Remote user interface for media player

• US 10,289,272 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Almstrand, Cristian Lars, Venkatesan, Prem Aanand, Shinkai, Hiroyuki, Imazeki, Hirokazu, Seki, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Elbin, Jesse A
• Application Number:
  US15/146,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20160246462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 715716, 715727, 709230, 709231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/89 which are wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/93 Wired transmission systems

Abstract

A portable media player communicates with a host computer for enabling a user of the player to manage media distribution using the control software of the host computer. The host computer can send a GUI that is displayed on the otherwise “dumb” player, and the user can view the GUI and press a single button to command the control software to download a media title to the player. The host computer can periodically poll the player to determine its status.

Claims

1. A method for providing media streams to a media player, comprising:

engaging a data storage disk with a device to establish an engagement, the storage disk containing the media streams;

using a host computer detecting the engagement, causing an indication of the engagement from the host computer to be displayed by the media player, the indication comprising a list of media titles by artist, the host computer being different from the media player and the device with which the data storage disk is engaged; and

manipulating a single button a single time on the media player to cause a media stream associated with a media title on the list to be sent to the media player by the host computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is established by energizing at least one illuminator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the media player to display a GUI generated by the host computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the GUI indicates the title of the stream in human readable form.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media player cannot initiate communication with the host computer.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising periodically polling the player using the host computer to determine player status.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising polling the player more frequently when the player is in an active mode than when the player is in an energy-saving mode.

8. A media player assembly, comprising:

electronic media storing at least one media stream;

a media player for playing the stream; and

a display for presenting a user interface (UI), the UI comprising a list of media titles for selection of a title on the list for play by the media player, wherein the player cannot initiate communication with a host computer.

9. The media player assembly of claim 8, further comprising at least one input device, wherein a user can manipulate the input device in cooperation with the UI to manage distribution of media between the host computer and player.

10. The media player assembly of claim 9, wherein the user can manipulate the input device to cause the host computer to transfer at least one media stream to the player.

11. The media player assembly of claim 8, wherein the player includes an input device including at least one button, and a media stream is downloaded to the player in response to the user depressing the button once and only once, without requiring the user to depress any other buttons.

12. The media player assembly of claim 8, wherein the media player assembly includes at least one indicator and the host computer energizes the indicator to indicate to the user the availability of a music title.

13. The media player assembly of claim 8, wherein the host computer periodically polls the player to determine player status.

14. The media player assembly of claim 13, wherein the host computer polls the player more frequently when the player is in an active mode than when the player is in an energy-saving mode.

15. A system, comprising:

host computer;

media player for playing electronically-stored streams, the media player communicating with the host computer;

a display for causing a list of media titles received from the host computer responsive to the media player communicating with the host computer to be displayed on the media player;

a play element selectable to cause media content indicated by one of the media titles to be played by the media player; and

at least one processor configured for periodically polling the player using the host computer to determine player status.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a click of the play button causes the media content to be downloaded using one and only one click of the play button.

17. The system of claim 15, comprising:

means for engaging a data storage disk with a medium device to establish an engagement, the storage disk containing the media titles;

means for detecting the engagement; and

means for causing an indication of the engagement to be displayed on the media player.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the indication is established by energizing at least one illumination device.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for causing the media player to display a GUI generated by the host computer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the GUI indicates the title in human readable form.

21. The system of claim 15, comprising means for polling the player means more frequently when the media player is in an active mode than when the media player is in an energy-saving mode.

22. A system, comprising:

host computer;

media player for playing electronically-stored streams, the media player communicating with the host computer;

a display for causing a list of media titles received from the host computer responsive to the media player communicating with the host computer to be displayed on the media player; and

a play element selectable to cause media content indicated by one of the media titles to be played by the media player, wherein the media player cannot initiate communication with the host computer.

23. A system comprising:

at least one media player configured to play media streams;

at least one data storage disk configured to engage a device to establish an engagement, the storage disk containing the media streams;

at least one host computer configured for detecting the engagement to cause an indication of the engagement from the host computer to be displayed by the media player, the indication comprising a list of media titles, the host computer being different from the media player and the device with which the data storage disk is engaged; and

a button on the media player manipulable a single time to cause a media stream associated with a media title on the list to be sent to the media player by the host computer.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the indication is established by energizing at least one illuminator.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the media player is configured to display a GUI generated by the host computer.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the GUI indicates the title of the stream in human readable form.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the media player cannot initiate communication with the host computer.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the host computer is configured for polling the player to determine player status.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the host computer is configured to poll the player more frequently when the player is in an active mode than when the player is in an energy-saving mode.