Navigating media content via groups within a playlist

• US 20040078383A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation), Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: LaChapelle, Kevin Leigh, Mercer, Ian Cameron
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• 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: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• 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

Grouping and navigating media files within a playlist on a computer-readable medium. Software according to the invention selects one or more media files according to a grouping criterion to define a group from the media files. The defined group references the selected media files. The invention software generates a group header associated with the group. The group header includes a value identifying the defined group and a reference to another group to enable navigation. The invention software stores the selected media files, the playlist, the defined groups, and the associated group headers on a computer-readable medium. The invention software also includes playback software for navigating and selecting media files via groups within a playlist. In one embodiment, the invention is operable as part of a compressed media format having a set of small files containing metadata, menus, and playlists in a compiled binary format designed for playback on feature-rich personal computer media players as well as low cost media players.

Claims

1. A method of grouping media files within a playlist, said method comprising

selecting one or more media files according to a grouping criterion to define a group from the media files, said defined group referencing each of the selected media files;

generating a group header associated with the group, said group header comprising a value identifying the defined group and a reference to another group to enable navigation; and

storing the media files, the defined group, and the associated group header on a computer-readable medium.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising parsing the media files to determine a playlist summary type associated with each of the media files.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the playlist summary type identifies each of the parsed media files as comprising one or more of the following:

audio data, video data, and image data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading an input playlist comprising a list of media files to define a group from the input playlist.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting occurs responsive to input from a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a user specifies the grouping criterion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference to another group comprises a reference to a next group within the playlist.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reference comprises a memory location offset to the next group.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference to another group comprises a reference to a previous group within the playlist.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the reference comprises a memory location offset to the previous group.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein generating comprises generating a group header comprising a pointer to a memory location associated with another group.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the grouping criteria comprises one or more of the following:

artist, genre, album, date, number of files in the playlist, and directory name.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one or more media files according to the grouping criteria to define one or more additional groups from the media files until all of the media files in the playlist have been included in at least one group.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing the media files, the defined groups, the associated group headers, and playlists referencing the defined groups on a computer-readable medium.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing a name for each group, in a separate table, to enable display of the group name during playback or selection.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected media files comprise one or more of the following:

audio files, video files, and image files.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more computer-readable media have computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1.

18. In a media authoring tool, one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable components for grouping a plurality of media files within a playlist, said components comprising:

a playlist module for selecting one or more media files according to a grouping criterion to define a group from the media files, said defined group referencing each of said selected media files;

a population module for generating a group header associated with the group, said group header comprising a value identifying the defined group and a reference to another group to enable navigation; and

a writer module for storing the selected media files, the playlist, the defined group, and the associated group header on a computer-readable medium.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 18, further comprising an input module for parsing the media files to determine a playlist summary type associated with each of the media files.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the playlist summary type identifies each of the parsed media files as comprising one or more of the following:

audio data, video data, and image data.

21. The computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein the population module generates a group header comprising a memory location offset to a next group.

22. The computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein the population module generates a group header comprising a memory location offset to a previous group.

23. The computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein the population module generates a group header comprising a pointer to a memory location associated with another group.

24. The computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein the selected media files comprise one or more of the following:

audio files, video files, and image files.

25. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure representing one or more groups within a playlist, said data structure comprising:

one or more playlist groups comprising a group header and group data, said group header comprising a group number field storing a value identifying the playlist group, said group header further comprising offset fields storing references to other playlist groups, said group data referencing a group of media files; and

a playlist header comprising a playlist summary type field storing a value identifying a type for the media files in the groups within the playlist.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the type comprises audio, video, or image.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the group number field stores a value corresponding to a group description for the playlist group.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the offset field stores a memory location offset to a next playlist group.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the offset field stores a memory location offset to a previous playlist group.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the offset field stores a pointer to a memory location associated with another group.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the group data comprises:

a starting point field storing a value representing a starting point of playback; and

an ending point field storing a value representing an ending point of playback.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the group data comprises:

a starting offset field storing a value representing a physical byte starting offset; and

an ending offset field storing a value representing a physical byte ending offset.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the group header comprises a playlist group type field storing a value identifying a data type for the group of media files.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the data type comprises one or more of the following:

audio, video, timed image, and parallel image audio.

35. A media player enabling navigation among groups of media files within playlist groups, said media player comprising:

an input module for reading a playlist group referencing one or more media files, said playlist group comprising a group header and group data from a computer-readable medium, said group header comprising a value identifying the playlist group and a reference to at least one other playlist group, said value corresponding to a group description associated with the playlist group;

an interface module for displaying the group description to a user; and

a selection module for navigating, responsive to input from the user, to the other playlist group via the reference.

36. The media player of claim 35, wherein the media files comprise one or more of the following:

audio files, video files, and image files.

37. The media player of claim 35, wherein the input module reads a group header comprising a memory location offset to a next playlist group.

38. The media player of claim 35, wherein the input module reads a group header comprising a memory location offset to a previous playlist group.

39. The media player of claim 35, wherein the input module reads a group header comprising a pointer to a memory location associated with another playlist group.

40. The media player of claim 35 wherein a random play option allows random play by group within a playlist.

41. The media player of claim 35 wherein a shuffle play option allows shuffle play by group within a playlist.