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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An audio-visual computer system with computer programs for media inventory database management and for controlling the operation of audio-visual components via infra-red
(IR) signals for playing/recording audio-visual programs on media, comprising:
a personal computer;
disc memory means contained within said personal computer for storing media inventory database and said computer programs;
processor means contained within said personal computer for executing said computer programs;
touch-screen display means contained within said personal computer for displaying plurality of menus created by said computer programs and for input of inventory data;
IR transceiving means contained within said personal computer having antenna mounted on said personal computer for transmitting said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components, said computer programs being adapted to control the
transmitting of said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components; and
media inventory database management system means contained on said disc memory means for storing and retrieving media information;
said media inventory database management system means comprising: means for acquisition, permanent storing over some time interval, cataloging, selecting, and retrieving of information about media name, number, track numbers, media and track
content, times, performers, air-time program listing, and digitized media graphic images, whereby said computer programs allow browsing of said menus, search by partial keys, display of said media inventory and automatic, unattended data aquisition,
initialization, scheduling and control of said audio-visual components, storing and recalling of a list of selections for control of said audio-visual components to be performed over some time interval.
2. The audio-visual computer system of claim 1 wherein said computer programs function to present on said touch-screen display a plurality of menus, said menus comprising:
play/record menu for controlling the operation of said audio-visual components; and
enter media inventory menu for storing media information on said disc memory means.
3. The audio-visual computer system of claim 1 wherein said audio-visual components comprise TV, Video Cassette recorder/player, CD player and Audio Cassette recorder/player, and wherein said media comprises CD discs, Video Cassettes and Audio
Cassettes.
4. The audio-visual computer system of claim 1 further comprising, contained within said personal computer, a label printing means for printing labels for said media and a printing means for printing said inventory of said media.
5. The audio-visual computer system of claim 1 further comprising input means contained within said personal computer for receiving media content, graphic information and audio-visual components air-time program listing information, and wherein
said computer programs function to store said media content, graphic information and audio-visual components air-time program listing information on said disc memory means for display on said touch-screen display means.
6. The audio-visual computer system of claim 5 wherein said input means contained within said personal computer further comprising means for receiving audio-visual media graphic images, and wherein said computer programs function to load said
media graphic images on said disc memory means for display on said touch-screen display means during playing of said audio-visual components.
7. The audio-visual computer system of claim 1 wherein said IR transceiving means further including means for receiving IR signals from said audio-visual components for monitoring output audio level of said audio-visual components.
8. The audio-visual computer system of claim 7 wherein said computer programs display a dynamic graphic representation of said output audio level of said audio-visual components on said touch-screen display means, while the user is listening to
said audio-visual components.
9. An audio-visual computer system with computer programs for media inventory database management and for controlling the operation of audio-visual components via IR signals for playing/recording audio-visual programs recorded on media,
comprising:
a personal computer;
disc memory means contained within said personal computer for storing media inventory database and said personal computer programs;
processor means contained within said personal computer for executing said computer programs;
touch-screen display means contained within said personal computer for displaying plurality of functional menus created by said computer programs and for input of inventory data;
IR transceiving means contained within said personal computer having antenna mounted on said personal computer for transmitting said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components, said computer programs being adapted to control
transmission of said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components;
remote IR transmitting means for sensing and encoding output audio volume level of said audio-visual components and for transmitting encoded IR signals from said audio-visual components;
said IR transceiving means is further adapted to receive said encoded IR signals from said remote IR transmitting means for monitoring the output audio volume level of said audio-visual components;
media inventory database management system means contained on said disc memory means for storing and retrieving media information;
said media inventory database management system means comprising: means for acquisition, permanent storing over some time interval, cataloging, selecting, and retrieving of information about media name, number, track numbers, media and track
content, times, performers, air-time program listing, and digitized media graphic images, whereby said computer programs allow browsing of said menus, search by partial keys, display of said media inventory and automatic, unattended data aquisition,
initialization, scheduling and control of said audio-visual components, storing and recalling of a list of selections for control of said audio-visual components to be performed over some time interval; and
printing means for printing media inventory information stored within said media inventory database.
10. The audio-visual computer system of claim 9 wherein said audio-visual components comprise any combination of TV, Video Cassette recorder/player, CD player and Cassette recorder/player, amplifiers and speakers, and wherein said media includes
CD discs, Video Cassettes and Audio Cassettes, and wherein said computer programs function to create said plurality of functional menus for controlling operation of said audio-visual components, and for maintaining said media inventory database.
11. The audio-visual computer system of claim 9 wherein said touch-screen display means display plurality of functional menus, said menus having juxtaposed aligned scroll touch pads and having selection touch pads, said selection touch pads
changing background colors to indicate enabled states, wherein said scroll touch pads scroll selection options on to said selection touch pads.
12. The audio-visual computer system of claim 11 wherein said plurality of functional menus comprise a play-record main menu for selecting play or record operations of said audio-visual components, and further comprise a respective sub-menu for
controlling each of said audio-visual components.
13. The audio-visual computer system of claim 11 wherein said plurality of functional menus comprises:
play/record main menu for controlling the operation of said audio-visual components;
enter media inventory main menu for storing media information in said media inventory database;
print inventory main menu for printing media information stored in said media inventory database; and
audio display main menu for displaying dynamic graphic representation of said output audio volume level of said audio-visual components, while the user is listening to said audio-visual components.
14. The audio-visual computer system of claim 13 wherein said computer system further comprises
input means contained within said personal computer for receiving audio visual components air-time program listing, media content and media graphic information, said computer programs functioning to load said audio-visual components air-time
program listing, media content and media graphic information into said disc memory means for display on said touch-screen display means, and wherein said plurality of functional menus further comprises a subscription main menu for controlling said input
means for storing said audio visual components air-time program listing, media content and media graphic information in said disc memory means.
15. The audio-visual computer system of claim 13 wherein said computer system further comprises
define audio display main menu means for defining the graphic representation of said output audio volume level.
16. The audio-visual computer system of claim 13 wherein said computer system further comprises
define system components main menu for defining number, combination and interconnection of said audio-visual components.
17. An audio-visual computer system with computer programs for media inventory database management and for controlling via IR signals the operation of audio-visual components of one or more TV sets, Video Cassette recorder/players, CD players
and Cassette recorder/players, amplifiers and switchers generally controlled by and adapted to receive IR signals and where said media includes CD discs, Video Cassettes and Audio Cassettes for playing/recording audio-visual programs recorded on media,
said system comprising:
a personal computer;
disc memory means contained within said personal computer for storing media inventory database and said computer programs, said computer programs functioning to create a plurality of functional menus, for controlling said audio-visual components,
and for maintaining the media inventory database;
processor means contained within said personal computer for executing said computer programs;
touch-screen display means contained within said personal computer for displaying said plurality of functional menus generated by said computer programs and for input of inventory data;
IR transceiving means contained within said personal computer having antenna mounted on said personal computer for transmitting said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components, said computer programs being adapted to control the
transmission of said IR signals to and controlling said audio-visual components;
remote IR transmitting means for sensing and encoding output audio volume level of said audio-visual components and for transmitting encoded IR signals from said audio-visual components;
said IR transceiving means is further adapted to receive said encoded IR signals from said remote IR transmitting means for monitoring the output audio volume level of said audio-visual components;
media inventory database management system means contained on said disc memory means for storing and retrieving media information;
said media inventory database management system means comprising: means for acquisition, permanent storing over some time interval, cataloging, selecting, and retrieving of information about media name, number, track numbers, media and track
content, times, performers, air-time program listing, and digitized media graphic images, whereby said computer programs allow browsing of said menus, search by partial keys, display of said media inventory and automatic, unattended data acquisition,
initialization, scheduling and control of said audio-visual components, storing and recalling of a list of selections for control of said audio-visual components to be performed over some time interval; printing means for printing media inventory
information within said media inventory database; and
input means contained within said personal computer for receiving audio-visual components air-time program listing, media content and media graphic information, said computer programs functioning to load said information on said disc memory
means, for display on said touch-screen display means, and wherein said plurality of functional menus further comprises a subscription main menu for controlling said input means for storing said information in said disc memory means.
18. The audio-visual computer system of claim 17 wherein said plurality of menus comprises:
play/record main menu for controlling operation of said audio-visual components;
enter media inventory main menu for storing media information in said media inventory database;
print inventory main menu for printing media information stored in said media inventory database;
audio display main menu for displaying dynamic graphic representation of said output audio volume level of said audio-visual components, while the user is listening to said audio-visual components;
define audio display main menu for defining the graphic representation of said output audio volume level;
audio display main menu for displaying the graphic representation of said output audio volume level and said media graphic information;
system components main menu for defining combination and interconnection of said audio-visual components, amplifiers and switchers; and
a plurality of functional sub-menus for controlling said audio-visual components, amplifiers and switchers.
19. The audio-visual computer system of claim 18 wherein said switchers are IR controlled switchers adapted to be controlled by said IR transceiving means for integration and reconfiguration of interconnection of the audio-visual components
through the use of a switcher functional sub-menu.
20. The audio-visual computer of claim 5 wherein said input means comprising means for receiving media content, graphic information and audio-visual components air-time program listing information comprises modem means and floppy disk drive
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Description |
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FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to home entertainment audio-visual control systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a computer based home entertainment audio-visual control and inventory system which provides a user-friendly
touch-screen interface enabling users to inventory recordings, browse or print inventory, and control audio-visual record/playback units with a facility not previously available. Its application extends to commercial studio use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In distant past years, the common home entertainment media used to record and play music was vinyl twelve and seven inch audio records, with limited play times of five to forty minutes, and audio cassette tapes with limited play times of sixty
minutes. There was no ability to select and playback partial contents, as play was serial from start to finish. Control of the record-playback units was manual with simple function push buttons, and while several vinyl records could be stacked for
play, they could be played only serially in their entirety. Cataloging, storing, organizing and selecting, referred to herein as Inventory Control, consisted of simply stacking records on a shelf so that the album titles could be read, or storing
cassette tapes in a box so the labels could be read.
Various simple computer software database management programs have been available which permit computer keyboard entry and processing of data such as album names, track titles, and associated data such as performer names. These programs could
perform in a simple inventory management manner such that once data was manually entered into the software, the data could be organized and sorted in user defined ways, and labels and or catalogs could be printed. A disadvantage of such a simple
inventory control system is that it has no provision for computer based automated interaction with the recorder-player units or the user in scheduling and executing play-record operations. With this simple approach, the process of keeping the inventory
data base updated, and of recording or playing audio or video media, was highly labor intensive, subject to error, and not electronically integrated in that the system does not control the record-playback units, nor provide for automatic unattended means
of data base acquisition.
In more recent years there has been a proliferation in the types, quality and availability of recorded audio-visual media and their associated record-playback units. This media includes all types of analog and digital recording means on which
audio and/or video data is recorded and played back. This media includes but is not limited to Compact Discs (CDs), small three inch by five inch analog audio cassettes, the DAT digital version of these tapes, the larger single reel analog tapes, analog
vinyl records, video discs, TV type cassette tapes, and similar recording media such as the new DCC and MD format CDs. At the same time there has been a significant growth in the sophistication of the record-playback units in terms of remote control of
unit features such as interconnect switching and operational function programming.
This phenomenal growth in the number of types, quality, sophistication and availability of the recorded audio-visual media, the record-playback units, and the remote hand-held controllers, has created an information and media management crisis
for the average music and video lover who desires to store, retrieve, play and manage a large inventory of Compact Discs (CDs), video tapes, audio tapes, video discs and vinyl records. Additionally, digital format recording media have permitted several
hours of high quality entertainment on one media such as a CD, making it a challenge to browse inventory, select a media and play selected portions. With the increased play time per media, and the growing capability of recorder-players to hold one or
more cartridges, which in turn hold 6 or more media such as CDs or analog or digital cassette tapes, there has been an increased need for a user-friendly computer based inventory and control system. There are no present day home entertainment control
systems to conveniently inventory medium to large album collections and control multiple playback units, with minimal operator skills required.
Home audio-visual equipment users are generally unsophisticated in their ability to understand and operate much of the new audio-visual equipment on the market, including the more complex hand held controllers. Industry sources say that up to
twenty-five percent of newly purchased audio-visual equipment is returned because the owners found it too complicated to operate. The hand held controllers are becoming more sophisticated to the increasing discomfort to the average user. The recent
introduction of the ability of a remote controller to accept universal codes to control VCRs has helped, as has another recent technology introduction in the remote controller being able to respond to spoken commands. These are limited however in their
ability to solve the overall user interface problem.
There presently exists a need to create a computer based audio-visual inventory and control system which can effectively manage the increasing size of audio-visual collections and increasing sophistication of recording-playback systems, while
providing the user with an exceptionally user friendly control interface. This interface would, in effect, hide sophisticated computer coding and controls from the computer illiterate user, and empower the user to enjoy and manage the system without
technical intimidation.
Audio-visual industry standards have recently emerged which provide for the widespread use of wireless remote control Control-S Infra-Red (IR) beams for the media recorders-players, and the built-in capability of those units to recognize and
address individual tracks or recordings. Owners of audio-visual systems frequently have several different hand-held IR remote controllers in a multiple playback-record unit system. Most audio-visual components such as television sets (TVs), video tape
recorder-playback cassette recorder units (VCRs), laser video disc players, compact disc (CD) record-playback units, audio cassette record-playback units, AM/FM tuners, amplifiers and interconnect switch boxes are now available with the industry standard
Control-S IR wireless remote control protocol, and can be controlled with a now familiar IR remote controller. This is normally used to allow a user to command the recorder-playback units to perform certain functions one at a time, or store a limited
list of functions or selections and perform them over some time interval.
Existing technology permits a hand held universal controller to be preprogrammed with a set of control codes for most sophisticated audio-visual components, and such a controller can be used with a particular set of components simply by selecting
the control options required. While this simplifies the training of the controller for a set of equipment, it is still awkward for the average person to use, and is only a partial solution to the overall inventory management and control problem.
Television and AM/FM broadcast or air time guides are published regularly in everything from individual station air time guides, to specialized publications like TV Guide, and daily newspapers. From these, an audio-visual system user may make
manual entries to effect play or record of selected programs. Hand-held remote controllers are available which permit a single universal code to be entered to automatically set the channel number and record start/stop times, using the universal code
published in newspaper and magazine guides. There is no provision however for subscription to a conventional mail or electronic mail of digital TV or AM/FM listing data base, and computer assisted browsing and selection of programs for play or record.
At the present time, home audio-visual record-playback units have no provision to communicate back to the remote hand held controller or to an audio-visual computer controller. The communication path is uni-directional in that the
record-playback units only receive IR information from the remote controller, but do not transmit information back to the remote controllers, and the IR remote controllers only send information to the record-playback units but do not receive information
back from the record-playback units. The present day audio-visual record-playback units can not communicate bi-directionally. Thus the record-playback units can not transmit information to the controller which the controller could then act upon or
otherwise display feed back information to the user or to automatically control the operation of the record-playback units. The uni-directional IR transmission path disadvantageously limits the interaction between record-playback units and the
controller.
High resolution color Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors, and newer flat panel displays, are now able to provide text and graphic computer displays, and equally important, to function in a touch- screen mode and support a graphic image TV format
display mode. The touch screen mode and high quality graphics display has been used in non-audio-visual control systems to provide simple, easily understood software interface through which the user interacts comfortably with the computer screen menu,
and the operator requires little or no computer training. Disadvantageously, present day home entertainment audio-visual record-playback controllers do not incorporate the advances of high resolution touch-screen mode technology for the convenience of
the unsophisticated user.
Existing integrated audio-visual database and control systems have not been adapted for electronic access to album color graphics and media titles and track listings. While electronic image scanners are available and could be used by the
audio-visual system user to scan album covers and track information into the computer to generate data base for inventory, control and display, such scanners are relatively expensive and require operator expertise. However, electronic mail is now common
place. Low cost communication modems connected between home computers and a phone line can perform automatic unattended call and answer and communication with other computers.
Present day home entertainment systems do not store and display album graphics, or media and track information. Existing IR contoilers and audio-visual inventory database systems have not been adapted to receive mailed computer readable data
storage discs or digital transmissions through a modem into an audio-visual control system computer enabling the user to request, receive and readily use album color graphic images and album title and track information. When received, this information
could be automatically integrated into the data base and made available for browse and display, which would reduce the need for A-V System users to key in all of the media content information.
Existing A-V control systems have not been adapted with programmed inventory and control capabilities to provide a convenient means of inventory control and control of audio-visual play/record for home entertainment which system would take
advantage of the low cost of computer equipment which has continued to decrease over the past decade. The prior art systems do not provide for low cost audio-visual inventory and control home entertainment computer system which must meet the requirement
of being user-friendly with minimal education or training required on the part of the user. Such capabilies should relieve the user of much of the audio-visual media inventory data acquisition, management, search and selection burden. Such capabilites
should make maximum use of the Control-S IR protocol for communication with audio-visual components, and should offer application extensions that include subscription for and electronic acquisition and integration of AM/FM radio and TV program listings,
media title and track content listings, and digital "album cover" color images, by digital computer disc or electronic mail, so that listings can be browsed, selections made, and play-record sessions scheduled to take place automatically. These and
other disadvantages and limitations of the existing home IR controllers and inventory database systems are solved and reduced by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved user-friendly computer-based audio-visual entertainment media inventory and control system.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inventory and control system which has a touch-screen format for user-friendly software control of audio-visual media players-recorders, and management of the associated media inventory.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved user-friendly computer-based audio-visual entertainment media control system which can be programmed to emulate a plurality of hand-held controllers, like a universal controller, but
whose control functions are implemented via embedded system software, using easily operated touch screen displays.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a media inventory and control system which keeps track of all media and their content, and permits inventory browsing and selection.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inventory and control system with the ability to search, and display or print media catalogs and inventory based upon user specified content criteria such as performer name or type of
music.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inventory and control system which incorporates conventional magnetic or optical recorded digital or analog audio and video information, or electronic mail information from subscription
services for TV and AM/FM program listings, audio-visual media title and track listings, and album or jacket graphic images for display.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inventory and control system which provides user-customized dynamic graphic visual displays representing audio band energy. These dynamic audio-driven displays can be selected for
display to accompany the audio playback.
Another object of the invention is to permit the operator utmost flexibility in specifying the media groupings and play requirements, and remembering them to permit easy repeat at a future time.
Another object of the invention is to permit simple operator definition of scheduled play times and programs, with ease of repeat, such as certain wake up music every morning.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inventory and control system which may be placed in conveniently remote locations from the audio-visual units themselves.
Another object of the present invention is to extend the flexibility of Compact Disc track play options (random, sequential or programmed) to other media such as the audio cassette tape and the video cassette tape. The latter is now a preferred
media for audio only recording because of its superior performance compared to audio cassette.
Still another object of the present invention is to permit the user to predefine groupings and play requirements of media such as particular CDs in a cartridge. Once these are defined and stored with the names and play criteria, they may be
recalled for play without redefinition of requirements.
Another object of the invention is to extend the media play options to include multiple play, or no play, of selected tracks, and to remember that and other user play specifications on subsequent use of the same media, until changed by the user.
Current play-record components lack the capability to remember and reuse user specifications.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio-visual inventory and control system that keeps track of the usage of recording media in the system, such as blank audio cassette tapes or video cassette tape. When each new blank
tape is introduced into the system it is given an identification number and its record updated each time it is recorded on. This permits the computer to warn a user that not enough recording time is left for a requested recording. This information is
also printed on labels for the media after a recording session.
Still another object of the present invention is to keep track of the play times for tracks on each media. These will be loaded with the media data when the media data subscription service is used. Alternatively the system will calculate and
keep track of the track play times the first time the media is played. This information is used by the computer to calculate if there is enough space left on a media for a requested additional recording.
Another feature of the invention is that as media and tracks are selected for play, the computer will calculate and display cumulative play time, or remaining play time, based upon its knowledge of all track durations, and of the current play
status.
Another object of the invention is to permit the system user to call up inventory by content, as well as by media number. In this case the user would specify a key word or phrase to be used as a search key. Any record in the inventory that
includes the key, will be identified and scrolled on the screen for review. This mode applies to media and track titles and to TV/AM/FM listings. In the TV case the user could make "NFL" a search key to have the channels, times, and dates automatically
displayed for review. Selection by touching the screen is automatically set the TV, VCR, or AM/FM operation without further effort or data entry by the user.
The present invention encompasses an improved computer-based audio-visual entertainment media inventory and control system which exploits recent advances in computer graphics display hardware and software, exploits the proliferation of IR
remotely controlled audio-visual components such as Compact Disc (CD) players, Television sets (TVs), Video Cassette Recorders (VCRs), and audio cassette recorder-players, and exploits the management problem associated with the availability of large
quantities of audio-visual media, including discs and tapes, in order to provide an integrated user-friendly audio-visual control system to inventory and control audio-visual record-playback units and inventory data base. This improved system is ideal
for but not limited to the home environment. The present invention includes bi-directional IR control of the audio-visual system and anticipates that future versions of record-playback units will incorporate an IR Control-C transmit capability to output
controller and media status, and media title/track information which can be directly utilized by the A-V system described herein. The present invention takes advantage of standard Control-S infrared protocol for two-way communication between the
computer and the audio-visual components, making additional system cables unnecessary.
The present invention solves and reduces the prior art disadvantages of the universal controller by using a smart, interactive software controlled touch-screen display. This eliminates the need for an array of all possible control buttons, since
only those options relevant at any moment are displayed. The use of a variety of colors, and blinking cursor prompts to the user, further simplify the operator's task. The software menus and associated touch-screen display lead the user through the
selection of control options.
The present invention provides interactive menus displayed on the color graphics touch screen. The user will be familiar with the technology through similar touch screen used for bridal registries in department stores, lotto ticket sales, and
personalized greeting card shops. These audio-visual menus are designed to make it easy for a computer illiterate audio-visual system owner to set up inventory, manage and enjoy an audio-visual system, and take advantage of new related services such as
electronic mail. By virtue of this software-driven touch pad operator control approach, this invention anticipates that a left-handed user might specify that the displayed Scroll touch pads normally in a fixed location on the upper right side of the
color display screen, be relocated to the left side. This invention also anticipates that users with certain types of color blindness such as red-green or blue-green would want to specify their own colors for use in differentiating areas of the display. These personalization changes are easily supported by the software design.
The present invention makes use of an automatic, software controlled communications modem to allow the user to: i) subscribe to and receive electronic sources of AM/FM and TV listings; and ii) order and receive album graphics images and
media-track titles associated with newly purchased media. These latter features greatly reduce the need for the user to enter data into the data base since he will only need to enter the ten to fourteen digit identification code number printed on the
album jacket of a new media. Once acquired, the media content listings would be stored in the media data base and be available for browsing, catalog printing or selection for play, and the album color graphics images would be stored and made available
for display on the color monitor of the computer with or without the media and track titles. The AM/FM and TV listing data are stored in the integrated data base by the system software data base manager, and made available for browsing on the screen.
Selection of a broadcast program while browsing inventory listings on a screen, can automatically command a play or record operation with no other data entry required by the user.
The present invention include computer programs, a disc drive and modem for receiving mailed computer readable data storage discs or mailed digital transmissions so that the audio-visual control system computer can receive album color graphic
images and album title and track information. When received, this graphic information is integrated into the data base and made available for browse and display. This will reduce the need for A-V System users to key in all of the media content
information, and make available the display of graphic information. The A-V system described in this invention includes the option of displaying the album color graphic and or track titles during play, thereby turning an audio experience into an
enjoyable audio-visual one. The software design of this invention includes an integrated data base capability which supports automatic and unattended acquisition, storage, management and display of high resolution graphics (color or black/white), media
content text data, and TV, FM, and AM air time program listings. The automatic reception of digital TV and AM/FM listing database information for computer assisted browsing and selection of programs for play or record. The listing information can be
loaded either through disc read on a disc drive, or by electronics transmission through a modem.
The audio-visual system software of the present invention supports future audio-visual media features such as media and track content listings, and/or the album graphic, encoded on the CD itself, for direct retrieval, storage, management and
display by the inventory control system. This media title and track title information might also include but not be limited to track play times, names of performers, conductor, arranger, and recording locations and dates.
The audio-visual system software design of the present invention also anticipates that a short segment of the media in a fixed location and appropriately identified, may include an audio introduction to the media and/or each track. This could be
names of performers, historical information or any information the media producers thought useful. This introductory data can be enabled or disabled on the software menus made available to the users.
Using the software-driven interactive touch-screen displays, the user easily performs all of the necessary functions which include: i) set up media play-record options and times, ii) enter new media acquisition data into the data base, iii) print
media labels or catalogs, iv) set up unattended subscription service via either electronic or conventional mail, v) define a set of dynamic audio frequency graphs for display during media play, vi) define system components model number and manufacturer
name, to enable automatic selection of infrared control codes, and vii) select the display options to be displayed during audio play.
The present invention will use color to make long displayed sequences of digits more readable and to prevent mistakes often made with them. In numbers of more than three digits or more than three of a combination of letters and digits, every
other set of three will be displayed in yellow, wit | | |
