MUSIC PLAYER FOR VIDEO GAME CONSOLES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES OPERABLE IN SLEEP OR POWER-SAVING MODES

• US 20100056272A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: DUTILLY, DEREK T., WHEELER, QUENTIN, TYRELL, DANIEL J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,851,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A game cartridge with a game program configured to cause a computer to implement a jukebox or music playing method. The method includes displaying a listing of game modules of the game program on a display screen including a jukebox module. A selection to activate or run the music player module is received. The music player module plays music by outputting to the audio output port an audio signal based on processing of the digital music files stored in the storage medium. The method includes receiving a sleep mode initiation signal such as may be transmitted in response a magnetic sensor sensing closing of a housing or lid. The method includes responding to the initiation signal by placing the game modules except for the music player module into a sleep state, whereby the music player module continues to play music after other modules are paused.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium having a game program stored therein, the game program causing a computer of a game apparatus, which includes a display apparatus, user input devices, and an audio output port, to implement a method comprising:

displaying a listing of game modules of the game program on the display apparatus, wherein the game modules include a music player module;

receiving a selection of the music player module from a user via the user input devices;

with the music player module, playing music by outputting to the audio output port an audio signal based on digital music files stored in the storage medium and accessed by the music player module;

receiving a sleep mode initiation signal; and

in response, placing the game modules except for the music player module in sleep states, whereby the playing music step continues after performance of the placing step.

2. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the sleep mode initiation signal is issued by the computer running the game program upon detecting a lid of a game apparatus that houses the computer and the storage medium being closed.

3. The storage medium of claim 1, further comprising prior to the receiving of the sleep mode initiation signal receiving user input inactivating the music player module and then performing the placing step including maintaining the music player module in an inactive state.

4. The storage medium of claim 1, further comprising after the placing step, receiving user input via the user input devices providing music player control commands and in response, operating the music player module to modify the playing of the music based on the music player control commands.

5. The storage medium of claim 4, wherein the music player control commands comprise navigation instructions selecting a prior or later song in a current play list of the digital music files.

6. The storage medium of claim 1, further comprising prior to the receiving step, displaying a user interface on the display apparatus including a play list comprising names of each song in a set of the digital music files, receiving a selection of one of the names, and in response performing the playing music step by playing the selected song.

7. The storage medium of claim 1, further comprising prior to the receiving step, displaying a user interface on the display apparatus including a list of accessible ones of the digital music files, receiving user input during operation of one of the game modules, and based on the received user input modifying the list of accessible ones to include additional ones of the digital music files.

8. The storage medium of claim 1, further comprising communicatively linking the game apparatus to an electronic device with memory storing additional digital music files and transferring one or more of the additional digital music files to the computer-readable storage medium for use in the playing music step.

9. A portable electronic device for playing music, comprising:

a processor;

an audio output;

memory storing a plurality of digital music files;

a music player operable by the processor to provide an audio signal to the audio output based on processing of the digital music files;

a clamshell housing with a lid and base pivotally connected for positioning in an open position with the lid and base spaced apart and in a closed position with the lid and base positioned proximate to each other, wherein the housing houses the processor, the memory, and music player; and

a mechanism sensing the positioning of the clamshell housing in the closed position, wherein in response to the sensing of the closed position the processor continues operation of the music player to provide the audio signal and places other program modules into a sleep mode.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the memory, the music player, and the other program modules are provided on a memory card, the device further comprising a connector for receiving the memory card in the housing and connecting the memory card to the processor.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a video game console and the other program modules comprise video game modules that are paused when in the sleep mode.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising a display screen and the music player being operable to display a user interface including listings including identifiers for the digital music files, wherein the device includes user input devices operable by a user to provide music playing commands regarding the listings to navigate, organize, or affect the providing of the audio signal by the music player.

13. A method of playing music or other audio files using a portable electronic device such as a video game apparatus, with a processor and a clamshell housing, comprising:

providing a music player module in data storage accessible by the processor;

storing a set of audio data files in a digital format in the data storage;

with the housing in an open position, operating the music player module with the processor to process at least one of the audio data files and generate an audio output signal;

sensing when the housing is manipulated from the open position to a closed position; and

in response to the sensing, operating the processor to place a set of modules being run by the processor in a low power consumption operating state while continuing the operating of the music player module to generate the audio output signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a receptacle for receiving memory cards and connecting the memory cards to the processor and wherein the data storage with the music player module and the audio data files is provided on one of the memory cards inserted into the receptacle.

15. The method of claim 13, further including assigning an active operating state to the music player module when the processor is operating it to generate the audio output signal and otherwise assigning an inactive operating state to the music player module, and further wherein the method further includes after the sensing of the housing in the closed position determining the state of the music player module and operating the processor to maintain the state of the music player module when the housing is in the closed position.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a portable video game console and the housing includes a display screen and user input devices for receiving user input and wherein the method further includes displaying on the display screen a user interface with music data related to the set of audio data files.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving user input related to the music data and in response operating the music player module to organize, navigate, or play the music files.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interface comprises an identifier for the music player module and one or more game modules, the method further comprising receiving via the user input devices a selection of the music player module and in response performing the operating of the music player module step.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of modules being run that are placed in the low power consumption operating state comprise modules of a game program run by the processor and stored in the data storage.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises user input devices on an outer surface of the housing that are accessible when the housing is in the closed position, the method further comprising receiving user input via the user input devices to affect operation of the music player module in generating the audio output signal.