Ratings switch for portable media players
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable media player comprising:
- a) a case with an external surface and an interior;
b) media output circuitry for playing media so that the media is perceptible outside of the case;
c) a physical rating switch on the exterior surface of the case, the physical rating switch being movable between a first switch position and a second switch position, whereby movement of the physical rating switch into either switch position alters a rating for the media currently being played by the media output circuitry;
wherein the first and second switch positions of the physical rating switch are used for no other purpose during the playing of media than to alter the ratings for the media.
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Abstract
A dedicated ratings input is presented for a portable media player. The input may take the form of a physical switch or pre-identified movements recorded by an accelerometer. Movement of the switch into one of the two positions sets a rating for the currently playing media file. The physical ratings switch is not used during the playing of media files for any purpose other than the rating of media files. This allows the user to alter the rating by moving the switch without requiring any visual interaction with the portable media player. Audio feedback is provided when the switch is used to change the ratings of the media files.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable media player comprising:
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a) a case with an external surface and an interior; b) media output circuitry for playing media so that the media is perceptible outside of the case; c) a physical rating switch on the exterior surface of the case, the physical rating switch being movable between a first switch position and a second switch position, whereby movement of the physical rating switch into either switch position alters a rating for the media currently being played by the media output circuitry; wherein the first and second switch positions of the physical rating switch are used for no other purpose during the playing of media than to alter the ratings for the media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A portable media player comprising:
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a) circuitry for playing media so that the media is perceptible by a user; b) an accelerometer for registering acceleration of the media player, c) a processor in electrical connection with accelerometer, the processor being able to distinguish between different movements, the processor programmed to assign a first movement to an increase rating command and to assign a second movement to a decrease rating command, wherein the increase and decrease rating commands are used to increase and decrease the rating for the media currently being played, and wherein the first and second movements are used by the media player for no other purpose than to alter the ratings for the media while the media is being played.
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15. A portable media player comprising:
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a) network interface circuitry for receiving and transmitting network communications; b) circuitry for playing a media stream received via the network interface; c) a dedicated rating input mechanism used to rate the currently playing media, wherein the rating received through the rating input mechanism is transmitted over the network interface circuitry; wherein the dedicated rating input mechanism is used for no other purpose in the portable media player than to rate media. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
wherein the first and second movements are used by the media player for no other purpose than to alter the ratings for the media while the media is being played.
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17. The portable media player of claim 16, wherein the media player provides audio feedback to the user indicating when an increase rating command or a decrease rating command has been received by the player.
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18. The portable media player of claim 15, wherein the dedicated rating input mechanism further comprises a physical switch on an exterior surface of the media player, the physical rating switch moving between an increase rating position and a decrease rating position.
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19. The portable media player of claim 17, wherein the media player provides a first audio feedback when the switch is moved into the increase rating position and a second audio feedback when the switch is moved into the decrease rating position.
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20. A portable media player comprising:
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a) media output circuitry for playing media, the media output circuitry including an audio output port; b) a dedicated rating input mechanism used to rate the currently played media, wherein the dedicated rating input mechanism is used for no other purpose in the portable media player than to rate media, and further wherein the dedicated rating input mechanism does not require visual feedback or interaction with a display in order for a user to provide ratings input for a currently playing media file; and wherein the media player provides audio feedback over the audio output port when the rating input mechanism increases or decreases a rating for a currently playing media file.
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Specification