Interface for audio visual device

• US 20030086699A1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Benyamin, Daniel, Jedynak, David C., Rocks, Joseph R., Busam, Vincent R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/96
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2512 Floppy disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A system is disclosed that provides access to a large amount of content using a traditional interface. The system has many applications, one of which is for providing access to audio/visual content. Examples of audio/visual content includes compressed digital music data and video data. In one embodiment, the system receives an indication of a first mode, accesses a first playlist for the first mode, and plays tracks according to the first playlist. In this embodiment, each mode is associated with a different attribute, each mode includes one or more playlists of tracks, and each playlist of a particular mode is based on a different value for the attribute associated with the particular mode. Examples of attributes include artist, album, genre, etc. Thus, there can be an artist mode, an album node, a genre mode, etc. For example, each playlist in the artist mode is associated with a particular artist. All tracks on a given playlist in the artist mode would be associated with the same artists.

Claims

1. A method for presenting audio/visual tracks, said tracks having track identification attributes, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a first mode of a set of modes, each mode is associated with a different track identification attribute, each mode includes one or more playlists of tracks, each playlist of a particular mode is based on a different value for said track identification attribute associated with said particular mode;

accessing a first playlist for said first mode; and

playing tracks according to said first playlist.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first mode includes said first playlist and a second playlist;

said first mode is associated with a first track identification attribute;

said first track identification attribute is an indication of genre;

said first playlist includes tracks of a first genre; and

said second playlist includes tracks of a second genre.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks; and

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said indication is provided by an automobile audio head unit adapted to communicate with a disc changer; and

said steps of receiving, accessing and playing are performed by a device in communication with said automobile audio head unit, said device emulates said disc changer.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of playing tracks includes reading said tracks from a removable hard disk drive.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

each mode of said set of modes is associated with an input device from a set of one or more input devices on an automobile head unit; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to said one or more input devices.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

each mode of said set of modes is associated with a separate one of a set of input devices on an automobile head unit;

each input device is designed to indicate playback of a particular disk; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to one of said input devices.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

said automobile audio head unit is adapted to communicate with a disc changer; and

said steps of receiving, accessing and playing are performed by a device in communication with said automobile audio head unit, said device emulates said disc changer.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein:

said step of playing tracks includes reading said tracks from a removable hard disk drive.

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

audibly announcing said first mode; and

audibly announcing said first playlist.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein:

said step of audibly announcing said first mode includes reading a first text file and generating speech based on said first text file.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein:

said step of audibly announcing said first playlist includes reading an identification for said first playlist and generating speech based on said identification.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

audibly announcing said first mode; and

audibly announcing said first playlist.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

each mode of said set of modes is associated with a separate one of a set of input devices on an automobile head unit;

each input device is capable of tuning a particular radio station; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to one of said input devices.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first playlist includes tracks of a first artist.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first playlist includes tracks of a first genre.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first playlist includes tracks of a first album.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first playlist includes tracks designated by a user.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first mode is associated with a first track identification attribute; and

said first track identification attribute identifies a combination of a first artist and a first genre.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said playlists pre-exist prior to said step of receiving.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first mode includes a first set of one or more playlists; and

said first set of one or more playlists are created in response to said step of receiving.

23. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a seeking command;

audibly indicating letters associated with groups of one or more playlists until said seeking command is no longer asserted; and

playing tracks associated with a last audibly announced letter.

24. A method for presenting audio/visual tracks, said tracks having track identification attributes, said method comprising the steps of:

sequentially playing a first set of tracks that have a common value for a first track identification attribute;

receiving an indication of a second track identification attribute while sequentially playing said first set of tracks;

determining a second set of tracks based on a particular value for said second track identification attribute for a particular track playing at a time when said indication of said second track identification attribute is received, said second set of tracks have said particular value for said second track identification attribute; and

sequentially playing said second set of tracks.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said step of sequentially playing said second set of tracks includes continuing to play said particular track.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks; and

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said indication of said second track identification attribute is provided by an automobile audio head unit adapted to communicate with a disc changer; and

said steps of determining a second set and sequentially playing said second set of tracks are performed by a device in communication with said automobile audio head unit, said device emulates said disc changer.

28. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said step of sequentially playing said second set of tracks includes reading said second set of tracks from a removable hard disk drive.

29. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said first set of tracks is associated with a first mode;

said second set of tracks is associated with a second mode;

said music tracks includes additional sets of tracks other than said first set of tracks and said second set of tracks, said additional sets of tracks are associated with additional modes;

each modes is associated with a separate one of a set of input devices on an automobile head unit;

each input device is designed to indicate playback of a particular disk; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to one of said input devices.

30. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

audibly announcing said second set of tracks.

31. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a seeking command;

audibly indicating letters associated with groups of one or more playlists until said seeking command is no longer asserted; and

playing tracks associated with a last audibly announced letter.

32. An audio/visual player, comprising:

an output device;

a processor readable storage device capable of storing a plurality of tracks having track identification attributes; and

one or more processors in communication with said output device and said processor readable storage device, said one or more processors perform a method comprising the steps of;

receiving an indication of a first mode of a set of modes, each mode is associated with a different track identification attribute, each mode includes one or more playlists of tracks, each playlist of a particular mode is based on a different value for said track identification attribute associated with said particular mode,

accessing a first playlist for said first mode, and

playing tracks according to said first playlist.

33. An audio/visual player according to claim 32, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said output device is a speaker; and

said one or more processors are part of an audio/visual server.

34. An audio/visual player according to claim 32, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks; and

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data.

35. An audio/visual player according to claim 32, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks; and

said audio/visual player emulates a disc changer.

36. An audio/visual player according to claim 32, further comprising:

a removable hard disk drive in communication with said one or more processors, said step of playing tracks includes reading said tracks from said removable hard disk drive.

37. An audio/visual player according to claim 32, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said player is designed to communicate with an automobile head unit;

each mode of said set of modes is associated with a separate one of a set of input devices on said automobile head unit;

each input device is designed to indicate playback of a particular disk; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to one of said input devices.

38. An audio/visual player according to claim 37, wherein:

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data;

said indication is provided by said automobile audio head unit; and

said player emulates a disc changer to said automobile audio head unit.

39. An audio/visual player according to claim 38, further comprising:

a removable hard disk drive in communication with said one or more processors, said step of playing tracks includes reading said tracks from said removable hard disk drive.

40. An audio/visual player according to claim 37, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

audibly announcing said first mode; and

audibly announcing said first playlist.

41. An audio/visual player according to claim 40, wherein:

said step of audibly announcing said first playlist includes reading an identification for said first playlist and generating speech based on said identification.

42. An audio/visual player according to claim 32, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

audibly announcing said first mode; and

audibly announcing said first playlist.

43. An audio/visual player according to claim 42, wherein:

said step of audibly announcing said first playlist includes reading an identification for said first playlist and generating speech based on said identification.

44. An audio/visual player according to claim 32, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said audio/visual player is designed to communicate with an automobile head unit;

each mode of said set of modes is associated with a separate one of a set of input devices on said automobile head unit;

each input device is designed to tune a particular radio station; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to one of said input devices.

45. An audio/visual player, comprising:

an output device;

a processor readable storage device capable of storing a plurality of tracks having track identification attributes; and

one or more processors in communication with said output device and said processor readable storage device, said one or more processors perform a method comprising the steps of;

sequentially playing a first set of tracks that have a common value for a first track identification attribute,

receiving an indication of a second track identification attribute while sequentially playing said first set of tracks,

determining a second set of tracks based on a particular value for said second track identification attribute for a particular track playing at a time when said indication of said second track identification attribute is received, said second set of tracks have said particular value for said second track identification attribute, and

sequentially playing said second set of tracks.

46. An audio/visual player according to claim 45, wherein:

said step of sequentially playing said second set of tracks includes continuing to play said particular track.

47. An audio/visual player according to claim 45, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks; and

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data.

48. An audio/visual player according to claim 45, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said indication of said second track identification attribute is received from an automobile audio head unit adapted to communicate with a disc changer; and

said audio/visual player emulates said disc changer.

49. An audio/visual player according to claim 45, further comprising:

a removable hard disk drive in communication with said one or more processors, said step of sequentially playing said second set of tracks includes reading said second set of tracks from said removable hard disk drive.

50. An audio/visual player according to claim 45, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said first set of tracks is associated with a first mode;

said second set of tracks is associated with a second mode;

said music tracks includes additional sets of tracks other than said first set of tracks and said second set of tracks, said additional sets of tracks are associated with additional modes;

each modes is associated with a separate one of a set of input devices on an automobile head unit in communication with said audio/visual player;

each input device is designed to indicate playback of a particular disk; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to one of said input devices.

51. An audio/visual player according to claim 45, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

audibly announcing said second set of tracks via said output device.

52. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method for presenting audio/visual tracks, said tracks have attributes, said track includes a first attribute and a second attribute, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of a play mode;

playing tracks according to a first track list if said indication of said play mode identifies a first mode, said first mode is associated with a first set of one or more track lists, each track on a particular track list of said first set of track lists has a common value for said first attribute, said first set of track lists includes said first track list; and

playing tracks according to a second track list if said indication of said play mode identifies a second mode, said second mode is associated with a second set of one or more track lists, each track on a particular track list of said second set of track lists has a common value for said second attribute, said second set of track lists includes said second track lists.

53. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 52, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks; and

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data.

54. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 52, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data;

said indication is provided by an automobile audio head unit adapted to communicate with a disc changer; and

said steps of playing tracks according to a first track list and playing tracks according to a second track list are performed by a device in communication with said automobile audio head unit, said device emulates said disc changer.

55. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 52, wherein:

said steps of playing tracks according to a first track list and playing tracks according to a second track list include reading said tracks from a removable hard disk drive.

56. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 52, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said first mode is associated with a first input devices on an automobile head unit;

said second mode is associated with a second input devices on said automobile head unit;

additional play modes are associated with additional input devices on said automobile head unit;

each input device is designed to indicate playback of a particular disk; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to one of said input devices.

57. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 52, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

audibly announcing said first mode.

58. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method for presenting audio/visual tracks, said tracks have track identification attributes, said method comprising the steps of:

sequentially playing a first set of tracks that have a common value for a first track identification attribute;

receiving an indication of a second track identification attribute while sequentially playing said first set of tracks;

determining a second set of tracks based on a particular value for said second track identification attribute for a particular track playing at a time when said indication of said second track identification attribute is received, said second set of tracks have said particular value for said second track identification attribute; and

sequentially playing said second set of tracks.

59. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 58, wherein:

said step of sequentially playing said second set of tracks includes continuing to play said particular track.

60. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 58, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks; and

said music tracks are stored as compressed digital audio data.

61. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 58, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said indication of said second track identification attribute is provided by an automobile audio head unit adapted to communicate with a disc changer; and

said steps of determining and sequentially playing said second set of tracks are performed by a device in communication with said automobile audio head unit, said device emulates said disc changer.

62. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 58, wherein:

said step of sequentially playing said second set of tracks includes reading said second set of tracks from a removable hard disk drive.

63. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 58, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks;

said first set of tracks is associated with a first mode;

said second set of tracks is associated with a second mode;

said music tracks includes additional sets of tracks other than said first set of tracks and said set of tracks, said additional sets of tracks are associated with additional modes;

each modes is associated with a separate one of a set of input devices on an automobile head unit;

each input device is designed to indicate playback of a particular disk; and

said step of receiving is performed in response to one of said input devices.

64. A method for presenting audio/visual tracks, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a seeking command;

audibly indicating identifications associated with groups of tracks until said seeking command is no longer asserted; and

playing tracks associated with a last audibly announced identification.

65. A method according to claim 64, wherein:

said identifications are letters.

66. A method according to claim 64, wherein:

said groups of tracks are groups of one or more playlists of tracks.

67. A method according to claim 64, wherein:

said tracks are music tracks.

68. A method according to claim 67, wherein:

said seeking command is received from an automobile headunit.

69. A method according to claim 67, wherein:

said seeking command is received from an automobile headunit in a manner intended for a disc changer.