(12) United States Patent
`US 7,797,446 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`Heller et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`US007797446B2
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`(*)
`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPDATING
`PLAYLISTS
`
`Inventors: David Heller, San Jose; CA (US);
`-
`Jeffrey L. Robbin; Los Altos, CA (US)
`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 505 days.
`
`(21)
`
`App1.NO.Z 10/198,639
`
`F1 (1:
`1 e
`
`J l. 16 2002
`u
`’
`Prior Publication Data
`
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`5,481,509 A
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`2,2323: 2
`,
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`2:23:53; 2
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`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`US 2006/0168340 A1
`
`Jul. 27; 2006
`
`EP
`
`0 917 077
`
`5/1999
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`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 15/173
`US. Cl.
`............... 709/242; 709/219; 707/E17. 109;
`707/ 104.1
`Field of Classification Search ................. 709/242;
`386/44 55 14 6 52 68 69' 385/1047105
`3
`a
`a
`a
`a
`a
`a
`a
`385/83; 707/200, 102
`See application file for complete search history.
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`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“Apple Introduces iTunes7W0rld’s Best and Easiest To Use Juke-
`box SOfiWfirea” Macworld EXPOa San FranCiSCOa Jan 9, 2001~
`~
`C t
`d
`( on “me )
`Primary Examinerines Dalencourt
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`3,990,710 A
`4528543 A
`4,851,931 A
`5 ’168’481 A
`5,181,107 A
`,
`,
`5 191 573 A
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`air
`3/1993 H .
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`5/1995 Allen
`
`Improved techniques for automatic (or dynamic) updating (or
`maintaining) of p1ay1ists for a media system that stores and
`plays media content for a user of the media system. The
`automatic update to p1ay1ists can occur when additional
`media content is added to or removed from the media system.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`The automatic update to p1ayhsts can also occur when prev1-
`ously stored media content is otherw15e altered.
`
`26 Claims, 20 Drawing Sheets
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`
`HAS
`
` BEEN
`SOURCE
`UPDATED
`
`ASSOClATED
`DYNAMIC
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`302
`
`304
`
`306
`
`UPDATE T0
`DATA SOURCE
`
`AFFECT
`
`PLAYLIST
`7
`
`
`VES
`308
`
`REGENERATE ASSOCIATED PLAYLIST
`1N ACCORDANCE WlTH PLAYLIST
`CONDITIONS
`
` END
`
`
`
`Apple Exhibit 4441
`
`Apple V. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00023
`
`Page 00001
`
`Apple Exhibit 4441
`Apple v. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00023
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`Page2
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`Andy Lindauer, “What’s in your Pocket?,” Edgereview, downloaded
`Jan. 25, 2002, http://www.edgereview.com/print.cfm?Type:aag&
`ID:286.
`RCA Lyra User’s Guide, RD2201/2202/2204, www.1yrazone.com,
`pp. 1-37, 1999.
`
`Lyra, Personal Digital Player, RCA, Product Box, 2003.
`“About MusicMatch Jukebox,” MusicMatch Jukebox v4 Help, pp.
`1-4, 1999.
`TuneBase Pro Mk-II User’s Guide, Escient, Inc., 1999.
`“Digital Still Cameras 7 Downloading Images to a Computer,”
`Mimi Chakarova et al., Multi-Media Reporting and Convergence, 2
`pgs., Jan. 18, 2006.
`“Notification of Reason for Rejection” for Japanese Patent Applica-
`tion, 2004-521604, mailed Apr. 15, 2008 (with translation).
`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.
`Office Action from European Patent Office for 03764426.7 mailed
`Aug. 14, 2006.
`Office Action from European Patent Office for 03764426.7 mailed
`Nov. 8, 2005.
`Windows XP Service Pack 2, Figures 1-2 and “How to obtain the
`latest Windows XP service pack,” Aug. 25, 2004.
`Torrone, Phillip, How-To: Getting Podcasts on a Portable Media
`Center (and other Windows Media Devices, Oct. 2004.
`Office Action for European Patent Office for 03764426 7 mailed Sep.
`11, 2009.
`Notification for Reason for Rejection for Japanese Patent Application
`2004-521604, mailed Jun. 16, 2009 (with translations).
`Written Opinion for PCT/US03/21534 mailed Mar. 12, 2004.
`International Preliminary Examination Report for PCT/US/21534
`mailed Jun. 8, 2004.
`“iTunes Celebrates Its First Anniversary; Over 70 Million Songs
`Purchased,” Apr. 28, 2004, http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/
`apr/28itunes.html.
`Breen, Christopher, “iMixing it Up: Sharing Your Sounds,” Sep. 17,
`2004, http://playlistmag.com/help/2004/09/imixhowto/index.php.
`Kawamoto et al., “On 15’ Birthday, iTunes Unwraps New Features,”
`Apr.
`28,
`2004,
`http://news.com.com/
`On+1st+birthday,+iTunes+unwraps+new+features/2100- 102773 -
`5201598.html.
`Office Action from European Patent Office for 03764426.7 mailed
`Aug. 14, 2006.
`Office Action from European Patent Office for 03764426.7 mailed
`Nov. 8, 2005.
`Windows XP Service Pack 2, Figures 1-2 and “How to obtain the
`latest Windows XP service pack,” Aug. 25, 2004.
`Notification for Reason for Rejection for Japanese Patent Application
`2004-521604, mailed Mar. 9, 2010 (with translations).
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 00004
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 0120
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`104
`
`\
`
`
`
`COMPUTER
`
`PERSONAL
`
`[100
`
`MEDU\
`
`MANAGER
`
`
` MEDV\
`MANAGER
`
`
`106
`
`102
`
`FIG. 1A
`
`154
`
`150
`
`PERSONAL
`
`COMPUTER
`
`MEDU\MANAGER
`
`
`
`
`MEDV\
`PLAYER
`
`
`/
`152
`
`
`
`
`MEWA
`
`DATABASE
`
`MEWA
`
`DATABASE
`
`158
`
`160
`
`FIG. 1B
`
`Page00005
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 2 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`f 200
`
`
`
`USER INTERFACE
`
`212
`
`
`MEDIA
`APPLICATION
`
`202
`
`OPERATING SYSTEM
`
`204
`
`
`
`
`
` M E DIA
`DATABASE
`
`
`
`2%
`
`
`
`PERIPHERAL
`
`DEVICE
`
`FIG. 2
`
`208
`
`210
`
`
`
`Page 00006
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 3 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`f 300
`
`
`
`
`
`HAS
`A DATA
`
`SOURCE
`
`302
`
`BEEN
`
`UPDATED
`:2
`
`
`
` 304/ ASSOCIATED
`
`DYNAMIC
`
`
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`?
`
`
`
`306
`
`
`
`DOES
`UPDATE TO
`
`
`DATA SOURCE
`AFFECT
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`?
`
`REGENERATE ASSOCIATED PLAYLIST
`
`
`IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLAYLIST
`CONDITIONS
`
`
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`Page 00007
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 4 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`ZO_._.<_>_N_OH_Z_
`Em:Pm_._><|_n_\
`
`
`.OuZ_._.w_.~><n_n*
`
`
`
`I95:Im_>_<z
`
`
`
`oi;o__>_<z>o
`
`mzoEozoo
`
`mmomoEOm
`
`
`
`.mJOOmI_m__m_>
`
`E%%EEEn:x0<m._.
`
`0mm.xo<m._.
`\\ZO_._.<_>_N_OH_Z_
`Nmm<2955:
`\«Eomaowv
`
`
`
`mmZm—memums.
`
`
`
`
`
`¥m<_>_mnfimE
`
` Emm.OE
`
`Page 00008
`
`Page 00008
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 5 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`
`SEND MODIFICATION
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`SEND NEW
`TRACK
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
`
`SEND TRACK
`
`DELETED MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`TRACK
`DELETED
`
`
`
`?
`
`
`
`
`DONE
`WITH
`
`416
`
`
`
`SET OF
`CHANGES
`
`?
`
`
`SEND DONE
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 00009
`
`Page 00009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 6 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`500
`
`
`
`
` PLAYLIST
`YES DYNAMIC
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`COMPARE MODIFICATION MESSAGE
`MASK WITH FIELDS MASK
`
`
`FOR PLAYLIST
`
`ANY
`
`MATCHING
`
`FIELDS
`
`
`
`
`
`SET UPDATE FLAG
`
`FIG. 5A
`
`Page 00010
`
`Page 00010
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 7 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`
`
`DELETED
`
`MESSAGE
`
`RECEIVED
`
`
`
`
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`DELETED
`TRACK IN
`
`
`518
`
` REMOVE REFERENCE TO DELETED
`TRACK FROM PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`
` PLAYLIST
`
`
`DYN’AMIC
`NO
`
` 522
`
`
`SET UPDATE FLAG
`
`FIG. SB
`
`Page 00011
`
`Page 00011
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 8 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`
`NEW
`
`
`
`TRACK
`
`MESSAGE
`RECEIVED
`
`
`
`
`528
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`DYNAMIC
`
`?
`
`SET UPDATE FLAG
`
`FIG. SC
`
`Page 00012
`
`Page 00012
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 9 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`MESSAGE
`
`RECEIVED
`
`
`
`
`?
`
`
`
`IS
`PLAYLIST
`
`
`DISPLAYED
`
`
`
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`?
`
`DYNAMIC
`
`RE—DRAW PLAYLIST
`
`ON SCREEN
`
`
`
`538
`
` IS
`UPDATE
`
`FLAG
`
`SET
`
`?
`
`?
`
`
`
`540
`
`SET IDLE UPDATE FLAG
`
`FIG. 5D
`
`Page 00013
`
`Page 00013
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 10 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`600
`
`
`UPDATE
`
`FLAG
`SET
`
`(2
`
`IDLE
`
`
`606
`608
`
`
`
`YES
`
`RETRIEVE PLAYLIST CONDITIONS
`
`REGENERATE PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`IS
`
`PLAYLIST
`DISPLAYED
`?
`
`RE-DRAW PLAYLIST ON SCREEN
`
`614
`
`CLEAR IDLE UPDATE FLAG
`
`616
`
`CLEAR UPDATE FLAG
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 00014
`
`Page 00014
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 11 0120
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`
`
`SELECT FIRST (NEXT) ITEM IN
`EXISTING PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`COMPARE SELECTED ITEM
`WITH FILTER CRITERIA
`
`702
`
`704
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SHOULD
`SELECTED
`
`ITEM REMAIN
`IN UPDATED
`PLAYLIST
`?
` REMOVE SELECTED ITEM
`FROM PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`MARK CORRESPONDING TRACK
`AS CONSIDERED
`
`708
`
`712
`
`FIG. 7A
`
`Page 00015
`
`Page 00015
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 12 0f 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`714
`
`SELECT FIRST (NEXT) TRACK
`IN THE DATA SOURCE
`
`
`
`COMPARE THE SELECTED TRACK
`WITH THE FILTER CRITERIA
`
`
`
` FILTER
`
`CRITERIA
`SATISFIED
`
`
`
`?
`
`
`
`ADD SELECTED TRACK TO
`THE UPDATED PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`CLEAR MARK FOR THE
`SELECTED TRACK
`
`726
`
`MORE
`
`TRACKS
` FIG. 78
`
`Page 00016
`
`Page 00016
`
`

`

`ACCUMULATE TOTAL TRACKS, TOTAL
`TIMES AND TOTAL SIZES FOR
`
`732
`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 13 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`728
`
`730
`
`
`
`SORT THE UPDATED PLAYLIST
`BASED ON SORT CRITERIA
`
`
`
`SELECT FIRST (NEXT) ITEM IN
`
`THE SORTED, UPDATED PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`THE SORTED, UPDATED PLAYLIST
`
`
`LIMIT
`
`738
`
`CRITERIA
`MET
`
`?
`
`REMOVE SUBSEQUENT
`
`ITEMS FROM THE
`
`SORTED, UPDATED PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`FIG. 7C
`
`Page 00017
`
`Page 00017
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 14 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`802
`
`HOST COMPUTER
`
`800
`
`’///’
`
`COMM.
`MODULE
`
`MANAGEMENT
`MODULE
`
`PLAY
`MODULE
`
`MEDIA
`DATABASE
`
`810
`
`MEDIA PLAYER
`
`COMM.
`MODULE
`
`PLAY
`MODULE
`
`824
`
`MEDIA
`DATABASE
`
`MEDIA
`STORE
`
`FlCi 8
`
`Page 00018
`
`Page 00018
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 15 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`914
`
`
`® DEVICE
`99g
`
`USER INPUT
`
`CODEC
`
`912
`
`992
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`900
`
`[
`
`919
`DISPLAY
`
`918
`
`BUS
`
`INTERFACE
`
`916
`
`99E
`
`CACHE
`
`RAM
`
`ROM
`
`922
`
`920
`
`
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Page00019
`
`Page 00019
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 16 0120
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`
`
`,,
`M
`5m @1122
`
`3
`
`
`
`a Match the following condition:
`
`% E %
`
` w-WWWMWWW9MW»\WWW
`
`
`
` ”g
`
`E”
`
`is in the range
`
`
`1 0&2: Limit to £23 ‘ Lifsangs
`A
`
`, a Live updating 1 1010
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 10A
`
`Page 00020
`
`Page 00020
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 17 0120
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`
`
`
`
` 0 Smart flaws:
`
`
`I
`_.
`,._
`
`
`
`
`
`“.14,MMWWWW“vm“x
`
`
`I: if} E-
`
`Na
`
`E g Match the following condition:
`
`
` 10;; ‘My Rating @ :3
`
`
`N Limit to ’25
`3songs
`ffwgselected by? random
`E1028” m
`Live updating
`
`*“kis
`
`‘
`
`FIG. 108
`
`Page 00021
`
`Page 00021
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 18 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`i"
`
`A
`
`
`Smart Play'iist
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`r—fj Limit to ‘25
`songs ,_ E seiected by ; randém W;
`5§§
`Live updating
`
`
`
`
`
`5-,W
`
`5‘ Eamel
`
`FIG. 10C
`
`Page 00022
`
`Page 00022
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 19 0120
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`.0‘
`
`"
`
`"
`
`Time WW,
`2:53 am
`3'07 311
`3:26 SH
`3'02 311
`2,59 311
`2.16 311
`2:59 311
`2.44 311
`1.53 31.1
`3'32 3 l l
`2.43 3H
`2.13
`311
`3‘15 311
`249 311
`£1, 15 AfiiDC
`0 E4 Aernsmim
`4.10 Mrusmalh
`3‘58 nerosmnh
`4»: 15
`fiemsmith
`61)? Aerosmith
`5'56 AQI‘GSMJIPI
`3 39 Aerosm‘uh
`4:5 5 Aemsmith
`5:65 Acrosmnn
`5'58 Aerosmirh
`5.15 Aerosmlth
`4:02 Aerosmith
`5:56 Aerosm’xth
`2:13‘ Aerosmxlh
`4 24 Pink med
`4'53 Pink med
`5,1!)
`Punk Floyd
`5 I34
`Pmk Flow!
`
`6.410003 was“
`
`Who Made who
`Get a Grip
`Get a Grip
`Get .1 Cup
`fizr a Grip
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`Get a Crlp
`Get a Grip
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`CHI a Clip
`(321 a Cup
`A Momomarv Laps .
`A Momenlaly Laps
`A Mom antary Laps ..
`A Momentary Laps ,
`
`60's Music
`
`@ Recently Played
`Top 25 Most Played
`
`mas«uasm4:-wmw
`
`Emma
`
`0wngwgmf
`
`1 Song Name
`yawn"
`Q Ra ndom
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`§ A" Muted Up
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`E? Om: Slip
`
`1104
`
`1108
`
`FIG. 11A
`
`Page 00023
`
`Page 00023
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 14, 2010
`
`Sheet 20 of 20
`
`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`Ea Llhraay
`”’23 Rfldlfl
`til 50-5 m c
`
`E Eecemlg Elma
`a] Top 25 Must Played
`
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`
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`fl Fever
`Masmun
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`titty:
`
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`g Flesh
`& Wail: On Down
`3 Shut Up And Dance
`E! nyin‘
`g Conn Love It
`E Clan
`25! Lme Up
`g Amazmg
`a Beagle Man
`5 Signs sfufe
`$5 Lemming T5 Fly
`g The flags Of War
`n3 Om: Sllp
`fl} OuThe Tum-n9 Away
`S Yet AnarhEr Mow:
`g A My. Machlne ~ Pan 1
`53 szmfinal Frost
`g A New Macme - Pan 2
`g Sorraw
`fl Speak To Me { Emails:
`E! 011111: Run
`{é Tlme
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`lg Money
`'9! Us and Them
`“-
`3 Any ColaurYou L07
`g; Iram Bamage
`
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`Aercsrrmh
`5\mosmith
`Aemsmith
`Aacsmllh
`Amosmam
`Amosmilh
`Aerosmitn
`Mlosmlt‘n
`Mic-smith
`Pmk Flfi‘y’d
`F nk Flmd
`P.n‘-c Ficyé
`PmlcFlcqzd
`PlnkFlwd
`Pink Flnyd
`Flak: Floyd
`Pink Floyd
`Punk How
`3Inl< Floyd
`Pink Flow
`Pink Floyd
`Pmk Flayd
`Punk Fluvd
`Pink Floyd
`Pmk Flow:
`Plnk Floyd
`P.nk Floyd
`
`impa-
`Ga .1 Cup
`it at it it
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`Ce: .1 amp
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`“tri- t**
`A Mommxaw Laps
`A Momemarv Laps... *tVt-k
`A Momen‘éaz'y Laps g*t*t
`A Mamemarv {ans
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`A Mammary Laps... ti ink i
`A Momentary Lam
`firi‘irvui:
`A Mammary Laps
`fi***£'
`A Momentary Lam.
`*xiirfi- *
`A Mom emarv Laos.
`int tr);
`Dwk 5an o: The M
`tigygk
`Dark Std: (”The M _. *i*i*
`Dark Side of file Ll
`_
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`Dark SadeOfTheM
`*i‘ktfi:
`Dark 5:219 13me M xiii;
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`. tiflkii;
`Dark Slde OfThe M ,
`t*‘ki’*
`Dark Sldét of The M _ *ipkta:
`
`FIG. 118
`
`Page 00024
`
`Page 00024
`
`

`

`US 7,797,446 B2
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPDATING
`PLAYLISTS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to media systems and, more
`particularly, to media systems that support playlists.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Media systems have permitted users to create playlists of
`audio tracks (i.e., songs) that are to be played. Typically, the
`media systems store a large library ofaudio tracks. Hence, the
`ability for a user to create their own playlists assists the user
`in playing those of the audio tracks from the library they
`prefer.
`Conventionally, playlists have been created either by a
`drag-and-drop operation or by rules. A representative
`example of drag-and-drop playlist creation is the playlist
`creation of iTunes, version 1 .0, from Apple Computer, Inc. of
`Cupertino, Calif. A representative example of a rules-based
`playlist creation is the playlist composer of SoundJam MP
`Plus published by Casady & Greene, Inc. of Salinas, Calif.
`In the case of the drag-and-drop operation, the user selects
`one or more certain audio tracks from a list of audio tracks in
`
`a library. Then, the selected one or more tracks are dragged
`into a playlist. This drag-and-drop operation can be repeated
`until all the desired audio tracks have been dragged into the
`playlist. Later, such as after the audio tracks in the library are
`changed, the user can drag new audio tracks into or delete
`tracks from the playlist. Thus, the drag-and-drop operation
`requires user interaction and is particularly cumbersome for
`media systems that have a large library of audio tracks to
`choose from.
`
`In the case of a playlist that is defined by rules, the playlist
`is created by a computing device selecting those of the audio
`tracks in the library that satisfy the rules. The user specifies
`the rules for the playlist. The rules are the criteria that are used
`to determine whether the audio tracks are to be included in the
`
`playlist. For example, a rule could include in the playlist all
`audio tracks listing “Pink Floyd” as artist. When the rules are
`processed by the computing device, the audio tracks satisfy-
`ing the rules are placed in the playlist. Although the creation
`of the playlist is automated after the user specifies the appro-
`priate rules, the playlist that is created is fixed. Unfortunately,
`since the audio tracks in libraries often change (e.g., new
`audio tracks added), the playlist that has been created soon
`becomes unreliable. For example, the playlist could easily not
`include certain of the subsequently added audio tracks in the
`library that satisfy the rules for the playlist. A user would be
`forced to either manually perform drag-and-drop operations
`with respect to the playlist or manually again specify rules
`and create a new playlist in order to have the playlist include
`all the audio tracks within the library that satisfy the rules for
`the playlist.
`Thus, there is a need for improved techniques to maintain
`playlists within media systems.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Broadly speaking, the invention relates to automatic (or
`dynamic) updating (or maintaining) of playlists for a media
`system that stores and plays media content for a user of the
`media system. The automatic update to playlists can occur
`when additional media content is added to or removed from
`
`the media system. The automatic update to playlists can also
`occur when previously stored media content is otherwise
`altered.
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`The invention can be implemented in numerous ways
`including as a method, system, device, apparatus, and com-
`puter readable medium. Several embodiments of the inven-
`tion are discussed below.
`
`As a computer-implemented method for automatically
`updating a playlist on a media system, one embodiment ofthe
`invention includes at least the acts of: determining whether
`media content available to the media system has been altered;
`and automatically regenerating the playlist when it is deter-
`mined that the media content available to the media play
`system has been altered.
`As a computer-implemented method for updating a playlist
`on a media player, one embodiment of the invention includes
`at least the acts of: receiving playlist rules to be used to create
`the playlist; producing a playlist from a plurality of available
`media items and the playlist rules; subsequently determining
`whether the playlist should be reproduced due to changes
`with respect to the available media items; and rebuilding the
`playlist from the plurality of available media items and the
`playlist rules when it is determined that the playlist should be
`rebuilt.
`
`As a computer readable medium including at least com-
`puter program code for automatically updating a list ofmedia
`items maintained by a media system, one embodiment of the
`invention includes at least: computer program code for deter-
`mining whether at least one media item available to the media
`system has been altered; and computer program code for
`regenerating the list of media items when it is determining
`determined that at least one media item available to the media
`
`system has been altered.
`Other aspects and advantages of the 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