Granted Patent B2

US 7,757,258 · App. 11/184,203 · Granted Jul 13, 2010

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A system for controlling display and operation of simultaneous transmissions of at least two media, the system comprising:

an entertainment unit capable of transmitting at least two media simultaneously;

a wireless interface device configured to enable selection of a first and second media from the at least two media remotely of the entertainment unit, the wireless interface device having a first onboard selector enabling transmission of a first selection signal selecting the first media and enabling control thereof and a second onboard selector enabling transmission of a second selection signal selecting the second media and enabling control thereof;

a display device in electrical communication with the entertainment unit for receiving and displaying a video portion associated with each of the first and second media that comprises (a) display of one of (1) data information related to the media selection of the first media and (2) control information comprised of a menu, that includes available selectable modes for radio and media on a first portion of the screen and (b) display of one of (1) data information related to the media selection of the first media and (2) control information comprised of a menu that includes available selectable modes for radio and media on a second portion of the screen;

at least one transceiver in electrical communication with the entertainment unit and the display device, the at least one transceiver receiving a first selection signal from the wireless interface device selecting the first media and transmitting an audio portion of the first media at the first predetermined wireless frequency, and the at least one transceiver receiving a second selection signal from the wireless interface device selecting the second media and transmitting an audio portion of the second media at the second predetermined wireless frequency;

a plurality of headphones that each comprises at least one wireless audio receiver capable of receiving an audio portion associated with each of the first and second media and an onboard selector switch enabling selection of the wirelessly transmitted audio portion of one of the first and second media to receive and audibly reproduce; and

wherein the wireless interface device is further configured for independently controlling operation of each of the first and second media enabling control of volume, radio channel or track number of the media selected for the first and second media;

wherein the display device has first and second screen portions, the first screen portion for displaying the video portion associated with the first media and the second screen portion for displaying the video portion associated with the second media, wherein the first and second screen portions are configurable to a single continuous display to display only one of the first and second media when the one of the first and second media comprises a predetermined media type.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data information that is displayable on the first and second screen portions includes a first descriptor descriptive of the type of the first media and a second descriptor descriptive of the content of the first media displayed on the first screen portion and includes a first descriptor descriptive of the type of the second media and a second descriptor descriptive of the content of the second media displayed an the second screen portion.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined media type comprises one of a video program, a video movie, or a video game.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein an indicia indicative of the other one of the first and second media is displayed as an overlay at one of a top and bottom portion of the single continuous display.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface device is a handheld remote control device.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least two media include, but are not limited to, AM/FM radio, satellite radio, music, video movie and video game.

7. A system for capable of controlling display and operation of simultaneous play of at least two media, the system comprising:

(a) an entertainment unit linked to a display device and configured (1)(i) to display, on a display screen of the display device, a plurality of available and independently selectable media modes, and (ii) to display, on the display screen of the display device, one media selection of a media mode on one of a plurality of screen portions along with data information comprising at least one of a channel number, mode, headset status radio/satellite station, preset number, disc type, disc track/chapter, disc elapsed time, disc/satellite song title, artist, and/or album relating to the selected media, and another media selection of a media mode on another one of the plurality of screen portions along with data information comprising at least one of a channel number, mode, headset status, radio/satellite station, preset number, disc type, disc track/chapter, disc elapsed time, disc/satellite song title, artist, and/or album relating to the selected media, and (2) to simultaneously transmit a plurality of wireless signals with one of the wireless signals comprising media of the one media selection and another one of the wireless signals comprising media of the another media selection, and (3) to display a video on substantially the entire display screen where one of the media selections comprises a video mode media selection;

(b) a remotely operated wireless user interface device configured with onboard first and second media selection controls enabling independent selection of one of a plurality of media modes and a media selection for the selected media mode for each one of the first and second screen portions; and

(c) a plurality of wireless receivers with one of the wireless receivers receiving one of the plurality of wireless signals enabling at least playing of audio of the one media selection audibly to one person and another one of the wireless receivers simultaneously receiving the another one of the wireless signals enabling at least playing of audio of the another media selection audibly to another person.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the entertainment unit is configured where the plurality of available and independently selectable media modes is displayable on each one of the plurality of screen portions.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the wireless user interface device comprises a remote control and each one of the plurality of wireless receivers comprises a wireless headphone.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the entertainment unit further comprises a plurality of transceivers configured to transmit the plurality of wireless signals to the wireless headphones and to receive wireless control signals from the remote control.

11. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein each one of the first and second media selection controls are configured to enable selection between the one of the wireless signals comprising media of the one media selection and the another one of the wireless signals comprising media of the another media selection.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein each one of the first and second media selection controls comprises a switch disposed onboard each one of the wireless headphones enabling selection, receipt and audible playback of a wireless signal of a selected one of the media selections.

13. A system for controlling display and operation of simultaneous play of at least two media, the system comprising:

(a) an entertainment unit linked to a display device and that is configured (1)(i) to display, on a display screen of the display device, a plurality of user selectable media modes, and (ii) to display, on the display screen of the display device, one media selection of a media mode on one of a plurality of screen portions that includes a first descriptor descriptive of media type and a second descriptor descriptive of media content and another media selection of a media mode on another one of the plurality of screen portions that includes a first descriptor descriptive of media type and a second descriptor descriptive of media content, (2) to simultaneously transmit a plurality of wireless signals with one of the wireless signals comprising media of the one media selection and another one of the wireless signals comprising media of the another media selection, and (3) to display a video on substantially the entire screen where one of the media selections comprises a video mode media selection;

(b) a remote control configured to wirelessly communicate with the entertainment unit and configured to (1) enable user selection of one of a plurality of media modes, (2) enable user media selection for the selected media mode for each one of the first and second screen portions, and (3) enable user control operation of each one of the media selections; and

(c) a plurality of headphones wirelessly linked to the entertainment unit with one of the wireless headphones receiving one of the plurality of wireless signals enabling play of audio of the one media selection for a user wearing the one of the wireless headphones and another one of the wireless headphones receiving another one of the plurality of wireless signals enabling play of audio of the one media selection for another user wearing the another one of the wireless headphones.

Assignments (20)