Autogenerated play lists from search criteria

• US 20030065639A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: SONICblue Incorporated
• Inventors: Fiennes, Hugo, Lipscombe, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/92 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically creating a play list from search criteria. A user inputs at least one search parameter for a store of music files. The player then builds a search query from the search parameter and any other search parameters entered. The query is stored in such a manner that the query is associated with a particular play list name. When the user desires to play that play list, the entry of the play list name causes the query to be executed and a list of objects is obtained. The list of objects may in turn contain other queries, which are then executed as well.

Claims

1. A method for creating an automatic play list, the method comprising:

a) receiving input from a user, wherein the input identifies at least one search parameter for a store of music files;

b) building a query from the at least one search parameter; and

c) storing the query such that the query is associated with a play list name.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises identifying files using the query and creating a play list from those files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is received from a user interface on a player.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is received from a user input on a host.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input is in natural language format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein building the query further comprises parsing out the user input into a query string.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the query further comprises a multi-level query.

8. A method of executing a play list query, the method comprising:

a) receiving an input from a user, wherein the input identifies a play list name;

b) accessing a query associated with the play list name; and

c) executing the query to obtain a list of objects.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises converting the list of objects to a list of music files.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the list of objects is a list of music files.

11. A digital music device, comprising:

a) a memory to store music files;

b) a database to store information associated with the music files; and

c) a processor, configured to;

i) receive an input from a user, wherein the input identifies at least one search parameter for a store of music files;

ii) build a query from the at least one search parameter; and

iii) store the query such that the query is associated with a play list name.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the database resides in a portion of the memory used to store music files.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the device further comprises a user interface operable to receive the input from the user directly.

14. An article containing machine-readable code that, when executed, causes a machine to:

a) receive input from a user, wherein the input identifies at least one search parameter for a store of music files;

b) build a query from the at least one search parameter; and

c) store the query such that the query is associated with a play list name.

15. The article of claim 14 wherein the article is one of the group comprised of:

a downloadable file, a diskette, or a compact disc.

16. The article of claim 14, wherein the article contains further code that, when executed, causes the machine to identify files using the query and create a play list from the files.

17. An article containing machine-readable code that, when executed, causes a machine to:

a) receive an input from a user, wherein the input identifies a play list name;

b) access a query associated with the play list name; and

c) execute the query to obtain a list of objects.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the article contains further code that, when executed, causes the machine to convert the objects to a list of music files.

19. The article of claim 17, wherein the list of objects is a list of music files.

20. A digital music device, comprising:

a) a means for storing music files;

b) a means for storing information associated with the music files; and

c) a means for;

i) receiving an input from a user, wherein the input identifies at least one search parameter for a store of music files;

ii) building a query from the at least one search parameter; and

iii) storing the query such that the query is associated with a play list name.