Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090062944 | Modifying media files - The present invention includes apparatuses, methods, computer readable media and systems comprising means for using a portable, handheld electronic device (such as Apple's iPod™) to capture analog signals, convert them into digital signals and store the digital signals as media files (e.g., audio files, video files, image files, etc.). The electronic device can subsequently be used to modify the media files. The modifications can be virtual modifications, in which metadata is stored on the electronic device in a manner that does not alter the media file. The virtual modifications can be used by the electronic device to give the perception to the user that a media file has been actually modified. In addition, the virtual modifications can be used by an application running on a host device, such as a home computer or network server (like Apple's .MAC™ servers), to actually modify the digital media file. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063521 | AUTO-TAGGING OF ALIASES - Media players and associated methods are described that may allow a user to organize content or other media assets based on information associated with content. A media player or portable media device, can include features for automatically tagging content or other media assets with aliases. A media player may receive content that has already been tagged with a given alias. The media player may determine a macro genre for the content in response to a set of rules. The rules may include criteria for classifying content into one or more macro genres. The media player may generate information associating the macro genre with the content. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063974 | NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Media players and associated methods are described that may allow a user to navigate content or other media assets. A media player or portable media device, can include features for generating and utilizing navigation information for navigating content, such as audio books. An audio book may be analyzed to determine one or more locations within the audio book that represent chapters, paragraphs, sentences, or the like. Navigation information may be generated indicative of the one or more locations that may be used by a media player or portable media device to play content in the audio book. The navigation information may include audio clips extracted from the audio book to represent the chapters and the like. In addition, a user may navigate content in response to predetermined user motions. A media player may scroll through content based on the predetermined user motions. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063976 | Generating a playlist using metadata tags - Systems and methods are provided for on-the-fly playlist shuffling. There can be multiple ways to perform the shuffling. In one instance, the electronic device can organize a new playlist by sorting the media files based on a parameter. In another instance, the electronic device can organize a new playlist by shuffling the media files. In yet another instance, the electronic device can first sort the media files into groups of media files based on a parameter. The electronic device can then shuffle the media files within each group. In this manner, the media files can be randomized but only within each group. In all instances, the current media file can continue to play without any interruption. Finally, the electronic device can sort the media files based on the context of the media file that is currently playing. | 03-05-2009 |
20090284476 | PUSHING A USER INTERFACE TO A REMOTE DEVICE - A graphical user interface (“GUI”) can be presented on a remote control accessory device that has user input and display devices. The GUI can be defined and managed by a portable media device that is controlled using the GUI. The portable media device can provide the accessory with a GUI image to be displayed. The accessory can send information to the portable media device indicative of a user operation of an input device in response to the displayed image. The portable media device can process this input to identify the action requested by the user and take the appropriate action, which can include updating the GUI image provided to the accessory. | 11-19-2009 |
20090296552 | Context-based error indication methods and apparatus - A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate. | 12-03-2009 |
20100008650 | MULTI-MODEL MODES OF ONE DEVICE - A portable media player may provide multi-modes for a user. Each mode may define different features and content that are customized for a particular mode. Based a selected mode, the media player may provide access to only content, features, hardware, user interface elements, and the like that the user wishes to have access to when the mode is enabled. The media player may provide the user different experiences, looks, and feels for each mode. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010648 | AUTO-STATION TUNING - In various embodiments, a media player or portable media device can enable a user to navigate and discover content or other media assets. The media player may analyze broadcasts and other content streams to determine currently playing and forthcoming content. The media player may switch from one source of content to another to find content that matches user preferences or criteria. The media player may generate playlists based on the matching content, and switch between sources of the matching content automatically. In some embodiments, the media player may receive user input to browse content using a navigation stream. Content associated with stations within the navigation stream may be output. As if the user were tuning a radio dial, the media player may determine what content to played back for each station. The media player may procure content and generate playlists to represent each station focus on by the user. | 01-14-2010 |
20100011388 | System and method for creating playlists based on mood - Suggested media playlists are created by an electronic device based upon the mood of a user as analyzed by the electronic device. The electronic device may suggest media items for playback based upon the user's past preferences for certain media items during previously similar moods. | 01-14-2010 |
20100042826 | Dynamic Control of Device State Based on Detected Environment - Techniques for automatically adjusting device preferences (e.g., playback settings of a PMD) based the on the device's environment. The environment may be characterized, for example, by one or more of the location of the device, the accessories connected to the device, and/or the state of wireless signals detected by the device. The device stores different states associated with different environments, and loads the appropriate state variables based on the detected environment. For example, when connecting to a given speaker system resumption of audio playback can be from the last track or playlist being played on that speaker system. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042926 | THEME-BASED SLIDESHOWS - A system and method for providing photographic slideshows with theme elements is provided. Each photograph and each theme element may be associated with different contextual information. The contextual information may include, for example, locations, time and date, calendar events, user preference or history information, or any other suitable information. In response to receiving a selection of contextual information, the electronic device may identify photographs and theme elements associated with contextual information to generate a photographic slideshow. Alternatively, in response to receiving a selection of at least one photograph or theme element, the electronic device may identify contextual information associated with the selected photograph or theme element to identify other photographs and theme elements associated with the identified contextual information for generating a photographic slideshow. | 02-18-2010 |
20100054497 | Techniques for Customizing Control of Volume Level in Device Playback - User interface signals representing volume change requests are converted to volume control signals using a mapping. The mapping is overridden (modified) within a given time interval after starting (which includes resuming) playback. During this interval, the mapping for volume decreases is modified so that the resulting volume decreases are accelerated relative to those that would be generated by the default mapping. This allows the user to quickly reduce the volume of the device when begins playing very loud music. The mapping for volume increases can be modified during this interval. | 03-04-2010 |
20100058240 | Dynamic Control of List Navigation Based on List Item Properties - Navigating or scrolling through a list of items is enhanced by assigning a given item a non-null value for a friction property, and slowing the scrolling when the given item nears or enters the viewport, or pausing the scrolling when the given item enters the viewport. Scrolling at speed can be configured to be resumed when the user takes a particular action, or can be configured to resume after a designated elapsed time without user action. At least to the extent that scrolling through the list is accompanied by sequential items being at a cursor position within the viewport, the scrolling can slow down or pause when the given item is within a predetermined number of list items from the cursor position. | 03-04-2010 |
20100064053 | RADIO WITH PERSONAL DJ - An electronic device, such as a media player or portable media device, can provide enhanced playback of personalized or synthesized content in addition to streaming content. During playback of one or more media items associated with streaming content, content generated or synthesized from data or other information obtained from data sources can be personalized to be integrated with the one or more media items being streamed or broadcast. Personalized or synthesized content may be generated dynamically based on a determination that personalized content is also to be played back with the streaming content. A user may configure data feeds associated with weather information, horoscope, calendar, caller-ID, voicemail, or the like, and have content specifically generated to represented the data feeds interjected into a program or between songs at random or scheduled intervals. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064218 | AUDIO USER INTERFACE - An audio user interface that provides audio prompts that help a user interact with a user interface of an electronic device is disclosed. The audio prompts can provide audio indicators that allow a user to focus his or her visual attention upon other tasks such as driving an automobile, exercising, or crossing a street, yet still enable the user to interact with the user interface. An intelligent path can provide access to different types of audio prompts from a variety of different sources. The different types of audio prompts may be presented based on availability of a particular type of audio prompt. As examples, the audio prompts may include pre-recorded voice audio, such as celebrity voices or cartoon characters, obtained from a dedicate voice server. Absent availability of pre-recorded or synthesized audio data, non-voice audio prompts may be provided. | 03-11-2010 |
20100293462 | PUSHING A USER INTERFACE TO A REMOTE DEVICE - A graphical user interface (“GUI”) can be presented on a remote control accessory device that has user input and display devices. The GUI can be defined and managed by a portable media device that is controlled using the GUI. The portable media device can provide the accessory with a GUI image to be displayed. The accessory can send information to the portable media device indicative of a user operation of an input device in response to the displayed image. The portable media device can process this input to identify the action requested by the user and take the appropriate action, which can include updating the GUI image provided to the accessory. | 11-18-2010 |
20110131495 | GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF ASSETS STORED ON A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE - A user interfaces can deliver enhanced information regarding media assets stored on a portable media device. A graphical user interface for database browsing and navigation can include a list of values of a metadata item and a graphical representation of the distribution of media assets across the values on the list, such as a pie chart where the size of different wedges reflects the fraction of media assets having a particular value. As a user browses a list, the graphical representation can be modified to emphasize the correspondence between different graphical elements and different entries on the list. | 06-02-2011 |
20110145863 | PUSHING A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE TO A REMOTE DEVICE WITH DISPLAY RULES PROVIDED BY THE REMOTE DEVICE - A graphical user interface (“GUI”) can be presented on a remote control accessory device that has user input and display devices. The GUI can be defined and managed by a portable media device that is controlled using the GUI. The portable media device can provide the accessory with a GUI image to be displayed. The accessory can send information to the portable media device indicative of a user operation of an input device in response to the displayed image. The portable media device can process this input to identify the action requested by the user and take the appropriate action, which can include updating the GUI image provided to the accessory. | 06-16-2011 |
20120278667 | CONTEXT-BASED ERROR INDICATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate. | 11-01-2012 |
20140237222 | Multi-Model Modes of One Device - A portable media player may provide multi-modes for a user. Each mode may define different features and content that are customized for a particular mode. Based a selected mode, the media player may provide access to only content, features, hardware, user interface elements, and the like that the user wishes to have access to when the mode is enabled. The media player may provide the user different experiences, looks and feels for each mode. | 08-21-2014 |
20140333561 | NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Media players and associated methods are described that may allow a user to navigate content or other media assets. A media player or portable media device, can include features for generating and utilizing navigation information for navigating content, such as audio books. An audio book may be analyzed to determine one or more locations within the audio book that represent chapters, paragraphs, sentences, or the like. Navigation information may be generated indicative of the one or more locations that may be used by a media player or portable media device to play content in the audio book. The navigation information may include audio clips extracted from the audio book to represent the chapters and the like. In addition, a user may navigate content in response to predetermined user motions. A media player may scroll through content based on the predetermined user motions. | 11-13-2014 |