WIRELESS MEDIA PLAYER

• US 20070291709A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wassingbo, Tomas, Wendelrup, Heino
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages

Abstract

A wireless device, such as a mobile phone, and a method for operating the wireless device to access a media option in a media player, comprising the steps of:

providing a list of different media options, where each option includes a media channel or item;

selecting a media channel or item to present;

scanning a plurality of different types of radio signal bearers for detecting access of the selected media channel or item;

selecting one of said different types of bearers in accordance with stored selection criteria;

presenting the media channel or item as received over the selected bearer.

Claims

1. A wireless device, comprising:

a media player;

a radio signal receiver system configured to receive media signals;

a controller comprising a memory comprising a list of different media options, and a media scanner configured to scan the radio signal receiver system to detect media content associated with the media options.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, comprising:

a user interface, wherein the controller is configured to output an alert signal through the user interface to indicate that media content associated with the media options list has been detected by the media scanner.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the media options includes a plurality of different media channels, the device comprising:

a user interface including a display operable to present a list of media channels, wherein the controller is configured to highlight a media channel on the display responsive to the media scanner detecting reception of that media channel.

4. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein the media channels include radio channels.

5. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein the media channels include video channels.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the media options includes a plurality of different media items, the device comprising:

a user interface including a display operable to present a list of media items, wherein the controller is configured to highlight a media item on the display responsive to the media scanner detecting reception of that media item.

7. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the media items include audio tracks.

8. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the media items include video tracks.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, comprising

a media recorder configurable to automatically record a media item identified in the media options list, upon the controller detecting reception of that media item.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to add a link in the media options list to the recorded media item.

11. The wireless device of claim 1, comprising:

a user interface operable to add a buy tag to a media item in the media options list, wherein the controller is configured to access a media store through the media receiver system to download media data corresponding to media items marked by a buy tag.

12. The wireless device of claim 1, comprising

a media output configured to present received media to a user.

13. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the media output comprises a display.

14. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the media output comprises a speaker.

15. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the media output comprises

a connector to an external media presentation device.

16. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the radio signal receiver system comprises a plurality of different radio signal receivers configured to receive different types radio transmission.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of different radio signal receivers are configured to receive media signals in different radio bands.

18. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of radio signal receivers comprises:

a first radio signal receiver configured to receive broadcast media;

a second radio signal receiver configured to receive streaming media.

19. The wireless device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of radio signal receivers comprises:

a radio signal receiver configured to receive podcast media.

20. The wireless device of claim 16, comprising:

a user interface operable to select a media channel from the list of media options;

a channel selector connected to the media scanner, configured to select reception of the media channel from one of the radio signal receivers.

21. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein a media channel is associated with a specific key of the wireless device, independent of the type of radio signal receiver.

22. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein the channel selector is configured to select radio signal receiver for reception of the media channel in a preset order of preference.

23. The wireless device of claim 20, wherein the channel selector is configured to look for reception of

a broadcast FM radio signal as a higher ranking choice,

a streamed media signal as a lower ranking choice.

24. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the channel selector is configured to look for reception of

a podcast media signal, as a lower ranking choice than a streamed media signal.

25. Method for accessing a media channel in a wireless media player, comprising the steps of:

providing a list of different media options, where each option includes a media channel;

selecting a media channel to present;

receiving the media channel through a plurality of different types of radio signal receivers;

selecting one of said different types of radio signal receivers in accordance with stored selection criteria;

presenting the media channel as received the selected radio signal receiver.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein a media channel is associated with a specific key of the wireless media player, independent of the type of radio signal receiver.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of selecting one of said different types of radio signal receivers includes the steps of:

selecting a broadcasted signal of the media channel as a higher ranking choice, and

selecting a streaming media signal of the media channel as a lower ranking choice.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of selecting one of said different types of radio signal receivers includes the steps of:

selecting a broadcasted signal of the media channel as a highest ranking choice,

selecting a streaming media signal of the media channel received through a mobile telephony network as a second ranking choice.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of selecting one of said different types of radio signal receivers includes the steps of:

selecting a streaming media signal of the media channel received through a WLAN as a third ranking choice.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of selecting one of said different types of radio signal receivers includes the steps of:

selecting a podcast of the media channel as a lowest ranking choice.

31. The method of claim 25, comprising the step of:

scanning said plurality of different types of radio signal receivers for the selected media channel.

32. Method for accessing a media channel in a wireless media player, comprising the steps of:

providing a playlist of different media options, where each option includes a media item;

detecting access to one of the media items of the playlist channel through a radio signal receiver;

outputting an access indication signal on a user interface to alert a user that said media item is accessible.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of outputting an access indication signal comprises the step of:

presenting a highlighted indication of said media item on a display.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein a media item is associated with a specific key of the wireless media player, independent of the type of radio signal receiver.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of outputting an access indication signal comprises the step of:

outputting an audible alert signal.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of detecting access comprises the steps of:

scanning a plurality of different types of radio signal receivers for access to media items of the playlist.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of detecting access comprises the steps of:

scanning a plurality of different media channels for access to media items of the playlist.

38. Method for accessing media channel in a wireless media player, comprising the steps of:

providing a playlist of different media options, where each option includes a media item;

detecting access to one of the media items of the playlist channel through a streaming radio signal receiver;

recording the media item to a media file memory responsive to detecting access.