Method and system to display media content data

A method to display media content data to a user for playback of selected digital media on a playback device via a playback unit, the method including:

• at the playback unit,
• receiving media content data from a media storage device, the media content data identifying media available for playback on the playback device;
• and
• processing the media content data to generate display metrics based on the media content data, the display metrics being associated with a display screen of a remote control device that is separate from the playback unit, and
• at the remote control device,
• wirelessly receiving the display metrics communicated from the playback unit;
• and
• displaying the media content data on the display screen based on the display metrics,
• wherein the display metrics are generated by the playback unit in response to a user action to display data, the user action sent from the remote control device,
• wherein the remote control device is configured to transmit glyph metrics to the playback unit for use by the playback unit in calculating display metrics for use by the remote control device in displaying the data, the data describing media content playable on a media player controlled by the playback unit,
• wherein the playback unit is configured to transmit a request for the glyph metrics to the remote control device in response to the user action sent from the remote control device,
• wherein the remote control device is configured to responsively retrieve the glyph metrics from a table and transmit the retrieved glyph metrics to the mater unit,
• wherein glyph metrics comprise information about glyphs to be displayed on the remote control device indicated by the playback unit in the request, the glyphs including symbols, images and characters, and
• wherein the display metrics generated by the playback unit and provided to the portable remote control device define a manner in which the glyphs are to be displayed on the display screen including spacing to enhance readability.

A system to display media content data to a user for playback on a playback device, the system including:

• a playback unit including:
• means to communicate with a media storage device thereby to receive the media content data;
• means to process the media content data and generate display metrics based on the media content data;
• and
• a bi-directional remote control communication means, and
• a separate remote control device to select the digital media for playback on the playback device, the remote control device including:
• a complemental remote control communication means for bi-directional communication with the remote control communication interface of the playback unit;
• display means;
• and
• display rendering means to display the media content data on the display means based on the display metrics,
• wherein the display metrics are generated by the playback unit in response to a user action for displaying data, the user action sent from the separate remote control device, and
• wherein the remote control device is configured to transmit glyph metrics to the playback unit for use by the playback unit in calculating the display metrics for use by the remote control device in displaying the data, the data describing media content playable on a media player controlled by the playback unit,
• wherein the playback unit is configured to transmit a request for the glyph metrics to the remote control device in response to a user action sent from the remote control device and the remote control device is configured to responsively retrieve the glyph metrics from a table and transmit the retrieved glyph metrics to the mater unit,
• wherein glyph metrics comprise information about glyphs to be displayed on the remote control device indicated by the playback unit in the request, the glyphs including symbols, images and characters, and
• wherein the display metrics generated by the playback unit and provided to the portable remote control device define a manner in which the glyphs are to be displayed on the display screen including spacing to enhance readability.

A machine readable medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

• communicating with a media storage device thereby to receive media content data;
• communicating the media content data to a separate remote control device including a display screen for selecting digital media for playback on a playback device, the digital media being identified by the media content data;
• processing the media content data and generate display metrics based on the media content data;
• and
• communicating the display metrics to the remote control device for display on the display screen,
• wherein the display metrics are generated by the playback unit in response to a user action for displaying data, the user action sent from the separate remote control device, and
• wherein the remote control device is configured to transmit glyph metrics to the playback unit for use by the playback unit in calculating display metrics for use by the remote control device in displaying the data, the data describing media content playable on a media player controlled by the playback unit,
• wherein the playback unit is configured to transmit a request for the glyph metrics to the remote control device in response to a user action sent from the remote control device and the remote control device is configured to responsively retrieve the glyph metrics from a table and transmit the retrieved glyph metrics to the mater unit,
• wherein glyph metrics comprise information about glyphs to be displayed on the remote control device indicated by the playback unit in the request, the glyphs including symbols, images and characters, and
• wherein the display metrics generated by the playback unit and provided to the portable remote control device define a manner in which the glyphs are to be displayed on the display screen including spacing to enhance readability.