Music playback apparatus and processing control method

• US 20060276919A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Makino, Kenichi, Takai, Motoyuki, Inoue, Makoto, Sako, Yoichiro, Terauchi, Toshiro, Miyajima, Yasushi, Shirai, Katsuya
• Application Number:
  US11/439,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/391 Automatic tempo adjustment, correction or control
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/395 Acceleration sensing or accelerometer use, e.g. 3D movement computation by integration of accelerometer data, angle sensing with respect to the vertical, i.e. gravity sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/131 Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5582 system adaptation for working during or after external perturbation, e.g. in the presence of a mechanical oscillation caused by a shock

Abstract

A processing control method for a portable music playback apparatus includes the steps of determining whether a motion mode of the music playback apparatus is a steady-motion mode that is associated with motion of a user or an unsteady-motion mode that is not associated with the motion of the user by analyzing an output of a motion sensor installed in the music playback apparatus; and switching processing of the music playback apparatus in accordance with a determination result obtained by the determining step.

Claims

1. A processing control method for a portable music playback apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a motion mode of the music playback apparatus is a steady-motion mode that is associated with motion of a user or an unsteady-motion mode that is not associated with the motion of the user by analyzing an output of a motion sensor installed in the music playback apparatus; and

switching processing of the music playback apparatus in accordance with a determination result obtained by the determining step.

2. The processing control method according to claim 1, wherein:

the unsteady-motion mode is a mode representing that the music playback apparatus is falling; and

when the motion mode of the music playback apparatus is determined to be the unsteady-motion mode, processing for preventing the music playback apparatus from being damaged due to falling of the music playback apparatus is performed.

3. The processing control method according to claim 1, wherein when the motion mode of the music playback apparatus is determined to be the steady-motion mode, selection of a track to be played back by the music playback apparatus or a method for playing back a track that is being played back by the music playback apparatus is controlled.

4. The processing control method according to claim 1, wherein:

processing corresponding to a walking fit mode or a running fit mode, which is the steady-motion mode, is performed;

the walking fit mode is a motion mode that is associated with walking of the user; and

the running fit mode is a motion mode that is associated with running of the user.

5. A portable music playback apparatus comprising:

a storage unit that stores track data and track information;

a playback processor that processes the track data stored in the storage unit and that plays back a track;

a motion sensor installed in the music playback apparatus; and

a processing controller that determines whether a motion mode of the music playback apparatus is a steady-motion mode or an unsteady-motion mode by analyzing an output of the motion sensor and that switches processing of the music playback apparatus in accordance with a determination result.

6. The music playback apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the unsteady-motion mode is a mode representing that the music playback apparatus is falling; and

when the motion mode of the music playback apparatus is determined to be the unsteady-motion mode, the processing controller performs processing for preventing the music playback apparatus from being damaged due to falling of the music playback apparatus.

7. The music playback apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the motion mode of the music playback apparatus is determined to be the steady-motion mode, the processing controller controls selection of a track to be played back by the playback processor or a method for playing back a track that is being played back by the playback processor.

8. The music playback apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the processing controller performs processing corresponding to a walking fit mode or a running fit mode, which is the steady-motion mode;

the walking fit mode is a motion mode that is associated with walking of the user; and

the running fit mode is a motion mode that is associated with running of the user.

9. The music playback apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the motion sensor is a triaxial acceleration sensor.