Variable I/O interface for portable media device

• US 8,745,496 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• 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:
  US11/729,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,625 Days
• Field of Search: 715/719, 715/716, 482/9, 725/87
• US Class Current: 715/716
• 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 portable media device for playing a media file, wherein the media file comprises a first user-programmable parameter, the portable media device comprising:

a user input component that generates user input signals when actuated;

non-transitory memory for storing the media file;

an activity tracking sensor; and

a controller configured to;

playback the media file for providing to a user media information for at least one activity of the media file;

log sensor data received from the sensor during the playback of the media file, wherein the sensor data is indicative of the user'"'"'s performance of the at least one activity;

adjust the first user-programmable parameter responsive to first user input signals generated during the playback of the media file; and

store the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter in the memory, wherein;

the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter affects the playback of the remainder of the media file;

the media file comprises first and second media modules;

the first media module comprises media information for a first activity of the at least one activity;

the second media module comprises media information for a second activity of the at least one activity;

the first user-programmable parameter is associated with the first activity;

the media file further comprises a second user-programmable parameter associated with the second activity; and

the controller is configured to adjust the second user-programmable parameter in response to the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter during the playback of the media file.

2. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the user input component comprises at least one of a button and a touchpad.

3. The portable media device of claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein the controller is configured to show on the display a first icon associated with the first user-programmable parameter.

4. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the portable media device comprises a hand-held media device.

11. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to playback the media file by playing back the second media module after playing back the first media module.

12. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the second user-programmable parameter in response to the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter during the playback of the first media module.

13. The portable media device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to show on the display both the first icon and a second icon associated with a second user-programmable parameter.

14. The portable media device of claim 13, wherein the second user-programmable parameter is a media-file independent parameter.

15. The portable media device of claim 13, wherein the second user-programmable parameter is a global user-programmable parameter associated with the media file.

16. The portable media device of claim 13, wherein:

the first user-programmable parameter is a first module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the first media module; and

the second user-programmable parameter is a second module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the first media module.

17. The portable media device of claim 13, wherein:

the first user-programmable parameter is a module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the first media module; and

the second user-programmable parameter is a module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the second media module.

18. The portable media device of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to visually distinguish the first icon from the second icon on the display responsive to the first user input signals during the playback of the media file.

19. The portable media device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to change a graphic of the first icon on the display during the playback of the media file based on the adjustment.

21. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein:

the first user-programmable parameter is a module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the first media module.

22. The portable media device of claim 21, wherein:

the second user-programmable parameter is a second module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the first media module.

23. The portable media device of claim 21, wherein:

the second user-programmable parameter is a module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the second media module.

24. The portable media device of claim 21, wherein:

the module-specific user-programmable parameter comprises the number of repetitions of the first activity to be performed during the playback of the first media module.

25. The portable media device of claim 21, wherein:

the module-specific user-programmable parameter comprises the time allocated to the performance of the first activity during the playback of the first media module.

30. The portable media device of claim 1,

wherein the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter affects the media information provided to the user during the playback of the remainder of the media file.

5. A method for playing a media file, the method comprising:

accepting first signals from at least one user input component of a portable media device to initiate playback of the media file;

responsive to the acceptance of the first signals, playing back the media file for providing to a user media information for at least one activity of the media file, wherein the media file comprises a first user-programmable parameter;

accepting sensor data from an activity tracking sensor when the media file is playing, wherein the sensor data is indicative of the user'"'"'s performance of the at least one activity;

accepting second signals from the at least one user input component, wherein the second signals are indicative of a user-request to adjust the first user-programmable parameter;

responsive to the acceptance of the second signals, adjusting the first user-programmable parameter when the media file is playing; and

storing the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter, wherein;

the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter affects the playback of the remainder of the media file;

the media file comprises at least first and second media modules;

the first media module comprising media information for a first activity of the at least one activity;

the second media module comprising media information for a second activity of the at least one activity;

the first user-programmable parameter is associated with the first activity;

the media file further comprises a second user-programmable parameter associated with the second activity; and

the method further comprises, in response to the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter, adjusting the second user-programmable parameter when the media file is playing.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying at least two icons on a display, wherein a first icon of the at least two icons corresponds to the first user-programmable parameter; and

responsive to the acceptance of the second signals, visually distinguishing the first icon from another icon of the at least two icons.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a change to a graphic of the first icon when the media file is playing based on the adjustment.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first media module comprises the first user-programmable parameter and the second media module comprises at least the second user-programmable parameter, the method further comprising:

displaying a first icon that corresponds to the first user-programmable parameter when the first media module is playing; and

displaying a second icon that corresponds to the second user-programmable parameter when the second media module is playing.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

showing an image from the media file on a display of the portable media device;

detecting an orientation of the portable media device; and

re-orienting the image shown on the display based on the detected orientation of the portable media device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising re-configuring the at least one user input component based on the detected orientation of the portable media device.

20. The method of claim 5, wherein:

playing back the media file comprises playing back the second media module after playing back the first media module; and

the method further comprising, in response to the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter, adjusting the second user-programmable parameter when the first media module is playing.

32. The method of claim 5,

wherein the adjusting the first user-programmable parameter affects the media information provided to the user during the playing back of the remainder of the media file.

26. A portable media device for playing a media file, wherein the media file comprises a first user-programmable parameter, the portable media device comprising:

a user input component that generates user input signals when actuated;

non-transitory memory for storing the media file;

an activity tracking sensor; and

a controller configured to;

playback the media file for providing to a user media information for at least one activity of the media file;

log sensor data received from the sensor during the playback of the media file, wherein the sensor data is indicative of the user'"'"'s performance of the at least one activity;

adjust the first user-programmable parameter responsive to first user input signals generated during the playback of the media file; and

store the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter in the memory, wherein;

the media file further comprises a second user-programmable parameter;

the media file further comprises first and second media modules;

the first media module comprises media information for a first activity of the at least one activity;

the second media module comprises media information for a second activity of the at least one activity;

the first user-programmable parameter is a first module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the first media module;

the second user-programmable parameter is a second module-specific user-programmable parameter associated with the second media module; and

the controller is configured to adjust the second user-programmable parameter in response to the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter during the playback of the first media module.

27. The portable media device of claim 26, wherein:

the first module-specific user-programmable parameter comprises the number of repetitions of the first activity to be performed during the playback of the first media module; and

the second module-specific user-programmable parameter comprises the number of repetitions of the second activity to be performed during the playback of the second media module.

28. The portable media device of claim 26, wherein:

the first module-specific user-programmable parameter comprises the time allocated to the performance of the first activity during the playback of the first media module; and

the second module-specific user-programmable parameter comprises the time allocated to the performance of the second activity during the playback of the second media module.

29. A portable media device for playing a media file, wherein the media file comprises a first user-programmable parameter, the portable media device comprising:

a user input component that generates user input signals when actuated;

non-transitory memory for storing the media file;

an activity tracking sensor; and

a controller configured to;

playback the media file for providing to a user media information for at least one activity of the media file;

log sensor data received from the sensor during the playback of the media file, wherein the sensor data is indicative of the user'"'"'s performance of the at least one activity;

adjust the first user-programmable parameter responsive to first user input signals generated during the playback of the media file; and

store the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter in the memory, wherein;

the media file further comprises a second user-programmable parameter;

the media file further comprises first and second media modules;

the first media module comprises media information for a first activity of the at least one activity;

the second media module comprises media information for a second activity of the at least one activity; and

the first user-programmable parameter comprises a global user-programmable parameter associated with the total time allocated to perform every activity of the at least one activity.

31. A portable media device for playing a media file, wherein the media file comprises a first user-programmable parameter, the portable media device comprising:

a user input component that generates user input signals when actuated;

non-transitory memory for storing the media file;

an activity tracking sensor; and

a controller configured to;

playback the media file for providing to a user media information for at least one activity of the media file;

log sensor data received from the sensor during the playback of the media file, wherein the sensor data is indicative of the user'"'"'s performance of the at least one activity;

adjust the first user-programmable parameter responsive to first user input signals generated during the playback of the media file; and

store the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter in the memory, wherein;

the media file comprises first and second media modules;

the first media module comprises media information for a first activity of the at least one activity;

the second media module comprises media information for a second activity of the at least one activity;

the first user-programmable parameter is associated with the first activity;

the media file further comprises a second user programmable parameter associated with the second activity; and

the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter affects the media information for the second activity provided to the user during the playback of the remainder of the media file.

33. A method for playing a media file, the method comprising:

accepting first signals from at least one user input component of a portable media device to initiate playback of the media file;

responsive to the acceptance of the first signals, playing back the media file for providing to a user media information for at least one activity of the media file, wherein the media file comprises a first user-programmable parameter;

accepting sensor data from an activity tracking sensor when the media file is playing, wherein the sensor data is indicative of the user'"'"'s performance of the at least one activity;

accepting second signals from the at least one user input component, wherein the second signals are indicative of a user-request to adjust the first user-programmable parameter;

responsive to the acceptance of the second signals, adjusting the first user-programmable parameter when the media file is playing; and

storing the adjustment to the first user-programmable parameter, wherein;

the media file comprises at least first and second media modules;

the first media module comprising media information for a first activity of the at least one activity;

the second media module comprising media information for a second activity of the at least one activity;

the first user-programmable parameter is associated with the first activity;

the media file further comprises a second user programmable parameter associated with the second activity;

the playing back the media file comprises playing back the second media module after playing back the first media module; and

the adjusting the first user-programmable parameter affects the media information provided to the user during the playing back of the second media module.