Intelligent interaction between media player and host computer

• US 7,765,326 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Robbin, Jeffrey L., Heller, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Divecha; Kamal B
• Application Number:
  US10/277,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,836 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Improved techniques for interaction between a host computer (e.g., personal computer) and a media player are disclosed. According to one aspect, interaction between a host computer and a media player, such as automatic synchronization of media contents stored on a media player with media contents stored on a host computer, can be restricted. According to another aspect, management of media items residing on a media player can be performed at and by a host computer for the media player. According to still another aspect, media content can be played by a media player in accordance with quality settings established for the media content at the host computer.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing media items of a portable media player with a host computer, the media player storing player media information, and the host computer storing host media information, said method comprising:

retrieving a media player identifier from the media player, wherein the media player identifier is a pseudo-random identifier that specifically identifies the media player;

comparing the media player identifier with a synchronized device identifier stored at the host computer to produce first comparison information, wherein the synchronized device identifier identifies a device that has been locked for synchronization with the host computer;

determining whether synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed based on the first comparison information; and

automatically synchronizing the media player with the host computer when said determining determines that synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed, wherein said synchronizing transfers one or more media items to the media player from the host computer, whereby for the one or more media items being received, media item data is received at the media player via a first electronic file and stored in a media store at the media player, and media information data is received at the media player via a second electronic file and stored in a media database at the media player, the second electronic file being distinct from the first electronic file,

wherein the media information data including at least one quality characteristic, the at least one quality characteristic includes at least one or more user-specified equalization settings,

wherein when the media player is configured to play an identified one of the media items, the media player is configured to play the identified one of the media items in accordance with at least one of the one or more user-specified equalization settings corresponding thereto,

wherein said determining whether synchronization between the media player and the host computer should be performed comprises determining that synchronization should be automatically performed if said comparing of the media player identifier with the synchronized device identifier indicates that the media player is the media player that has been previously locked for synchronization with the host computer,

wherein said synchronizing of the media player with the host computer is not automatically performed when said determining determines that the media player identifier does not match the synchronization device identifier,

wherein said method further comprises;

querying a user of the media player as to whether the media player should be locked for synchronization to the host computer while unlocking any previously locked media player when said determining determines that the media player identifier does not match the synchronization device identifier, receiving a response to said querying of the user, and locking the media player to the host computer for synchronization when the response to said querying indicates that the media player should be locked to the host computer, and

wherein the media player and the host computer are separate devices.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first comparison information indicates whether or not the media player identifier matches the synchronization identifier.

3. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein said determining determines that synchronization of the media player should be performed when the first comparison information indicates that the media player identifier matches the synchronization identifier, and

wherein said determining determines that synchronization of the media player should not be performed when the first comparison information indicates that the media player identifier does not match the synchronization identifier.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking stores a newly assigned media player identifier in the media player.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking comprises:

obtaining, at the host computer, an assigned identifier for the media player; and

storing the assigned identifier in the media player as the media player identifier.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking comprises:

obtaining, at the media player, an assigned identifier for the host computer; and

storing the assigned identifier at the host computer as the synchronization identifier.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said synchronizing of the media player with the host computer comprises:

reading the player media information from the media player;

comparing the player media information with the host media information from the host computer to produce media comparison information;

determining which media items are to be copied between the media player and the host computer based on the media comparison information; and

copying the determined media items to perform the synchronization.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the player media information and the host media information include at least attributes of the media items.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the attributes include at least song title, album name and artist name.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one quality characteristic includes at least one of:

bit rate, sample rate, equalization setting, volume adjustment, start/stop and total time.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said method further comprises:

identifying media items that are to be removed from the media player based on the media comparison information; and

removing the identified media items from the media player.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the identified media items are those media items on the media player but not on the host computer.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the player media information and the host media information pertain to attributes and quality characteristics of the media items.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the attributes include at least song title, album name and artist name, and wherein the quality characteristics include at least one of bit rate, sample rate, equalization setting, volume adjustment, start/stop and total time.

15. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the media player has a first media database storing player media information, and the host computer has a second media database storing host media information, and

wherein said copying comprises:

reading the player media information from the first media database provided on the media player;

comparing the player media information with the host media information from the second media database provided on the host computer, said comparing producing comparison information;

determining which media items are to be copied between the media player and the host computer based on the comparison information; and

copying the determined media items to perform the synchronization.

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

updating one or both of the first and second media databases.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player identifier and the synchronized device identifier serve to associate the media player with the host computer so as to permit subsequent automatic synchronizations between the media player and the host computer.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the media player identifier and the synchronized device identifier remain the same through a plurality of subsequent synchronizations.

23. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player identifier is generated by the host computer and sent to and stored on the media player.

24. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the synchronized device identifier is generated by the media player and sent to and stored on the host computer.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including at least executable computer program code tangibly stored thereon for synchronizing media items of a media player with a host computer, the media player storing player media information, and the host computer storing host media information, said non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising:

computer program code for retrieving a media player identifier from the media player, wherein the media player identifier is a pseudo-random identifier that specifically identifies the media player;

computer program code for comparing the media player identifier with a synchronized device identifier stored at the host computer to produce first comparison information, wherein the synchronized device identifier identifies a device that has been locked for synchronization with the host computer;

computer program code for determining whether synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed based on the first comparison information;

computer program code for automatically synchronizing the media player with the host computer when said computer program code for determining determines that synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed, wherein said computer program code for automatically synchronizing transfers one or more media items to the media player from the host computer, whereby for the one or more media items being received, media item data is received at the media player via a first electronic file and stored in a media store at the media player, and media information data is received at the media player via a second electronic file and stored in a media database at the media player, the second electronic file being distinct from the first electronic file,

wherein the media information data including at least one quality characteristic, the at least one quality characteristic includes at least one or more user-specified equalization settings,

wherein when the media player is configured to play an identified one of the media items, the media player is configured to play the identified one of the media items in accordance with at least one of the one or more user-specified equalization settings corresponding thereto that is stored in and retrieved from the media database,

wherein said computer program code for determining whether synchronization between the media player and the host computer should be performed comprises computer program code for determining that synchronization should be automatically performed if comparison of the media player identifier with the synchronized device identifier indicates that the media player has been previously locked for synchronization with the host computer; and

computer program code for querying a user of the media player as to whether the media player should be locked for synchronization the host computer if comparison of the media player identifier with the synchronized device identifier indicates that the media player is not currently locked for synchronization with the host computer;

computer program code for receiving a response to the querying of the user; and

computer program code for locking the media player to the host computer for synchronization while unlocking any previously locked media player when the response to the querying indicates that the media player should be locked to the host computer,

wherein the media player and the host computer are separate devices.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said computer program code for automatically synchronizing of the media player with the host computer comprises:

computer program code for reading the player media information from the media player;

computer program code for comparing the player media information with the host media information from the host computer to produce media comparison information;

computer program code for determining which media items are to be copied between the media player and the host computer based on the media comparison information; and

computer program code for copying the determined media items to perform the synchronization.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the media player identifier and the synchronized device identifier serve to associate the media player with the host computer so as to permit subsequent automatic synchronizations between the media player and the host computer.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the media player identifier remains the same through a plurality of subsequent synchronizations.

25. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the media player identifier is generated by the host computer and sent to and stored on the media player.

26. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the synchronized device identifier is generated by the media player and sent to and stored on the host computer.

31. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for unlocking any previously locked media players if said computer program code for querying the user of the media player determines that the user desires the media player to be locked to the host computer.

27. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including at least executable computer program code tangibly stored thereon for synchronizing media items of a media player with a host computer, the media player storing player media information, and the host computer storing host media information, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for retrieving a media player identifier from the media player, the media player identifier being a pseudo-random identifier;

computer program code for comparing the media player identifier with a synchronized device identifier stored at the host computer to produce first comparison information;

computer program code for determining whether synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed based on the first comparison information;

computer program code for automatically synchronizing the media player with the host computer when said computer program code for determining determines that synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed based on the first comparison information; and

computer program code for querying a user of the media player as to whether the media player should be locked to the host computer when said computer program code for determining determines that synchronization of the media player with the host computer should not be performed based on the first comparison information;

computer program code for locking the media player to the host computer while unlocking any previously locked media player when said computer program code for querying determines that the media player is to be locked to the host computer,

wherein said computer program code for automatically synchronizing transfers one or more media items to the media player from the host computer, whereby for the one or more media items being received, media item data is received at the media player via a first electronic file and stored in a media store at the media player, and media information data is received at the media player via a second electronic file and stored in a media database at the media player, the second electronic file being distinct from the first electronic file,

wherein the media information data including at least one quality characteristic, the at least one quality characteristic includes at least one or more user-specified equalization settings,

wherein when the media player is configured to play an identified one of the media items, the media player is configured to play the identified one of the media items in accordance with at least one of the one or more user-specified equalization settings corresponding thereto that is stored in and retrieved from the media database,

wherein said computer program code for automatically synchronizing the media player with the host computer automatically performs synchronization when said computer program code for determining determines that the media player identifier matches the synchronization device identifier, and

wherein said computer program code for automatically synchronizing the media player with the host computer is not automatically performed when said computer program code for determining determines that the media player identifier does not match the synchronization device identifier.

28. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the media player identifier specifically identifies the media player, and wherein the synchronized device identifier specifically identifies a device that is paired for synchronization with the host computer.

29. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the synchronization of the media player with the host computer is automatically initiated without user action requesting that synchronization be performed.

30. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 27, wherein said computer program code for synchronizing of the media player with the host computer automatically performs such synchronization only if the media player identifier matches the synchronized device identifier, thereby indicating that the media player is the media player that has been previously locked for synchronization with the host computer.