Interface for audio visual device

An audio/visual player, comprising:

• an output device;
• a processor readable storage device capable of storing a plurality of tracks having track identification attributes;
• and
• one or more processors in communication with said output device and said processor readable storage device, said one or more processors perform a method comprising the steps of:
• detecting activation of a first input device of a head unit connected to a content server, where the head unit is adapted to communicate with a disc changer, the first input device assigned to a first default function of the disc changer, and the content server adapted to emulate the disc changer;
• reading a mapping file to override the first default function and output an indication of a first mode;
• receiving the indication of the first mode of a set of modes, each mode is associated with a different track identification attribute, each mode includes one or more playlists of tracks, each playlist of a particular mode is based on a different value for said track identification attribute associated with said particular mode;
• receiving a first value of the track identification attribute;
• accessing a first playlist for said first mode and first value of the track identification attribute;
• and
• playing tracks according to said first playlist.

A processor readable storage device having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage device, said processor readable code for programming a processor to perform a method for presenting audio/visual tracks, said tracks have attributes, said track includes a first attribute and a second attribute, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting activation of a first input device of a head unit connected to a content server, where the head unit is adapted to communicate with a disc changer, the first input device assigned to a first default function of the disc changer, and the content server adapted to emulate the disc changer;
• reading a mapping file to override the first default function and output an indication of a first mode;
• receiving the indication of the first mode of a set of modes, each mode is associated with a different track identification attribute, each mode includes one or more playlists of tracks, each playlist of a particular mode is based on a different value for said track identification attribute associated with said particular mode;
• receiving a first value of the track identification attribute;
• accessing a first playlist for said first mode and first value of the track identification attribute;
• and
• playing tracks according to said first playlist.

A system, comprising:

• a head unit comprising an interface for communicating with a disc changer;
• a content server connected to the head unit through the interface, the content server adapted to emulate the disc changer and operable to:
• detect activation of a first input device of the head unit, the first input device assigned to a first default function of the disc changer;
• read a mapping file to override the first default function to a playback mode associated with a track identification attribute;
• operate under the playback mode associated with the track identification attribute;
• receive a first value of the track identification attribute;
• access a first playlist matching the first value of the track identification attribute;
• and
• play content files according to tracks specified in the first playlist;
• and
• a storage device in communication with the content server, the storage device comprising the mapping file and the content files.

A method of controlling a content server, comprising:

• detecting activation of a first input device of a head unit connected to the content server, where the head unit is adapted to communicate with a disc changer, the first input device assigned to a first default function of the disc changer, and the content server is adapted to emulate the disc changer;
• reading a mapping file to override the first default function to a playback mode associated with a track identification attribute;
• operating under the playback mode associated with the track identification attribute;
• receiving a first value of the track identification attribute;
• accessing a first playlist matching the first value of the track identification attribute;
• and
• playing content files according to tracks specified in the first playlist.

A processor readable storage device comprising processor executable instructions embodied on said processor readable storage device for controlling a server, the processor executable instructions configured to cause the processor to:

• detect activation of a first input device of a head unit connected to the content server, where the head unit is adapted to communicate with a disc changer, the first input device assigned to a first default function of the disc changer, and the content server is adapted to emulate the disc changer;
• read a mapping file to override the first default function to a playback mode associated with a track identification attribute;
• operate under the playback mode associated with the track identification attribute;
• receive a first value of the track identification attribute;
• access a first playlist matching the first value of the track identification attribute;
• and
• play content files according to tracks specified in the first playlist.