Highly portable media device

• US 20060155914A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Ive, Jonathan P., Fadell, Anthony M., Jobs, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/00057 MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 audio layer III [MP3]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/60 Solid state media details of solid state memory devices G11C
• 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 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/20 Memory cell initialisation circuits, e.g. when powering up or down, memory clear, latent image memory
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0278 of USB type details relating to connectors H01R27/00

Abstract

An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device can also function as a solid-state drive for data storage. The form factor of the portable media device can be hand-held or smaller, such that it is highly portable. The portable media device can use one or more status indicators. The portable media device can also include a peripheral bus connector, a rechargeable battery, and one or more input devices. According to another aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to still another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.

Claims

1. A portable media player, comprising:

a non-volatile memory that stores a plurality of digital media assets and data files;

a media player control interface that enables a user of the media player to select at least one of the media assets to be presented; and

a controller operatively connected to the memory and the media player control interface, the controller operating in one of a media mode and a data mode, and in the media mode the controller operating to play the selected at least one media asset, and in the data mode the controller operating to store and retrieve data with respect to the memory.

2. A portable media player as recited in claim 1, wherein said portable media player further comprising a peripheral bus connector, and wherein the peripheral bus connector is operatively connected to at least the memory such that the memory may be accessed using the peripheral bus connector.

3. A portable media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the user utilizes the media player control interface to select a group of the media assets, and then the selected at least one media asset to be played is chosen from the group by the controller.

4. A portable media player as recited in claim 3, wherein when in the media mode, the controller operates to select at least one media asset to be played from the group based on a play mode.

5. A portable media player as recited in claim 1, wherein when in the media mode, the controller operates to select the selected at least one media asset based on a play mode.

6. A portable media player as recited in claim 5, wherein the play mode is one of a continuous play mode and a shuffle play mode.

7. A portable media player as recited in claim 1, wherein said portable media player further comprises:

a multi-position switch configured to select a media play mode.

8. A portable media player as recited in claim 7, wherein when in the media mode, the controller operates to select the selected at least one media asset based on the selected play mode.

9. A portable media player as recited in claim 8, wherein the play mode is one of a continuous play mode and a shuffle play mode.

10. A portable media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable media player has no display, and wherein the portable media player is palm-sized or smaller.

11. A portable media player as recited in claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device further comprises:

a media device status indicator that indicates an associated media player status.

12. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the media player status indicator is a visual indicator.

13. A portable electronic device in the form of an elongated stick that plugs into a peripheral port on a host computing device, the portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a peripheral bus connector extending out an end of the housing and being configured for insertion into the peripheral port of the host computing device;

a non-volatile electronic memory device disposed within the housing and configured to store data; and

a media module disposed within the housing and configured to provide media operations on the portable electronic device, the media module cooperating with the non-volatile electronic memory device to retrieve media data therefrom, and the media module presenting the media data to a user of the portable electronic device,

wherein said portable electronic device is capable of operating as a removable storage device when connected to the host computing device, and is capable of operating as a media device when disconnected from the host computing device.

14. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:

a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing and configured to provide power to the portable electronic device as necessary at least when disconnected from the host computing device.

15. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 14,

wherein the peripheral bus connector is capable of providing power to the portable electronic device, and

wherein the rechargeable battery is capable of being charged through the power provided via the peripheral bus connector.

16. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:

one or more input devices positioned on an outer surface of the housing.

17. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the input devices is embodied as a sliding switch that slides between various positions in order to change the state or mode of the portable electronic device.

18. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein the sliding switch slides between three positions.

19. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the input devices is embodied as a clickable button actuator configured to control some aspect of the media module.

20. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the clickable button actuator is located on a front side of the housing, and wherein the sliding switch is located on a back side of the housing.

21. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the clickable button actuator includes a plurality of buttons provided in a circular arrangement around a center button.

22. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 17,

wherein the sliding switch includes a moving member that translates between three positions in order to adjust the state or mode of the portable electronic device,

wherein the moving member slides between a first position, a second position and a third position, and

wherein the first position turns off at least the media module, the second position places the media module in a shuffle mode, and the third position places the media module in a continuous play mode.

23. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:

one or more output devices.

24. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 23, wherein the output devices are selected from a speaker, audio jack or indicator.

25. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 23, wherein the portable electronic device does not include a display.

26. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 25, wherein the portable electronic device includes one or more indicators that provide user feedback or status information for the portable electronic device.

27. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 26,

wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing and configured to provide power to the portable electronic device,

wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a first input device located on a front side of the housing and a second input device located on the backside of the housing, and

wherein the portable electronic device includes a control indicator and a status indicator, the control indicator being located on the front side of the housing and configured to alert a user when a selection has been made via the first input device, and the status indicator being located on the backside of the second input device and configured to provide the status of a battery.

28. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 27, wherein the control indicator is a hidden indicator that illuminates a portion of the housing.

29. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 27, wherein the portable electronic device includes a button for activating the status indicator.

30. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device is palm-sized or smaller.

31. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device is at least one of a removable memory drive, media player and a hardware key.

32. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:

a removable cap for the housing so as to protect and/or conceal the peripheral bus connector when attached to the housing.

33. A media player, comprising:

a non-volatile memory that stores a plurality of digital media assets;

a multi-position switch configured to select a media play mode;

a media player control interface that enables a user of the media player to select at least one of the media assets to be presented; and

a controller operatively connected to the memory, the multi-position switch and the media player control interface, the controller operating to present the selected at least one media asset as well as to present a next media asset to be presented in accordance with the media play mode.

34. A media player as recited in claim 33, wherein the memory is a FLASH memory.

35. A media player as recited in claim 33, wherein a plurality of the digital media assets are associated with a media asset list, and wherein the at least one media asset being selected for presentation is chosen from the media asset list.

36. A media player as recited in claim 35,

wherein the next media asset is chosen from the media asset list, and

wherein the media asset list is a playlist.

37. A media player as recited in claim 33, wherein the next media asset is determined differently based on the media play mode.

38. A media player as recited in claim 33, wherein the media player further comprises a universal serial bus (USB) connector, wherein the USB connector is operatively connected to at least the non-volatile memory such that the non-volatile memory is accessible using the USB connector.

39. A media player as recited in claim 38, wherein the accessing of the memory using a USB connection allows the media player to function as a data storage drive.

40. A media player as recited in claim 39, wherein the media player has no display.

41. A media player as recited in claim 33, wherein the media play mode is one of a continuous play mode and a shuffle play mode.

42. A media player as recited in claim 41, wherein the media player mode is selected using the multi-position switch.

43. A media player as recited in claim 42, wherein the multi-position switch comprises an off position, a continuous play position, and a shuffle play position.

44. A media player as recited in claim 42, wherein the multi-position switch comprises an off position, and wherein switching the multi-position switch to off causes the media player to store media player status information in the memory before powering off.

45. A media player as recited in claim 44, wherein the media player status information includes one or more media player state indicators selected from the group consisting of:

a media asset playlist validity indicator, a current media asset playlist indicator, a current media asset indicator, a current position in media asset indicator, a current media player volume indicator, and a current media player pause status indicator.

46. A media player as recited in claim 44, wherein subsequently operating the multi-position switch on the media player to select the media play mode, other than off, causes the media player to load the media player status information that was previously stored.

47. A media player as recited in claim 41, wherein the shuffle play mode is associated with a shuffle playlist, and wherein the next media asset is chosen from media assets within the shuffle playlist when in the shuffle play mode.

48. A media player as recited in claim 47, wherein the continuous play mode is associated with a continuous playlist, and wherein the next media asset is chosen from media assets within the continuous playlist when in the continuous play mode.

49. A media player as recited in claim 33, wherein the media control interface includes controls selected from the group consisting of:

play, pause, rewind, fast forward, skip to previous media asset, and skip to next media asset.

50. A media player as recited in claim 33, wherein the multi-position switch is situated on a first surface of the media player, and wherein the media player control interface is situated on a second surface of the media player.

51. A media player as recited in claim 50, wherein the first surface is a rear surface, and the second surface is a front surface.

52. A portable electronic device having a Flash memory drive for storing data and a USB connector for engaging a host device, the portable electronic device comprising:

a media module configured to provide media operations on the portable electronic device;

an on-board battery for powering the media module; and

an I/O system including a sliding switch for adjusting an operational mode of the media module,

wherein the portable electronic device lacks a display and has a hand-held form factor.

53. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 52, wherein the I/O system further includes a control input device for providing a user input to the media module.

54. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 52, wherein the media module operates to play audio files.

55. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 52,

wherein the portable electronic device is a USB keychain drive, and

wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

56. A portable electronic device having a plurality of operational modes, said portable electronic device comprising:

a memory device for storing data;

a peripheral bus connector for directly connecting the portable electronic device to a port of a host device; and

a sliding switch for selecting an operational mode of the portable electronic device from the plurality of operational modes of the portable electronic device.

57. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a USB connector for directly connecting the portable electronic device to a port of a host device;

a media module configured to provide media operations on the portable electronic device; and

an I/O system,

wherein the portable electronic device lacks a display screen.