Computer program, method, and media player

• US 20040064476A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Rounds
• Original Assignee: John Rounds
• Inventors: Rounds, John
• Application Number:
  US10/261,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064476A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• 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 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and media player for creating a playlist from a database of output files. The method involves obtaining a database containing at least two fields corresponding to descriptors of the output files. The basic embodiment assigns a rating descriptor, corresponding to the aesthetic quality of an output file to the user, to one of the database fields and assigns a time descriptor, which records the time of a file'"'"'s most recent execution, download, modification, or other relevant time based value, in another of the database fields. The output files are then organized into the playlist based upon the output file'"'"'s rating descriptor, time descriptor, or both.

Claims

1. A method for creating a playlist comprising the steps of:

accessing a database comprising a plurality of fields coded to accept at least two descriptors corresponding to each of a plurality of output files;

assigning a rating descriptor to at least of one of said plurality of fields of said database;

assigning a time descriptor to at least of one of said plurality of fields of said database; and

organizing said output files into said playlist based upon at least one of said rating descriptor and said time descriptor of each of said plurality of output files;

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of assigning and at least one adjective descriptor to at least one of said plurality of output files;

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said organizing step comprises organizing said output files into said playlist based upon said rating descriptors and said at least one adjective descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

communicating said playlist to a means of executing said output files;

executing at least one of said output files; and

updating said time descriptor corresponding to a time of last execution of each of said output files executed during said executing step.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said organizing step comprises organizing said output files into said playlist based upon said rating descriptors, said at least one adjective descriptor, and said time descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said organizing step comprises organizing said output files into said playlist based upon said time descriptors and said at least one adjective descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one of said steps of assigning a rating descriptor and assigning an adjective descriptor comprises the steps of:

communicating an input prompt to a user;

accepting an input from said user; and

updating at least one of said rating descriptor and said adjective descriptor of at least one of said output files based upon said input from said user.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said step of communicating an input prompt to a user comprises communicating a form to a computer monitor.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of prompting a user to remove one of said output files from said playlist.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of assigning a location descriptor to each of said plurality of output files.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of assigning an artist descriptor to each of said plurality of output files.

12. A computer program product for creating a playlist from a database comprising a plurality of output files, said computer program product comprising:

program means for assigning a rating descriptor to each of said plurality of output files;

program means for assigning a time descriptor to each of said plurality of output files; and

program means for organizing said output files into said playlist based upon at least one of said rating descriptors and said time descriptors of each of said plurality of output files.

13. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12 further comprising means for assigning and at least one adjective descriptor to at least one of said plurality of output files.

14. The computer program product as claimed in claim 13 wherein said program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist comprises program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist based upon said rating descriptors and said at least one adjective descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

15. The computer program product as claimed in claim 13 further comprising:

program means for communicating said playlist to a means of executing said output files; and

program means for updating said time descriptor corresponding to a time of last execution of each of said output files.

16. The computer program product as claimed in claim 13 wherein said program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist comprises program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist based upon said rating descriptors, said at least one adjective descriptor, and said time descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

17. The computer program product as claimed in claim 13 wherein said program means for organizing positions said output files into said playlist comprises program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist based upon said time descriptors and said at least one adjective descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

18. The computer program product as claimed in claim 13 wherein at least one of said program means for assigning a rating descriptor and assigning an adjective descriptor comprises:

program means for communicating an input prompt to a user;

program means for accepting an input from said user; and

program means for updating one of said rating descriptor and said adjective descriptor of at least one of said output files based upon said input from said user.

19. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18 wherein said program means for communicating an input prompt to a user comprises a form displayed on a monitor.

20. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a means for deleting that prompts a user to remove one of said output files from said playlist.

21. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a means for assigning a location descriptor to each of said plurality of output files.

22. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a means for assigning an artist descriptor to each of said plurality of output files.

23. A media player comprising:

a computer program product for creating a playlist from a database comprising a plurality of output files, said computer program product comprising;

program means for assigning a rating descriptor to each of said plurality of output files;

program means for assigning a time descriptor to each of said plurality of output files; and

program means for organizing said output files into said playlist based upon at least one of said rating descriptors and said time descriptors of each of said plurality of output files;

means for reading said playlist; and

means for executing said output files in an order designated by said playlist.

24. The media player as claimed in claim 23 further comprising means for assigning and at least one adjective descriptor to at least one of said plurality of output files.

25. The media player as claimed in claim 24 wherein said program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist comprises program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist based upon said rating descriptors and said at least one adjective descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

26. The media player as claimed in claim 24 further comprising program means for updating said time descriptor corresponding to a time of last execution of each of said output files.

27. The media player as claimed in claim 24 wherein said program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist comprises program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist based upon said rating descriptors, said at least one adjective descriptor, and said time descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

28. The media player as claimed in claim 24 wherein said program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist comprises program means for organizing positions of said output files into said playlist based upon said time descriptors and said at least one adjective descriptor of each of said plurality of output files.

29. The media player as claimed in claim 24 wherein at least one of said program means for assigning a rating descriptor and assigning an adjective descriptor comprises:

program means for communicating an input prompt to a user;

program means for accepting an input from said user; and

program means for updating one of said rating descriptor and said adjective descriptor of at least one of said output files based upon said input from said user.

30. The media player as claimed in claim 29 wherein said program means for communicating an input prompt to a user comprises a form displayed on a monitor.

31. The media player as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a means for deleting that prompts a user to remove one of said output files from said playlist.

32. The media player as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a means for assigning a location descriptor to each of said plurality of output files.

33. The media player as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a means for assigning an artist descriptor to each of said plurality of output files.