Dual decoder portable media device
First Claim
1. A portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:
- a device housing;
a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal;
a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal; and
a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals, wherein, in response to the portable media device being connected to an external host presentation device, the second onboard hardware media decoder is configured to decode the digital content item and generate the second media signal and the media output port is configured to output the second media signal and, in response to the portable media device not being connected to an external host presentation device, the second onboard hardware media decoder is configured to transition to a dormant state so that the second media decoding is not effected and the first onboard hardware media decoder is configured to effect the first media decoding using an onboard power supply to generate the first media signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable media device 100 including two onboard hardware media decoders (124, 128) operative to decode a given digital content item 148 is provided. In some embodiments, one of the onboard hardware media decoders 128 has a relatively high power consumption and produces a relatively ‘high quality’ media signal, and the other of the onboard hardware media decoder 124 has a relatively low power consumption and produces a relatively ‘low quality’ media signal. In one non-limiting use case: (i) when no external power is available, the relatively ‘low power’ hardware media decoder 124 may generate a relatively ‘low quality’ media signal which is presented on an onboard display screen 140a and/or onboard speaker 140b; and (ii) when external power is available, the relatively ‘high power’ hardware media decoder 128 may generate a relatively ‘high quality’ media signal which is exported out of the portable media device 100 via one or more media ports, and presented on an external host presentation device 160 (for example, a large-screen television).
42 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:
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a device housing; a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal; a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal; and a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals, wherein, in response to the portable media device being connected to an external host presentation device, the second onboard hardware media decoder is configured to decode the digital content item and generate the second media signal and the media output port is configured to output the second media signal and, in response to the portable media device not being connected to an external host presentation device, the second onboard hardware media decoder is configured to transition to a dormant state so that the second media decoding is not effected and the first onboard hardware media decoder is configured to effect the first media decoding using an onboard power supply to generate the first media signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A portable media device comprising:
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a device housing; a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal; a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal; a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals; an onboard media presentation device mechanically integrated with the device housing; and the second hardware media decoder and the media output port are configured within the portable media device to respond to an inter-device coupling via the media port that occurs at a time when; the first hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the first media signal from the digital media content item, and the onboard display presentation device is presenting the first media signal, by; commencing the decoding of the given digital media content item by the second hardware media decoder to generate the second media signal; and commencing the exporting via the media output port of the second media signal; wherein the first hardware media decoder and the onboard media presentation device are configured within the portable media device to continue; the decoding of the digital content item by the first hardware media decoder; and the presenting of the first media signal by the onboard media presentation device after the commencing of the decoding of the given digital content item by the second hardware media decoder which occurs after the inter-device coupling.
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14. A portable media device comprising:
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a device housing; a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal; a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal; a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals; an onboard media presentation device mechanically integrated with the device housing; and the second hardware media decoder and the media output port are configured within the portable media device to respond to an inter-device coupling via the media port that occurs at a time when; the first hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the first media signal from the digital media content item, and the onboard display presentation device is presenting the first media signal, by; commencing the decoding of the given digital media content item by the second hardware media decoder to generate the second media signal; commencing the exporting via the media output port of the second media signal; and wherein the second hardware media decoder is operative to commence the decoding of the given content item in accordance with a streaming media playback bookmark of the first hardware media decoder.
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15. A portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:
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a device housing; a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal; a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal; a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals; and wherein the first hardware media decoder and the second hardware media decoder are operative to simultaneously effect a playback of the given digital content item in a manner such that the second media signal provides at least one of; a look-ahead functionality relative to the first media signal; a look-back functionality relative to the first media signal; and a flexible time domain relative to the first media signal.
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16. A portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:
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a device housing; a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal; a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal; a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals; the portable media device further comprises; a media presentation device mechanically integrated with the device housing; and the first hardware media decoder, the onboard media presentation device, the second hardware media decoder and the media output port are configured within the portable media device to respond to an inter-device decoupling via the media port that occurs at a time when;
by;the second hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the second media signal from the digital media content item; and the media output port is exporting the second media signal, ceasing the decoding of the digital media content item by the second hardware media decoder; and commencing the decoding of the digital media content item by the first hardware media decoder to generate the first media signal and the presenting of the first media signal on the onboard display screen.
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17. A portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:
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a device housing; a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal; a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal; a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals; the portable media device further comprises; an onboard display screen mechanically integrated with the device housing; and the first hardware media decoder , the onboard display screen , the second hardware media decoder and the media output port are configured within the portable media device to respond to an inter-device decoupling via the media port that occurs at a time when;
by;the second hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the second media signal from the digital media content item; the media output port is exporting the second media signal, the first hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the first media signal from the digital media content item; and the onboard display screen is presenting the first media signal, ceasing the second digital media playback of the digital media content item by the second hardware media decoder; and continuing the first digital media playback of the digital media content item by the first hardware media decoder to generate the first video stream and the presenting of the first media on the onboard display screen.
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18. portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:
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a device housing; a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal; a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal; a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals; the portable media device further comprises; a user control for effecting a mode transition between any of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode; and the first, second and third modes are defined as follows; when in the first mode, the first hardware media decoder is active and the second hardware media decoder is dormant; when in the second mode, the second hardware media decoder is active and the first hardware media decoder is dormant; and when in the third mode, both of the first hardware media decoder is active and the second hardware media decoder are active.
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19. A portable media device comprising:
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a device housing; a device port located within the device housing; a first onboard hardware media decoder located within the device housing; a second onboard hardware media decoder located within the device housing; control circuitry located within the device housing and operative to; determine whether the device port is connected to an external media presentation device; in response to determining that the device port is connected to the external media presentation device, activating the second onboard hardware media decoder to effect first media decoding of a given digital content item to generate a first media signal and output the first media signal to the external media presentation device via the device port; and in response to determining that the device port is not connected to the external media presentation device, activating the first onboard hardware media decoder without activating the second onboard hardware media decoder such that the second onboard hardware media decoder transitions to a dormant state so that the first media decoding is not effected and the first onboard hardware media decoder is configured to effect second media decoding of a given digital content item using an onboard power supply to generate a second media signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification