Protocol for remote user interface for portable media device with dynamic playlist management
First Claim
1. A method of operating an accessory to control a portable media device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the accessory, a first user input indicating a selection to be made from a database of media assets stored by the portable media device, wherein the accessory is external to the portable media device;
sending, by the accessory, a first command to the portable media device, the first command instructing the portable media device to make the selection and thereby select one or more media assets from the database;
receiving, by the accessory, a second user input indicating that the selected one or more media assets are to be added to a playlist maintained in the portable media device;
in response to receiving the second user input, determining, by the accessory, without user intervention, whether the playlist already exists;
in the event that the playlist already exists, sending, by the accessory, a second command to the portable media device, the second command instructing the portable media device to add the selected one or more media assets to the playlist; and
in the event that the playlist does not already exist, sending, by the accessory, a third command to the portable media device, the third command instructing the portable media device to create the playlist, wherein the third command is sent prior to sending the second command.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Remote user interfaces for portable media devices provided improved access by accessories to media assets and metadata stored in a database of a portable media device, enhancing a user'"'"'s ability to control operation of the portable media device using a remote user interface provided by the accessory. In one example, an accessory can determine whether the database of the portable media device was updated while the portable media device was disconnected from the accessory. In a second example, an accessory can create and manage a playlist for the portable media device and can incorporate into the playlist tracks already queued for playback when the accessory connects to the portable media device. In a third example, an accessory can obtain database navigation history and initialize a database navigation interface to match the database navigation history.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of operating an accessory to control a portable media device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the accessory, a first user input indicating a selection to be made from a database of media assets stored by the portable media device, wherein the accessory is external to the portable media device; sending, by the accessory, a first command to the portable media device, the first command instructing the portable media device to make the selection and thereby select one or more media assets from the database; receiving, by the accessory, a second user input indicating that the selected one or more media assets are to be added to a playlist maintained in the portable media device; in response to receiving the second user input, determining, by the accessory, without user intervention, whether the playlist already exists; in the event that the playlist already exists, sending, by the accessory, a second command to the portable media device, the second command instructing the portable media device to add the selected one or more media assets to the playlist; and in the event that the playlist does not already exist, sending, by the accessory, a third command to the portable media device, the third command instructing the portable media device to create the playlist, wherein the third command is sent prior to sending the second command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An accessory for use with a portable media device, the accessory comprising:
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a user interface including at least one input control operable by a user; an input/output interface configured to exchange a plurality of commands with the portable media device; and a controller coupled to the user interface and the input/output interface and configured to control the input/output interface to exchange commands with the portable media device based at least in part on user input received by the user interface via the at least one input control, wherein the plurality of commands includes; a first command sendable by the accessory to the portable media device, the first command instructing the portable media device to create a playlist in the portable media device; a second command sendable by the accessory to the portable media device, the second command instructing the portable media device to add a specified media asset from a database of media assets stored by the portable media device to the playlist, wherein the second command includes an identifier that uniquely identifies the playlist; and a third command sendable by the accessory to the portable media device, the third command instructing the portable media device to add a currently selected group of media assets from the database of media assets stored by the portable media device to the playlist, wherein the third command includes the identifier as a parameter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a portable media device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the portable media device, from an accessory communicably coupled to the portable media device, a first command instructing the portable media device to make a selection from a database of media assets stored by the portable media device; making, by the portable media device, the requested selection, thereby selecting one or more media assets from the database of media assets; receiving, by the portable media device, from the accessory, a second command indicating that the selected one or more media assets are to be added to a playlist; receiving, by the portable media player, without user intervention, a request from the accessory to determine whether the playlist already exists; if the playlist already exists, adding the selected one or more media assets to the playlist; and if the playlist does not exist; receiving, from the accessory, a third command to create the playlist; creating, by the portable media device, the playlist in response to the third command and assigning a playlist identifier to the playlist; and adding, by the portable media device, the selected one or more media assets to the playlist in response to the third command. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A portable media device for use with an accessory, the portable media device comprising:
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a storage device configured to store a database of media assets and metadata associated with the media assets and further configured to store one or more playlists; an input/output interface configured to exchange a plurality of commands with the accessory; and a processor coupled to the storage device and the input/output interface, the processor being configured to respond to commands received via the input/output interface, wherein the plurality of commands includes; a first command receivable by the portable media device from the accessory, the first command instructing the portable media device to create a playlist in the portable media device; a second command receivable by portable media device from the accessory, the second command instructing the portable media device to add a currently selected media asset from a database of media assets stored by the portable media device to the playlist, wherein the second command includes a playlist identifier that uniquely identifies the playlist; and a third command receivable by the portable media device from the accessory, the third command instructing the portable media device to add a currently selected group of media assets from the database of media assets stored by the portable media device to the playlist, wherein the third command includes the playlist identifier as a parameter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification