Remote user interface for media player
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsCristian Lars Almstrand, Prem Aanand Venkatesan, Hiroyuki Shinkai, Hirokazu Imazeki, Masahiko Seki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable media player communicates with a host computer for enabling a user of the player to manage media distribution using the control software of the host computer. The host computer can send a GUI that is displayed on the otherwise “dumb” player, and the user can view the GUI and press a single button to command the control software to download a media title to the player. The host computer can periodically poll the player to determine its status.
Claims29
A method for providing media streams to a media player, comprising:
- engaging a data storage disk with a device to establish an engagement, the storage disk containing the media streams;
- using a host computer detecting the engagement, causing an indication of the engagement from the host computer to be displayed by the media player, the indication comprising a list of media titles by artist, the host computer being different from the media player and the device with which the data storage disk is engaged;
- and
- manipulating a single button a single time on the media player to cause a media stream associated with a media title on the list to be sent to the media player by the host computer.
A media player assembly, comprising:
- electronic media storing at least one media stream;
- a media player for playing the stream;
- and
- a display for presenting a user interface (UI), the UI comprising a list of media titles for selection of a title on the list for play by the media player, wherein the player cannot initiate communication with a host computer.
A system, comprising:
- host computer;
- media player for playing electronically-stored streams, the media player communicating with the host computer;
- a display for causing a list of media titles received from the host computer responsive to the media player communicating with the host computer to be displayed on the media player;
- a play element selectable to cause media content indicated by one of the media titles to be played by the media player;
- and
- at least one processor configured for periodically polling the player using the host computer to determine player status.
A system, comprising:
- host computer;
- media player for playing electronically-stored streams, the media player communicating with the host computer;
- a display for causing a list of media titles received from the host computer responsive to the media player communicating with the host computer to be displayed on the media player;
- and
- a play element selectable to cause media content indicated by one of the media titles to be played by the media player, wherein the media player cannot initiate communication with the host computer.
A system comprising:
- at least one media player configured to play media streams;
- at least one data storage disk configured to engage a device to establish an engagement, the storage disk containing the media streams;
- at least one host computer configured for detecting the engagement to cause an indication of the engagement from the host computer to be displayed by the media player, the indication comprising a list of media titles, the host computer being different from the media player and the device with which the data storage disk is engaged;
- and
- a button on the media player manipulable a single time to cause a media stream associated with a media title on the list to be sent to the media player by the host computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.