Selective locking of input controls for a portable media player

• US 8,843,222 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Nelson, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US11/971,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,450 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 455/3.06
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/022 Control panels
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence

Abstract

A portable media player configured to selectively enable or disable one or more input controls, such as volume controls, is described herein. In some examples, the player contains a physical button or switch that provides for the selective enabling or disabling of input controls. In some examples, the player is configured to dynamically determine when to enable or disable input controls based on information received about the player or characteristics of the player. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A portable media player, comprising:

a media storage component, wherein the media storage component stores one or more media files;

a media playback component, coupled to the media storage component, wherein the media playback component is configured to selectively play the one or more stored media files;

means for receiving a selection input from a user to individually select one or more user-selected control components out of a plurality of control components of the portable media player, wherein;

individual selection of the one or more user-selected control components indicates that the user desires to continue to be able to receive input from the one or more user-selected control components when the portable media player is in a locked state; and

the plurality of control components are each configured such that each of the plurality of control components is individually and separable;

to receive input when the portable media player is in a locked state and when the control component has been selected by the user via the means for receiving selection input; and

to be prevented from acting on any received input when the portable media player is in a locked state and when the control component has not been selected by the user via the means for receiving selection input;

a user-selected first control component out of the one or more user-selected control components selected by the user, coupled to the media playback component, wherein the user-selected first control component is configured to receive input from the user of the portable media player and to respond by adjusting a first characteristic related to a selective play of the one or more stored media files;

a second control component, coupled to the media playback component, the second control component being not out of the one or more user-selected control components, wherein the second control component is configured to receive input from the user of the portable media player and to respond by adjusting a second characteristic related to a selective play of the one or more stored media files; and

a control selection component, coupled to the first and second control components, configured to cause the portable media player to be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state upon activation of the control selection component by the user of the portable media player;

wherein in the locked state the media playback component is prevented from acting on any received input from the second control component but is allowed to act on any received input from the user-selected first control component, and in the unlocked state the media playback component is allowed to act on any received input from the first control component and from the second control component.

2. The portable media player of claim 1, wherein the first characteristic comprises a volume level associated with a selective play of the one or more stored media files.

3. The portable media player of claim 2, wherein the second characteristic comprises a change of status of a selective play of the one or more stored media files.

16. The portable media player of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving input from a user to individually select one or more user-selected control components comprise means for receiving input from the user during an initial set up of the portable media player.

17. The portable media player of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving input from a user to individually select one or more user-selected control components comprise means for receiving input from the user identifying an operational mode associated with the one or more user-selected control components.

4. A portable media player, comprising:

a housing;

a memory to store media files;

a screen to display information to a user of the portable media player, wherein the screen is partially contained within the housing;

a touch-based controller to receive input from a user, wherein the touch-based controller is partially contained within the housing;

one or more buttons to receive input from the user, wherein the one or more buttons are partially contained within the housing;

means for receiving selection input from the user for the user to individually select a user-selected button out of the one or more buttons to continue to receive input from the user when the portable media player is locked, wherein the user-selected button is configured;

to receive input when the portable media player is locked and when the user-selected button has been individually selected by the user using the means for receiving selection input; and

to be prevented from acting on any received input when the portable media player is locked and when the user-selected button has not been individually selected by the user using the means for receiving selection input; and

an input lock controller configured to lock the touch-based controller when the input lock controller is selected by the user without locking the one or more buttons, so that received input on the touch-based controller is not acted upon by the portable media player but received input on the user-selected button of the one or more buttons is acted upon by the portable media player.

5. The portable media player of claim 4, further comprising:

an audio playback component to present audio of the stored media files to the user; and

a volume component, coupled to the audio playback component, to adjust the loudness of the presented audio, wherein the volume component is controlled by the one or more buttons.

6. The portable media player of claim 4, further comprising:

a media navigation component to enable the user to select a media file via the screen, wherein the media navigation component is controlled by the touch-based controller.

7. The portable media player of claim 4, wherein the portable media player further comprises a slidable switch partially contained within the housing, and the input lock controller is selected by the user via the slidable switch.

8. The portable media player of claim 4, wherein the input lock controller is configured to be selected by the user via the touch-based controller.

9. The portable media player of claim 4, wherein the input lock controller is configured to be selected by the user by a pattern of inputs entered by the user.

10. The portable media player of claim 4, wherein the screen and touch-based controller are located on a first surface of the housing, and the one or more buttons are located on a second surface of the housing, the first and second surfaces being different surfaces.

18. The portable media player of claim 4, wherein the means for receiving input from the user for the user to individually select the user-selected button comprises means for receiving input from the user to select the user-selected button during an initial set up of the portable media player.

19. The portable media player of claim 4, wherein the means for receiving selection input from the user for the user to individually select the user-selected button comprises means for receiving input from the user identifying an operational mode associated with the user-selected button.

11. A method of controlling a portable media player, the method comprising:

receiving, by the portable media player, an individual selection of a first input component that controls functionality of the portable media player out of a plurality of input components of the portable media player, the selection identifying the first input component as continuing to receive input from a user when the portable media player is locked, wherein the first input component is configured;

to receive input when the portable media player is locked and when the user-selected button has been selected; and

to be prevented from acting on any received input when the portable media player is locked and when the first input component has not been selected;

receiving, by the portable media player, an individual selection from the user to disable a second input component of the portable media player related to control of the portable media player, wherein the second input component controls playback of media stored in the portable media player;

disabling, by the portable media player, the second input component related to control of the portable media player;

receiving, by the portable media player, input from the user at the first input component of the portable media player; and

adjusting, by the portable media player, a functionality of the portable media player based on the received input at the first input component.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the functionality comprises a playback volume of the portable media player or lighting a screen of the portable media player.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the individual selection of the first input component comprises receiving the selection from the user during an initial set up of the portable media player.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the individual selection of the first input component comprises receiving input from the user identifying an operational mode associated with the first input component.

13. A method of preventing unwanted user inputs to be received by a portable media player, the method comprising:

receiving, by the portable media player, a selection from a user of the portable media player to individually associate one or more first input controls of the portable media player with an input locking component of the portable media player;

receiving, by the portable media player, individual selection from the user of one or more second input controls of the portable media player that are selected to continue to be able to receive input from the user when the portable media player is locked, wherein each of the first and second input controls are individually and separably configured;

to receive input when the portable media player is locked and when the respective first and second input controls have been selected; and

to be prevented from acting on any received input when the portable media player is locked and when the respective first and second input controls have not been selected;

locking, by the portable media player, the selected one or more first input controls in response to an action associated with the input locking component; and

receiving input, by the portable media player, via one or more of the second input controls while the portable media player is locked.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the action associated with the input locking component comprises moving a slide bar on the portable media player to a position indicative of a locked state.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the action associated with the input locking component comprises receiving input from the user via a touchpad on the portable media player.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the individual selection from the user of one or more second input controls comprises receiving the selection during an initial set up of the portable media player.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the individual selection from the user of one or more second input controls comprises receiving input from the user identifying an operational mode associated with the one or more second input control.