Intelligent Interaction between Media Player and Host Computer
First Claim
1. A system for managing and playing media data, said system comprising:
- a host computer that stores a plurality of media items and at least a first playlist, the first playlist being created by a user interacting with said host computer to select certain of the media items to be included within the first playlist; and
a portable media player that, when operatively connected to said host computer, receives media data for one or more of the media items from said host computer and stores the received media data, and receives at least the first playlist from said host computer and stores the first playlist.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved techniques for interaction between a host computer (e.g., personal computer) and a media player are disclosed. According to one aspect, interaction between a host computer and a media player, such as automatic synchronization of media contents stored on a media player with media contents stored on a host computer, can be restricted. According to another aspect, management of media items residing on a media player can be performed at and by a host computer for the media player. According to still another aspect, media content can be played by a media player in accordance with quality settings established for the media content at the host computer.
146 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for managing and playing media data, said system comprising:
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a host computer that stores a plurality of media items and at least a first playlist, the first playlist being created by a user interacting with said host computer to select certain of the media items to be included within the first playlist; and
a portable media player that, when operatively connected to said host computer, receives media data for one or more of the media items from said host computer and stores the received media data, and receives at least the first playlist from said host computer and stores the first playlist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for managing and playing media data, said system comprising:
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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; and
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 wherein said portable media player lacks a management module. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for transferring media content from a host computer to a portable media player, the host computer storing media item data and media information data for each of a plurality of media items, said method comprising:
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connecting the portable media player to the host computer; and
transferring the media item data and the media information data for one or more media items from the host computer to the portable media player. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for playing a media item on a media player, said method comprising:
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retrieving at least a portion of media information for the media item to be played, the media information and media item data for the media item previously being transmitted to and stored in the media player, the media information including at least quality characteristics associated with the media item;
configuring the media player in accordance with the quality characteristics associated with the media item; and
thereafter playing the media item on the media player as configured.
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Specification