DATA PREPARATION FOR MEDIA BROWSING

• US 20110069936A1
• Filed: 11/29/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sproule, William David, Anderson, W. Michael, Johnson, Bruce Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• 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 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 : Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

A media browsing system prepares various media content and synchronizes the content for playback. A user can specify the content and preconfigure the manner in which the content will be subsequently accessible through a user interface. A variety of mobile phone and media player devices having configurable, user interfaces promote a consistent media browsing experience across the devices for users accessing a variety of preconfigured media content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving data from a content source;

generating a text file playlist from the data, the text file playlist including markup tags nested within other markup tags, wherein at least one of the markup tags nested within the other markup tags is a metadata tag containing data for performing an action associated with a media file; and

performing the action associated with the media file, wherein in an event the data for performing the action associated with the media file includes navigation data, the action being performed includes presenting a map.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the markup tags are formatted in extensible markup language (XML).

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving instructions that identify the data and the content source.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the receiving comprises presenting an interactive user interface on a mobile phone through which a user can identify the data and the content source.

5. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the receiving comprises presenting an interactive user interface on a media player through which a user can identify the data and the content source.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

converting text segments from the text file playlist into audio files; and

generating an audio file playlist that includes the audio files.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein in an event the data for performing the action associated with the media file includes navigation data, the action being performed includes presenting information from the map in audio format.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein in an event the data for performing the action associated with the media file includes navigation data, the action being performed includes presenting the map in graphic format.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein in an event the data for performing the action associated with the media file includes one or more of calendar data, task data, contact data, email data, stock data, voice mail data, news data, weather data, sports data, traffic data, real time instant message data, restaurant review data, movie listings data, document data, or user instructional data, the action being performed including presenting an appointment, a task, information for a contact, an email communication, a stock price, a voice mail, news, weather, a sports score, a traffic report, an instant message communication, a restaurant review, a movie listing, content of a document, or user instructions, respectively.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein in an event the data for performing the action associated with the media file includes one or more of calendar data, task data, contact data, email data, stock data, voice mail data, news data, weather data, sports data, traffic data, real time instant message data, restaurant review data, movie listings data, document data, or user instructional data, the action being performed including presenting in audio format, an appointment, a task, information for a contact, an email communication, a stock price, a voice mail, news, weather, a sports score, a traffic report, an instant message communication, a restaurant review, a movie listing, content of a document, or user instructions, respectively.

11. A system comprising:

a configuration module associated with the content retriever configured to accept instructions, the instructions identifying data for retrieval;

a content retriever to retrieve the data identified;

a playlist generated from the data retrieved, the playlist including markup tags nested within other markup tags, wherein at least one of the markup tags nested within the other markup tags is a metadata tag containing data for performing an action associated with a media file; and

a memory storing the playlist.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a synchronization module for associating the playlist with a preset button.

13. A system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a synchronization module for generating an information file to associate a preset button with the playlist.

14. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the markup tags are formatted in extensible markup language (XML).

15. A system as recited in claim 11, further comprising an interface for receiving instructions that identify the content source.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising an interactive user interface on one or more of a mobile phone or a media player through which a user can identify the data and the content source.

17. A device comprising:

a processor;

a memory having modules stored thereon and executable by the processor, the modules including a playback module configured to play media files from a playlist including markup tags nested within other markup tags, wherein at least one of the markup tags nested within the other markup tags is a metadata tag containing data for performing an action associated with a media file;

a control button for navigating the playlist; and

a speaker and/or a screen for presenting the playlist.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the markup tags are formatted in extensible markup language (XML).

19. A system as recited in claim 17, further comprising an interface for receiving instructions to identify and retrieve data to include in the playlist from a content source.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising an interactive user interface on one or more of a mobile phone or a media player through which a user can identify the data and the content source.