Selective locking of input controls of a portable media player

• US 10,025,552 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2014
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Nelson, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US14/463,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 455 306
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/022 Control panels
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence

Abstract

A portable media player configured to selectively enable or disable one or more input controls, such as volume controls, is described herein. In some examples, the player contains a physical button or switch that provides for the selective enabling or disabling of input controls. In some examples, the player is configured to dynamically determine when to enable or disable input controls based on information received about the player or characteristics of the player. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a selection input to receive individual selections of one or more control components out of a plurality of control components of the apparatus during a control component configuration for an individual operational mode of a plurality of operational modes, the individual selections of the one or more control components to remain enabled when the apparatus is in a locked state during the individual operational mode such that the apparatus is to continue to be able to receive input from the individual selections of the one or more control components when the apparatus is in the locked state during the individual operational mode and not able to receive input from the individual selections of the one or more control components when the apparatus is in the locked state during another individual operational mode of the plurality of operational modes;

a first control component of the plurality of control components;

a second control component of the plurality of control components; and

a control selection component to cause the apparatus to be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state upon activation of the control selection component, wherein;

while the apparatus is in the locked state during the individual operational mode with the first control component having been selected via the selection input, but not the second control component, the apparatus is prevented from acting on any received input from the second control component but is allowed to act on any received input from the first control component,

while the apparatus is in the locked state during the other individual operational mode with the first control component having been selected via the selection input, but not the second control component, the apparatus is prevented from acting on any received input from the first control component and from the second control component, and

while the apparatus is in the unlocked state, the apparatus is allowed to act on any received input from the first control component and from the second control component, regardless of whether the first or second control component has been selected via the selection input.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a media playback component to selectively play one or more media files accessible by the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first control component is to receive input to modify a volume level associated with a selective play of the one or more media files.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selection input is to receive input identifying the individual operational mode and to initiate the control component configuration for the individual operational mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second control component is to receive input to change a status of a selective play of the one or more media files.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control component configuration is to take place during an initial setup of the apparatus or after the initial setup of the apparatus.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more buttons to receive input from a user;

a selection input to receive, from the user during configuration of an individual operational mode of a plurality of operational modes, an individual selection of a set of buttons button of the one or more buttons, wherein the selection of the set of buttons is for continued receipt of input via the selected set of buttons when the apparatus is in a locked state and in the individual operational mode,

wherein, in the locked state during the individual operational mode, the apparatus is to;

act on any received input from the selected set of buttons; and

prevent action on any received input from unselected ones of the one or more buttons; and

wherein, in the locked state during another individual operational mode of the plurality of operational modes, the apparatus is to;

prevent action on any received input from the selected set of buttons; and

prevent action on any received input from unselected ones of the one or more buttons; and

an input lock controller to place the apparatus in the locked state when the input lock controller is selected by the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

an audio playback component to control output of audio of stored media files to the user; and

a volume component, coupled to the audio playback component, to adjust a loudness of the presented audio, wherein the volume component is controlled by the one or more buttons.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a switch, wherein the input lock controller is selected by the user via the switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the input lock controller is to receive selection by the apparatus receiving a pattern of inputs from the user via the one or more buttons.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the selection input is to receive the selection of the selected button during an initial setup of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the selection input is to receive input from the user identifying the individual operational mode and to initiate the configuration of the individual operational mode.

11. A method of controlling an apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, by the apparatus during a setup procedure for a first operational mode of a plurality of operational modes, an individual selection of a first input component out of a plurality of input components of the apparatus, wherein the selected first input component is an input component to continue to act on received input when the apparatus is placed in a locked state during the first operational mode;

receiving, by the apparatus during a setup procedure for a second operational mode of the plurality of operational modes, an individual selection of a second input component out of the plurality of input components of the apparatus, wherein the selected second input component is an input component to continue to act on received input when the apparatus is placed in a locked state during the second operational mode;

receiving, by the apparatus, an indication to place the apparatus in the locked state;

placing, by the apparatus, the apparatus in the locked state by;

disabling, by the apparatus, the apparatus from acting on any received input from unselected input components of the plurality of input components for a current operational mode of the apparatus;

receiving, by the apparatus, input from a user at the first input component or at the second input component of the apparatus while the apparatus is in the locked state;

performing, by the apparatus, at least one action based on the received input at the first input component while the apparatus is in the locked state and when the current operational mode is the first operational mode; and

performing, by the apparatus, at least one action based on the received input at the second input component while the apparatus is in the locked state and when the current operational mode is the second operational mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is a portable media player and a functionality comprises a playback volume of the portable media player or lighting of a screen of the portable media player.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the apparatus setup procedure is to take place during an initial setup of the apparatus or after the initial setup of the apparatus.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the individual selection of the first input component comprises receiving input from the user identifying the first operational mode and to start the setup procedure for the first operational mode, and wherein receiving the individual selection of the second input component comprises receiving input from the user identifying the second operational mode and to start the setup procedure for the second operational mode.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

an input system to;

receive, for configuration of a first mode of operation, individual selections of one or more first control components out of a plurality of control components of the apparatus, the selected one or more first control components to remain enabled when the apparatus is placed in a locked state such that the apparatus is to continue to receive input from the selected one or more first control components when the apparatus is in the locked state during the first mode of operation while unselected ones of the plurality of control components are disabled when the apparatus is in the locked state,

receive, for configuration of a second mode of operation, individual selections of one or more second control components out of the plurality of control components of the apparatus, the selected one or more second control components to remain enabled when the apparatus is in the locked state such that the apparatus is to continue to receive input from the selected one or more second control components when the apparatus is in the locked state during the second mode of operation while unselected ones of the plurality of control components are disabled when the apparatus is in the locked state, wherein the first mode of operation is different than the second mode of operation, and

receive a mode of operation selection to activate the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation; and

a locking system to cause the apparatus to be placed in the locked state in response to receipt of a locking input and placed in an unlocked state in response to receipt of an unlocking input.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the locking system comprises a mechanical switch, wherein the locking system is to receive the locking input and the unlocking input via manipulation of the mechanical switch.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein receipt of the locking input and the unlocking input is based on a pattern of received input commands from one or more buttons or from one or more touch inputs.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the configuration of the first mode of operation or the configuration of the second mode of operation is to take place during an initial setup of the apparatus or after the initial setup of the apparatus.