Portable media player enabled to obtain previews of a user's media collection
First Claim
1. A method of operating a portable media player for previewing a user'"'"'s media collection on the portable media player comprising:
- generating a play history identifying media files played by the portable media player prior to a first synchronization process, the media files having distinct characteristics;
providing the play history to an associated system during the first synchronization process;
receiving, at the portable media player from the associated system, a plurality of previews that are previews of media files selected, at least in part, based on a user profile of a user associated with the portable media player and the associated system, wherein the user profile comprises information selected from a group consisting of at least one user preference and demographic information regarding the user, the plurality of previews being previews of media files programmatically selected by the associated system from the user'"'"'s media collection, which is stored on the associated system, wherein the plurality of previews are previews of media files selected based on the distinct characteristics of the media files in the play history, the plurality of previews having characteristics related to the distinct characteristics of the media files played by the portable media player;
playing the plurality of previews on the portable media player;
identifying a select one of the plurality of previews at the portable media player; and
obtaining, by the portable media player, a one of the media files corresponding to the select one of the plurality of previews from the associated system.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing previews of media files from a user'"'"'s media collection to an associated portable media player are provided. In general, media files from the user'"'"'s media collection are selected based on a play history of the user and optionally a user profile of the user. Once the media files are selected, previews of the media files are generated. The previews may then be transferred to the portable media player during a docking, or synchronization, process. Thereafter, the previews may be played by the portable media player and, if desired, selected by the user for transfer to the portable media player. The media files corresponding to the selected previews are then transferred to the portable media player during a subsequent synchronization process.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of operating a portable media player for previewing a user'"'"'s media collection on the portable media player comprising:
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generating a play history identifying media files played by the portable media player prior to a first synchronization process, the media files having distinct characteristics; providing the play history to an associated system during the first synchronization process; receiving, at the portable media player from the associated system, a plurality of previews that are previews of media files selected, at least in part, based on a user profile of a user associated with the portable media player and the associated system, wherein the user profile comprises information selected from a group consisting of at least one user preference and demographic information regarding the user, the plurality of previews being previews of media files programmatically selected by the associated system from the user'"'"'s media collection, which is stored on the associated system, wherein the plurality of previews are previews of media files selected based on the distinct characteristics of the media files in the play history, the plurality of previews having characteristics related to the distinct characteristics of the media files played by the portable media player; playing the plurality of previews on the portable media player; identifying a select one of the plurality of previews at the portable media player; and obtaining, by the portable media player, a one of the media files corresponding to the select one of the plurality of previews from the associated system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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9. A portable media player comprising:
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a communication interface adapted to communicatively couple the portable media player to an associated system; and a control system adapted to; generate a play history identifying media files played by the portable media player prior to a first synchronization process, the media files having distinct characteristics; provide the play history to the associated system during the first synchronization process; receive, from the associated system, a plurality of previews of media files selected, at least in part, based on a user profile of a user associated with the portable media player and the associated system, wherein the user profile comprises information selected from a group consisting of at least one user preference and demographic information regarding the user, the plurality of previews of media files being programmatically selected by the associated system from a user'"'"'s media collection stored by the associated system, wherein the plurality of previews of media files are selected based on the distinct characteristics of the media files in the play history, the plurality of previews having characteristics related to the distinct characteristics of the media files played by the portable media player; play the plurality of previews; select a select one of the plurality of previews; and obtain a one of the media files corresponding to the select one of the plurality of previews from the associated system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14)
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15. A portable media player comprising:
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a communication interface adapted to communicatively couple the portable media player to an associated system; and a control system adapted to; generate a play history identifying media files played by the portable media player prior to a first synchronization process, the media files having distinct characteristics; provide the play history to the associated system during the first synchronization process; receive during a second synchronization process, from the associated system, a plurality of previews of media files selected, at least in part, based on a user profile of a user associated with the portable media player and the associated system, wherein the user profile comprises information selected from a group consisting of at least one user preference and demographic information regarding the user, the plurality of previews of media files being programmatically selected by the associated system from a user'"'"'s media collection stored by the associated system, wherein the plurality of previews of media files are selected based on the distinct characteristics of the media files in the play history, the plurality of previews having characteristics related to the distinct characteristics of the media files played by the portable media player; play the plurality of previews; select a select one of the plurality of previews; and obtain a one of the media files corresponding to the select one of the plurality of previews from the associated system.
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Specification