US007958441B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 7,958,441 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`Heller et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`(54) MEDIA MANAGEMENT FOR GROUPS OF
`MEDIA ITEMS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: David Heller, San Jose, CA (US);
`Jeffrey L. Robbin, Los Altos, CA (US);
`Steven P. Jobs, Palo Alto, CA (US);
`Timothy Wasko, High River (CA); Jeff
`Miller, Mountain View, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 488 days.
`
`5,181,107 A
`5,191,573 A
`5,341,350 A
`5,355,302 A
`5,418,713 A
`5,428,735 A
`5,481,509 A
`5,504,852 A
`
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`4/1996 Thompson-Rohrlich
`
`(Continued)
`
`EP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0 917 077
`5/1999
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 11/097,591
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Apr. 1, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0156236 A1
`
`Jul. 13, 2006
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/642,334, filed on Jan.
`7, 2005.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06N 3/00
`(52) US. Cl.
`....................................................... 715/201
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 715/513,
`715/517, 523, 530, 234, 243, 254, 255, 201
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Kyle R Stork
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Improved techniques to utilize and manage a group of media
`items (or media assets) on a computing device are disclosed.
`The group of media items can be utilized and managed at a
`host computer for the host computer as well as a media device
`(e.g., media player) that can couple to the host computer. One
`popular example of a group of media items is know as a
`playlist, which can pertain to a group of audio tracks. One
`aspect pertains to a graphical user interface that enables a user
`to trade-off storage capacity ofa media device between media
`asset storage and data storage. Another aspect pertains to a
`graphical user interface that assists a user with selecting
`media items to fill a group ofmedia items. Still another aspect
`pertains to providing a persistent media device playlist at a
`host computer. Yet still another aspect pertains to imposing
`capacity limits to a playlist, such as a media device playlist.
`
`28 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`/700
`
`702
`DISPLAY A GROUP OF MEDIA ITEMS
`
`
`704
`
`
`0 F """"""""I
`
`
`: OTHER PROCESSING :
`OBTAIN CAPACITY LIMIT
`FOR THE GROUP
`
`
`AUTOMATICALLY FILL THE GROUP
`
`
`TO THE CAPACITY LIMIT WITH
`ADDITIONAL MEDIA ITEMS
`
`
`
`RE-DISPLAY THE GROUP
`712
`
`710
`
`
`
`Apple Exhibit 4238
`
`Apple V. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00020
`
`Page 00001
`
`Apple Exhibit 4238
`Apple v. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00020
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`Page2
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`11/ 1999 Cho et 31'
`5,995,098 A
`11/ 1999 0km”. “1'
`6,000,000 A
`”/1999 HakaS et 31'
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`6,052,797 A
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`6,208,044 B1
`3/2001 stxxirnfacfham etal.
`,
`,
`.
`631““ B1
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`28881 Eemplema“ “31'
`6’248’946 B1
`6/2001 D335?
`,
`,
`.
`8,333,246,; 3
`88881 82111114119811
`6,283,764 B2
`9/2001 K493911931
`6’295’541 B1
`9/2001 Bagmiza'
`6,332,175 B1
`”/2001 BEES: 31"
`,
`,
`6’338’044 B1
`“2002 C°°ket 31'
`634L316 B1
`“2002 K101” et 31'
`8,888,847,; 3 383883 Igmdetfi
`6’389’467 B1
`5/2002 Em;
`,
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`.
`8,282,288 3:
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`6,452,609 B1
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`,
`,
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`88888 $325883:11
`6:563:769 B1
`5/2003 VanglgerMeu1en
`6,587,403 B1
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`883888; E:
`,
`,
`6,933,433 B1
`6,941,324 B2
`6,978,127 B1
`8883223; 8%
`’
`’
`7,043,477 B2
`7’055’165 B2
`7,111,009 B1
`7,117,516 B2
`7,126,770 B1
`7,528,398 81
`7,272,385 B2
`7’478’323 B2
`7’502’626 B1
`’
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`2001/0021053 A1
`2001/0041021 A1
`2001/0044835 A1
`2001/0048642 A1
`2001/0052123 A1
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`2002/0010788 A1
`2002/0013784 A1
`2002/0015161 A1
`2002/0016968 A1
`2002/0046315 A1
`2002/0055934 A1
`2002/0073167 A1
`2002/0080180 A1
`2002/0116082 A1
`2002/0118300 A1
`2002/0133515 A1
`2002/0138606 A1
`2002/0152278 A1
`”OZ/0161865 A1
`2002/0174269 A1
`2002/0194195 A1
`2002/0194309 A1
`2003/0013493 A1
`2003/0014767 A1
`2003/0030733 A1
`2003/0037254 A1
`2003/0046434 A1
`2003/0050058 A1
`2003/0055723 A1
`2003/0074457 A1
`2003/0079038 A1
`2003/0093340 A1
`2003/0098893 A1
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`2003/0182315 A1
`38884858388 :1
`2003/0210821 A1
`2003/0221541 A1
`2004/0001395 A1
`2004/0001396 A1
`3888885388 2%
`2004/0055446 A1
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`'
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`8/2004 Mousseau et al.
`8888::
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`oodman et al.
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`t
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`WinDecks, User Instructions, Gravis Computer Technology Ltd., pp.
`1-14, Apr. 3, 2009.
`Iriver, “PMP140/120”, Sep. 13, 2004, 1-2 pgs.
`MG-25, Portable MPEG4 Player (MG-25), Jul. 29, 2004, 1-3 pgs.
`Half-lifeiWikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http;//enwikipedia.org/
`wiki/Halfe-life, Feb. 22, 2009.
`Mabini. MemMaid Review. Pocket PC Dubai, Jul. 23, 2004[online],
`[retrieved on Mar. 26, 2008]. Retrieved from the Internew <URL:
`http://www.pocketpcdubai.com/DinarSoft/memmaidireview.
`htm1>.
`Personal Jukebox (PJB), “System Research Center and PAAD”,
`Compaq Computer Corp., Oct. 13, 2000, http;//research.compaq.
`com/SRC/pjb/.
`Etchison, “Accelerated Discrete Adjustment of the Parameters of a
`Process”, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 15, No. 5, Oct. 1,
`1972, 2 pgs.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 00004
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 132
`
`[100
` DISPLAY A MEDIA SOURCE INDICATOR FOR A
`
` 102
`
`
`
`
`
`MEDIA SOURCE THAT IS ASSOCIATED
`
`WITH A MEDIA DEVICE
`
`DISPLAY A REPRESENTATION OF MEDIA
`
`ITEMS THAT ARE WITHIN THE MEDIA
`
`104
`
`SOURCE
`
`
`
`MANAGE THE MEDIA ITEMS WITHIN THE
`MEDIA SOURCE BY ADDING OR REMOVING
`
`
`
`
`
`MEDIA ITEMS TO OR FROM THE MEDIA
`
`SOURCE
`
`
`
`106
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Page 00005
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 132
`
`® [2%
`
`DISPLAY MEDIA DEVICE PLAYLIST
`INDICATOR
`
`202
`
`206
`NO _______ ___]____
`OTHER PROCESSING I
`
`r1
`
`
`
`204 /\J
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`
`INDICATOR
`SELECTED
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY A LISTOF AUDIO TRACKS
`
`THAT ARE WITHIN THE MEDIA
`
`208
`
`DEVICE PLAYLIST
`
`
`USER
`
`INTERACTION
`
`TO ADD OR
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY AN UPDATED LIST OF
`AUDIO TRACKS THAT ARE WITHIN
`
`
`THE MEDIA DEVICE PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`216
`
` PLAYLIST
`222
`
`MEDIA
`
`DEVICE
`
`
`CONNECTED
`
` DEFER UPDATE OF
`
`AUDIO TRACKS STORED
`ON THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`UPDATE AUDIO TRACKS STORED
`ON THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 00006
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`/ 300
`
`OBTAIN THE AUDIO TRACKS
`
`THAT ARE WITHIN THE MEDIA
`
`DEVICE PLAYLIST
`
`DETERMINE WHICH OF THE
`
`AUDIO TRACKS ARE PRESENT
`
`ON THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`ON THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`DISPLAY THE AUDIO TRACKS
`IN A LIST
`
`DISPLAY AN INDICATOR FOR
`
`EACH OF THE AUDIO TRACKS
`TO INDICATE ITS PRESENCE
`
`302
`
`304
`
`305
`
`308
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 00007
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 132
`
`/400
`
`4.02
`
`AUDIO TRACK(S)
`
`
` AUDIO
`
`TRACK(S)
`TO BE
`
`DELETED
`
`
`UPDATE THE MEDIA
`?
`DEVICE PLAYLIST BY
`
`DELETING THE
`
`
`
`
` AUDIO
`404
`
`TRACK(S)
`TO BE
`
`
`
`
`ADDED
`
`?
`
`DETERMINE A CAPACITY LIMIT FOR
`THE MEDIA DEVICE PLAYLIST
`
`408
`
`
` WOULD
`CAPACITY
`
`UMHBE
`
`EXCEEDED
`
`IF THE AUDIO
`
`
`INFORM USER THAT
`
`
`
`
`ADDING OF THE
`AUDIO TRACK(S)
`
`
`UPDATE THE MEDIA DEVICE
`
`
`?
`
`
`TRACK(S) ARE
`ADDED
`
`
`
`INSUFFICIENT
`
`SPACE PREVENTED
`
`PLAYLIST BY ADDING
`
`THE AUDIO TRACK(S)
`
`414
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 00008
`
`Page 00008
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`
`
`3,03qu3,62:53.Y5mun
`
`W333nu£3«:332c.M3mM.23:”a”$3353»of.W-n~
`596exvamcuuaa3Km.=30E5mama
`
`Wacamaӣ32..9.2.3.m,3;.
`
`
`
`was:My:3:205%:Q3
`WageKw:32SE.2e332§on?055%»
`
`i®fl¥§$§§fi$§
`
`NNmmom
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`.cemmcco.302%PM?___«Ema?$92305!
`
`E oom
`
`
`
`
`”9330~33“.333._.um;any:<303.38,w3
`
`.
`£58"scan.36m3:ana;33.3w W
`
`3.59%,
`
`
`
`we;35am
`
`0.“ii
`
`22m332@p,
`
` 303a«233agengage»...am..63Ba}3.0Sm32322:.mw.m«.anD<E3.6mMaza:£62=Ba:3n£59mmmo.me
`
`
`«Eugen...$35”;
`:0a255W,
`Suemwe,Fm9.«30%m
` was:so:38»Q3353583mwound
`
` £33.33333..gmom
`tau33.3%.3.
`€535“@853»22Q232“.8mm”
`
`_:,__,,:____i,uEEoS<cw=33:93332%32mm
`
`.9m
`
`e23....63:
`
`
`
`Page 00009
`
`Page 00009
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 B2
`
` @Q
`
`Importing
`Stinging
`Sharing
`Store
`AdIIaIIEed
`WWWNM “WWRWWWM“A-WWM\MMH
`
`Audio
`
`iPod
`
`E Open Frunes when this “’06 Is attached
`
`g Keep this iPod' in the source list
`
`{3 Univ update checked songs
`
`Q Convert higher bit rate sangs to 3.28 kbps MC for this iPod
`”mawww:wwdwm;amuw‘
`
`604 N32 {fimbée {flask use
`
`Choose haw much space wig be resewed for songs versus data.
`
`606% 2? 503195
`
`Q
`
`I
`
`I
`
`
`
`More Songs
`610
`More Data
`608
`
`I
`
`I
`
`i
`
`I
`
`151 MB iData
`
`
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 00010
`
`Page 00010
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`® f7“)
`
`DISPLAY A GROUP OF MEDIA ITEMS
`
`7%6
`. OTHER PROCESSING i
`
`OBTAIN CAPACITY LIMIT
`
`FOR THE GROUP
`
`AUTOMATICALLY FILL THE GROUP
`
`
`
`TO THE CAPACITY LIMIT WITH
`
`ADDITIONAL MEDIA ITEMS
`
`RE-DISPLAY THE GROUP
`
`FIG. 7
`
`710
`
`Page 00011
`
`Page 00011
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`® [8”
`
`DISPLAY PLAYLIST HAVING INITIAL AUDIO TRACKS
`
`802
`
`804 /\,
`
`806
`_______ ____Z__
`|
`NO I'
`I OTHER PROCESSING I
`
`YES
`
`
`REPLACE
`
`INITIAL
`AUDIO
`
`TRACKS
`
`?
`
`YES
`
`DELETE THE INITIAL AUDIO TRACKS
`FROM THE PLAYLIST
`
`OBTAIN SOURCE SELECTION
`
`812
`
`OBTAIN SELECTION CRITERIA PREFRENCE(S)
`
`814
`
`OBTAIN CAPACITY LIMIT FOR THE PLAYLIST
`
`315
`
`DETERMINE AMOUNT OF FREE CAPACITY
`FOR THE PLAYLIST
`
`818
`
`
`
`DETERMINE ADDITIONAL AUDIO TRACKS
`TO FILL THE FREE CAPACITY OF THE
`PLAYLIST BASED ON THE SOURCE
`SELECTION AND THE SELECTON
`
`
`
`820
`
`
`
`CRITERIA PREFERENCE(S)
`
`
`
`0
`
`FIG. 8A
`
`Page 00012
`
`Page 00012
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`
`
`ADD THE ADDITIONAL AUDIO TRACKS
`
`TO THE PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`
`RE-DISPLAY THE PLAYLIST
`
`824
`
`822
`
`
`
`FIG. SB
`
`Page 00013
`
`Page 00013
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`mm
`
`HOST COMPUTER
`
`900
`
`’///
`
`COMM.
`MODULE
`
`MANAGEMENT
`
`MODULE
`
`PLAY
`MODULE
`
`MEDIA
`
`DATABASE
`
`91
`
`2
`
`\
`
`\
`
`904
`
`I
`
`COMM.
`MODULE
`
`PLAY
`MODULE
`
`924
`
`MEDIA
`
`DATABASE
`
`0
`
`MEDIA
`
`STORE
`
`MEDIA PLAYER
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Page 00014
`
`Page 00014
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 7, 2011
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`1014
`
`1000
`
`I[/
`
`
`USERINPUT@ DEM
`
`1008
`
`CODEC
`
`1012
`
`1002
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`
`
`1919
`
`DISPLAY
`
`1018
`
`NETWORK / BUS
`
`INTERFACE
`
`1016
`
`FmE
`
`SYSTEM
`
`1004
`
`(STORAGE DISK)
`
`lflQfi
`
`CACHE
`
`1022
`
`1020
`
`F1C3.‘10
`
`Page 00015
`
`Page 00015
`
`

`

`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`1
`MEDIA MANAGEMENT FOR GROUPS OF
`MEDIA ITEMS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims priority to US. Provisional Appli-
`cation No. 60/642,334,
`filed Jan. 7, 2005, and entitled
`“MEDIA MANAGEMENT FOR GROUPS OF MEDIA
`
`ITEMS,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
`This application is related to: (i) US. application Ser. No.
`11/097,034, filed concurrently, and entitled “PERSISTENT
`GROUP OF MEDIA ITEMS FOR A MEDIA DEVICE,”
`which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (ii) US.
`application Ser. No. 10/973,925, filed Oct. 25, 2004, and
`entitled “MULTIPLE MEDIA TYPE SYNCHRONIZA-
`TION BETWEEN HOST COMPUTER AND MEDIA
`
`DEVICE,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference;
`(iii) US. patent application Ser. No. 10/833,879, filed Apr.
`27, 2004, and entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
`SHARING PLAYLISTS,” which is hereby incorporated by
`reference herein; (iv) US. patent application Ser. No. 10/833,
`399, filed Apr. 27, 2004, and entitled “METHOD AND SYS-
`TEM FOR CONFIGURABLE AUTOMATIC MEDIA
`
`SELECTION,” which is hereby incorporated by reference
`herein; (V) US. patent application Ser. No. 10/277,418, filed
`Oct. 21, 2002, and entitled “INTELLIGENT INTERAC-
`TION BETWEEN MEDIA PLAYER AND HOST COM-
`
`PUTER,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference;
`(Vi) US. patent application Ser. No. 10/198,639, filed Jul. 16,
`2002, and entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPDAT-
`ING PLAYLISTS,” which is hereby incorporated by refer-
`ence herein; and (Vii) US. patent application Ser. No. 10/ 1 18,
`069,
`filed Apr. 5, 2002, and entitled “INTELLIGENT
`SYNCHRONIZATION OF MEDIA PLAYER WITH HOST
`
`COMPUTER,” which is hereby incorporated herein by ref-
`erence.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to media devices and, more
`particularly, to management of media on media devices.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`A media player stores media assets, such as audio tracks or
`photos, that can be played or displayed on the media player.
`One example of a media player is the iPod® media player,
`which is available from Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino,
`Calif. Often, a media player acquires its media assets from a
`host computer that serves to enable a user to manage media
`assets. As an example, the host computer can execute a media
`management application to manage media assets. One
`example of a media management application is iTunes®,
`version 4.2, produced by Apple Computer, Inc.
`Media assets can be moved between the host computer and
`the media player through use of a manual drag and drop
`operation, or through an automatic synchronization once a
`bus connection over a peripheral cable connects the media
`player to the host computer. Additional details on automatic
`synchronization are provided in US. Patent Publication No.:
`2003/0167318 A1, which is hereby incorporated herein by
`reference.
`
`In managing media assets, a user can create playlists for
`audio tracks. These playlists can be created at the host com-
`puter. Media assets within the playlists can then be copied to
`the media player. Often, the amount ofmedia assets at the host
`computer exceeds the storage capacity ofthe media player. In
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`
`such case, the user ofthe host computer can select a subset of
`the media assets at the host computer to be copied to the
`media player. For example, a user might select certain play-
`lists to be copied to the media player when synchronized.
`Conventionally, a media player is considered a media
`source for a media management application so long as the
`media player is connected to the host computer. That is, once
`the media management application detects the media player,
`a visual representation of the media player can be displayed.
`However, once the media player is disconnected, the visual
`representation of the media player is removed. Hence, media
`assets, namely, playlists of media assets, on the media player
`can be managed at the host computer only while the media
`player is connected to its host computer. In particular, if the
`media player is not connected to the host computer, then the
`media player is not a media source and, therefore, its media
`assets cannot be managed at the host computer. This can be a
`disadvantage for users that want to manage the media assets
`provided on the media player from the host computer.
`Thus, there is a need for improved techniques to facilitate
`management and usage of media assets for media devices.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Broadly speaking, the invention pertains to improved tech-
`niques to utilize and manage a group ofmedia items (or media
`assets) on a computing device. The group of media items can
`be utilized and managed at a host computer for the host
`computer as well as a media device (e.g., media player) that
`can couple to the host computer. One popular example of a
`group ofmedia items is known as a playlist, which can pertain
`to a group of audio tracks.
`One another aspect of the invention pertains to a graphical
`user interface that enables a user to trade-off storage capacity
`ofa media device between media asset storage and non-media
`asset storage. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a
`graphical user interface that assists a user with selecting
`media items to fill a group ofmedia items. Still another aspect
`of the invention pertains to providing a persistent media
`device playlist at a host computer. The persistent media
`device playlist represents a playlist dedicated to a media
`device that can couple to the host computer. Another aspect of
`the inventionpertains to imposing capacity limits to a playlist,
`such as a media device playlist.
`The invention can be implemented in numerous ways,
`including as a method, system, device, apparatus (including
`graphical user interface), or computer readable medium. Sev-
`eral embodiments of the invention are discussed below.
`
`As a method ofproviding audio tracks for a playlist for use
`on a host computer and a media device, still another embodi-
`ment of the invention includes at least the acts of: displaying
`a listing of audio tracks that are within the playlist on a display
`screen of the host computer, all of the audio tracks being
`stored locally on the host computer and at least a portion of
`the audio tracks being stored on the media device; obtaining
`a capacity limit for the playlist; receiving a user selection to
`fill the playlist with additional audio tracks; and filling the
`playlist with additional audio tracks to the capacity limit after
`the user selection is received.
`
`As a graphical user interface for providing audio tracks for
`a playlist for use by a host computer and a media device, one
`embodiment of the invention includes at least: a list of audio
`
`tracks that are within the playlist, the list being displayed on
`a display device of the host computer; and a selectable user
`interface control displayed on the display device of the host
`computer, the selectable user interface control, upon selec-
`tion, initiates a filling of the playlist with audio tracks.
`
`Page 00016
`
`Page 00016
`
`

`

`US 7,958,441 B2
`
`3
`As a graphical user interface provided on a host computer
`for reserving storage capacity of a media device, one embodi-
`ment ofthe invention includes at least: a user selection control
`
`that enables a user ofthe host computer to reserve a portion of
`the storage capacity of the media device for storage of non-
`audio track data.
`
`5
`
`As a computer readable medium including at least com-
`puter program code for providing media items for a media
`item grouping for use on a host computer and a media device,
`one embodiment of the invention includes at least: computer
`program code for displaying a listing of media items that are
`within the media item grouping on a display screen ofthe host
`computer, all of the media items being stored locally on the
`host computer and at least a portion of the media items being
`stored on the media device; computer program code for
`obtaining a capacity limit for the media item grouping; com-
`puter program code for receiving a user selection to fill the
`media item grouping with additional media items; and com-
`puter program code for filling the media item grouping with
`additional media items to the capacity limit after the user
`selection is received.
`
`Other aspects and advantages ofthe invention will become
`apparent from the following detailed description taken in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illus-
`trate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The invention will be readily understood by the following
`detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like
`structural elements, and in which:
`FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a host-based media source
`management process according to one embodiment of the
`invention.
`
`FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a playlist management process
`according to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a status indication process
`according to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an update process according to
`one embodiment of the invention.
`
`FIG. 5 is a screen shot of a media management application
`window according to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 6 is a screen shot of a preference window for a media
`management application according to one embodiment ofthe
`invention.
`
`FIG. 7 if a flow diagram of a group fill process according to
`one embodiment of the invention.
`
`FIGS. 8A and 8B are flow diagrams ofa playlist fill process
`according to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a media management system
`according to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a media player according to
`one embodiment of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention pertains to improved techniques to utilize
`and manage a group of media items (or media assets) on a
`computing device. The group of media items can be utilized
`and managed at a host computer for the host computer as well
`as a media device (e.g., media player) that can couple to the
`host computer. One popular example of a group of media
`items is known as a playlist, which can pertain to a group of
`audio tracks.
`
`One another aspect of the invention pertains to a graphical
`user in