Computer control system and user interface for media playing devices
DCFirst Claim
1. A computer user interface menu selection process for allowing the user to select music to be played on a music device controlled by a computer, comprising the steps of:
- a) simultaneously displaying on a display device, at least two individual data fields selected from music categories, composers, artists, and songs;
b) selecting at least one item from at least one of the data fields;
c) in response to step b), redisplaying all data fields not having an item selected therefrom with data related only to the at least one item selected in step b), and simultaneously maintaining all items originally displayed in the data fields with at lest one item selected therefrom;
d) selecting an item in the songs data field in response to step c), ande) playing the selected song item from step d) on the computer responsive music device.
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Abstract
A computer system and method for controlling a media playing device. The system provides a user interface for allowing a user access to media pieces stored in a media database. The interface is also for controlling a media playing device, like a player piano or movie playing video device, that is coupled to the computer to play the accessed or selected piece of media. In one embodiment there is a computer interface that allows a user to display only music that relates to a selected category, like jazz or classical music. Another embodiment allows the user to direct the media playing device to automatically play selected music pieces that are related to a selected music category. Another embodiment allows a user to direct the media playing device to automatically play selected music pieces that are related to the selected music composer or artist.
1037 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer user interface menu selection process for allowing the user to select music to be played on a music device controlled by a computer, comprising the steps of:
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a) simultaneously displaying on a display device, at least two individual data fields selected from music categories, composers, artists, and songs; b) selecting at least one item from at least one of the data fields; c) in response to step b), redisplaying all data fields not having an item selected therefrom with data related only to the at least one item selected in step b), and simultaneously maintaining all items originally displayed in the data fields with at lest one item selected therefrom; d) selecting an item in the songs data field in response to step c), and e) playing the selected song item from step d) on the computer responsive music device. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of enabling a user to select a song, which is stored in a music data base, that will be played on a player piano that is controlled by a computer, wherein the method comprising the steps of:
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a) simultaneously displaying, on a display device, both a songs data field that displays a list of song titles found in the music data base, and a music categories data field that displays a list of music category items of the song titles found in the music data base; and b) selecting, by the user, a single music category item from the music category data field; c) redisplaying the songs data field, and not the music category data field which still displays the list of music category items as previously displayed, to display only song titles that are related to the selected music category item, in response to performing step b); d) selecting, by the user, a song that is displayed in the songs data field after performing step c); and e) playing the selected song title on the player piano. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for playing media information on a media playing means, the system comprising:
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a) the media playing means for playing the media information for a user where the playing means is capable of playing musical sound; and b) control means, coupled to the media playing means, for allowing the user to select media information and to automatically control the media playing means in playing the selected media information, the control means having; b1) data storage means for storing the media information, the media information including; 1) a first category of media information and a respective first data field containing a first list of items found in the data storage means that are related to the first category, and 2) a second category of media information and a respective second data field containing a second list of items found in the data storage means that are related to the second category; b2) display means for simultaneously visually displaying the first and second category of media information to the user; and b3) user interface means, displayed on the display means, for displaying the first and second list of items so the user may i) select at least one item from the first list of items and in response redisplaying the second list of items with items that are related only to the at least one item selected in the first list, and simultaneously maintaining all items originally displayed in the first list; and ii) play the selected item from the first list on the media playing means, which is a capable of playing music. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification