Method and system for controlling video selection and playback in a portable media player

• US 20070300155A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lydon, Gregory T., Filson, John B., Novotney, Donald J., Tupman, David, Laefer, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides a system that allows a portable media player to control settings of portable media player when receiving video from an accessory, to control playback of the portable media player and to provide for navigation between video tracks in a hierarchical fashion. In so doing, a portable media player can then utilize this information to provide for the maximum functionality of the accessory when connected to the portable media player.

Claims

1. A method for providing video settings for a portable media player, the method comprising:

obtaining preferences of the portable media player;

returning a current setting of the portable media player;

setting appropriate preferences within the portable media player; and

enabling the preferences of the portable media player.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the preferences comprise a screen configuration and a video format.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein there are values associated with each of the preferences, wherein each value associated with a particular preference indicates a particular format.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the screen configuration includes values associated with a fullscreen format and a widescreen format.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the video format includes values associated with NTSC format and a PAL format.

6. A connector interface system comprising:

an interface; and

a plurality of commands in communication with the interface which provides video settings for a portable media player, the plurality of commands for obtaining preferences of the portable media player;

returning a current setting of the portable media player;

setting appropriate preferences within the portable media player; and

enabling the preferences of the portable media player.

7. The connector interface system of claim 6 wherein the interface comprises a wireless interface.

8. The connector interface system of claim 6 includes a plurality of signal contacts coupled to the interface.

9. The connector interface system of claim 6 wherein the video settings are controlled by utilizing commands over serial pins of the portable media player.

10. The connector interface system of claim 6 includes a plurality of signal contacts coupled to the interface, wherein at least a portion of the signal contacts are utilized to communicate the plurality of commands.

11. The connector interface system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of signal contacts comprises a connector.

12. The connector interface system of claim 11 wherein the connector comprises:

a keying arrangement, wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length; and

a plurality of signal contacts, wherein the ground contacts make contact with a mating connection before a power contact;

wherein the plurality of contacts comprise at least one digital ground contact, at least one Firewire and charge ground contact, a Firewire signal contact, at least one USB signal contact, at least one USB power contact, an accessory identify signal contact, at least one Firewire and charge input power signals contacts, at least one video contact, at least one accessory power contact, at least one accessory protocol contact, an accessory detect signal contact, a remote sense signal contact, at least one line signal, and at least one signal contact, wherein at least one of the contacts is active when a device is coupled to an accessory.

13. The connector interface system of claim 6 wherein the preferences comprise a screen configuration and a video format.

14. The connector interface system of claim 13 wherein there are values associated with each of the preferences, wherein each value associated with a particular preference indicates a particular format.

15. The connector interface system of claim 14 wherein the screen configuration includes values associated with a fullscreen format and a widescreen format.

16. The connector interface system of claim 14 wherein the video format includes values associated with NTSC format and a PAL format.

17. A computer readable medium containing program instructions, for providing video settings for a portable media player, the program instructions for:

obtaining preferences of the portable media player;

returning a current setting of the portable media player;

setting appropriate preferences within the portable media player; and

enabling the preferences of the portable media player.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the preferences comprise a screen configuration and a video format.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein there are values associated with each of the preferences, wherein each value associated with a particular preference indicates a particular format.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the screen configuration includes values associated with a fullscreen format and a widescreen format.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the video format includes values associated with NTSC format and a PAL format.

22. An accessory comprising:

a device; and

a connector interface system in communication with the device, the connector interface system comprising an interface; and

a plurality of commands in communication with the interface which provides video settings for a portable media player, the plurality of commands for obtaining preferences of the portable media player;

returning a current setting of the portable media player;

setting appropriate preferences within the portable media player; and

enabling the preferences of the portable media player.

23. The accessory of claim 22 wherein the interface comprises a wireless interface.

24. The accessory of claim 22 includes a plurality of signal contacts coupled to the interface.

25. The accessory of claim 22 wherein the video settings are controlled by utilizing commands over serial pins of the portable media player.

26. The accessory of claim 22 includes a plurality of signal contacts coupled to the interface, wherein at least a portion of the signal contacts are utilized to communicate the plurality of commands.

27. The accessory of claim 26 wherein the plurality of signal contacts comprises a connector.

28. The accessory of claim 27 wherein the connector comprises:

a keying arrangement, wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length; and

a plurality of signal contacts, wherein the ground contacts make contact with a mating connection before a power contact;

wherein the plurality of contacts comprise at least one digital ground contact, at least one Firewire and charge ground contact, a Firewire signal contact, at least one USB signal contact, at least one USB power contact, an accessory identify signal contact, at least one Firewire and charge input power signals contacts, at least one video contact, at least one accessory power contact, at least one accessory protocol contact, an accessory detect signal contact, a remote sense signal contact, at least one line signal, and at least one signal contact, wherein at least one of the contacts is active when a device is coupled to the accessory.

29. The accessory of claim 22 wherein the preferences comprise a screen configuration and a video format.

30. The accessory of claim 29 wherein there are values associated with each of the preferences, wherein each value associated with a particular preference indicates a particular format.

31. The accessory of claim 30 wherein the screen configuration includes values associated with a fullscreen format and a widescreen format.

32. The accessory of claim 30 wherein the video format includes values associated with NTSC format and a PAL format.

33. A method for use with a portable media player comprising:

providing an audio menu and a video menu via the portable media player;

selecting the video menu; and

selecting the video capable tracks of the portable media player utilizing a command.

34. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for use with a portable media player comprising:

providing an audio menu and a video menu via the portable media player;

selecting the video menu; and

selecting the video capable tracks of the portable media player utilizing a command.

35. A method for navigating video content within a portable media player;

the method comprising;

providing a video hierarchy;

selecting a media kind from the video hierarchy utilizing at least one command; and

selecting a category of the media kind utilizing at least one command until a desired video track is obtained.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the media kind is selected from one of a television show, a movie, music video or a video podcast.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein a category is selected from an artist, album, or song track.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein if the television show has several seasons one of the seasons is selected.

39. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for navigating video content within a portable media player;

the program instructions for;

providing a video hierarchy;

selecting a media kind from the video hierarchy utilizing at least one command; and

selecting a category of the media kind utilizing at least one command until a desired video track is obtained.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein the media kind is selected from one of a television show, a movie, music video or a video podcast.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein a category is selected from an artist, album, or song track.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 40 wherein if the television show has several seasons one of the seasons is selected.

43. A connector interface system comprising:

an interface; and

a plurality of commands in communication with the interface for navigating video content within a portable media player, the plurality of commands for providing a video hierarchy;

selecting a media kind from the video hierarchy utilizing at least one command; and

selecting a category of the media kind utilizing at least one command until a desired video track is obtained.

44. The connector interface system of claim 43 wherein the interface comprises a wireless interface.

45. The connector interface system of claim 43 includes a plurality of signal contacts coupled to the interface.

46. The connector interface system of claim 43 wherein the video navigation is controlled by utilizing commands over serial pins of the portable media player.

47. The connector interface system of claim 43 includes a plurality of signal contacts coupled to the interface, wherein at least a portion of the signal contacts are utilized to communicate the plurality of commands.

48. The connector interface system of claim 47 wherein the plurality of signal contacts comprises a connector.

49. The connector interface system of claim 48 wherein the connector comprises:

a keying arrangement, wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length; and

a plurality of signal contacts, wherein the ground contacts make contact with a mating connection before a power contact;

wherein the plurality of contacts comprise at least one digital ground contact, at least one Firewire and charge ground contact, a Firewire signal contact, at least one USB signal contact, at least one USB power contact, an accessory identify signal contact, at least one Firewire and charge input power signals contacts, at least one video contact, at least one accessory power contact, at least one accessory protocol contact, an accessory detect signal contact, a remote sense signal contact, at least one line signal, and at least one signal contact, wherein at least one of the contacts is active when a device is coupled to an accessory.

50. The connector interface system of claim 43 wherein the media kind is selected from one of a television show, a movie, music video or a video podcast.

51. The connector interface system of claim 43 wherein a category is selected from an artist, album, or song track.

52. The connector interface system of claim 50 wherein if the television show has several seasons one of the seasons is selected.

53. An accessory comprising:

a device; and

a connector interface system in communication with the device, the connector interface system comprising an interface; and

a plurality of commands in communication with the interface for navigating video content within a portable media player, the plurality of commands for providing a video hierarchy;

selecting a media kind from the video hierarchy utilizing at least one command; and

selecting a category of the media kind utilizing at least one command until a desired video track is obtained.

54. The accessory of claim 53 wherein the interface comprises a wireless interface.

55. The accessory of claim 53 includes a plurality of signal contacts coupled to the interface.

56. The accessory of claim 53 wherein the video navigation is controlled by utilizing commands over serial pins of the portable media player.

57. The accessory of claim 53 includes a plurality of signal contacts coupled to the interface, wherein at least a portion of the signal contacts are utilized to communicate the plurality of commands.

58. The accessory of claim 57 wherein the plurality of signal contacts comprises a connector.

59. The accessory of claim 58 wherein the connector comprises:

a keying arrangement, wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length; and

a plurality of signal contacts, wherein the ground contacts make contact with a mating connection before a power contact;

wherein the plurality of contacts comprise at least one digital ground contact, at least one Firewire and charge ground contact, a Firewire signal contact, at least one USB signal contact, at least one USB power contact, an accessory identify signal contact, at least one Firewire and charge input power signals contacts, at least one video contact, at least one accessory power contact, at least one accessory protocol contact, an accessory detect signal contact, a remote sense signal contact, at least one line signal, and at least one signal contact, wherein at least one of the contacts is active when a device is coupled to an accessory.

60. The accessory of claim 53 wherein the media kind is selected from one of a television show, a movie, music video or a video podcast.

61. The accessory of claim 53 wherein a category is selected from an artist, album, or song track.

62. The accessory of claim 60 wherein if the television show has several seasons one of the seasons is selected.