1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for encasing storage media wherein the protective case contains separately addressable data.
2. Description of Related Art
Protective cases for storage media are commonplace. Numerous diverse types of storage media, such as Compact Disc (xe2x80x9cCDxe2x80x9d), CD-Read Only Memory (xe2x80x9cCD-ROMxe2x80x9d), CD-Read/Write (xe2x80x9cCD-Rxe2x80x9d), CD-Read/Write/Re-Write (xe2x80x9cCD-RWxe2x80x9d), Digital Video Disc (xe2x80x9cDVDxe2x80x9d), Eight-Millimeter Movie Film, Video Cassette Tape and Video Game Cartridge are employed. Storage media can be easily scratched or damaged, so therefore are often sold and stored in protective cases.
Related art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,353 to Asakura which discloses an integrated circuit chip or memory device imbedded into the central region of a CD. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,151 to Smith, additional data is written onto and read from the reverse side of a CD. The data described may be identification codes or possibly samples of data stored on the obverse side. U.S. Pat. No. 3,000,640 to Strauss discloses a small sample record frangibly integral with the storage case which is intended to be separated from the storage case. The Strauss invention teaches a device which must be broken from the storage case before the data on it can be read. U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,571 to Mistretta discloses a CD case which provides identification data on a storage disc by means of holes at the edge of a case. The disc is read by the disc drive while the disc is in the case.
None of the related art provide for the reproduction of data stored in the protective case.
It would be advantageous to be able to hear a message regarding the content of a CD or play a sample of music recorded on a certain CD without having to open the protective case. Similarly, it would be advantageous for a protective case to display data about a CD, such as which track is currently being played audibly from the protective case, or who the artist is. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to be able to communicate that displayed data with a computer, so it may easily be altered or read, or with a stereo amplifier, so an audio message may be amplified. Also, it would be advantageous for a protective case without a CD in it to be able to indicate audibly and/or visually which CD is to go into it.
The present invention contemplates a device where information may be obtained about the content of the storage media that is contained within a protective case so that the protective case is not opened unnecessarily. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and device for encasing storage media and which contains means for reproducing and/or recording messages regarding the storage media. The present invention includes the following interrelated objects, aspects and features:
In one embodiment, the invention comprises a protective case suitable for encasing storage media, such protective case being adaptable for placing into and retrieving such storage media; first means cooperatively attached to the protective case for storing data, such data being separate and apart from the data stored on the storage media; and second means cooperatively attached to the protective case for reproducing the separately stored data.
In another embodiment, the first means and the second means are attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the first means is attached to the interior of the protective case and the second means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In yet another embodiment, the invention further comprises third means cooperatively attached to the protective case for activating the second means.
In still another embodiment, the third means is attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the third means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In yet another embodiment, the invention further comprises fourth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for activating the first means.
In still another embodiment, the fourth means is attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the fourth means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the invention comprises a fifth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for indicating the operation of the third means.
In still another embodiment, the fifth means is attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the fifth means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the invention comprises a sixth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for indicating the operation of the fourth means.
In still another embodiment, the sixth means is attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the sixth means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In yet still another embodiment, the invention further comprises seventh means cooperatively attached to the protective case for communicating the separately stored data between the protective case and remote device(s) (not shown), distant from the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the seventh means is attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the seventh means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In yet another embodiment, the invention further comprises eighth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for displaying data stored in the first means.
In still another embodiment, the eighth means is attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the eighth means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In yet another embodiment, the invention further comprises ninth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for storing additional data, such additional data may be displayed by the eighth means.
In still another embodiment, the ninth means is attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the ninth means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In yet another embodiment, the invention further comprises a tenth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for communicating data between the protective case and remote device(s) (not shown), distant from the protective case, separate from the seventh means.
In still another embodiment, the tenth means is attached to the interior of the protective case.
In still another embodiment, the tenth means is attached to the exterior of the protective case.
In yet still another embodiment, the invention comprises a data storage assembly, comprising a protective case suitable for encasing storage media, such storage media comprising of component(s) from the list of: CD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, Eight-Millimeter Movie Film, Video Cassette Tape, Video Came Cartridge and combinations thereof, such protective case being adaptable for placing into and retrieving such storage media; first means cooperatively attached to the protective case for storing data, such data being separate and apart from the data stored on the storage media, such data may be stored in a single block, and may alternatively be stored in distinct addressable segments, wherein the first means cooperatively attached to the protective case for storing data, comprising of component(s) from the list of: Data Record playback Module (xe2x80x9cDRPMxe2x80x9d), Central Processing Unit (xe2x80x9cCPUxe2x80x9d), Random Access Memory (xe2x80x9cRAMxe2x80x9d), Read Only Memory (xe2x80x9cROMxe2x80x9d), Programmable Read Only Memory (xe2x80x9cPROMxe2x80x9d), Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (xe2x80x9cEEPROMxe2x80x9d), Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (xe2x80x9cEEPROMxe2x80x9d) and combinations thereof, in communication with component(s) from the list of: condenser microphone, piezoelectric device and combinations thereof; second means cooperatively attached to the protective case for reproducing the separately stored data, comprising of component(s) from the list of: DRPM, CPU, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM and EEPROM and combinations thereof, in communication with component(s) from the list of: speaker, piezoelectric device and combinations thereof; third means cooperatively attached to the protective case for activating the second means, comprising of component(s) from the list of: contact switch, bubble switch, capacitance switch; fourth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for activating the first means, comprising of component(s) from the list of: contact switch, bubble switch, capacitance switch; a fifth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for indicating the operation of the third means, comprising of component(s) from the list of: Light Emitting Diode (xe2x80x9cLEDxe2x80x9d), Liquid Crystal Display (xe2x80x9cLCDxe2x80x9d), incandescent bulb and combinations thereof; sixth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for indicating the operation of the fourth means, comprising of component(s) from the list of: LED display, LCD display, incandescent bulb and combinations thereof; seventh means cooperatively attached to the protective case for communicating the separately stored data between the protective case and one or more remote devices (not shown), distant from the protective case, comprising of component(s) from the list of: earphone jack, stereo jack, fiberoptic interface port, infrared transmitter and detector and combinations thereof; eighth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for displaying data stored in the first means, comprising of component(s) from the list of: LED display, LCD display, incandescent bulb and combinations thereof; ninth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for storing additional data, data for use in the eighth means may also be stored in the ninth means, comprising of component(s) from the list of: DRPM, CPU, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM and combinations thereof; tenth means cooperatively attached to the protective case for communicating data between the protective case and one or more remote devices (not shown), distant from the protective case, separate from the seventh means, comprising of component(s) from the list of: earphone jack, stereo jack, fiberoptic interface port, infrared transmitter and detector and combinations thereof.
These and other aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the appended figures.