Wireless synchronization between media player and host device

• US 20060168351A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Robbin, Jeffrey L., Ng, Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Improved techniques for interaction between a host computer (e.g., personal computer) and a media player are disclosed. According to one embodiment, interaction between a host device (e.g., host computer) and a media player can be performed over a wireless channel. The interaction over the wireless channel can be used to automatically synchronize media contents stored on the media player with media contents stored on the host device. According to another embodiment, interaction between a host device and a media player, such as automatic synchronization of media contents stored on a media player with media contents stored on a host device, can be restricted. In still another embodiment, synchronization can be automatically performed when the media player is placed in a docking station that supports wireless communications.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing media contents between a portable media player and a media host, said method comprising:

determining whether a wireless connection between the media player and the media host is available;

establishing the wireless connection between the media player and the media host when said determining determines that the wireless connection is available;

determining whether the media player is associated with the media host; and

synchronizing media content between the media player and the media host via the wireless connection when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether the media player is connected to the media host by a wired connection, and

wherein said synchronizing operates to synchronize media content between the media player and the media host via the wireless connection when said determining determines that the media player is not connected to the media host by a wired connection and when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said method further comprises:

synchronizing the media content between the media player and the media host via the wired connection when said determining determines that the media player is connected to the media host by a wired connection and when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining determines whether the media player is associated with the media host for at least media synchronization purposes.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player has a unique identifier, and wherein the media player is deemed associated with the media host if the host has previously stored the unique identifier of the media player in a file at the media host.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said synchronizing of the media content between the media player and the media host is not performed when said determining determines that the media player is not associated with the media host.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media host is a personal computer having a media management application.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless connection is a local area wireless network.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a direct channel between the media host and the media player.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

compressing at least a portion of the media content prior to being transmitted from the host device to the media player via the wireless connection.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said compressing reduces quality of the at least a portion of the media content.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said compressing reduces quality by reducing resolution or bit rate.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media content includes one or more media items.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said synchronizing comprises:

determining one or more media items to be copied from the host device to the media player.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said synchronizing further comprises:

copying one or more media items from the host device to the media player.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether the media player is connected to the media host by a wired connection,

wherein said synchronizing operates to synchronize the media content between the media player and the media host via the wireless connection when said determining determines that the media player is not connected to the media host by a wired connection and when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host, and

wherein said synchronizing operates to synchronize the media content between the media player and the media host via the wired connection when said determining determines that the media player is connected to the media host by a wired connection and when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said synchronizing further comprises:

compressing at least one of the one or more media items when said determining determines that the media player is not connected to the media host by a wired connection but is connected to the media host by a wireless connection and when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host; and

copying the one or more media items from the host device to the media player via the wireless connection when said determining determines that the media player is not connected to the media host by a wired connection but is connected to the media host by a wireless connection and when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said compressing reduces quality of is the at least a portion of the media content.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said synchronizing further comprises:

selecting one of the one or more media items;

compressing the selected media item when said determining determines that the media player is not connected to the media host by a wired connection but is connected to the media host by a wireless connection;

copying the compressed media item from the host device to the media player via the wireless connection when said determining determines that the media player is not connected to the media host by a wired connection but is connected to the media host by a wireless connection and when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host; and

copying the selected media item from the host device to the media player via the wired connection when said determining determines that the media player is connected to the media host by a wired connection and when said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said synchronizing further comprises:

repeating said determining whether a wireless connection between the media player and the media host is available, said determining whether the media player is connected to the media host by a wired connection, and said selecting, compressing and copying for each of the remaining ones of the one or more media items.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said synchronizing operates to automatically perform said synchronizing when both said determining determines that a wireless connection between the media player and the media host is available and said determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host.

22. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media host is a media player.

23. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player is provided in a bag, case, vehicle or other container.

24. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless connection is based on radio-frequency communications.

25. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for synchronizing media contents between a portable media player and a media host, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining whether a wireless connection between the media player and the media host is available;

computer program code for establishing the wireless connection between the media player and the media host when said computer program code for determining determines that the wireless connection is available;

computer program code for determining whether the media player is associated with the media host; and

computer program code for synchronizing media content between the media player and the media host via the wireless connection when said computer program code for determining determines that the media player is associated with the media host.

26. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 25, wherein said computer code for synchronizing copies, to the media player, media content and media information for at least one of the media items stored on the media host.

27. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the media information pertains to attributes or quality characteristics for the at least one media item.

28. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the attributes include at least song title, album name and artist name.

29. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the quality characteristics include at least one of:

bit rate, sample rate, equalization setting, volume adjustment, start/stop and total time.

30. A system for managing and playing media data, said system comprising:

a host computer including at least a management module for managing a plurality of media items, a host play module for playing the media items for a user of said host computer, and a host media store for storing a plurality of media items;

a portable media player including at least a player media store for storing a plurality of media items, and a player play module for playing the media items stored in said media store for a user of said portable media player, and

a docking station for said portable media player, said docking station including wireless communication circuitry so that said portable media player can receive media items or media information from said host computer over a wireless channel via the wireless communication circuitry.

31. A system as recited in claim 30, wherein said management module operates to synchronize media items between said portable media player and said host computer once said portable media player is docked into said docking station.

32. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said portable media player includes a player media database storing player media information, and wherein said host computer includes a host media database storing host media information.

33. A system as recited in claim 32, wherein the synchronization of the media items between said portable media player and said host computer is based on a comparison of the player media information with the host media information.

34. A system for managing and playing media data, said system comprising:

a host computer including at least a management module for managing a plurality of media items, a host play module for playing the media items for a user of said host computer, and a host media store for storing a plurality of media items;

a portable media player including at least a player media store for storing a plurality of media items, and a player play module for playing the media items stored in said media store for a user of said portable media player, and

another portable device that is larger than said portable media player and can house said portable media player,

wherein said another portable device or said portable media player includes wireless communication circuitry so that said portable media player can receive media items or media information from said host computer over a wireless channel via the wireless communication circuitry.

35. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein said another portable device is a motorized vehicle.

36. A system as recited in claim 35, wherein the motorized vehicle is an automobile.

37. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein said another portable device is a bag or case.

38. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein said another portable device includes the wireless communication circuitry.

39. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein said portable media player includes the wireless communication circuitry.