Abstract: An Internet based music collaboration system is disclosed in which musicians and/or vocalists at client locations transmit audio signals to a server location where the audio signals are combined into a composite musical work and sent back to each of the client locations. The work may be sent back as a composite musical signal which is the concatenation of all individual audio signals or as a mix of audio signals.

Abstract: A digital wireless premises audio system, a method of operating the same and a home theater system incorporating the audio system or the method. In one embodiment, the audio system includes: (1) a digital audio encoder/transmitter, located on the premises, that accepts an audio channel in digital form, encodes the channel into a stream of digital data and wirelessly transmits the stream about the premises and (2) a speaker module, located on the premises, couplable to a power source and including, in series, a digital audio receiver/decoder, an audio amplifier and a speaker, that receives the stream, decodes the audio channel therefrom, converts the audio channel to analog form and employs power from the power source to amplify the audio channel and drive the speaker therewith.

Abstract: An electronic video write protect system and method comprising the use of a rotating video head that contains both a conventional record/play element and a pre-existing video signal detection element. A pre-existing video signal line runs from the pre-existing signal detection element to record circuitry. From the record circuitry, a record signal line runs to the un-conventional rotating video head. A video tape passes across the rotating video head before the video head used for recording video information on the video tape, to receive/transfer information to a video recording device. If a pre-existing video signal is detected on the video tape, the record circuitry is disabled, thus preventing accidental overwrite of pre-existing video information on that portion of the video tape. However, recording is allowed on the portions of the video tape which do not contain pre-existing video content.

Abstract: An Internet based music collaboration system is disclosed in which musicians and/or vocalists at client locations transmit audio signals to a server location where the audio signals are combined into a composite musical work and sent back to each of the client locations. The work may be sent back as a composite musical signal which is the concatenation of all individual audio signals or as a mix of audio signals.

Abstract: A copying logic block for, and a method of, programming an FPGA and a modular music synthesis processor incorporating the copying logic block or the method. In one embodiment, the copying logic block includes: (1) a block receiver that receives an instantiable logic block via a programming port of the FPGA and (2) a block instantiator, coupled to the block receiver, that creates multiple instantiations of the instantiable logic block within the FPGA in response to a command received via the programming port without requiring each of the multiple instantiations to enter the FPGA via the programming port.

Abstract: For use in a synthesizer having a wave source that produces a periodic wave, frequency shifting circuitry for frequency-shifting the periodic wave and waveshaping circuitry for transforming the periodic wave into a waveform containing a formant, the frequency-shifting causing displacement of the formant, a circuit for, and method of, compensating for the displacement and a synthesizer employing the circuit or the method. In one embodiment, the circuit includes bias circuitry, coupled to the wave source and the frequency shifting circuitry, that introduces a bias into the periodic wave based on a degree to which the frequency shifting circuitry frequency shifts the periodic wave, the bias reducing a degree to which the formant is correspondingly frequency-shifted.

Abstract: A device for emitting audible signals within a vehicle compartment for notifying a driver of a vehicle of the presence of objects at predetermined locations around the vehicle. The driver is alerted to the presence of objects at predetermined sensing zones around the vehicle through the presence of audibly distinct tones corresponding to each sensing zone. Thus, an object present in any sensing zone causes a unique, audibly distinct sound to be generated within the cabin for warning the driver of the presence of a particular object.