ORIENTATION-BASED POWER CONSERVATION FOR PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICES
First Claim
1. A portable media player with orientation-based power conservation comprising:
- a casing configured to be held in a hand of a user;
a processor disposed within the casing;
a visual display affixed to the casing;
an audio display;
a main memory functionally coupled to the processor;
a secondary memory functionally coupled to the processor, the secondary memory having media content retrievably stored therein;
an orientation sensor physically coupled to the casing and functionally coupled to the processor, the orientation sensor being configured to transmit signals to the processor responsive to a spatial orientation of the casing with respect to gravity;
a program operatively loaded into the main memory having instructions executable by the processor to;
present media content by displaying visual content on the visual display and by playing audio content through the audio display; and
reduce power consumption of the visual display by lowering an intensity of a display output in response to the orientation sensor indicating that the spatial orientation of the casing is inverted with respect to gravity for more than a threshold amount of time, while continuing to play audio content through the audio display normally.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable media player has an orientation-responsive power conservation feature. The portable media player includes a casing, processor, visual display, audio display, main memory functionally coupled to the processor, and a secondary memory functionally coupled to the processor. Media content is retrievably stored in the second memory. An orientation sensor transmits signals to the processor responsive to a spatial orientation of the casing with respect to gravity. A program has instructions executable by the processor to: (a) present media content to a user by displaying visual content on the visual display and playing audio content through the audio display; and (b) reduce power consumption of the visual display by lowering an intensity of display output when the orientation sensor indicates the spatial orientation of the casing is within certain boundaries, for example inverted with respect to gravity, while continuing to play audio content normally through the audio display.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A portable media player with orientation-based power conservation comprising:
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a casing configured to be held in a hand of a user;
a processor disposed within the casing;
a visual display affixed to the casing;
an audio display;
a main memory functionally coupled to the processor;
a secondary memory functionally coupled to the processor, the secondary memory having media content retrievably stored therein;
an orientation sensor physically coupled to the casing and functionally coupled to the processor, the orientation sensor being configured to transmit signals to the processor responsive to a spatial orientation of the casing with respect to gravity;
a program operatively loaded into the main memory having instructions executable by the processor to;
present media content by displaying visual content on the visual display and by playing audio content through the audio display; and
reduce power consumption of the visual display by lowering an intensity of a display output in response to the orientation sensor indicating that the spatial orientation of the casing is inverted with respect to gravity for more than a threshold amount of time, while continuing to play audio content through the audio display normally. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing orientation-based power conservation for a portable media player, the method comprising:
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providing a casing configured to be held in a hand of a user;
providing a processor disposed within the casing;
providing a visual display affixed to the casing;
providing an audio display;
providing a main memory functionally coupled to the processor;
providing a secondary memory functionally coupled to the processor, the secondary memory having media content retrievably stored therein;
providing an orientation sensor physically coupled to the casing and functionally coupled to the processor, the orientation sensor being configured to transmit signals to the processor responsive to a spatial orientation of the casing with respect to gravity;
providing a program operatively loaded into the main memory having instructions executable by the processor to;
present media content by displaying visual content on the visual display and by playing audio content through the audio display; and
reduce power consumption of the visual display by lowering an intensity of a display output in response to the orientation sensor indicating that the spatial orientation of the casing is within a certain angular range for more than a threshold amount of time, while continuing to play audio content normally through the audio display. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing orientation-based power conservation for a portable media player, the method comprising:
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providing an orientation sensor physically coupled to the portable media player and functionally coupled to a processor of the portable media player, the orientation sensor being configured to transmit signals to the processor indicative of a spatial orientation of a visual display of the portable media player with respect to gravity; and
reducing power consumption of the visual display of the portable media player in response to the orientation sensor indicating a spatial orientation of the visual display that is inverted with respect to gravity for more than a threshold amount of time, while continuing to play audio content normally to a user through an audio display of the portable media player. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification