Methods, systems, and program products for controlling the playback of music

• US 8,493,822 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Axelrod, Andrew Leonard, Lee, Alan Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tan X
• Application Number:
  US12/836,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20120014233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 369 3005- 3019, 700/94
• US Class Current: 369/30.09
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

Methods, systems, and program products for controlling the playback of music are disclosed. In an embodiment a method for controlling the playback of music includes the steps of: initiating the playback of a first music track; stopping the playback of the first music track; initiating the playback of alternative audio content; stopping the playback of the alternative content; and determining whether to initiate the playback of the first music track or to initiate the playback of a second music track.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the playback of music comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating the playback of a first music track;

(b) stopping the playback of the first music track after step (a);

(c) initiating the playback of alternative audio content after step (b);

(d) stopping the playback of the alternative audio content after step (c); and

(e) determining whether to initiate the playback of the first music track or to initiate the playback of a second music track after step (d) based on a quantity of unplayed time remaining for the first music track.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (e) further comprises the steps of:

determining the quantity of unplayed time remaining for the first track; and

determining X, wherein X is equal to the quantity of time of the alternative audio content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (e) further comprises the step of determining that the quantity of unplayed time remaining for the first track is greater than X.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

(f) initiating the playback of the first music track in response to step (e).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (f) comprises initiating the playback of the first music track from a point in the first music track that occurs after the point in the first music track at which playback of the first music track stopped.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the point in the first music track that occurs after the point in the first music track at which playback of the first music track stopped is a point in the first music track that occurs X quantity of time past the point at which playback of the first music track stopped.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein step (e) further comprises the step of determining that the quantity of unplayed time remaining for the first track is less than or equal to X.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

(f) initiating the playback of the second music track in response to step (e).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (f) comprises initiating the playback of the second music track from the beginning of the second music track.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identity of the second music track is determined by reference to a playlist.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first music track, second music track, and alternative audio content are played back by a portable device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first music track and the second music track are stored on the portable device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the alternative audio content is a voice recording audio track that is stored on the portable device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the alternative audio content is generated by a speech synthesizer of the portable device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the alternative audio content is wirelessly received by the portable device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the alternative audio is a telephone call transmission.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable device is being supported by a user engaged in an athletic activity during the playback.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the alternative audio content conveys information related to the user'"'"'s speed during the activity.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the alternative audio content conveys information related to the user'"'"'s pace during the activity.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the alternative audio content conveys information related to the user'"'"'s heart rate during the activity.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative audio content comprises non-music audio content.

21. A system for controlling the playback of music, comprising:

a portable device adapted for the playback of music, wherein the portable device comprises;

a memory capable of storing a first music track, a second music track, and alternative audio content; and

a processor capable of being operable to;

initiate the playback of the first music track at a first time;

stop the playback of the first music track at a second time after the first time;

initiate the playback of the alternative audio content at the second time;

stop the playback of the alternative content at a third time after the second time; and

determine whether to initiate the playback of the first music track or to initiate the playback of the second music track at the third time.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the portable device further comprises:

a sensor adapted to detect performance data while a user engages in an athletic activity,

wherein the alternative audio content is capable of conveying information related to the performance data.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor, the memory, and the sensor are included in a common housing of the portable device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the sensor is a satellite positioning system receiver.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the information related to the performance data is speed information.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the information related to the performance data is pace information.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the information related to the performance data is speed information.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the information related to the performance data is pace information.

30. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a sensor adapted to detect performance data while a user engages in an athletic activity,

wherein the portable device further comprises a wireless transceiver for wirelessly receiving the performance data from the sensor, and

wherein the alternative audio content is capable of conveying information related to the performance data.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor, the memory, and the wireless transceiver are included in a first housing of the portable device, and wherein the sensor is included in a second housing remotely located from the first housing of the portable device.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the information related to the performance data is speed information.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the information related to the performance data is pace information.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the sensor is a heart rate monitor and wherein the information related to the performance data is heart rate information.

36. A method for controlling the playback of music comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating the playback of a first music track;

(b) stopping the playback of the first music track after step (a);

(c) initiating the playback of alternative audio content after step (b);

(d) stopping the playback of the alternative audio content after step (c); and

(e) determining whether to initiate the playback of the first music track or to initiate the playback of a second music track after step (d),

wherein step (e) further comprises;

determining a quantity of unplayed time remaining for the first track; and

determining X, wherein X is equal to a quantity of time of the alternative audio content.

37. A method for controlling the playback of music in an athletic performance monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating the playback of a first music track;

(b) stopping the playback of the first music track after step (a);

(c) initiating the playback of athletic performance feedback after step (b);

(d) stopping the playback of athletic performance feedback after step (c); and

(e) determining whether to initiate the playback of the first music track or to initiate the playback of a second music track after step (d) based on the quantity of unplayed time remaining for the first music track.