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  Initiating playing of data using an alarm clockUSPTO Application #: 20070030765Title: Initiating playing of data using an alarm clock Abstract: An alarm clock device includes a monitor for monitoring a transmission of a selected station, a detector for detecting, in the transmission of the selected station, at least one milestone. A controller operating in response to detection of the milestone is provided to store, in a memory, data of the transmission after the milestone was detected, and to initiate playing of the data at a selected wakeup time. According to the present invention, the data is recorded in response to detecting a transmission of a selected station selected from a plurality of stations. (end of abstract)
Agent: Dr. Mark Friedman Ltd. C/o Bill Polkinghorn - Upper Marlboro, MD, US Inventors: Menahem Lasser, Itzhak Pomerantz USPTO Applicaton #: 20070030765 - Class: 369007000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Dynamic Information Storage Or Retrieval, Combined Independent Audio Systems, Radio, Including Recording From Radio The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070030765. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/706,184, filed Aug. 8, 2005. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an alarm clock device that is set to play data content of a station defined by a user. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Electronic alarm clocks are well known in the art. An alarm clock is typically set to produce a loud sound at a certain time in order to wake up a user. [0004] Some alarm clocks are implemented to switch on a built-in radio and use the audio sound of the radio as a wakeup sound. These alarm clocks allow the user to select the radio station and volume. [0005] A user typically has preferences regarding the audio content that is played in his or her ears. These preferences are the reason that he or she will prefer one radio station over another. Moreover, the user's preferences extend to specific content of the selected radio station. By way of example, the user may prefer to hear the beginning of the most recent news program on the selected station, rather then the real-time content that is broadcast when he wakes up. [0006] The ability to buffer and store streaming data, and the ability to play them with a delay, is well known in the art and is taught by US Patent Application No. 20040042103 to Mayer, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. The Mayer patent application relates to retroactive recording and/or replaying events after such events have been broadcasted and also to a situation of switching between channels. [0007] However, the only way for a user to wake to a broadcasted event, such as the beginning of a news program, using prior art alarm clocks is to set the wake up time of the alarm clock to the exact time in which this event is broadcasted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of prior art systems by introducing an innovative system set to automatically play delayed audio content at any wakeup time. [0009] With respect to the present invention, a milestone (such as a time-dependant event defining a certain time point an event in the audio stream indicating the starting point of the audio data, etc.) in a transmission of a given station (e.g. radio station) is defined as an event that can be detected by the alarm clock of the present invention using user-defined criteria. The detection of a milestone in a transmission of a radio station triggers the alarm clock to record audio data of the corresponding event. [0010] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an alarm clock device including: (a) a monitor for monitoring a transmission of a selected station, the selected station selected from a plurality of stations; (b) a detector for detecting, in the transmission of the selected station, at least one milestone; (c) a memory; and (d) a controller operative, in response to detection of the milestone, to record, in the memory, data of the transmission in which the milestone was detected, and to initiate playing of the data at a selected wakeup time. [0011] Preferably, at least one of the stations is a radio station. [0012] Preferably, the controller is also operative to initiate playing of real-time audio content. [0013] Preferably, the milestone includes a time-dependent event. Alternatively, the milestone includes a detectable event, such as a voice pattern, a pre-defined period of silence, a pre-defined sound, etc. [0014] Preferably, the milestone includes a recurring milestone in the transmission of the selected station. More preferably, the controller, having stored the data in response to a detection of a preceding recurring milestone in the transmission of the selected station, is operative to replace the data with new data upon a detection of a new recurring milestone. [0015] Preferably, the memory is operative to store at least 1 megabyte of data. More preferably, the memory is operative to store at least 10 megabyte of data. Most preferably, the memory is operative to store at least 50 megabyte of data. [0016] In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a method for using an alarm clock, the method including the steps of: (a) setting the alarm clock on a selected station that is selected from a plurality of stations; (b) defining, for the selected station, at least one milestone; (c) in response to detecting the milestone in a transmission of the selected station, recording data of the transmission of the selected station; and (d) initiating playing of the recorded data at a selected wakeup time. [0017] Preferably, the playing includes playing real-time data. [0018] Preferably, the milestone includes a time-dependant event. Alternatively, the milestone includes a detectable event, such as a voice pattern, a pre-defined period of silence, a pre-defined sound, etc. [0019] Preferably, the stations include at least one radio station. [0020] Preferably, the milestone includes a recurring milestone in the transmission of the selected station. More preferably, the recording step includes the step of replacing data, recorded in response to detecting a preceding recurring milestone, with new data. Continue reading... Full patent description for Initiating playing of data using an alarm clock Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Initiating playing of data using an alarm clock patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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