VEHICULAR DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDER USER INTERFACE
The present invention relates to the use of a recorder that is part of a vehicle entertainment system (VES) for recording audio programming and accessing recorded audio programming, where external controls for the recorder may be located on the steering wheel of the vehicle, allowing a driver to safely configure the VES for recording audio programming and accessing the recorded audio programming.
1 . A method for controlling a recorder that is part a vehicle entertainment system (VES), comprising:
selecting an audio source that is a component of the VES;
selecting an audio program;
activating the recorder from an external control that communicates with the VES; and
recording the audio program with the recorder.
2 . The method of claim 1 , where activating the recorder from the external control, includes selecting a record button located on a vehicle steering wheel.
3 . The method of claim 2 , where activating the recorder from the external control, further includes, activating the recorder at a previously set time in response to a real time clock time being the same as the previously set time.
4 . The method of claim 3 , where activating the recorder at the previously set time, further includes setting a time for the recorder to activate with a scrolling device located on the vehicle steering wheel.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the scrolling device is one or more scroll buttons.
6 . The method of claim 1 , where selecting the audio source further includes selecting a tuner.
7 . The method of claim 6 , where selecting a tuner, further includes selecting a tuner from a plurality of tuners.
8 . The method of claim 7 , where selecting the tuner from the plurality of tuners further includes activating a select-tuner button located on the vehicle steering wheel.
9 . A vehicle entertainment system (VES), comprising:
a first tuner;
a recorder;
a plurality of external controls;
a controller coupled to the first tuner, the recorder, and the external controls, where the recorder is placed in a record mode to record audio programming from the first tuner in response to at least one external control from the plurality of external controls being activated.
10 . The VES of claim 9 , where the plurality of external controls are located on a vehicle steering wheel.
11 . The VES of claim 9 , where the at least one external control is a button.
12 . The VES of claim 9 , where the recorder is placed in the record mode to record the audio programming at a predetermined time in the future.
13 . The VES of claim 12 , where the audio programming is recorded when the controller determines that the predetermined time is indicated by a real time clock (RTC).
14 . The VES of claim 12 , where the recording of audio programming, includes, a second tuner being selected to provide the audio programming at the predetermined time.
15 . The VES of claim 14 , where the second tuner is selected by a select-tuner button located in the plurality of external controls located on the vehicle steering wheel.
16 . A computer-readable media with instructions, that when executed by a controller performs a method for controlling a recorder that is part a vehicle entertainment system (VES), the method comprising:
selecting an audio source that is a component of the VES;
selecting an audio program;
activating the recorder from an external control that communicates with the VES; and
recording the audio program with the recorder.
17 . The computer-readable media of claim 16 , where activating the recorder from the external control, includes selecting a record button located on a vehicle steering wheel.
18 . The computer-readable media of claim 17 , where activating the recorder from the external control, further includes, activating the recorder at a previously set time in response to a real time clock (RTC) time being the same as the previously set time.
19 . The computer-readable media of claim 18 , where activating the recorder at the previously set time, further includes setting a time for the recorder to activate with a scroll button located on the vehicle steering wheel.
20 . The computer readable media of claim 16 , where selecting the audio source further includes selecting a tuner.
21 . The computer-readable media of claim 20 , where selecting a tuner, further includes selecting a tuner from a plurality of tuners.
22 . The computer-readable media of claim 21 , where selecting the tuner from the plurality of tuners further includes activating a select-tuner button located on the vehicle steering wheel.