Method and apparatus for producing an audio magnetic tape recording at high speed from a preselected music library

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for producing a custom audio tape consisting of selections from a prerecorded selection library comprising:

a. creating a selection library from a multiplicity of selections from a multiplicity of master audio tapes in which the audio is recorded in analog signal form by:

(i) supplying each analog audio signal from its respective audio tape wherein the audio input is a signal in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz;

(ii) filtering said analog audio signal through a 20 kHz low pass filter to prevent aliasing;

(iii) converting said analog audio signal to a digital audio signal by passing the filtered analog audio signal through an 8 Bit analog to digital converter;

(iv) storing the digital audio signal on a signal storage means;

(v) removing said digital audio signal from said signal storage means and converting said digital audio signal into a standard bandwidth video signal by passing the digital audio signal through a 256 Kbyte video frame buffer and thereafter outputting the signal from the video frame buffer sequentially through an 8 bit digital to analog converter thereby converting the signal into a standard bandwidth video signal which is a compressed audio signal;

(vi) passing the compressed audio signal through a 4.5 MHz low pass filter to remove high frequency components;

(vii) recording the compressed filter audio signal on a videotape recorder;

(viii) repeating steps a. (i) through a. (vii) for each signal from each selection chosen from the multiplicity of master audio tapes;

(ix) mastering the video tapes containing the compressed filtered audio signals onto a video laser disc to create an RS-170A Gray Scale formatted video laser disc wherein each analog audio signal is an RS-170 format video signal, comprising all of the desired selections;

b. selecting a specified subset of audio recordings from the selections on said video laser disc;

c. creating said specified subset of audio recordings from the selections on said video laser disc by:

(i) playing a particular frame from the video laser disc in still frame mode to create an analog video signal;

(ii) passing the analog video signal frame by frame through a video frame buffer to convert said analog video signal into a string of digital values and storing the digital values in a 256 kbyte frame storage buffer and thereafter sending the digital values out its digital port;

(iii) sending the string of digital values through a first in first out buffer to control the output data transfer rate of the digitized compressed audio and to take up any gaps in the digital data stream caused during the frame grabbing process;

(iv) converting the digital audio stream into an analog audio signal by passing the digital audio signals through and 8 bit digital to analog converter;

(v) controlling the data transfer rate during the time a digital signal is sent through the first in first out buffer and during conversion of the digital signal into an analog audio signal and creating a time delay between the two steps to permit the data bits to stabilize prior to leaving the first in first out buffer;

(vi) filtering the analog audio signal through a 160 kHz low pass filter to remove high frequency components;

(vii) recording the analog audio signal onto an audio tape; and

(viii) repeating steps c. (i) through c. (vii) for each signal from each of the desired selections on the specified subset of audio recordings from the selections on said video laser disc.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signal storage means is a computer hard disk.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first in first out buffer receives information at approximately 2.5 Mbyte per second and outputs information at approximately 320 kbyte per second.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the recording of the analog audio onto audio tape is performed at approximately 8 times normal speed.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein selecting a specified subset of audio recordings from the selections on said video laser disc further comprises inputting commands through a user interface means to a central processing unit which controls the processes specified in c. (i) through c. (vii).

6. A method for producing a custom audio tape consisting of selections from a prerecorded selection library comprising:

a. creating a selection library from a multiplicity of selections from a multiplicity of master audio tapes in which the audio is recorded in analog signal form by:

(i) supplying each analog audio signal from its respective audio tape;

(ii) filtering said analog audio signal through a low pass filter to prevent aliasing;

(iii) converting said analog audio signal to a digital audio signal by passing the filtered analog audio signal through an analog to digital converter;

(iv) storing the digital audio signal on a signal storage means;

(v) removing said digital audio signal from said signal storage means and converting said digital audio signal into a standard bandwidth video signal by passing the digital audio signal through a video frame buffer and thereafter outputting the signal from the video frame buffer sequentially through a digital to analog converter thereby converting the signal into a standard bandwidth video signal which is a compressed audio signal;

(vi) passing the compressed audio signal through a low pass filter to remove high frequency components;

(vii) recording the compressed filtered audio signal on a videotape recorder;

(viii) repeating steps a. (i) through a. (vii) for each signal from each selection chosen from the multiplicity of master audio tapes;

(ix) mastering the video tapes containing the compressed filtered audio signals onto a video laser disc to create an RS-170A Gray Scale formatted video laser disc wherein each analog audio signal is an RS-170 format video signal, comprising all of the desired selections;

b. selecting a specified subset of audio recordings from the selections on said video laser disc;

c. creating a specified subset of audio recordings from the selections on said video laser disc by:

(i) playing a particular frame from the video laser disc in still frame mode to create an analog video signal;

(ii) passing the analog video signal frame by frame through a video frame buffer to convert said analog video signal into a string of digital values and storing the digital values in frame storage buffer and thereafter sending the digital values out its digital port;

(iii) sending the string of digital values through a first in first out buffer to control the output data transfer rate of the digitized compressed audio and to take up any gaps in the digital data stream caused during the frame grabbing process;

(iv) converting the digital audio stream into an analog audio signal by passing the digital audio signals through a digital to analog converter;

(v) controlling the data transfer rate during the time a digital signal is sent through the first in first out buffer and during conversion of the digital signal into an analog audio signal and creating a time delay between the two steps to permit the data bits to stabilize prior to leaving the first in first out buffer;

(vi) filtering the analog audio signal through a low pass filter to remove high frequency components;

(vii) recording the analog audio signal onto an audio tape; and

(viii) repeating steps c. (i) through c. (vii) for each signal from each of the desired selections on the specified subset of audio recordings from the selections on said video laser disc.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said signal storage means is a computer hard disk.

8. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first in first out buffer receives information at approximately 2.5 Mbyte per second and outputs information at approximately 320 kbyte per second.

9. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the recording of the analog audio signal onto audio tape is performed at approximately 8 times normal speed.

10. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein said analog audio signal from the master audio tape is in a range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

11. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein said filtering of the analog audio signal to prevent aliasing is performed through a 20 kHz low pass filter.

12. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the conversion of said analog audio signal to a digital audio signal in step a. (iii) is performed through an 8 Bit analog to digital converter.

13. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the signal storage means used is a computer hard disk.

14. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the digital audio signal is converted into a compressed audio signal by passage through a video frame buffer and then through and 8-bit digital to analog converter.

15. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the filtering of the compressed audio signal in step a. (vi) is performed through a 4.5 MHz low pass filter.

16. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the converting of the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal in step c. (iv) is performed through an 8-bit deglitched digital to analog module.

17. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the step of filtering the analog audio signal to remove high frequency components in step c. (vi) is performed through a 160 kHz low pass filter.

18. An apparatus for producing an audio magnetic tape recording at high speed consisting of selections from a preselected selection library comprising:

a. user interface means to permit a user to select which selections the user wishes to record, further comprising:

(i) a central processing unit means;

(ii) a video monitor means;

(iii) a video adapter means for interconnecting said video monitor means with said central processing unit means;

(iv) a keypad means;

(v) a keypad interface means for interconnecting said keypad means to said central processing unit means;

(vi) printer means;

(vii) printer interface means for interconnecting said printer means with said central processing unit means;

b. a prerecorded selection library comprised of a multiplicity of selections comprising audio signals from master audio tapes which signals have been filterd through a low pass filter to prevent aliasing, converted into a digital audio signal by having been passed through an analog to digital converter and thereafter converted into a standard bandwidth video signal by being passed through a video frame buffer and digital to analog converter to thereby be converter into a standard bandwidth video signal which is a compressed audio signal, subsequently passed through a low pass filter to remove high frequency components, recorded onto a videotape recorder and subsequently mastered onto a video laser disc such that the prerecorded selection library is comprised of compressed audio signals formatted as video signals on a video laser disc;

c. at least one video disc player for playing a particular frame from the video laser disc in still frame mode to create an analog video signal;

d. at least one video frame buffer for converting the analog signal from the at least one video disc player into a string of digital values;

e. at least one first in first out buffer for controlling the input data transfer rate of the digitzed compressed audio and for taking up any gaps in the digital data stream caused during the frame grabbing process;

f. at least one digital to analog converter for converting the digital audio stream into an analog audio signal;

g. an output clock circuit for controlling the data transfer rate during the time the digital audio signal is sent through said first in first out buffer and also through the digital to analog converter to thereby create a time delay between the first in first out buffer and the digital to analog coverter to permit the data bits to stabilize prior to leaving the first in first out buffer;

h. at least one low pass filter for filtering the signal which has been converted into the analog audio signal;

i. an audio tape; and

j. an audio tape recorder for recording the filtered analog audio signal into the audio tape.

19. An apparatus for producing an audio magnetic tape recording at high speed consisting of selections from a preselected selection library comprising:

a. a user interface means to permit a user to select which selections the user wishes to record, further comprising:

(i) a central processing unit means;

(ii) a video monitor means;

(iii) a video adapter means for interconnecting said video monitor means with said central processing unit means;

(iv) a keypad means;

(v) a keypad interface means for interconnecting said keypad means to said central processing unit means;

(vi) printer means;

(vii) printer interface means for interconnecting said printer means with said central processing unit means;

b. a prerecorded selection library comprised of a multiplicity of selections comprising audio signals from master audio tapes which signals have been filtered through a low pass filter to prevent aliasing, converted into a digital audio signal by having been passed through an analog to digital converter and thereafter converted into a standard bandwidth video signal by being passed through a video frame buffer and digital to analog converter to thereby be converter into a standard bandwidth video signal which is a compressed audio signal, subsequently passed through a low pass filter to remove high frequency components, recorded onto a videotape recorder and subsequently mastered onto a video laser disc such that the prerecorded selection library is comprised of compressed audio signals formatted as video signals on a video laser disc;

c. a multiplicity of video disc players for simultaneously playing selected particular frames from the video laser disc in still frame mode to create an analog video signal from each frame played;

d. a multiplicity of video frame buffers wherein a respective video frame buffer is connected to a respective video disc player for converting the analog signal from the video disc player to which it is connected into a string of digital values;

e. a de-multiplexer circuit for selecting a given one of said multiplicity of video disk players for playing a particular frame from the video laser disc;

f. a multiplicity of first in first out buffers wherein a respective first in first out frame buffer is connected to a respective video frame buffer for controlling the input data transfer rate of the digitzed compressed audio and for taking up any gaps in the digital dat stream caused during the frame grabbing process;

g. a multiplicity of analog to digital converters wherein a respective digital to analog converter is connected to a first in first out buffer for converting the digital audio stream from the first in first out buffer into an analog audio signal;

h. an output clock circuit connected to said multiplicity of video frame buffers for controlling the data transfer rate during the time the digital audio signal is sent through each first in first out buffer and also through each digital to analog converter to thereby create a time delay between each first in first out video frame buffer and the respective digital to analog converter to which it is connected to permit the data bits to stabilize prior to leaving each first in first out video frame buffer;

i. a multiplicity of low pass filters wherein a respective low pass filter is connected to a digital to analog converter for filtering the signal from the respective digital to analog converter which has been converted into the analog audio signal;

j. an audio tape; and

k. an audio tape recorder for recording each filtered analog audio signal onto the audio tape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic music center for producing custom audio magnetic tapes. In particular, the present invention is directed to an automated electronic music center that allows a user to produce a custom audio tape at high speed consisting of selections he chooses from a prerecorded selection library.

In general, the present invention relates to a machine that allows a user to select a number of randomly chosen audio selections from a music library containing a multiplicity of selections and to duplicate these selections at high speed on blank magnetic recording tape in the order chosen by the user.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The audio magnetic tape recording industry is a mature and well-developed industry that spawned a great number of technological innovations. Apparatus with remarkable capabilities have been developed in the art. For example, a combination audio and video player is now available commercially from Pioneer Corporation. Cassette duplicating machines are also well known in the prior art.

In addition, many different techniques and apparatus for recording audio sound on magnetic tape are well known in the prior art.

These and other innovations have made a plethora of audio entertainment readily available to individual users, in a variety or formats, which include, for example, phonograph records, reel-to-reel magnetic tape recordings, 8-track tape cartridges, and cassette tapes. Most recently, audio compact discs have added yet another improvement to the array of audio storage media available to the consumer.

The Inventors are aware of the following prior art patents:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,710 issued to Hughes in 1976 for "Coin-Operated Recording Machine".

2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,045 issued to Sheehan in 1979 for "Random Selection Control System For Recording Tape Cartridges".

3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,220 issued to Brown et al. in 1980 for "Tape Recording System".

4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,135 issued to Dil et al. in 1982 for "Optical Record Carrier And Apparatus For Reading It."

5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,338 issued to Yamamoto et al. in 1982 for "Duplicator".

6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,643 issued to Freeny, Jr. in 1985 for "System For Reproducing Information In Material Objects At A Point Of Sale Location".

7. U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,058 issued to Izumi et al. in 1986 for "Cartridge Programming System".

8. German Offenlegungsschrift 26 25 695 issued to Schubert for "Magnetic Tape Automatic Copier".

9. Japanese Pat. 56-83846 (A) issued to Tanaka for "Duplicator Device And Its Method".

. United Kingdom Patent Application 2 013 865 A applied for by Massari for "System for the Production of Tape Cassettes, Cartridges or the Like".

11. U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,269 issued to Gaubert in 1963 for "Programmed Tape Apparatus".

12. U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,780 issued to Bendick et al. in 1966 for "Random Access Storage And Delivery Device".

13. U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,645 issued to Leinberger et al. in 1970 for "Random Access Data Storage".

14. U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,476 issued to Cervantes in 1971 for "Cassette Duplicator".

15. U.S. Pat. No. 3,825,949 issued to Pyles in 1971 for "Cartridge Changer With Cartridge Sensing Means".

16. U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,660 issued to Henegar in 1974 for "Control System For Multiple Tape Readers In An N/C System". 17. German Auslegeschrift 2,047,386 issued 1973 for "Tape Recorder".

18. German Offenlegungsschrift 2,400,864 issued in 1974 for "Fully Automatic Magnetic Tape Cassette Reproducer".

19. German Offenlegungsschrift 2,255,371 issued in 1973 for "Automatic Articles Storage And Retrieval".

20. IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin (Vol. 6, No. 9, February, 1964).

21. "Cartridge Library System" (Research Disclosure June 1984, No. 242).

22. IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin (Vol. 25, No. 10, March, 1983).

23. IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin (Vol. 8, No. 3, August, 1965).

The above prior art references are discussed more extensively in the Information Disclosure Statement filed concurrently with this application.

The present inventors are also the inventors of presently Co-Pending Patent Application Serial No. 06/804,803 filed Dec. 04, 1985 and presently entitled "1K Entertainment Center".

Notwithstanding these technologies, there is a certain rigidness in availability of selections to an individual consumer. The consumer must purchase a pre-recorded album which naturally includes pre-selected tracks chosen by the album producer. Often, a consumer would have chosen different tracks, if he had been able to. Current recording technology does not readily allow a consumer to choose exactly the selections he would like to store on a record or tape. In addition, the particular novel method by which the huge selection of prerecorded music is conveniently stored in a compressed form for use with the present invention is not disclosed or made obvious by the known prior art.

Therefore, a significant need exists for an apparatus that will allow a consumer to select the specific songs or musical pieces that he wants to have on a particular tape, and will allow him to choose the order of those selections.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a consumer oriented electronic music center wherein a purchaser may produce his own audio cassette tape at high speed from selections found in a music library housed within the present invention. The music library is located on a video laser disc. In general, the present invention relates to machines which are capable of selecting a multiplicity of randomly-chosen audio selections from the music library, and duplicating them onto blank recording tape at high speed in the order selected.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a free-standing kiosk having a service display available to a consumer. In its interaction with the consumer, the present invention performs the following functions:

(1) It presents and audio and visual display of recordings available in the library that the consumer can choose from;

(2) It allows the consumer to select the songs or other musical pieces in accordance with his personal tastes, from the music library;

(3) It confirms selections made by the consumer on the video display terminal, so that any errors can be corrected before the tape is recorded;

(4) It records the selections on a conventional audio cassette a tape of appropriate length;

(5) It prints a cassette label for the customer, setting forth the specific musical pieces selected; and

(6) It issues the completed custom audio tape cassette to the consumer.

Tuning through the FM or AM dial usually brings the same thought to the minds of music enthusiasts. Wouldn't it be convenient and inexpensive if, instead of having to purchase ten albums for the ten appealing hits on the radio, one could purchase a tape of these favorites? One can, of course, given a tape deck and plenty of radio listening time, or access to entire albums. The present invention permits the consumer to customer create, in seconds, a high-quality "hit" cassette tape of his favorite selections from a repertoire of over 1,000.

Some record companies regularly offer "Hit" albums featuring hits from an era, a season, a particular style or artist, but these take months, even years to appear on the market. Even then, consumer choice is restricted by decisions of music producers. The present invention leaps over these incoveniences.

The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for taking an analog audio signal, converting the signal into a digital audio signal, and thereafter converting the digital audio signal into a standard bandwidth video signal and thereby substantially compressing it. In this format, it can be placed onto a master video tape from which it can be transferred to a video laser disk. The present invention further comprises a method and apparatus from which a selected number of recordings on the video laser disk can be retrieved by playing the video disc in still frame mode to create an analog video signal, converting the analog video signal into a string of digital values, converting the digital audio stream into an analog audio signal and thereafter recording the audio signal onto an audio tape. This method and apparatus is used as the central technology in a consumer audio center wherein a consumer can randomly select a given number of songs selected from a music library and thereafter create his or her own customized audio tape in a matter of minutes. For example, ten 3-minute songs can be recorded in less than two minutes.

The present invention is a self-contained electronic storage and distribution system that will allow shoppers at department, discount and record stores, to select and sequence songs, for instantaneous reproduction on an audio cassette. A computer display terminal of the present invention displays a continually updated catalogue of songs from the full spectrum of music styles. The shopper can create a custom tape with, for example, selections from musicians ranging from Madonna to Mozart. At the push of a buttom, a shopper can produce in approximately two minutes, a high-quality, custom length cassette with up to about ten individual selections. In essence, the present invention allows the consumer to create a custom tape of favorite musical selections from a variety of albums available. The present invention therefore offers the consumer convenience, timeliness, simplicity and choice.

To perform these functions involves complex electronic components, and an inventive technology, which comprises storing audio information in compressed form on video laser discs, to reduce required storage space. After a video laser disc containing the audio signal is produced, the signal can be read from the laser disc, decompressed, converted to an analog audio signal, and then recorded on standard magnetic recording tape. To produce the video laser disc, an analog audio signal is produced from a phonograph record, magnetic tape, live performance, or so forth. This analog signal is converted to a digital signal through existing techinques. Then the digital signal is compressed by a time factor of about 200 to 300, with 225 being the preferred compression. This compressed signal is recorded on conventional magnetic video tape in standard NTSC format for storage, and for shipment to a commercial vendor who prepares video laser discs.

This video laser disc can be produced en masse economically, for use in a large number of entertainment centers according to the present invention, and the discs distributed thereto. A single video laser disc can hold about 40 to 80 hours of music, making it a very compact storage medium.

Hardware in the entertainment system according to the present invention allows the user to select songs, which are retrieved from the video laser disc, as a highly compressed audio signal, which is then decompressed from the original 200 to 300 times compression, to a speed of about 8 times normal playback speed. Then the signal is recorded onto a magnetic tape at 8 time normal playback speed, permitting a consumer to record, for example, a 30 minute tape in less than 2 minutes. This feature of compressing the recorded sound, storing it on video disc and then decompressing the sound and re-recording it onto an audio cassette tape is a primary novel feature of the present invention.

The present invention comprises a method of compressing an audio signal comprising:

a. supplying an analog audio signal;

b. filtering said analog audio signal to prevent aliasing;

c. converting said analog audio signal to a digital audio signal;

d. storing said digital audio signal on a signal storage means; and

e. removing said digital audio signal from said mass storage means and converting said digital audio signal into a standard bandwidth video signal thereby converting the signal into a compressed audio signal.

The signal storage means can be a standard computer storage means such as a computer hard disk.

The method also comprises the further step of filtering the compressed audio signal to remove high frequency components which were introduced into the reconstructed analog signal during the digital to analog conversion process.

The method also comprises the further step of recording said compressed audio signal onto a videotape recorder to create a master video tape.

In addition, the method also comprises the further step of creating a video laser disc from said master video tape.

The present invention also comprises a method for creating an audio cassette tape from a video laser disc as defined above comprising the further steps of:

a. playing a particular frame from the video laser disc in still frame mode to create an analog video signal;

b. converting said analog video signal into a string of digital values;

c. sending the string of digital values through a buffer means to control the output data transfer rate of the digitzed compressed audio and to take up any gaps in the digital data stream caused during the frame grabbing process; and

d. converting the digital audio stream into an analog audio signal.

The above method also includes the further step of controlling the data transfer rate during the time the digital signal is sent through the buffer means as set forth in element "c" above and during conversion of the digital signal into an analog audio signal and creating a time delay between the two steps to permit the data bits to stabilize prior to leaving the buffer means.

A further step in the above method is filtering the analog audio signal to remove high frequency components. Thereafter, the analog audio signal is recorded onto an audio tape at high speed.

It addition to the above described method, the present invention also includes the apparatus for creating the audio tape. The present invention comprises means for compressing an audio signal comprising:

a. means for supplying an analog audio signal;

b. means for filtering said analog audio signal to prevent aliasing;

c. means for converting said analog audio signal to a digital audio signal;

d. means for storing said digital audio signal on a mass signal storage means; and

e. means for removing said digital audio signal from said mass signal storage means and converting said digital audio signal into a standard bandwidth video signal thereby converting the signal into a compressed audio signal.

The mass signal storage means can be a standard computer storage means such as a computer hard disk.

The present invention further comprises means for filtering the compressed audio signal to remove high frequency components which were introduced