PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER AS A REMOTE CONTROL

• US 20120129446A1
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ko, Steve, Lemay, Stephen O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637

Abstract

A portable multimedia player is used to wirelessly access and control a media server that is streaming digital media by way of a wireless interface to a media unit such as a stereo/speakers in the case of streaming digital audio. In one embodiment, the portable multimedia player is wirelessly synchronized to a selected one(s) of a number of digital media files stored on the media server in such a way that digital media file metadata (song title, author, etc.) associated with the selected digital media file(s) only is transferred from the media server to be stored in the portable media player.

Claims

1. A portable digital media player capable of communicating with a media server, the portable digital media player comprising:

a wireless network interface;

a display device arranged to display a user interface having a number of user selectable items;

a processor unit configured to operate the portable digital media player in a first mode or a second mode; and

a storage medium configured to store computer program code, the computer program code including at least;

computer program code for displaying a list of digital media files on a display device of the portable digital media player, the digital media files stored on the portable digital media player;

computer program code for receiving a selection signal to play a digital media file;

computer program code for playing the selected digital media file on the portable digital media player when the portable digital media player is operated in a first mode; and

computer program code for wirelessly sending the selected digital media file to the media server via the wireless network interface when the portable digital media player is operated in a second mode.

2. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the storage medium of the portable digital media player further includes:

computer program code for associating the portable digital media player and the media server.

3. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code for associating comprises computer program code for binding the portable media player and the media server.

4. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the media server is a computing device that includes a personal computer.

5. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the media server is capable of interacting with a remote media unit, and whereby the media server wirelessly causes the selected digital media file to be played by the remote media unit.

6. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 5, wherein the remote media unit is a home audio system.

7. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the media server is capable of interacting with a remote media unit, and whereby the media server wirelessly sends the selected digital media file to the remote media unit.

8. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code including at least:

computer program code for wirelessly sending a user command from the portable digital media player to the media server.

9. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 8, wherein the user command controls playback of the identified media item.

10. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 9, wherein the user command controls at least one action at the media server.

11. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 8, wherein the user command requests that a playback attribute of playback of the identified media item be changed.

12. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 11, wherein the playback attribute comprises a volume change.

13. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 1, wherein the identified media file pertains to a song or a playlist.

14. A portable digital media player capable of communicating with a media server, the portable digital media player comprising:

a wireless network interface;

a display device arranged to display a user interface having a number of user selectable items;

a processor unit configured to operate the portable digital media player in a first mode or a second mode; and

a storage medium configured to store computer program code, the computer program code including at least;

computer program code for displaying a list of digital media files on a display device of the portable digital media player, the digital media files stored on the portable digital media player;

computer program code for receiving a selection signal to play a digital media file;

computer program code for playing the selected digital media file on the portable digital media player when the portable digital media player is operated in a first mode; and

computer program code for wirelessly sending an indication of the selected digital media file to the media server via the wireless network interface when the portable digital media player is operated in a second mode.

15. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer program code stored in the storage medium of the portable digital media player further includes:

computer program code for associating the portable digital media player and the media server.

16. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer program code for associating comprises computer program code for binding the portable media player and the media server.

17. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 14, wherein the media server is a computing device that includes a personal computer.

18. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 14, wherein the media server is capable of interacting with a remote media unit, and

where the portable digital media player informs the media server of the selected digital media file via the wireless network interface, and whereby the media server wirelessly sends the selected digital media file to the remote media unit.

19. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 18, wherein the media unit is a home audio system.

20. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer program code including at least:

computer program code for wirelessly sending a user command from the portable digital media player to the media server.

21. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 14, wherein the user command controls playback of the identified media item.

22. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 21, wherein the user command controls at least one action at the media server.

23. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 22, wherein the user command requests that a playback attribute of playback of the identified media item be changed.

24. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 23, wherein the playback attribute comprises a volume change.

25. A portable digital media player as recited in claim 14, wherein the identified media file pertains to a song or a playlist.