KR20010111295A - A multi-function removable faceplate - Google Patents

Abstract

The functionality of the removable faceplates on the entertainment system, such as car audio, etc., is enhanced on its typical anti-theft function. In a first embodiment, the detachable faceplate includes a rendering system such as an audio amplifier and headphones. In this embodiment, the detachable faceplate may include a tuner device for receiving broadcast content material. In another embodiment, the detachable faceplate includes a memory device that can be used to reproduce recorded content material, or storage delivery information or content material, to or from the base unit. In another embodiment, the faceplate includes a "buy" switch that can be used to make a purchase request for an item associated with the received broadcast content material, and the memory device stores this purchase request to the seller via the base unit. It is used to convey.

Description

Multifunctional removable faceplate {A multi-function removable faceplate}

2. Description of related technology

The use of removable faceplates on vehicle radios is becoming increasingly common. The radio and faceplate are designed to keep the base unit inoperable when the faceplate is removed. Typically, the purpose of the removable faceplate is to prevent theft and vehicle related damage of the base unit by minimizing the economic benefits that can be realized by theft. That is, because the resale value of the base unit without the faceplate is minimal, the thief has little desire to break the vehicle to steal the base unit. As vehicle televisions are becoming increasingly popular, removable faceplates can also be expected to be used to thwart thieves. To facilitate reference and understanding, the audio system paradigm for receiving and rendering content material may be presented herein, although it will be appreciated that the principles presented herein are substantially independent of the type of content material. will be.

Multiple techniques can be employed to disable the base unit when the faceplate is removed. In a simple embodiment, the faceplate merely provides a mechanical function that makes the base unit more ergonomic. In one example of such an embodiment, the base unit includes recessed switches and the faceplate includes corresponding rods that provide protrusions to activate these recessed switches. The faceplate also includes other devices, such as a display unit, to provide a "blank" panel on the base unit when the faceplate is removed. In addition, the lack of a display unit minimizes the resale value of the base unit, even if the potential consumer wants to use other means for operating the recessed switches. In other embodiments, the faceplate includes all signal processing components of the device, while the base unit includes power and speaker amplifiers. In a more complex embodiment, the faceplate includes a security element such as a key or authentication tool, and the base unit queries the faceplate for key or authentication before actuating other components of the radio or television.

Note that in conventional systems, the detachable faceplate also cannot be used when detached from the base unit. Typically, a user removes a faceplate present in the vehicle, carries the faceplate, and then puts the faceplate back in the vehicle. While the faceplate is carried, its only function is to prevent theft of the base unit.

Background of the Invention

1. Field of Invention

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of consumer electronics, and more particularly to an electronic device that receives content material, such as a car audio or television receiver.

1 illustrates an exemplary entertainment system having a base unit and a removable faceplate in accordance with the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of an example of an entertainment system in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of another example of an entertainment system according to the present invention;

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to increase the versatility of a detachable faceplate. Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for receiving or rendering content material via a faceplate when the faceplate is removed from its corresponding base unit. Another object of the invention is to provide a means for transferring information to or from the base unit. Another object of the present invention is to facilitate the purchase of an item associated with the received content material.

These objects and others are achieved by various techniques. In a first embodiment, the detachable faceplate includes a rendering system such as an audio amplifier and headphones. In this embodiment, the detachable faceplate may include a tuner device for receiving broadcast content material. In another embodiment, the detachable faceplate includes a memory device that can be used to play recorded content material, or store-and-forward information or content material to or from the base unit. In another embodiment, the faceplate includes a "buy" switch that can be used to make a purchase request for an item associated with the received broadcast content material, and the memory device provides the purchase to the seller through the base unit. Used to store and forward the request.

The invention is explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features or functions.

1 illustrates an example entertainment system 100 having a base unit 300 and a removable faceplate 200 in accordance with the present invention. As noted above, a vehicle audio system is used herein as a paradigm for an entertainment system with a removable faceplate, although other systems may employ a removable faceplate to prevent theft. Consistent with systems of the prior art with removable faceplates, base unit 300 renders content material via speakers 310, and faceplate 200 renders content material. Control means 210 to control the. The base unit 300 is typically permanently mounted in a vehicle, while the removable faceplate 200 is portable and is intended to be easily carried by the user when detached from the base unit 300.

2 illustrates a block diagram of an example of an entertainment system 100 in accordance with the present invention. As in the conventional cyste, the base unit 300 is configured to be inoperative when the faceplate 200 is detached. This functional relationship between the base unit 300 and the faceplate 200 is illustrated in FIG. 2 (and FIG. 3) by the security device 230 in the faceplate 200 and the controller 330 in the base unit 300. do. The controller 330 interacts with the security device 230 and enables or disables other components of the base unit 300 depending on whether an authenticated faceplate 200 is attached. do. In some embodiments, base unit 300 is configured on a single faceplate 200 to prevent the use of counterfeit or substitute faceplates. Any of a variety of other techniques, such as the use of recessed switches in the base unit described above, may be used to substantially disable the use of the base unit 300 when the faceplate 200 is detached. Detachable faceplates for preventing theft are common in the prior art, and the detailed description is not discussed further here since the invention is independent of the means used to provide this function.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removable faceplate 200 includes a receiver 240 for receiving content material and a rendering system 250 for rendering the received content material, as illustrated in FIG. Receiver 240 may be, for example, a conventional AM / FM radio receiver, and rendering system 250 is an audio amplifier for supplying received content material to headphone set 260. By providing a faceplate 200 having the ability to receive and render content material, the faceplate 200 can serve as a portable radio receiver when it is not attached to the base unit 300. Power may be supplied by a battery, and the battery may be inside the faceplate 200 or may be an auxiliary device configured to couple to the faceplate 200 in the same manner as the base unit 300. In this way, the user does not merely bond a security device, but rather carries a device that satisfies a useful purpose regardless of the security device. In addition, other functions may be provided to the faceplate 200. For example, faceplate 200 can be configured to be a mobile phone or pager that can be operated as an in-vehicle or portable device, or can record PDA functions similar to appointments, appointments, etc. It can be comprised as a processing apparatus for this.

In the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the base unit 300 includes an audio amplifier 350 for rendering content material received by the faceplate receiver 240 through the speakers 310. In addition, the base unit 300, illustrated in FIG. 2, includes a memory 380 that can be used to store and play other content material. This memory 380 may be a conventional solid state memory device, or a device that stores information on and / or retrieves information from another medium. That is, the memory 380 may be a conventional CD or cassette player and / or recorder or other mass storage device included in the base unit 300. The co-pending U.S. patent application "Virtual Jukebox," serial number 09 / 326,506, agent number PHA 23,417, filed April 6, 1990 of Pieter van der Meulend, claims MPEG or Philips' on a conventional hard disk drive. Initiates storage of a collection of DCC audio compressed audio records. This patent application discloses the possibility of storing hundreds of CD-length records on a conventional 10GB hard disk drive.

3 illustrates a block diagram of another example of an entertainment system 100 'in accordance with the present invention. In this example embodiment, the removable faceplate 200 includes a memory 280. By including a memory 280 capable of communicating information with the base unit 300, the removable faceplate 200 can serve store-and-forward functions, in addition to its primary function of preventing theft. Can be.

By providing a store delivery transmission capability, the faceplate can be used to transfer information, for example, between a vehicle system and a home entertainment system. By using the example of a 10 GB hard disk drive as the memory device 380 of the base unit 300 as disclosed in the above-referenced "virtual jukebox" patent application, the memory 280 of the faceplate 200 can be used by the user. It can be used to transfer selected copies of the home music collection to a user's car. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the memory 280 of the faceplate 200 has a capacity of 40 megabytes, thereby providing a full-length (50 minutes) typical of MPEG or Philips' DCC audio compressed format. Enable storage of content. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the detachable faceplate 200 receives content material into its memory 280 when it is detached from the base unit 300 and coupled to the base station 400, and that is the base unit ( Content material is transferred to memory 380 when substantially attached to 300. One of various techniques, including wired or wireless communications, can be used to transfer content material or other information between the removable faceplate 200 and the base station 400.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the base unit 300 includes a receiver 340 having a function similar to the receiver 240 presented above for receiving content material. The co-pending US patent application "Method and System for Purchasing Content Related Material" (application number ______, application date ______), by Attorney Docket ______, Disclosure 700798 by Nicholas Mankovich and Michael Epstein, is based on content material received by the entertainment device. A system for supporting impulse purchases is disclosed. This referenced patent application discloses the use of a "buy" button on a receiving device to make a purchase request for an item associated with the currently presented content material, which is described herein by reference. This referenced patent application also discloses a portable device for transferring information to or from a vehicle system. In the present invention, the faceplate 200 provides this function in addition to the security function of a conventional detachable faceplate.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a faceplate, for example, to facilitate the purchase of an item associated with content material received by the base unit 300 via the receiver 240 of FIG. 2 or the receiver 340 of FIG. 3. "Buy" button 290 on 200. Consistent with the referenced co-pending US patent application "Method and System for Purchasing Content Related Material", when the content material is presented by the base unit 300, the user will receive a "buy" button 290 of faceplate 200. ), The identifier of the item associated with the received content material is stored in the memory 280 of the faceplate 200 of FIG. When faceplate 200 arrives near base station 400, whose identifier is directly or indirectly accessed by a provider of an item stored in memory 280, purchase request from faceplate 200 to base station 400. Is communicated to, to purchase an identifier item. In addition, base station 400 and / or base unit 300 may be configured to provide other services to faceplate 200, such as recharging the batteries of faceplate. In addition, the base station 400 may operate the faceplate 200 such that the base station 400 may utilize the aforementioned functions of the faceplate 200, such as the features provided by the receiver 240, the memory 280, and the like. It may include a corresponding receptacle to receive. In a similar manner, memory 280 may be uploaded by base station 400 to receive content material from conventional devices such as CD players, cassette players, and the like.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure, different combinations of the aforementioned capabilities may be provided in the detachable faceplate 200 according to the present invention. For example, the removable faceplate 200 may include a memory 280 and a rendering system 250, such that the faceplate 200 is a portable playback device that renders content material stored in the memory 280. To be used. In a similar manner, this removable faceplate embodiment can also include a receiver 240 such that the memory 280 can receive broadcast content material from the receiver 240. In this way, a purchase request can also be presented while the faceplate is detached from the base unit and later sent to the base system 400 or another device that accesses the provider of the item being purchased.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Thus, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to practice the principles of the present invention and thus invent various devices that fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims of the present invention, even if not explicitly described or shown herein. will be.

Claims (14)

In the entertainment system 100, A base unit 300 configured to render content material, A faceplate 200 attachable and detachable from the base unit 300, The base unit 300 is configured to render the content material only when the faceplate 200 is attached to the base unit 300, The faceplate (200) includes an entertainment system (100) configured to store information intended to be communicated between the base unit (300) and a base system (400). The method of claim 1, Further comprising a receiving system (240, 340) configured to receive the content material, The information stored in the memory 280 depends on the content material, The faceplate (200) is configured to transmit the information to the base system (400) after the faceplate (200) is separated from the base unit (300). The method of claim 2, Further comprising an input system 290 configured to accept a purchase request, The information stored in the memory (280) includes authentication of an item associated with the content material received when the purchase request is accepted. The method of claim 3, wherein The faceplate (200) includes the input system (290). The method of claim 1, The faceplate 200 receives the information from the base system 400 when the faceplate 200 is separated from the base unit 300, and the faceplate 200 receives the base unit 300. And to communicate the information to the base unit (300) when attached to the entertainment system (100). The method of claim 1, The faceplate 200 receives the information from the base unit 300 when the faceplate 200 is attached to the base unit 300, and the faceplate 200 receives the base unit 300. And be configured to communicate information with the base system (400) when separated from the entertainment system (100). In the faceplate 200 configured to be attachable to the base unit 300 to enable operation of the base unit 300, Faceplate 200, comprising a memory 280 configured to store the information to facilitate store-and-forward communication of information between the base unit 300 and the base system 400. ). The method of claim 7, wherein A receiver 240 configured to receive content material from a source, Further comprising a rendering system 250 configured to render the content material, The information depends on the content material and is stored in the memory 280 when the faceplate 200 is attached to the base unit 300, The information is communicated to the base system (400) when the faceplate (200) is separated from the base unit (300). The method of claim 7, wherein The information includes content material stored in the memory 280 when the faceplate 200 is separated from the base unit 300, and the faceplate 200 is attached to the base unit 300. When communicated to the base unit (300). The method of claim 7, wherein The information includes content material stored in the memory 280 when the faceplate 200 is separated from the base unit 300, and the faceplate 200 is coupled to the base system 400. Faceplate 200, when communicated to the base system 400. The method of claim 7, wherein The faceplate 200 further comprising a rendering system 250 configured to render content material. The method of claim 11, And the information comprises the content material. In the faceplate 200 configured to be attachable to the base unit 300 to enable operation of the base unit 300, Faceplate 200 comprising a rendering system 250 configured to render content material. The method of claim 13, A receiver 240 configured to receive the content material from a source; With a telephone device, And at least one of the pager devices.