Highly portable media device
First Claim
1. A portable media player, comprising:
- a non-volatile memory for storing a plurality of digital media assets;
a multi-position switch configured to switch positions between at least;
(i) an off position, (ii) a continuous playback mode position for media playback in a continuous media playback mode, and (iii) a shuffle playback mode position for media playback in a shuffle media playback mode; and
a controller operatively connected to the memory, the controller operable in a media mode and a data mode, wherein in the media mode the controller is operable to;
control playback of the media assets, in response to received user input, so that (i) the media assets are to be played back in the continuous media playback mode when the multi-position switch is in the continuous playback mode position, and (ii) the media assets are to be played back in the shuffle media playback mode when the multi-position switch is in the shuffle playback mode position, wherein in the continuous media playback mode the media assets are to be played back according to a first order, and in the shuffle media playback mode the media assets are to be played back according to a second order, the second order being different than the first order; and
wherein in the data mode the controller is operable to effectively allow another device to store media assets in the non-volatile memory when the other device is operatively connected to the portable media player.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device can also function as a solid-state drive for data storage. The form factor of the portable media device can be hand-held or smaller, such that it is highly portable. The portable media device can use one or more status indicators. The portable media device can also include a peripheral bus connector, a rechargeable battery, and one or more input devices. According to another aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to still another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A portable media player, comprising:
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a non-volatile memory for storing a plurality of digital media assets; a multi-position switch configured to switch positions between at least;
(i) an off position, (ii) a continuous playback mode position for media playback in a continuous media playback mode, and (iii) a shuffle playback mode position for media playback in a shuffle media playback mode; anda controller operatively connected to the memory, the controller operable in a media mode and a data mode, wherein in the media mode the controller is operable to; control playback of the media assets, in response to received user input, so that (i) the media assets are to be played back in the continuous media playback mode when the multi-position switch is in the continuous playback mode position, and (ii) the media assets are to be played back in the shuffle media playback mode when the multi-position switch is in the shuffle playback mode position, wherein in the continuous media playback mode the media assets are to be played back according to a first order, and in the shuffle media playback mode the media assets are to be played back according to a second order, the second order being different than the first order; and
wherein in the data mode the controller is operable to effectively allow another device to store media assets in the non-volatile memory when the other device is operatively connected to the portable media player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A portable electronic device, the portable electronic device, comprising:
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a housing in a form of an elongated stick; a battery within the housing; a peripheral bus connector extending out an end of the housing and being configured to insert into a peripheral port of a host computing device; a non-volatile electronic memory device disposed within the housing and configured to store data including media assets; a multi-position switch configured to switch positions between at least;
(i) an off position, (ii) a continuous playback mode position for media playback in a continuous media playback mode, and (iii) a shuffle playback mode position for media playback in a shuffle media playback mode;a media module disposed within the housing and operable to; access the non-volatile electronic memory device to retrieve the media data therefrom playback the media data so that (i) the media assets are to be played back in the continuous media playback mode when the multi-position switch is in the continuous playback mode position, and (ii) the media assets are to be played back in the shuffle media playback mode when the multi-position switch is in the shuffle playback mode position, wherein in the continuous media playback mode the media assets are to be played back according to a first order, and in the shuffle media playback mode the media assets are to be played back according to a second order, the second order being different than the first order, and wherein the portable electronic device is capable of operating as a removable storage device when connected to the host computing device, and is capable of operating as a media device by using the battery when disconnected from the host computing device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A media player, comprising:
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a non-volatile memory operable to store a plurality of digital media assets; a multi-position switch configured to allow a user of the media player to select a selected media play mode by switching the multi-position switch between at least;
(i) an off position, (ii) a continuous mode position for presentation of media in a continuous media presentation mode, and (iii) a shuffle mode position for presentation of media in a shuffle media presentation mode;a media player control interface operable to enable the user of the media player to select at least one of the media assets to be presented; and a controller operatively connected to the memory, the multi-position switch and the media player control interface, the controller operable to present the selected at least one media asset and a next media asset in accordance with the selected media play mode so that (i) the media assets are to be presented in the continuous media presentation mode when the multi-position switch is in the continuous mode position, and (ii) the media assets are to be presented in the shuffle media presentation mode when the multi-position switch is in the shuffle mode position, wherein in the continuous media presentation mode the media assets are to be presented according to a first order, and in the shuffle media presentation mode the media assets are to be presented according to a second order, the second order being different than the first order. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A handheld portable electronic device in a form of an elongated stick configured to plug into a peripheral port of a host computing system, the handheld portable electronic device comprising:
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a Flash memory drive for storing data including media assets; a USB connector configured to connect to the host computing system; a media module configured to present media in accordance with a plurality of media presentation modes on the portable electronic device, wherein the plurality of media presentation modes includes a continuous media presentation mode and a shuffle media presentation mode, wherein in the continuous media presentation mode the media assets are to be presented according to a first order, and in the shuffle media presentation mode the media assets are to be presented according to a second order, the second order being different than the first order; an on-board battery configured to provide power to the media module; and an I/O system including a sliding switch configured to switch between at least;
an off position and the plurality of media presentation modes of the media module. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A portable electronic device, the portable electronic device comprising:
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memory configured to store media data; a peripheral bus connector configured to directly connect the portable electronic device to a port of a host device; and a sliding multi-position switch configured to switch positions between at least;
(i) an off position, (ii) a continuous playback mode position for media playback in a continuous media playback mode, and (iii) a shuffle playback mode position for media playback in a shuffle media playback mode;a controller operable to; control playback of the media assets so that (i) the media assets are to be played back in the continuous media playback mode when the multi-position switch is in the continuous playback mode position, and (ii) the media assets are to be played back in the shuffle media playback mode when the multi-position switch is in the shuffle playback mode position, wherein in the continuous media playback mode the media assets are to be played back according to a first order, and in the shuffle media play mode the media assets are to be played back according to a second order, the second order being different than the first order.
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54. A handheld portable electronic device in a form of an elongated stick, the handheld portable electronic device lacking a display but comprising:
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a USB connector configured to directly connect the portable electronic device to a host device; an I/O system including a multi-position sliding switch configured to allow selection of media operations on the portable electronic device, wherein positions of the multi-position sliding switch include;
(i) an off position for powering down the handheld portable media player, (ii) a continuous media play mode position for playing media assets in a continuous media play mode, and (iii) a shuffle media play mode position for playing media assets in a shuffle media play mode, wherein in the continuous media play mode the media assets are to be played according to a first order, and in the shuffle media play mode the media assets are to be played according to a second order, the second order being different than the first order. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification