PROTOCOL FOR REMOTE USER INTERFACE FOR PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method of operating an accessory to communicate with a portable media device, the method comprising, by the accessory:
- establishing a first connection to a portable media device;
during the first connection to the portable media device, obtaining and caching information, including media asset metadata, from a database stored in the portable media device;
ending the first connection to the portable media device;
establishing a second connection to the portable media device; and
during the second connection to the portable media device;
obtaining, from the portable media device, database synchronization information related to a most recent update of the database in the portable media device;
determining, based on the database synchronization information, whether the most recent update of the database occurred after the first connection to the portable media device ended; and
in the event that the most recent update of the database occurred after the first connection to the portable media device ended, invalidating at least a portion of the cached information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Remote user interfaces for portable media devices provided improved access by accessories to media assets and metadata stored in a database of a portable media device, enhancing a user'"'"'s ability to control operation of the portable media device using a remote user interface provided by the accessory. In one example, an accessory can determine whether the database of the portable media device was updated while the portable media device was disconnected from the accessory. In a second example, an accessory can create and manage a playlist for the portable media device and can incorporate into the playlist tracks already queued for playback when the accessory connects to the portable media device. In a third example, an accessory can obtain database navigation history and initialize a database navigation interface to match the database navigation history.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of operating an accessory to communicate with a portable media device, the method comprising, by the accessory:
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establishing a first connection to a portable media device; during the first connection to the portable media device, obtaining and caching information, including media asset metadata, from a database stored in the portable media device; ending the first connection to the portable media device; establishing a second connection to the portable media device; and during the second connection to the portable media device; obtaining, from the portable media device, database synchronization information related to a most recent update of the database in the portable media device; determining, based on the database synchronization information, whether the most recent update of the database occurred after the first connection to the portable media device ended; and in the event that the most recent update of the database occurred after the first connection to the portable media device ended, invalidating at least a portion of the cached information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An accessory for providing a remote user interface for a portable media device, the accessory comprising:
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an input/output interface configured to exchange commands and data with the portable media device; a cache configured to store information obtained from the portable media device via the input/output interface, the stored information including metadata pertaining to a media asset stored on the portable media device and cached database synchronization information specific to a particular instance of a synchronization operation between the portable media device and a host computer; and a controller coupled to the input/output interface and the cache, the controller being configured to; detect a connection of the portable media device to the input/output interface; and obtain from the portable media device, in response to detecting the connection, current database synchronization information specific to a most recent instance of the synchronization operation between the portable media device and the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a portable media device, the method comprising:
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updating a database of media assets stored on the portable media device, wherein updating includes updating database synchronization information associated with the database; subsequently to updating the database, establishing a connection to an accessory; receiving from the accessory a request for the database synchronization information; and providing to the accessory the updated database synchronization information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A portable media device for use with an accessory, the portable media device comprising:
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a storage device configured to store a database of media assets and metadata associated with the media assets and further configured to store database synchronization information for the database; a database engine configured to access the metadata on the storage device; a playback engine configured to play media assets stored on the storage device; an input/output interface configured to exchange commands and data with an accessory; and control logic coupled to the database engine, the playback engine, and the input/output interface, the control logic being configured to; update the database, including updating the database synchronization information; establish a connection to an accessory via the input/output interface; receive from the accessory, via the input/output interface, a request for the database synchronization information; and provide to the accessory, via the input/output interface, the updated database synchronization information.
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24. A portable media device for use with an accessory, the portable media device comprising:
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a storage device configured to store a database of media assets; an input/output interface configured to exchange a plurality of commands with the accessory, wherein the plurality of commands includes; a first command receivable from the accessory by the portable media device, the first command requesting database synchronization information from the portable media device, the database synchronization information pertaining to an update of the database of media assets; and a second command sendable by the portable media device to the accessory, the second command providing the requested database synchronization information. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification