(12) Unlted States Patent
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`Heller et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Jan. 24, 2012
`
`USOO8103793B2
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPDATING
`PLAYLISTS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: David Heller, San Jose, CA (US);
`Jeffrey L- Robbin, L05 Altos, 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 0 days.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`This patent 1s subject to a termmal d1s-
`cla1mer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/582,624
`
`(22)
`
`Filedi
`
`Oct- 20, 2009
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2010/0042654 A1
`Feb. 18, 2010
`
`EP
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`5,191,573 A
`5,341,350 A
`5233871); :
`5:428:735 A
`5,481,509 A
`5,504,852 A
`5,559,945 A
`g’ggé’ggg :
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`5,587,404 A
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`(
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`Related US. Application Data
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`Jul. 16, 2002, now Pat. No. 7,797,446.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 15/173
`(52) US. Cl.
`................ 709/242; 709/219; 707/E17.109;
`386/248
`
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`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner ines Dalencourt
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Improvedtechniques for 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 previ-
`ously stored media content is otherwise altered.
`
`18 Claims, 20 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`HAS
`
`A DATA
`SOURCE
`BEEN
`
`UPDATED
`
`
`
`
`
`g»
`NO
`
`304 '
`
`K
`
`‘ ASSOCIATED
`DYNAMIC
`PLAYLIST
`7
`
`ace 4 ,
`
`YES
`
`DOES
`UPDATE TO
`DATA SOURCE
`AFFECT
`PLAYLIST
`7
`
`YES
`3/08
`REGENERATE ASSOCIATED PLAYLIST
`IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLAYLIST
`CONDITIONS
`
` END
`
`
`
`Apple Exhibit 4453
`
`Apple V. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00023
`
`Page 00001
`
`Apple Exhibit 4453
`Apple v. SightSound Technologies
`CBM2013-00023
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`Page2
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`Operations Manual Broadcast Software International, pp. 1-1 13, Feb.
`4, 1997.
`Nielsen et al., “Comparative Design Review: An Exercise in Parallel
`Design”, Interchi ’93, pp. 414-417Apr. 24-29, 1993.
`Lowery Daryl, “Random-Access Digital AudioiRecording Sys-
`tems”, p. 68-71, Jun. 1992.
`Sadie Master System, Product Brochure, Studio audio Digital Equip-
`ment Inc., 2 pgs., Jan. 1995.
`RCS Works-Cart Wall User’ s Guide and Reference Manual, pp. 1-83,
`Feb. 7, 1993.
`“Digital Audio Just Got Easier!”, CartWorks Digital Audio Systems,
`dbm Systems, Inc., Jun. 26, 1996.
`
`“CartWorks File Utilities User’s Manual”, dbm Systems, Inc., pp.
`1-8., Jul. 1998.
`“CartWorks MHD Music-on-Hard-Drive QuickSchedule User’s
`Manual”, dbm Systems, Inc., pp. 1-8, Feb. 8, 1998.
`“CartWorks MHD Music-on-Hard-Drive User’s Manual V6.8”, dbm
`Systems, Inc., pp. 1-11, Feb. 1998.
`“CartWorks On-Demand Editor User’s Manual”, dbm Systems, Inc.,
`pp. 1-7., Feb. 1998.
`“CartWorks Script Editor User’s Manual v3 .12”, dbm Systems, Inc.,
`pp. 1-26., Feb. 1998.
`“CartWorks Spot Set Editor User’s Manual”, dbm Systems, Inc., pp.
`1-11., Feb. 1998.
`“The DADpro Digital Audio Delivery System Operation Manual
`Version 1.0”, IBM Corp., pp. 1-424, Aug. 30, 1996.
`“Virtual RecorderiBasic Operations”, ASC Audio Video Corpora-
`tion, pp. 1-94, Sep. 9, 1996.
`“Broadcast Tools: SpotBase, Playlist & TapeBase”, ASC Audio
`Video Corporation, pp. 1-2., Mar. 1998.
`“VR 300 Advanced Broadcast Video Server”, ASC Audio Video
`Corporation, pp. 1-9., Mar. 1998.
`“VR300 Video Server User Manual, Version 1.0”, ASC Audio Video
`Corporation, pp. 1-40, Mar. 20, 1998.
`“Gravis WinDecks Version 1.12”, screen shots, Gravis Computer
`Technology Ltd., pp. 1-10., Jan. 1990.
`WinDecks, User Instructions, Gravis Computer Technology Ltd., pp.
`1-14., Jan. 1990.
`Iriver, “PMP140/120”, Sep. 13, 2004, 1-2 pgs.
`MG-25, Portable MPEG4 Player (MG-25), Jul. 29, 2004, 1-3 pgs.
`Windows XP Service Pack 2, Figures 1-2 and “How to obtain the
`latest Windows XP service pack,” Aug. 25, 2004.
`Office Action from European Patent Office for 03764426.7 mailed
`Aug. 14, 2006.
`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.
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`2004-521604, mailed Apr. 15, 2008 (with translation).
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`2004-521604, mailed Jun. 16, 2009 (with translations).
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`mailed Jun. 8, 2004.
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`037644267, dated Jan. 26, 2011.
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`2004-521604, dated May 17, 2011 (with translations).
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 00004
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`104
`
`/ 100
`
`
`PERSONAL
`COMPUTER
`
`MEDIA
`
`MANAGER
`
`
`
`MEDIA
`
`MANAGER
`
`106
`
`102
`
`FIG. 1A
`
`154
`
`
`
`8
`PERSONAL
`
`
`
`150
`
`/
`
`160
`
`COMPUTER
`
`
`MEDIA
`DATABASE
`
`152
`
`
`I MEDIAMANAGER I
`MEDIA
`
`
`
`a
`PLAYER
`
`156
`MEDIA
`DATABASE
`
`FIG. 18
`
`Page 00005
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`
`
`[ 200
`
`USER INTERFACE
`
`212
`
`MEDIA
`
`APPLICATION
`
`-
`
`202
`
`OPERATING SYSTEM
`
`204
`
`
`
`BUS
`CNTLR.
`
`208
`
`PERIPHERAL
`DEVICE
`
`MEDIA
`
`DATABASE
`
`20
`
`FIG. 2
`
`210
`
`Page 00006
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`/ 300
`
`
`
`HAS
`A DATA
`
`
`302 »/’ A
`SOURCE
`
`BEEN
`
`UPDATED
`
`
`
`304
`
`
`ASSOCIATED
`DYNAMIC
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`
`DOES
`
`
`UPDATE TO
`306 , /
`DATA SOURCE
`
`AFFECT
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`?
`
`
`
`REGENERATE ASSOCIATED PLAYLIST
`IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLAYLIST
`CONDITIONS
`
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`Page 00007
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
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`
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`Page 00008
`
`Page 00008
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`TRACK
`
`SEND NEW
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
`// 4‘IO
`
`DELETED YES
`
`
`
`
`
`NO
`
`SEND TRACK
`
`DELETED MESSAGE
`
`I
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`400
`
`
`
`404
`
`/‘>(
`
`SEND MODIFICATION
`
`MESSAGE
`
`416
`
`/ 414
`
`DONE
`
`WITH
`
`CHANGES
`
`SEND DONE
`
`?
`
`
`
`
`
`NO
`MESSAGE
`
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 00009
`
`Page 00009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`500
`
`
`
`
`
` ?
`
`N0
`
`538
`
`
`506 \\
`
`
`IS
`UPDATE
`
`
`
`YES
`COMPARE MODIFICATION MESSAGE
`MASK WITH FIELDS MASK
`FOR PLAYLIST
`
`FLAG
`
`SET
`
`7
`
`
`
`
`
` /5‘IO
`
`
`ANY
`MATCHING
`
`FIELDS
`
`?
`
`
`
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`512”‘\I SET UPDATE FLAG I
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 5A
`
`Page 00010
`
`Page 00010
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 7 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`
`
`TRACK
`514/q
`DELETED
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
`RECEIVED
`
`
`
`IS
`
`
`
`516/q
`DELETED
`
`
`TRACK IN
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`522_¢| SET UPDATE FLAG l
`
`
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`DYfoMIC
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. SB
`
`Page 00011
`
`
`
`REMOVE REFERENCE TO DELETED
`
`TRACK FROM PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`Page 00011
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 8 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`
`NEW
`
`524 ,- ”‘-
`
`TRACK
`
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
`RECEIVED
`
`
`?
`
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`0
`
`526 J 4-
`
`
`
`
`IS
`PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`DYNAMIC
`
`?
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`528 /“ SET UPDATE FLAG
`
`FIG. SC
`
`Page 00012
`
`Page 00012
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 9 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`
`MESSAGE
`RECEIVED
`
`?
`
`
`
`IS
`534
`PLAYLIST
`
`
`DISPLAYED
`
`?
`
`
`PLAYLIST
`DYNAMIC
`
`?
`YES
`
`RE-DRAW PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`538//1
`UPDATE
`FLAG
`
`SET
`
`NO
`
`ON SCREEN
`
`536
`
`L¢——————————
`
`?
`
`
`
`SET IDLE UPDATE FLAG
`
`FIG. 5D
`
`Page 00013
`
`Page 00013
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 10 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`600
`
`
`/
`
`
`604 A
`
`IS
`
`
`IDLE
`
`
`UPDATE
`
`
`FLAG
`
`SET
`
`? R
`
`
`
`608 mI l EGENERATE PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`606 NI RETRIEVE PLAYLIST CONDITIONS I
`
`
`
`/610
`
`
`NO DISPLAYED
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`IS
`
`
`
`
`
`RE—DRAW PLAYLIST ON SCREEN I
`
`>I
`CLEAR IDLE UPDATE FLAG
`I<
`CLEAR UPDATE FLAG
`
`
`
`l
`
`
`
`614 "\
`
`616 ”\
`
`I
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 00014
`
`Page 00014
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 11 0f 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`
`
`’/
`
`
`
`
`I
`
`SELECT FIRST (NEXT) ITEM IN
`
`EXISTING PLAYLIST
`
`
`A” 702
`
`I
`
`WITH FILTER CRITERIA N 704
`
`706 \\
`
`
`COMPARE SELECTED ITEM
`
`
`
`SHOULD
`SELECTED
`
`
`ITEM REMAIN
`
`IN UPDATED
`
`PLAYLIST
`
`?
`
`
`
`
`
` REMOVE SELECTED ITEM 1
` FROM PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`
`
`I
`
`/
`
`708
`
`MARK CORRESPONDING TRACK
`
`AS CONSIDERED V 710
`
`712
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`FIG. 7A
`
`Page 00015
`
`Page 00015
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 12 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`
`
`99
`
`\
`SELECT FIRST (NEXT) TRACK
`
`IN THE DATA SOURCE V 714
`
`716 \
`
` MARKED YES
`
`
`
`
`,\
`
`718
`
`COMPARE THE SELECTED TRACK
`WITH THE FILTER CRITERIA
`
`
`CRITERIA
`
`N0
`
`
`
`FILTER
`
`SATISFIED
`?
`
`722
`
`<
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ADD SELECTED TRACK TO
`THE UPDATED PLAYLIST
`
`>I<
`
`CLEAR MARK FOR THE
`SELECTED TRACK
`
`A
`
`V 724
`
`
`
` MORE
`
`TRACKS
`
`
`
`FIG. 78
`
`Page 00016
`
`Page 00016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 13 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`99
`
`SORT THE UPDATED PLAYLIST
`BASED ON SORT CRITERIA
`
`
`
`\ , 2
`V 7 8
`
`>1
`
`SELECT FIRST (NEXT) ITEM IN % 730
`
`THE SORTED, UPDATED PLAYLIST
`
`ACCUMULATE TOTAL TRACKS, TOTAL
`
`TIMES AND TOTAL SIZES FOR
`
`732
`
`THE SORTED, UPDATED PLAYLIST
`
`LIMIT
`
`CRITERIA
`
`
`
`
`SORTED, UPDATED PLAYLIST
`
`
`
`MET
`
`
`
`?
`
`
`REMOVE SUBSEQUENT
`
`ITEMS FROM THE
`
`
`
`FIG. 7C
`
`Page 00017
`
`Page 00017
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 14 0f 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`802
`
`2
`HOST COMPUTER
`
`800
`
`A
`
`814'
`\‘
`COMM.
`MODULE
`
`
`MANAGEMENT
`
`
`
`MODULE
`
`
`
`
`PLAY
`
`MODULE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MEDIA
`DATABASE
`
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`
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`STORE
`
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`
`
`
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Page 00018
`
`MEDIA PLAYER
`
`
`Page 00018
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 15 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`914
`
`900
`
`[
`
`91
`
`USER INPUT
`
`DEVICE
`
`CODEC
`
`/912
`
`90
`
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`
`DISPLAY
`
`911
`
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`
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`INTERFACE
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`FILE
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`
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`
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`SYSTEM
`
`(STORAGE DISK)
`
`922
`
`920
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Page 00019
`
`Page 00019
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 16 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`/ 1000
`
`
`
`FIG. 10A
`
`Page 00020
`
`Page 00020
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 17 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`
`
`FIG. 10B
`
`Page 00021
`
`Page 00021
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 18 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`/ 1040
`
`
`
`FIG. 10C
`
`Page 00022
`
`Page 00022
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 19 0f 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`1100
`
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`
`0‘"wJ:m
`
`lap 35 Most Pig-gum
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Page 00023
`
`Page 00023
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 20 of 20
`
`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`1150
`
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`
`Page 00024
`
`Page 00024
`
`

`

`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPDATING
`PLAYLISTS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation of US. application Ser.
`No. 10/198,639, filed Jul. 16, 2002, and entitled “METHOD
`AND SYSTEM FOR UPDATING PLAYLISTS,” now US.
`Pat. No. 7,797,446, which is hereby incorporated herein by
`reference.
`
`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
`
`Broadly speaking, the invention relates to automatic (or
`dynamic) updating (or maintaining) of playlists for a media
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`
`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.
`
`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 readable storage medium including at least
`computer program code stored thereon for automatically
`updating a list of media items maintained by a media system,
`one embodiment ofthe invention can, for example, include at
`least: computer program code for automatically determining
`whether at least one new media item has been added to a
`
`media content library available to the media system; com-
`puter program code for determining whether the list of media
`items is affected by the addition of the at least one media item
`to the media content library available to the media system;
`and computer program code for regenerating the list ofmedia
`items when the computer program code for determining
`determines that at least one new media item has been added to
`
`the media content library available to the media system. The
`computer program code for regenerating operates to regener-
`ate the list ofmedia items after the computer program code for
`determining determines that the list ofmedia items is affected
`by the addition of the at least one media item to the media
`content library available to the media system.
`As a computer readable storage medium including at least
`computer program code stored thereon for providing an
`updated playlist from a client computer to a portable media
`player, one embodiment of the invention can, for example,
`include at least: computer program code for determining
`whether an updated playlist is available to be provided from a
`client computer to the portable media player; and computer
`program code for electronically delivering the updated play-
`list from the client computer to the portable media player
`when a data connection is available between the client com-
`
`puter and the portable media player. The updated playlist is
`maintained at the client computer. The client computer is
`configured to automatically (i) determine whether at least one
`new media item has been added to a media content library, (ii)
`determine whether the dynamic playlist is affected by the
`addition of the at least one media item to the media content
`
`library, and (iii) regenerate the dynamic playlist when it is
`determined that the dynamic playlist is affected by the addi-
`tion ofthe at least one media item to the media content library.
`As a computer-implemented method for automatically
`updating a playlist on a media play system, the method being
`performed by the media play system which includes a pro-
`cessor and a memory, one embodiment of the invention can,
`for example, include at least: determining whether new media
`content has been added to a media content library available to
`the media play system; determining whether the playlist is
`affected by the addition ofthe new media content to the media
`content library available to the media play system; and auto-
`matically regenerating the playlist when the determining
`determines that the new media content has been added to the
`
`media content library available to the media play system. The
`regeneration is performed after it is determined that the new
`media content has been added to the media content library
`available to the media play system and after it is determined
`that the playlist is affected by the addition of the new media
`content to the media content library available to the media
`play system.
`
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`US 8,103,793 B2
`
`3
`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. 1A is a block diagram of a media management system
`according to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a media synchronization
`system according to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of program architecture accord-
`ing to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 3A is a flow diagram of update playlist processing
`according to one embodiment of the inventi