Ulllted States Patent
`Proehl et al.
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`45 Date of Patent:
`
`6,118,450
`9
`Se . 12 2000
`
`US006118450A
`
`........................ .. 345/302
`.
`707/104
`
`
`
`707/104
`...................... 369/33
`
`5/1998 Kubotact al.
`8/1998 OIS0l1I11 et al.
`312::
`ama a e a .
`1/1999 Contois ..... ..
`2/1999 Parvulescu eta.
`
`.
`.
`Prznuzry Examzi1er—Raymond J. Bayerl
`Asslsmm Examlner—C}1°“g T~ Thal
`Attorney, Agent, or FLrm—Frommer Lawrence & Haug,
`LLP W'll' SF
`Gd K 1
`.;
`1
`iam .
`rommer;
`or on
`ess er
`
`[54] GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE THAT IS
`USABLE As A PC [NTERFACE AND AN A/V
`
`5,754,172
`5,794,249
`,
`,
`
`75
`
`[
`
`]
`
`I
`
`Z A d
`M. P
`N
`Y
`nvemors Klilmllfgly Miggg, ér0:1\:iyn£:rbC’)th of
`N.Y.; Rich Gioscia, Mahwah, N.J.
`
`[73] Assignees: Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan; Sony
`E]ectmnics,1nc_’ park Ridge, N.J.
`
`5,864,868
`5,867,457
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/054,997
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`AP“ 3! 1998
`Filed:
`[22]
`Int. Cl.7 ............................. .. G06F 3/00; G11B 27/10
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`.......................... 345/349; 345/302; 345/329;
`369/30; 369/34; 707/104; 709/203
`345/328 327
`[58] Field of Search
`""""""""""""""""""" "
`’
`’
`345/302, 349, 970, 978, 353, 357, 329;
`386/55 66 54 69 70. 707/501 104. 369/30
`’
`’
`’
`’
`’
`’
`’
`’
`32’ 34; 709/203
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,555,551
`5,587,979
`5,627,657
`5,740,134
`
`.......................... 545/555
`5555 55555 5 5.
`
`12/1996 Bluthgen
`369/32
`5/1997 Park ........................................ .. 386/70
`4/1998 Peterson .................................. .. 369/30
`
`A graphic user interface for use with a multi-recording
`Rledla Saoragff apparatus Includes a determlaer for determ.m'
`mg ‘.h‘°' ‘d‘°:““‘y ‘?f ‘i‘‘ least 0”" °f a P1“”‘h‘y Of r°°°rd“‘g
`media retained within the apparatus and an accumulator for
`accumulating statistical information regarding the identity
`of that medium. Additional information is Obtained from an
`1 d
`b
`b
`d
`1
`.d
`.
`f
`d.
`externa
`ata ase
`ase upon he i entity 0 the recor ing
`dium and further additional information is obtained from
`arheexterfial information source in accordance with the accu-
`mulated statistical.information..The graphic user interface
`allows a user to View and manipulate the additional infor-
`mation and the further additional information in order to
`
`5:13;};faiggfglgghgjcgr§;§§0;ged1um f°r Playing» 0r t0
`P
`P
`'
`
`74 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`SYSTEM LOG|C
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`AVAILABLE ON ALL SCREENS
`STATUS BAR
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`
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`645 «ARTIST
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`
`]
`
`530
`
`SONY Exhibit 1011
`SONY Exhibit 1011
`SONY v. Creative
`SONY V. Creative
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12,2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
`
`6,118,450
`
`MULTI-DISC
`CD ROM
`- E
`PLAYER
`
`ENHANCED GRAPHIC
`USER INTERFACE
`
`120
`
`130
`
`125
`
`MUSIC INFORMATION
`
`DATABASE
`
`140
`
`INTERNAL/REWRITABLE
`
`MEMORY
`
`150
`
`NEWS AND
`
`INFORMATION SERVICE
`
`160
`
`WORLD WIDE WEB
`
`LINKS
`
`170
`
`ENHANCED GRAPHIC
`
`DISPLAY
`
`180
`
`USER INPUT
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

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`tHBtaP3U
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`Sep. 12, 2000
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`Sheet 2 of 12
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`6,118,450
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`Sep. 12, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 12, 2000
`
`Sheet 8 of 12
`
`6,118,450
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 12, 2000
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`Sheet 9 of 12
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`6,118,450
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 12, 2000
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`Sheet 11 of 12
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`Sep. 12,2000
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`Sheet 12 of 12
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`1
`GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE THAT IS
`USABLE AS A PC INTERFACE AND AN A/V
`INTERFACE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to a graphic user interface
`and more particular to a graphic user interface for use with
`a multi-recording medium integrated player,
`including
`CD-ROM discs, DVD and DVD-R media, but most prefer-
`ably audio compact discs (CDs). While multi-disc CD
`players have been available for quite some time,
`these
`players include only an extremely limited interface provid-
`ing a user with little, if any information regarding the CDs
`contained therein. Thus, the user may not even be able to tell
`which CDs are retained within the player. It is apparent that
`this limited user interface for contact between the apparatus
`and the riser has been insulficient.
`
`The insufficient user interface poses an increasing prob-
`lem as the number of discs which may be stored in a
`multi-disc player increases. Generally, multi-disc CD play-
`ers include a plurality of CDs retained within the player
`hidden from view. The number of CDs can be any number
`up to 200 CDs or more. However, since a user cannot view
`the CDs, the user cannot be sure which CDs are positioned
`within the player or at which location within a player a
`particular CD is positioned. If the user wishes to play a
`particular CD, it may be very difficult or time consuming for
`a user to select that particular CD out of the plurality of CDs
`in the player.
`In order to remedy this problem, more advanced multi-
`disc CD players have allowed a user to enter a small number
`of characters to be associated with a particular CD. For
`example, the user inserts the CD into the player and then
`operates selector keys to select a sequence of characters,
`perhaps a title, to be associated with the CD. These char-
`acters are retained in memory with the code of the CD. Thus,
`anytime the CD is placed within the CD player, or selected
`to be played, the associated characters are displayed. While
`this ability is an improvement, the user is required to enter
`the character information to be associated with each CD, and
`the information displayed is very minimal. Also, typically
`the user can only view the displayed information when a CD
`is selected to be played. Thus the viewing of the information
`is very slow, and does not allow for viewing information
`related to additional CDs when a first CD is playing.
`text
`Recently, new CDs may include additional
`information, known as “CD text” regarding the title and
`contents of the CD, which can be read and displayed by the
`CD player. Thus, a limited amount of information can be
`retrieved by the CD player from the CD and displayed to the
`user. However, most CDs do not have this information
`included thereon. Additionally, typical CD-ROM players
`contain a very limited display which would be insufficient to
`display any more than only an extremely minimal amount of
`information regarding each of these CDs. Finally, even if
`this information is available, it must be fixed at the time the
`CD is produced, and thus cannot be updated or augmented,
`if desired.
`
`Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide an enhanced,
`improved graphic user interface for displaying information
`about a particular CD in a CD player, for obtaining infor-
`mation about a CD in the CD player if the information is not
`contained on the CD, for obtaining additional, updated
`information regarding each CD contained within the CD
`player and for allowing additional advance functions to be
`accessed by the user.
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`OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an
`improved graphic user interface for use with a multi-disc
`player which can acquire and display disc information.
`Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
`graphic user interface for use with a multi-disc CD player
`which can obtain and display information about a particular
`CD, even if this information is not stored on the CD.
`Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved
`graphic user interface for use with a multi-disc CD player
`which obtains and displays textual and graphic information
`about a CD, even if this information is not stored on the CD.
`An additional object of the invention is to provide an
`improved graphic user interface for use with a multi-disc CD
`player which allows for the acquisition and display of
`expanded graphic, audio and textual information regarding
`each CD retained within the CD player, and allows a user to
`manipulate the CDs based upon this information.
`Yet another object of the invention is to provide an
`improved graphic user interface for use with a multi-disc CD
`player which analyzes the play frequency of a particular CD
`album, or artist, obtains updated news information, and
`other pertinent updated information regarding the artist or
`CD from an offsite database, and displays this information
`to a user.
`
`A still further object of the invention is to provide an
`improved graphic user interface for use with a multi-disc CD
`player which allows a user to store various playlists under
`names, and then to manipulate these playlists as if they were
`CDs, thus defining a “virtual media”.
`Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in
`part be obvious and will
`in part be apparent from the
`specification and the drawings.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an
`improved graphic user interface for use with a multi-
`recording medium integrated player, and more particularly
`for use with a multi-disc CD player is provided. Such
`multi-disc CD players to which the improved graphic user
`interface of the invention may be applied are described in
`copending application Ser. No. 09/055,139 filed Apr.
`3,1998, the full contents of which are incorporated herein by
`reference. The improved graphic user interface of the inven-
`tion determines the identity of at least one of the recording
`media (CDs) retained within the multi-disc CD player, and
`accumulates statistical information regarding the identity of
`the at least one CD and of the play characteristics of the
`multi-disc CD player. The improved graphic user interface
`of the invention obtains additional updated information from
`an external database regarding each of the at least one CD
`retained therein,
`including additional textual information,
`audio and graphic information such as song listings, cover
`art and associated music tracks, and is also able to obtain
`further additional information in accordance with the accu-
`mulated statistical
`information, such as additional news
`regarding an often played artist, concert information, or
`other information which might be of interest to a user, based
`upon the selection or genre of most often played music by
`the user or simply based upon the character of the music
`collection of the user retained within the CD player.
`The graphic user interface constructed in accordance with
`the invention allows for the automated download of cover
`art, liner notes, and other information which would typically
`be contained within a CD jewel box, and for viewing of this
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`information graphically, or textually by a user. Custom news
`based on a user’s CD collection which is retained within the
`
`multi-disc CD player, and on the frequency of play of a
`particular CD, or frcqucncy of play of the CDs by a
`particular artist may also be accessed. The sorting and
`searching of the CDs by the user may be based on
`standardized, or personal attributes of the CD collection
`contained within the multi-disc CD player.
`In accordance with the invention, a playlist may be
`designed, and saved as a “virtual media”. This playlist may
`be manipulated as if it were an actual CD, but is actually
`retained within internal memory within the player. In addi-
`tion to being stored within internal memory, thcsc playlists
`can also be stored on additional recordable rewritable media,
`such as a digital audio tape, a mini disc, or the like.
`The graphic user interface may also provide a user the
`opportunity to access a specific website on the worldwide
`web based on the same, or additional statistical information
`utilized to determine which news or the like should be
`
`downloaded. The graphic user interface of the invention
`additionally allows the user to manipulate the CDs retained
`within the multi-disc CD player based upon this additional
`downloaded information,
`thus providing an improved
`method for accessing the CDs in a multi-disc player.
`The invention accordingly comprises the several steps in
`the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each
`of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of
`construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of
`parts which are adapted to effect such steps, all as exempli-
`fied in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the
`invention will be indicated in the claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a more complete understanding of the invention,
`reference is made to the following description and accom-
`panying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of the relation-
`ship bctwccn an cnhanccd graphic uscr intcrfacc constructed
`in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and
`various other interacting features;
`FIG. 2 is a logical representation depicting the relation-
`ship between each of the features of the enhanced graphic
`user interface of the invention.
`
`FIG. 3 is a representation of a first screen encountered
`during the use of the enhanced graphic user interface of the
`invention;
`FIG. 4 is a representation of the display of cover art for
`the CDs in a user’s CD player, as provided by the enhanced
`graphic user interface of the invention;
`FIG. 5 is a representation of a web ticker displayed by the
`enhanced graphic user interface of the invention;
`FIG. 6 is a representation of a display provided by the
`enhanced graphic user interface of the invention when a
`particular CD is selected;
`FIG. 7 is a representation of a web ticker in its open, or
`extended state, displayed by the enhanced graphic user
`interface of the invention;
`FIG. 8 is a representation of a playlist creation screen
`displayed by the enhanced graphic user interface of the
`invention;
`FIG. 9 is a representation of another playlist creation
`screen displayed by the enhanced graphic user interface of
`thc invcntion;
`FIG. 10 is a representation of a system view screen
`displayed by the enhanced graphic user interface of the
`invention;
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`FIG. 11 is a representation of the display provided by the
`graphic user interface depicting cover art for the CDs in a
`user’s CD player associated with a particular genre in
`accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;
`and
`
`FIG. 12 is a representation of the display provided by the
`graphic user interface depicting the options available when
`a particular CD has bccn sclcctcd in accordance with an
`alternative embodiment of the invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which depicts a block
`diagram of the relationship between a multi-disc CD player,
`enhanced graphic user interface constructed in accordance
`with the invention, and additional information and display
`apparatuses. Specifically, a multi-disc CD player 110 is
`electronically coupled with an enhanced graphic user inter-
`face 120. Enhanced graphic user interface 120 may comprise
`a personal computer, television set, or the like. Enhanced
`graphic user interface 120 allows the display of various
`graphic, textual, or other information associated with one or
`more CDs retained within multi-disc CD player 110.
`Enhanced graphic user interface 120 is connected via a
`communication bus 125 to a plurality of external informa-
`tion sources and display apparatus, such as a music infor-
`mation database 130, an internal rewritable memory 140, a
`news service 150, a worldwide web link 160, an enhanced
`graphic display 170, and a user input 180. User input 180
`may comprise a mouse, if enhanced graphic user interface
`120 comprises a personal computer, or may comprise a
`remote controller, such as for a television, if graphic user
`interface 120 comprises a television, or the like.
`Each of these furthcr conncctcd clcmcnts shown in FIG.
`
`1 will be described in further depth below.
`FIG. 2 depicts the logical relationship between the various
`screens and features of the graphic user interface constructed
`in accordance with the invention. The structure of FIG. 2
`
`will now be described, making reference to various other
`figures, as the screens they depict are encountered. As is
`shown in FIG. 2, a splash screen is first encountered, which
`gives way to a home screen 300, such as that shown in FIG.
`3. The home screen allows a uscr to play a CD, configure thc
`hardware system, get help regarding the system, search for
`a particular CD, or view the CD library.
`As is shown in FIG. 3, enhanced graphic display 170 is
`formed with home screen 300 depicted therein. Home screen
`300 is comprised of a media content area 310 in the center,
`a status bar 320, and a ticker portion 330. Media content area
`310 allows a user to make one of three selections. These
`
`three selections include a CD view menu 340 for viewing
`information about a particular CD, a system vicw mcnu 350
`for viewing and configuring various hardware components
`and a media collection menu 360 for viewing the library of
`CDs retained within the player. Also included is a help
`button 370, and various media control buttons 380 posi-
`tioned within status bar 320. Status bar 320 also displays
`information representing the currently playing CD, and
`elapsed time, along with various other information. Status
`bar 320 depicts the current state of the CD being played, and
`also includes, among control buttons 380, up and down
`volume control buttons 381 and 382, play button 383, pause
`button 384 and stop button 385, for easy control of the
`currently playing CD. Furthermore, a drop-down “panel”
`(not shown) may be provided which is accessible from tl1e
`control buttons portion 380 of status bar 320, which provides
`additional functionality, such as fast forward, rewind and the
`like.
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`The media collection n1enu 360 allows a user to view a
`library of information regarding the CDs retained within
`multi-disc CD player 110. The system view menu 350
`allows a user to define various hardware and software
`settings for the apparatus, including, but not limited to, the
`number of multi-disc CD players which may be coupled
`together, the number of discs in each multi-disc CD player
`110, and various other settings for allowing a user to replay
`or record information from CDs maintained within the
`multi-disc CD player. Finally, CD view menu 340 allows a
`user to access, play, and perform various functions on one of
`the CDs maintained within multi-disc CD player 110, as will
`be described below.
`
`As is further shown in FIG. 2, when media collection
`menu 360 is selected, various options are provided to the
`user. Upon this media collection menu 360, a screen such as
`that depicted in FIG. 4 is shown to the user. As is shown in
`FIG. 4, enhanced graphic display screen 170 displays a
`plurality of cover art material from a plurality of CDs. Each
`of these CD cover art graphics corresponds to one of a
`plurality of CDs maintained within multi-disc CD player
`110. The user may alternatively select text only for display,
`or text with a thumbnail sketch, as noted in FIG. 2.
`Initially, a user loads a plurality of CDs into multi-disc
`CD player 110. Thereafter, enhanced graphic user interface
`120 recognizes at least an identification code from each CD,
`and issues a communication request via communication bus
`125 to music information database 130 (see FIG. 1). This
`communication request informs music information database
`130 of the identification of each of the CDs which is
`maintained within the multi-disc CD players and requests
`additional information regarding each of those CDs. This
`additional information comprises at
`lcast CD jcwcl box
`cover art, by way of example, such as shown in FIG. 4.
`Various other information including, but not limited to, liner
`notes, track information for the CD, and other data or indicia
`which may be related to a CD. In addition, other related
`information might be provided for each of the CDs, such as
`general information regarding the artist, or album, concert
`information, ticket information, news releases and the like.
`Additionally, the information might include updated infor-
`mation which has been made available regarding the CD, the
`artist whose performance is recorded on the CD, or the like,
`after production of the original CD disc. Thus, updated
`information may be continuously retrieved regarding each of
`the CDs maintained within multi-disc CD player 110. Vari-
`ous other features of displaying information will be
`described below.
`After the additional information for each CD maintained
`
`within the multi-disc CD player is retrieved, or downloaded,
`from music information database 130, this information is
`stored in internal/rewritable memory 140. After storage
`therein, enhanced graphic user interface 120 obtains various
`portions of this information, such as the cover art of each CD
`440 maintained within the n1ulti-disc CD player, as shown in
`FIG. 4 by way of example. Graphic user interface 120 then
`displays this cover art on enhanced graphic display 170.
`As is also shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a sort option selector
`450 is provided. FIG. 2 illustrates the various sort options
`from which the user may select, namely by genre, artist, title,
`position of the CD within player 110, record label, etc. FIG.
`4 represents a sort by genre; and a genre indication is shown
`within sort option selector 450 within enhanced graphic
`display 170. Upon the selection of a genre sort, a plurality
`of sub-options, including various genres 455 to choose from,
`are displayed. If the additional information retrieved from
`music information database 130 includes a code indicating
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`the genre into which each CD fits, the user may select by
`user input 180 a particular genre. As shown in FIG. 4, the
`user has selected the genre “rock”, and information relating
`to all CDs retained within multi-disc CD player 110 which
`are related to the “rock” genre are displayed.
`Enhanced graphic display 170 also is provided with scroll
`buttons 475 allowing the user to scroll through the displayed
`cover art if all the cover art cannot be displayed on a single
`screen. The enhanced graphic display is further provided
`with a help button 470 for allowing the user to access
`interactive help features, and a delete button 472 to allow the
`user to delete a disc (identified by its cover art) from a
`particular genre, or to perform other predefined delete func-
`tions. Asearch button 460 allows the user to search for a CD
`by any number of fields, such as title or artist, by way of
`example. This search can be performed within a particular
`sort option selected by sort button 450, such as a particular
`genre, or can be performed on the entire CD collection. A
`playlist button 430 allows access to user defined playlists
`and permits the user to define new lists, which will be
`described below. Once defined, a playlist may be manipu-
`lated as if it were an actual CD. A back button 477 is
`
`provided for allowing movement back one menu selection.
`Since the CD manipulation may take place while a particular
`CD is playing, status bar 320 is provided as in FIG. 3 for
`control of the CD currently being played by player 110.
`A jump menu icon 490 is provided which allows for
`immediate access to various screens without requiring the
`user to sequence through the menu structure. As shown in
`FIG. 2, these screens include home screen 300, system View
`screen 350, a media play screen 600, a media collection
`screen 360, a playlist screen 800 (described below in con-
`nection with FIG. 8), a search screen 460, options screen 450
`and a help screen (not shown), and may include various
`other screens, as desired.
`FIG. 5 depicts the display by enhanced graphic display
`170 of CD cover art, an enhanced status bar control 580, and
`web ticker 530 in its minimized display mode. Enhanced
`status bar control 580 may be accessed by the user through
`user input 180, which might include a mouse, and allows for
`additional control over the current play mode status, such as
`between shuffle and disc play (as shown) and further allows
`for forward and reverse skipping, recording, ejecting and
`muting, (not shown) by way of example.
`In addition to simply storing various information regard-
`ing each particular CD maintained within multi-disc CD
`player 110, the graphic user interface of the present inven-
`tion obtains and compiles additional statistical information
`regarding the CDs retained within the player, as well as the
`frequency of play of such CDs. Thus, if a user loads a
`plurality of CDs from a particular artist into player 110, this
`will be noted within the software of the apparatus.
`Additionally, if a particular CD, or if CDs by a particular
`artist arc playcd morc frcqucntly than those of other artists,
`this will also be noted. Finally, if CDs belonging to particu-
`lar genres are played more often than those belonging to
`other genres, this too will be noted. Other combination of
`play frequency, and number of discs loaded per category can
`also be determined. Upon accumulation of this information,
`the graphic user interface determines various items of inter-
`est to the user, and assumes that the user will be interested
`in more in depth and updated information regarding these
`particular artists, groups or genres.
`In a traditional information acquisition scheme, the user
`inputs a query regarding a topic in which the user is
`specifically interested.
`In the context of the current
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`invention, this might include information regarding news of
`a particular artist, updated information regarding new tracks
`of an artist, concert or ticket
`information or
`the like.
`Traditionally, the user is essentially required to define the
`categories of information about which he or she is interested,
`and then enter this query into the apparatus, whereupon
`various information requested by the user is obtained and
`displayed.
`in accordance with the invention, statistical
`However,
`information is derived automatically regarding the titles and
`types of CDs, the artists of the CDs, and the frequency of
`play of various CDs maintained within multi-disc CD player
`110. Based upon this accumulated statistical information, the
`player determines the user’s preferences, and obtains addi-
`tional information regarding the artists, CDs, genres or the
`like in which the user has an interest. Thus, by playing a
`particular CD a large number of times, or by loading a large
`number of CDs by a particular artist,
`the graphic user
`interface of the present invention is able to determine that
`the user is specifically interested in these particular CDs,
`artists, or genres.
`Referring once again to FIG. 1, enhanced graphic user
`interface 120 via communication bus 125 is able to transmit
`
`additional information requests to, for example an informa-
`tion service 150, worldwide web links 160, and music
`database 130 in order to obtain additional, updated infor-
`mation regarding the user’s preferences as determined by the
`apparatus. As is shown in FIG. S, this additional information
`is displayed at ticker 530, for example, and might include
`news such as concert dates,
`television appearances, and
`other information regarding a particular artist. Additionally,
`internet links might be provided to the user, such as home
`pages for a particular artist, or various other worldwide web
`links intended to provide additional information to artists in
`which the user is specifically interested. Thus, in accordance
`with the invention the user is provided with a vast amount
`of expanded, updated information which is automatically
`retrieved from various source