Granted Patent B2

US 8,185,222 · App. 12/236,654 · Granted May 22, 2012

Assignee: Griffin Technology, Inc.

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. An adapter for receiving a wireless digital signal that includes an audio signal and audio metadata concerning said audio signal from a portable electronic device, said adapter comprising:

a Bluetooth wireless receiver for receiving the wireless digital signal from the portable electronic device in a Bluetooth digital format;

a microprocessor having format conversion software for converting the Bluetooth formatted audio signal in said wireless digital signal into an XM or Sirius satellite radio formatted audio signal;

XM or Sirius satellite metadata generating software for generating satellite radio formatted metadata based upon said received Bluetooth formatted audio metadata;

a switch for electrically coupling an output of said adapter to a satellite radio input of an audio system when said Bluetooth transceiver detects a Bluetooth transmission;

wherein said adapter provides the satellite radio formatted audio signal and metadata to the audio system such that said audio signal is reproduced by an audio output of said audio system and said metadata is displayed on a display of said audio system.

2. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising an FM modulator that produces a frequency modulated output based upon the received Bluetooth formatted audio signal and metadata.

3. The adapter of claim 2 further comprising an FM transmitter for broadcasting the frequency modulated output.

4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said adapter is connected in series between a satellite radio receiver and a car stereo.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the adapter is powered through a connection to an automobile electrical system.

6. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said adapter has a housing configured to fit in a 12-volt car outlet.

7. An accessory for receiving a Bluetooth signal that includes an audio signal and audio metadata concerning said audio signal from a mobile phone, said accessory comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving the Bluetooth signal from the mobile phone in a first digital format;

a microprocessor having format conversion software for converting the audio signal in said Bluetooth signal from said first format into an XM or Sirius satellite radio receiver formatted audio signal;

XM or Sirius satellite metadata generating software for generating satellite radio receiver formatted metadata based upon said received audio metadata from the mobile phone;

wherein said accessory provides the satellite radio receiver formatted audio signal and metadata to the audio system such that said audio signal is reproduced by the satellite radio receiver and said metadata is displayed on a display of said satellite radio receiver.

8. The accessory of claim 7 further comprising a switch for electrically coupling an output of said accessory to an input of a car radio receiver when the accessory detects a wireless transmission from the mobile phone.

9. The accessory of claim 7 further comprising verification software or hardware that verifies the accessory or mobile phone is authorized.

10. The accessory of claim 7 further comprising an FM modulator and FM transmitter for modulating said formatted audio signal and metadata to said radio receiver.

11. The accessory of claim 7 wherein said format conversion and metadata generating software converts said audio signal and metadata into compact disc format.

12. The accessory of claim 7 wherein the radio receiver is a home radio system further comprising a wall plug and a pair of audio outputs for coupling the radio receiver formatted audio signal and metadata to the home radio system.

13. The accessory of claim 10 wherein the radio receiver is a car radio further comprising a housing configured to fit in a 12-volt car outlet and a power supply connection for receiving power from the 12-volt car outlet.

14. A method of transferring audio data and associated audio metadata from a portable electronic device to an XM or Sirius satellite radio receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting and receiving a Bluetooth signal containing audio data and metadata relating to said audio data from the portable electronic device;

converting the received audio data and audio metadata to an XM or Sirius satellite format capable of being received by the radio receiver; and

coupling the converted audio data and metadata to the radio receiver such that an audio output is produced by said radio receiver based upon the audio data and the audio metadata is displayed on a display of the radio receiver.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of disconnecting an external device from a signal input of the radio receiver and coupling the converted audio and metadata to the signal input when a wireless digital signal from the portable electronic device is detected.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile phone with a Bluetooth transceiver.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said radio receiver is a car satellite radio receiver.

Assignments (15)

Continuity (3)