Method for selecting media files

• US 20110130852A1
• Filed: 11/27/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Thörn, Ola
• Application Number:
  US12/592,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130852A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists

Abstract

A method for selecting media files to be played back by a mobile device when traveling along a route and a method for selecting a media file to be played back by a battery-powered mobile device are described. Furthermore, a mobile device utilizing the aforementioned methods is described.

Claims

1. A method for selecting media files to be played back by a mobile device when traveling along a route, comprising:

estimating automatically in advance a traveling time for traveling along the route,

determining automatically at least one group of media files, wherein each group of the at least one group of media files comprises at least one media file from a plurality of media files and provides a total playing time of the media files of the group which corresponds approximately to the estimated traveling time,

displaying the determined at least one group of media files to a user of the mobile device, and

detecting a user selection selecting one of the at least one group.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein estimating automatically a traveling time of the route comprises:

determining the route from a user defined starting point to a user defined destination using an electronic map and a routing functionality, and

estimating the traveling time based on the determined route and a user defined transportation means.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein estimating automatically a traveling time of the route comprises:

estimating the traveling time from a user defined starting point to a user defined destination using predefined traveling time information based on historical traveling time information.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining automatically at least one group of media files comprises separating a media file into several separate media files, and determining a group comprising some of the separate media files such that a total playing time of the some separate media files corresponds approximately to the determined traveling time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining automatically at least one group of media files comprises defining for at least one of the media files parts to be skipped during the playback of the media file such that a total playing time of the group of media files corresponds approximately to the determined traveling time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one group of the at least one group of media files comprises at least one media file comprising information geographically related to the route.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein a media file of the plurality of media files comprises spoken text, and

wherein determining automatically at least one group of media files comprises automatically summarizing the text of the spoken text media file such that a total playing time of the media files of the group of media files containing the spoken text media file corresponds approximately to the determined traveling time.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

downloading via a data communication the media files of the selected group of media files at least partly in advance depending on a data communication performance along the route.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a media file of the plurality of media files comprises at least one of an audio book file, a movie video file, a music audio file, a news audio file, and a news video file.

10. A mobile device comprising a processing unit having access to a plurality of media files, wherein the processing unit is adapted to:

estimate in advance a traveling time for traveling along a predefined route, and

determine at least one group of media files, wherein each group of the at least one group of media files comprises at least one media file from the plurality of media files and provides a total playing time of the media files of the group which corresponds approximately to the estimated traveling time.

11. The mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the mobile device comprises a device selected from the group comprising a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile navigation system, a mobile media player, and a mobile computer.

12. A method for selecting a media file to be played back by a battery powered mobile device, comprising:

estimating automatically a remaining battery running time,

determining automatically at least one media file from a plurality of media files which provides a total playing time equal to or less than the remaining battery running time,

displaying the determined at least one media file to a user of the mobile device, and

detecting a user selection selecting one of the at least one media file.

13. A mobile device comprising a battery for powering the mobile device and a processing unit having access to a plurality of media files, wherein the processing unit is adapted to:

estimate a remaining battery running time, and

determine at least one media file from the plurality of media files which provides a total playing time equal to or less than the remaining battery running time.

14. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the mobile device comprises a device selected from the group comprising a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile navigation system, a mobile media player, and a mobile computer.

15. A method for selecting a media file to be played back by a battery powered mobile device, comprising:

displaying a plurality of media files to a user of the mobile device,

detecting a user selection selecting one media file of the plurality of media files,

determining automatically a total playing time of the selected media file,

estimating automatically a remaining battery running time, and

if the remaining battery running time is less than the total playing time of the selected media file;

outputting information indicating that the selected media file may not be played back completely.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of estimating automatically a remaining battery running time comprises:

determining automatically at least one energy consuming characteristic of a playback of the selected media file, and

estimating automatically a remaining battery running time depending on the at least one determined energy consuming characteristic.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the energy consuming characteristic comprises at least one of a loudness level, a lightness level, and a digital coding scheme of a content of the media file.

18. A mobile device comprising a battery for powering the mobile device, a user interface, and a processing unit having access to a plurality of media files, wherein the processing unit is adapted to:

display the plurality of media files on the user interface of the mobile device,

detect via the user interface a user selection selecting one media file of the plurality of media files, determine a total playing time of the selected media file,

estimate a remaining battery running time of the battery, and,

if the remaining battery running time is less than the total playing time of the selected media file, output information via the user interface indicating that the selected media file may not be played back completely.

19. The mobile device according to claim 18, wherein the mobile device comprises a device selected from the group comprising a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile navigation system, a mobile media player, and a mobile computer.