Variable I/O interface for portable media device

• US 10,534,514 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gilley, Glenn Gregory, Brody, Sarah A., Ubillos, Randall Hayes, Pacurariu, Mihnea Calin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nunez, Jordany
• Application Number:
  US15/865,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20180129388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The present invention can include electronic devices having variable input/output interfaces that can allow a user to interact with the devices with greater efficiency and in a more ergonomic manner. An electronic device of the present invention can display icons associated with user-programmable parameters of a media file. By interacting with the icons, a user can change the user-programmable parameters during playback of the media file. Changes to the user-programmable parameters can affect playback of the remainder of the media file. An electronic device of the present invention also can automatically re-orient images shown on a display and re-configure user input components based on the orientation of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an output component;

an input component;

a memory component; and

a processor that;

plays back a media file from the memory component for providing media information to a user about a plurality of activities of the media file via the output component;

receives a user input command from the input component during the playback of the media file; and

based on the received user input command, adjusts a programmable parameter of the media file during the playback of the media file, wherein;

the parameter adjustment adjusts the media file;

the media file adjustment adjusts the playback of the remainder of the media file after the parameter adjustment;

the playback adjustment affects the media information provided to the user during the playback of the remainder of the media file after the parameter adjustment;

the processor plays back the media file by;

playing back a first media module of the media file that provides first media information about a first activity of the plurality of activities; and

after playing back the first media module, playing back a second media module of the media file that provides second media information about a second activity of the plurality of activities;

the processor receives the user input command during the playback of the first media module; and

the parameter adjustment affects the playback of the second media module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input component, memory component, and processor are provided by a portable electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter adjustment is stored in the memory component.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises a global parameter associated with a total time allocated to perform every activity of the plurality of activities of the media file.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter is associated with a total time allocated to perform both the first activity and the second activity.

6. A system comprising:

an output component;

an input component;

a memory component; and

a processor that;

plays back a media file from the memory component for providing media information to a user via the output component;

receives a user input command from the input component during the playback of the media file; and

based on the received user input command, adjusts a programmable parameter of the media file during the playback of the media file, wherein;

the parameter adjustment adjusts the media file;

the media file adjustment affects the media information provided to the user during the playback of the remainder of the media file after the media file adjustment;

the processor plays back the media file by;

playing back a first media module of the media file that provides first media information; and

after playing back the first media module, playing back a second media module of the media file that provides second media information;

the processor receives the user input command during the playback of the first media module;

the parameter comprises a first parameter that is associated with the first media module; and

based on the adjustment to the first parameter, the processor adjusts a second parameter of the media file during playback of the media file.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second parameter comprises a global parameter of the media file.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second parameter comprises a module-specific parameter.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second parameter is associated with the first media module.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the second parameter is associated with the second media module.

11. A method comprising:

playing back a media file for providing media information to a user;

receiving an input command during the playing back of the media file; and

based on the received input command, adjusting a programmable parameter of the media file during the playing back of the media file, wherein;

the adjusting the programmable parameter comprises adjusting the media file;

the adjusting the media file affects the media information provided to the user during the playing back of the remainder of the media file after the adjusting the media file;

the playing back comprises;

playing back a first media module of the media file that provides first media information; and

after the playing back of the first media module, playing back a second media module of the media file that provides second media information;

the receiving the input command occurs during the playing back of the first media module; and

the adjusting the media file affects the playing back of the second media module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the playing back, the receiving the input command, and the adjusting the parameter are accomplished by a portable electronic device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the parameter adjustment in a memory component.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the playing back the first media module of the media file provides first media information about a first activity; and

the playing back the second media module of the media file provides second media information about a second activity; and

the programmable parameter is associated with a total time allocated for the user to perform both the first activity and the second activity.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the programmable parameter comprises a first parameter that is associated with the first media module.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the programmable parameter comprises a first parameter that is associated with the first media module; and

based on the adjusting the first parameter, the method further comprises adjusting a second parameter of the media file during the playing back of the media file.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second parameter comprises a global parameter of the media file.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second parameter comprises a module-specific parameter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second parameter is associated with the first media module.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second parameter is associated with the second media module.