Remote user interface for media player
AssigneesSony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
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.
Claims33
A system for managing media distribution, comprising:
- at least one host computer;
- at least one media player including a display and at least one input device, the media player communicating with the host computer;
- and
- at least one software-implemented control module in the host computer and rendering a user interface (UI) on the player, wherein
- a user can manipulate the input device in cooperation with the UI to manage distribution and/or playback of media between the host computer and player.
A method for providing at least one media stream to a media player, comprising:
- engaging a data storage disk with a medium device to establish an engagement, the storage disk containing the media stream;
- using the host computer, causing an indication of the engagement to be displayed on the media player;
- and
- manipulating a single button a single time on the media player to cause the media stream to be sent to the media player under control of the host computer.
A media player, comprising:
- electronic media storing at least one media stream;
- means for playing the stream;
- and
- a display for presenting a user interface (UI) generated by a host computer and transmitted from the host computer to the media player.
A system, comprising:
- host computer means;
- media player means for playing electronically-stored streams, the media player means communicating with the host computer means;
- means for causing a media title to be displayed on the player means, the title being associated with a piece of music;
- and
- means for, using a click of a button on the media player, causing the music to be downloaded into the media player.
A method for providing at least one media stream to a media player, comprising:
- engaging a CD with a CD-ROM player to establish an engagement, the CD containing the media stream;
- using the host computer, causing an indication of the engagement to be displayed on the media player;
- and
- manipulating a single button a single time on the media player to cause the media stream to be sent to the media player under control of the host computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.