초록 ▼

An audio system and method are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an electronic device having a display, a wireless receiver, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the wireless receiver is secured. The syste

An audio system and method are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an electronic device having a display, a wireless receiver, and a housing component at least partially defining a cavity in which the wireless receiver is secured. The system may also include a device interface system that has a sound system connector and a mounting region. The sound system connector may communicatively coupled the device interface system to an existing sound system, and the mounting region may be capable of releasably engaging the electronic device such that a contact portion of the device interface system contacts a conductive element of the electronic device to form at least a portion of a communication path interconnecting the sound system and the electronic device.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An audio system comprising: a portable device having a single physical interface configured to releasably engage a contacting portion of an interconnection system to form at least a portion of a communication path between the portable device and a separate electronic device,

What is claimed is: 1. An audio system comprising: a portable device having a single physical interface configured to releasably engage a contacting portion of an interconnection system to form at least a portion of a communication path between the portable device and a separate electronic device, wherein the physical interface has a generally rectangular shape and is configured to couple a first conductive element of the interconnection system with a component of the portable device that outputs data and couple a second conductive element of the interconnection system with a recharging circuit of the portable device, wherein the portable device is configured to accept an over the air download of an application that allows the portable device to request an audio stream representing a local broadcast signal for a channel located remote from a then current location of the portable device; the portable device having a wireless communication module operable to receive an incoming telephone call and the audio stream; and the portable device having an audio output engine configured to output information representing a played audio file to the separate electronic device via the physical interface and to alter an outputting of the played audio file in connection with a receipt of the incoming telephone call and configured to output the audio stream. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an engine configured to communicate data from the portable device to the separate electronic device to allow the separate electronic device to present an icon on a display of the separate electronic device such that the icon: (a) is a soft button that is linked to a particular audio file saved at the portable device; (b) is selectable by a user via the separate electronic device; and (c) is configured to respond to a user selection by causing the separate electronic device to request the portable device to begin playing the particular audio file. 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising the interconnection system, wherein the interconnection system is operable to couple the portable device to a power supply of an automobile. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interconnection system further comprises an FM modulator. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising the separate electronic device, wherein the separate electronic device wireless receiver. 6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a housing component of the portable device that at least partially defines an enclosure, wherein the wireless communication module and the audio output engine are secured within the enclosure. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable device is configured to accept a different over the air download of a media, further wherein the media is selected from a group consisting of an audio file, a video file, a piece of software, a book, and a message. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing component of the portable device including a front surface comprising a display, wherein the display represents more than half of a total width of the front surface and more than half of a total length of the front surface. 9. The system of claim 1, the portable device comprising a front surface having a length and a width, wherein the length is longer than the width, and further wherein the physical interface is located on a lengthwise side of the portable device. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a network based engine that maintains data comprising information associated with files that are executable by the portable device; and a communications engine that is operably associated with the network based engine and configured to facilitate a communication of data to the portable device. 11. A wireless device comprising: a single physical interface configured to releasably engage a contacting portion of an interconnection system to form at least a portion of a communication path between the wireless device and a separate electronic device, wherein the physical interface has a generally rectangular shape and is configured to couple a first conductive element of the interconnection system with a component of the wireless device that communicates data and couple a second conductive element of the interconnection system with a recharging circuit of the wireless device, wherein the wireless device includes an application stored thereon that allows the wireless device to request an audio stream representing a local broadcast signal for a channel located remote from a then current location of the wireless device; a wireless communication module operable to receive an incoming telephone call and the audio stream; and an audio output engine configured to output information representing a played audio file to the separate electronic device via the physical interface and to alter an outputting of the played audio file in connection with a receipt of the incoming telephone call, and configured to output the audio stream. 12. The wireless device of claim 11, further comprising an engine configured to communicate data from the wireless device to the separate electronic device to allow the separate electronic device to present an icon on a display of the separate electronic device such that the icon: (a) is a soft button that is linked to a particular audio file saved at the wireless device; (b) is selectable by a user via the separate electronic device; and (c) is configured to respond to a user selection by causing the separate electronic device to request the wireless device to begin playing the particular audio file. 13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the interconnection system further comprises an FM modulator. 14. The wireless device of claim 11, further comprising the interconnection system, wherein the interconnection system is operable to couple the wireless device to a power supply of another device. 15. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the wireless device is configured in a housing having a front surface having a length and a width, wherein the length is longer than the width, and further wherein the physical interface is located on a lengthwise side of the housing. 16. The wireless device of claim 11, further comprising: a housing component of the wireless device that at least partially defines an enclosure, wherein the wireless communication module and the audio output engine are secured within the enclosure; a front surface of the wireless device that comprises a display, wherein the display represents more than half of a total width of the front surface and more than half of a total length of the front surface; and an interface programming engine located within the enclosure and configured to allow a user to alter a displayed selectable icon. 17. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the wireless device is configured to accept an over the air download of the application and a different over the air download of a media, further wherein the media is selected from a group consisting of an audio file, a video file, a piece of software, a book, and a message. 18. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the wireless device comprises a generally rectangular housing having a display that substantially predominates a face of the housing. 19. A method comprising: receiving a streaming media signal in a portable wireless device corresponding to a regional broadcasting channel, responsive to a request for the regional broadcasting channel from the portable wireless device via a user selection of the regional broadcasting channel, wherein the portable wireless device is outside of a broadcast region of the regional broadcasting channel; communicating information representing the streaming media signal from the portable wireless device to a separate electronic device coupled to the portable wireless device via a single physical interface of the portable wireless device configured to releasably engage a contacting portion of an interconnection system to form at least a portion of a communication path between the portable wireless device and the separate electronic device, the physical interface having a generally rectangular shape and to couple a first conductive element of the interconnection system with a component of the portable wireless device that communicates data and to couple a second conductive element of the interconnection system with a recharging circuit of the portable wireless device; receiving an incoming telephone call in the portable wireless device; and altering the communication representing the streaming media signal in connection with receipt of the incoming telephone call. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising communicating data from the portable wireless device to the separate electronic device to allow the separate electronic device to present an icon on a display thereof such that the icon: (a) is a soft button that is linked to a particular audio file saved at the portable wireless device; (b) is selectable by a user via the separate electronic device; and (c) is configured to respond to a user selection by causing the separate electronic device to request the portable wireless device to begin playing the particular audio file. 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving an over the air download of an application that allows the portable wireless device to request the streaming media signal. 22. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving an over the air download of a software update at the portable wireless device. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the software update is an update for an application that includes instructions for receiving the streaming media signal in the portable wireless device corresponding to the regional broadcasting channel. 24. The method of claim 19, wherein the separate electronic device includes an in-band on-channel receiver, further comprising: receiving a collection of data via the in-band on-channel receiver; identifying a song for subsequent downloading; and receiving data representing the song. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the data representing the song is received by a computer of a user, further comprising: storing an audio file representing the song; and communicating a copy of the audio file to the portable wireless device.