Portable media player as a low power remote control and method thereof

• US 7,702,279 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lemay, Stephen O., Ko, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/314,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/509, 455/517, 455/556.1, 455/575.1, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/420, 345/73, 345/716, 345/722, 725/37, 725/135, 725/81, 725/31, 725/61, 725/86
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637

Abstract

A portable multimedia player is used to wirelessly access and control a media server that is streaming digital media by way of a wireless interface to a media unit such as a stereo/speakers in the case of streaming digital audio. In one embodiment, the portable multimedia player is wirelessly synchronized to a selected one(s) of a number of digital media files stored on the media server in such a way that digital media file metadata (song title, author, etc.) associated with the selected digital media file(s) only is transferred from the media server to be stored in the portable media player.

Claims

1. A method of using a portable multimedia player arranged to store digital media files to wirelessly access and/or control a media server configured to stream digital media data to a media unit, comprising:

configuring the portable multimedia player to operate the portable multimedia player in a first mode or a second mode,

wherein when in the first mode, the portable multimedia player performs the operations of;

displaying a list of digital media files on a display of the portable multimedia player, the digital media files being stored on the portable multimedia player;

receiving a selection signal to play a digital media file; and

playing the selected digital media file on the portable multimedia player;

wherein when in the second mode, the portable multimedia player performs the operations of;

binding the portable multimedia player and the media server; and

wirelessly transmitting a media file request from the multimedia player to the media server, and

wherein in response to the media file request, the media server performs the operations of;

wirelessly forwarding the appropriate media file from the media server to a media unit based on the media file request;

determining if a control command is to be forwarded to the media unit to control a function of the media unit; and

wirelessly forwarding the control command from the media server to the media unit if it is determined that the control command is to be forwarded to the media unit, whereby the media unit is able to playback the appropriate media file in accordance with the at least one control command.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the binding the portable multimedia player and the media server comprises:

synchronizing the digital media player and the media server over a wired connector that includes a IEEE 1394 compliant type connector.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a top level menu having a number of user selectable items by the digital media player;

selecting a particular one of the user selectable items; and

generating the signal based upon the selected item.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the selected item is associated with a particular one of the digital media files.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the signal includes digital media file metadata uniquely associated with the particular one of the digital media files.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the digital media file metadata includes a digital media file title.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media server is a computing device that includes a personal computer.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media unit is a home audio system.

9. A portable digital multimedia player arranged to store multimedia media file metadata used to wirelessly control a remote media server which interacts with a remote media unit, comprising:

a wireless network interface;

a display device arranged to display a user interface having a number of user selectable items; and

a processor unit configured to operate the portable digital multimedia player in a first mode or a second mode,

wherein when the portable digital multimedia player is in the first mode, in response to a user section of a multimedia file stored on the portable digital multimedia player, the selected multimedia file is played by the portable digital multimedia player,

wherein when the portable digital multimedia player is in the second mode, in response to a user selection of one of the user selectable items generates a signal that is wirelessly sent by the wireless network interface to the media server, the signal including multimedia file meta data identifying a multimedia file stored on the media server,

wherein the remote media server receives the signal sent by the wireless network interface and responds to the signal by accessing the identified multimedia file and once accessed, wirelessly sends the identified multimedia file to the remote media unit, and

wherein the media server determines if a control command is to be forwarded to the remote media unit to control a function of the remote media unit and wirelessly forwarding the control command from the media server to the remote media unit if it is determined that the control command is to be forwarded to the remote media unit, whereby the remote media unit is able to playback the appropriate media file in accordance with the at least one control command.

10. A portable digital multimedia player as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a main bus; and

a bus interface connected to the main bus arranged to connect the main bus to a data link that provides a data path for wired transmission of a catalog of digital multimedia file meta data corresponding to the digital multimedia files stored in the media server.

11. A portable digital multimedia player as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a file system coupled to the main bus for storing the catalog of digital multimedia file meta data received from the media server.

12. A portable digital multimedia player as recited in claim 11, wherein the portable digital multimedia player remote controller unit is an MP3 player.

13. A portable digital multimedia player as recited in claim 9, wherein the media server is a computing device that includes a personal computer.

14. A portable digital multimedia player as recited in claim 9, wherein the media unit is a home audio system.

15. A method of providing wireless remote control of a remote media unit through use of a portable multimedia player and a personal computer, comprising:

receiving a signal to operate the portable multimedia player in a first mode or a second mode,

wherein when operated in the first mode, the portable multimedia player performs the operations of;

displaying a list of digital media files on a display of the portable multimedia player, the digital media files stored on the portable multimedia player;

receiving a selection signal to play a digital media file; and

playing the selected digital media file on the portable multimedia player;

wherein when operated in the second mode, the portable multimedia player performs the operations of;

wirelessly transmitting a media file request from the portable multimedia player to the personal computer, and

wherein in response to the media file request, the personal computer performs the operation of;

wirelessly receiving at the personal computer a multimedia file indication from the portable multimedia player;

determining if a control command is to be sent to the remote media unit to control a function of the remote media unit;

identifying a multimedia file stored on the personal computer using the received multimedia file indication;

accessing the identified multimedia file;

wirelessly sending the identified multimedia file from the personal computer to the remote media; and

wirelessly sending the control command to the remote media unit if it is determined that the control command is to be sent to the remote media unit, whereby the remote media unit is able to playback the appropriate media file in accordance with the at least one control command.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

wirelessly instructing the remote media unit to play the identified multimedia file.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

providing, to the multimedia player, metadata pertaining to a plurality of multimedia files residing on the personal computer.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said providing is performed by wirelessly sending the metadata to the multimedia player.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said providing does not also provide the multimedia files to the multimedia player.

20. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the metadata for each of the multimedia files including at least descriptive information and a unique multimedia file indication.

21. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the metadata is a catalog of information associated with the multimedia files.