CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;/Band&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;Band ID=“WRK” Title=“WRK” Type=“playlist”&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“OutlookToday” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Title=“OutlookToday” Setting=“1” 
             
             
                 
               Src=“OutlookToday\OutlookToday.asx” CurrentIndex=“” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;/Band&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;Band ID=“PT” Title=“Phone Tasks” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Type=“phonetask”&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“Phone Mail” Title=“Phone 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Mail” Setting=“1” Src=“Phone\PhoneMail\PhoneMail.asx” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentIndex=“” CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“Home Tasks” Title=“Home 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Tasks” Setting=“2” 
             
             
                 
               Src=“Phone\PhoneTaskshome\PhoneTaskshome.asx” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentIndex=“” CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“Work Tasks” Title=“Work 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Tasks” Setting=“3” 
             
             
                 
               Src=“Phone\phonetaskswork\phonetaskswork.asx” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentIndex=“” CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;/Band&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;Band ID=“NT1” Title=“Navigation” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Type=“direction”&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“To Airport” Title=“To 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Airport” Setting=“1” Src=“nav\toairport\toairport.asx” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentIndex=“” CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“To Gas Station” Title=“To Gas 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Station” Setting=“2” 
             
             
                 
               Src=“nav\togasstation\togasstation.asx” CurrentIndex=“” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“To Museum of Flight” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Title=“To Museum of Flight” Setting=“3” 
             
             
                 
               Src=“Nav\tomuseumofflight\tomuseumofflight.asx” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentIndex=“” CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;/Band&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;Band ID=“CL” Title=“Contact List” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Type=“contacts”&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“Home” Title=“Home Numbers” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Setting=“1” Src=“Contacts\Home.asx” CurrentIndex=“” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;Preset ID=“Work” Title=“Work Numbers” 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Setting=“2” Src=“Contacts\Work.asx” CurrentIndex=“” 
             
             
                 
               CurrentTime=“”/&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;/Band&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;/Bands&gt; 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               &lt;/Manifest&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   This example manifest is one possible format that can be used to convey the configuration information from a personal computer or service or even between different audio browsers in different vehicles. With the flexibly of XML, this format can easily change to meet the needs for any new bands that are created in the future. 
   In the embodiment discussed above, the faceplate  34  is pivotally mounted to the base unit  33 . In alternate embodiments, faceplate  34  may be detached from the base unit  33 . In other embodiments, faceplate  34  is permanently fixed to the base unit  33 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , many of the buttons on faceplate  34  have been found on car radios for many years. For example, the keypad  35  contains various radio station presets. Additionally, the “Rev”, “Play/Pause”, and “Fwd” buttons should be familiar to most radio users. However, the “ACT” button has not been included on previous car stereos and provides additional functionality for the new car stereo system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   The BND button ( FIG. 1 ) causes the car stereo to cycle through the various bands supported by the car stereo. In a particular embodiment, the car stereo has the following bands: AM, FM, CD (Audio CD), WM (Windows Media), PT (Phone Tasks), NT (Navigation Tasks), and CL (Contact Lists). The selected band identifies the current function of the car stereo, such as playing the selected FM radio station or providing navigation instructions to a selected destination. 
   The bands are divided into two different classes: primary audio control and conditional audio control. Primary audio control bands automatically take over the audio output of the audio browser when they are selected. However, conditional audio control bands do not immediately take over the audio output of the audio browser, thereby not interrupting the audio signal listened to by the user. In a particular embodiment, AM, FM, CD, and WM are primary audio control bands. Switching to one of these primary audio control bands causes the car stereo system to switch to the source&#39;s current state (e.g., a preset radio station or CD track) and start playing the appropriate audio signal. PT, NT and CL are examples of conditional audio control bands. Switching to one of these conditional bands does not interrupt the current audio signal playing from the last selected primary band. If some action on this conditional band requires an audio output (such as providing audible directions, making a cellular phone call, or providing an audible task), then the primary audio will be paused or muted until the audio output is finished being used by the conditional band. When the conditional band function is finished using the audio output, the audio is returned to the primary band and the audio output is resumed. 
   In one embodiment, the “SRC” button ( FIG. 1 ) on the faceplate switches between primary and conditional band types and the “BND” button switches between bands within the current type. In another embodiment, the “BND” button switches between all band types. 
     FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a procedure  200  for handling operation of the “BND” button. Initially, a user selects a particular band on the car stereo using the BND button on the faceplate (block  202 ). The functions associated with the other buttons on the faceplate are modified based on the selected band (block  204 ). The user then manipulates the other buttons on the faceplate to perform the desired function (block  206 ). The car stereo performs the selected function (block  208 ). The procedure then determines whether the user has pressed any buttons on the faceplate (block  210 ). If the user has not pressed any buttons, the operation of the car stereo continues unchanged until one of the buttons is pressed. If the user presses a button, the procedure determines whether the button pressed was the BND button (block  212 ). If the button was the BND button, then the procedure returns to block  204  to modify the functions associated with the other buttons on the faceplate based on the new band selection. If the button pressed was not the BND button, then the procedure returns to block  208 , where the car stereo performs the selected function. 
   Once a particular band has been selected, the behavior of the other buttons on the faceplate changes to the appropriate behavior for the selected band type. The appropriate behavior of the various buttons for each band type is discussed below. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a car stereo faceplate in the FM1 mode. The faceplate shown in  FIG. 3  is substantially the same as faceplate  34  shown in  FIG. 1 . The faceplate display indicates that the first preset has been selected (indicated by “ 1 :”), which is radio station KNDD having a frequency of 107.7. In the FM1 mode, the buttons on the faceplate perform the following functions:
         1–6 Presets: Press: Switches to a preset radio frequency.
           Press &amp; Hold: Sets the preset to the current radio frequency.   
           Reverse: Press: Scans backwards through the radio frequencies.   Press &amp; Hold: Scans backward through the cache of the currently playing radio frequency.   Forward: Press: Scans forward through the radio frequencies.
           Press &amp; Hold: If the radio frequency currently playing was paused then it scans forward through the cache of the currently playing radio frequency.   
           Play/Pause: Press: Pauses or restarts radio broadcast by saving the audio stream to storage.   Action: Press: Saves the current playing song or small historical time segment (the last 5 minutes and the next five minutes).
 
Similar functions are associated with the buttons in other radio band modes (e.g., FM2, FM3, and AM).
       
     FIG. 4  illustrates a car stereo faceplate in the CD mode. The faceplate display indicates that the first CD in a CD changer has been selected, which is an audio CD containing music from the Beatles&#39; album “Abbey Road”. In the CD mode, the buttons on the faceplate perform the following functions:
         1–6 Presets: Press: Switches to a CD within a CD changer.   Reverse: Press: Skips to previous track on the current CD.
           Press &amp; Hold: Scans backward within the current track on the current CD.   
           Forward: Press: Skips to next track on the current CD.
           Press &amp; Hold: Scans forward within the current track on the current CD.   
           Play/Pause: Press: Pauses or plays the current track on the current CD.   Action: Press: Saves the current playing track to storage and places the song in the next available preset track on a WM band.
           Press &amp; Hold: Save the current playing CD to storage and places the CD in the next available preset on a WM band.   
               
     FIG. 5  illustrates a car stereo faceplate in the WM (Windows Media) mode. The WM band presents represent an audio playlist. The WM band may also be referred to as a digital media band. The playlist could represent a saved CD, a random set of 10 songs from a musical collection or songs from a radio collection. The faceplate display indicates that the first playlist has been selected, which is a morning issue of the NPR broadcast. In the WM mode, the buttons on the faceplate perform the following functions:
         1–6 Presets: Press: Switches to a preset playlist that has either been saved (from radio or CD) or loaded via (wireless or removable) storage medium.   Reverse: Press: Skips to previous track in the current playlist.
           Press &amp; Hold: Scans backward within the current track in the current playlist.   
           Forward: Press: Skips to next track in the current playlist.
           Press &amp; Hold: Scans forward within the current track in the current playlist.   
           Play/Pause: Press: Pauses or plays the current track in the current playlist.   Action: No function for this band.       
     FIG. 6  illustrates a car stereo faceplate in the PT (Phone Task) mode. The faceplate display indicates that the first phone task has been selected, which is a phone task to cancel a dentist appointment. In one embodiment, phone tasks are personal information manager (PIM) tasks that require a phone call to complete the task. Phone tasks contain a simple set of text reminders as to what needs to be done with the task and an associated phone number to call to complete the task. In the PT mode, the buttons on the faceplate perform the following functions:
         1–6 Presets: Press: Selects a phone task that has been loaded via (wireless or removable) storage medium. The first line of the text description of the task is placed on the display. The primary audio output is not interrupted.   Reverse: Press: Display is changed to previous line of text description of the current task.
           Press &amp; Hold: Display is changed to the first line of the text description of the current task.   
           Forward: Press: Display is changed to the next line of the text description of the current task.
           Press &amp; Hold: Display is changed to the last line of the text description of the current task.   
           Play/Pause: Press: Translates the description of the current task from text to speech. Interrupts the current primary audio output while the translation is playing and resumes once the translation is completed.   Action: Press: Dials the phone number associated with the current task. Interrupts the primary audio output while the call is being made and resumes once it is completed. If a call was in progress, then the phone is hung up.
           Press &amp; Hold: Marks the task as completed.   
               
     FIG. 7  illustrates a car stereo faceplate in the NT (Navigation Tasks) mode. The faceplate display indicates that the first step in navigating to the desired destination (Turn Left on 148th Street). Navigation tasks is a list of directions that are used to get from one point to another. In the NT mode, the buttons on the faceplate perform the following functions:
         1–6 Presets: Press: Selects a navigation task that has been loaded via (wireless or removable) storage medium. The first line of the text direction of the task is placed on the display. The primary audio output is not interrupted.   Reverse: Press: Display is changed to the previous line of the text direction of the current task.
           Press &amp; Hold: Display is changed to the first line of the text direction of the current task.   
           Forward: Press: Display is changed to the next line of text direction of the current task.
           Press &amp; Hold: Display is changed to the last line of the text direction of the current task.   
           Play/Pause: Press: Translates the current line of the text direction of the current task from text to speech. Interrupts the current primary audio output while the translation is playing and resumes once the translation is complete.   Action: No function for this band.       
     FIG. 8  illustrates a car stereo faceplate in the CL (Contact List) mode. The faceplate display indicates that the first preset (1) in has been selected (Sherry&#39;s home phone number). In the CL mode, the buttons on the faceplate perform the following functions:
         1–6 Presets: Press: Selects a preset contact from the list. The name and phone number of the contact is placed on the display. The primary audio output is not interrupted.
           Press &amp; Hold: Saves the current contact to the current preset.   
           Reverse: Press: Skips to the previous contact in the entire contact list.
           Press &amp; Hold: Skips backwards 10 contacts.   
           Forward: Press: Skips to the next contact in the entire contact list.
           Press &amp; Hold: Skips forwards 10 contacts.   
           Play/Pause: Press: Translates the contact name from text to speech. Interrupts the current primary audio output while the translation is playing and resumes when the translation is completed.   Action: Press: Dials the currently selected phone number. Interrupts the current primary audio output while the call is being made and resumes once it is completed. If a call was in process then the phone is hung up.       
   The various bands and functions discussed above are provided by way of example. A particular car stereo system may offer any number of different bands and functions, including bands and functions not discussed herein. 
   A particular audio browser includes a memory capable of storing an operating system and one or more application programs that execute on one or more microprocessors. The microprocessor(s) are programmed by means of instructions stored at different times in various computer-readable storage media of the device. This storage media may include, for example, smart cards, a disk drive, or other volatile or non-volatile storage mechanism. Application programs are typically installed or loaded into the secondary memory of a computer. At execution, the application programs are loaded at least partially into the computer&#39;s primary electronic memory. The invention described herein includes these and other various types of computer-readable storage media when such media contain instructions or programs for implementing the steps and features described herein in conjunction with a microprocessor or other data processor. The invention also includes the computer and other devices themselves when programmed according to the methods and techniques described herein. 
   Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention is defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7