Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090179789 | Electronic device control based on user gestures applied to a media headset - An electronic device including an interface for receiving a control signal from a peripheral control device via a wired communications channel where the control signal is derived from a user control gesture. The electronic device also includes a data store for storing a list of known control signals where each known control signal has an associated control instruction. The electronic device further includes a processor that identifies the received control signal by comparing the received control signal with the list of known control signals and controls an operation of the electronic device based on the control instruction associated with the identified control signal. | 07-16-2009 |
20090296552 | Context-based error indication methods and apparatus - A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate. | 12-03-2009 |
20090313544 | System and methods for adjusting graphical representations of media files based on previous usage - Systems and methods for adjusting playback and graphical representations of media files are provided. The systems and methods can monitor playback and access of media files to create usage metadata. The usage metadata can then be used to adjust the playback of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user skips, on average, the first 22 seconds of a particular song so the next time that song is played, the first 22 seconds will automatically be skipped. The usage metadata can additionally or alternatively be used to adjust a graphical representation of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user rarely accesses a particular song so the graphical representation of that song will be small and faded. This change in graphical representation can help a user find more commonly used media files. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313564 | Systems and methods for adjusting playback of media files based on previous usage - Systems and methods for adjusting playback and graphical representations of media files are provided. The systems and methods can monitor playback and access of media files to create usage metadata. The usage metadata can then be used to adjust the playback of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user skips, on average, the first 22 seconds of a particular song so the next time that song is played, the first 22 seconds will automatically be skipped. The usage metadata can additionally or alternatively be used to adjust a graphical representation of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user rarely accesses a particular song so the graphical representation of that song will be small and faded. This change in graphical representation can help a user find more commonly used media files. | 12-17-2009 |
20100011388 | System and method for creating playlists based on mood - Suggested media playlists are created by an electronic device based upon the mood of a user as analyzed by the electronic device. The electronic device may suggest media items for playback based upon the user's past preferences for certain media items during previously similar moods. | 01-14-2010 |
20100042826 | Dynamic Control of Device State Based on Detected Environment - Techniques for automatically adjusting device preferences (e.g., playback settings of a PMD) based the on the device's environment. The environment may be characterized, for example, by one or more of the location of the device, the accessories connected to the device, and/or the state of wireless signals detected by the device. The device stores different states associated with different environments, and loads the appropriate state variables based on the detected environment. For example, when connecting to a given speaker system resumption of audio playback can be from the last track or playlist being played on that speaker system. | 02-18-2010 |
20100054497 | Techniques for Customizing Control of Volume Level in Device Playback - User interface signals representing volume change requests are converted to volume control signals using a mapping. The mapping is overridden (modified) within a given time interval after starting (which includes resuming) playback. During this interval, the mapping for volume decreases is modified so that the resulting volume decreases are accelerated relative to those that would be generated by the default mapping. This allows the user to quickly reduce the volume of the device when begins playing very loud music. The mapping for volume increases can be modified during this interval. | 03-04-2010 |
20100058240 | Dynamic Control of List Navigation Based on List Item Properties - Navigating or scrolling through a list of items is enhanced by assigning a given item a non-null value for a friction property, and slowing the scrolling when the given item nears or enters the viewport, or pausing the scrolling when the given item enters the viewport. Scrolling at speed can be configured to be resumed when the user takes a particular action, or can be configured to resume after a designated elapsed time without user action. At least to the extent that scrolling through the list is accompanied by sequential items being at a cursor position within the viewport, the scrolling can slow down or pause when the given item is within a predetermined number of list items from the cursor position. | 03-04-2010 |
20100062905 | METHOD FOR QUICKSTART WORKOUT GENERATION AND CALIBRATION - Systems and methods for generating a quick start workout template and calibrating an electronic device using the workout template are provided. The electronic device may create and store a workout template to be used in conjunction with a workout. The workout template may be selected in a quick start fashion to restart the same workout. The workout template may be defined at least in part by a selection of any suitable workout goal and/or any suitable associated media. If the media associated with the workout goal is changed or is removed, a new workout template may be created. The electronic device may be calibrated or recalibrated using the workout template. If the electronic device is calibrated or re-calibrated with respect to a particular sensor, the electronic device may use the calibration in conjunction with any suitable workout template and the sensor to more accurately monitor the user's workout. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064255 | CONTEXTUAL MENUS IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A system and method for displaying menus of selectable options to a user are provided. The menus may include options that are contextually related to a current mode of the device to provide relevant options to a user. The electronic device modes may include, for example, a media mode, a radio mode, a workout mode, a calendar or event mode, a clock mode, a stopwatch mode, or any other suitable mode. To further enhance a user's experience, the displayed menus may not cover the entirety of the screen such that a portion of the content associated with a current mode or application may be visible, thus providing context to the displayed options. | 03-11-2010 |
20120278667 | CONTEXT-BASED ERROR INDICATION METHODS AND APPARATUS - A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate. | 11-01-2012 |