Method, apparatus and software for play list selection in digital music players

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and software product are used to sense a repetitive motion, such as walking, running, or tapping. Thus, a rate of the repetitive motion is determined. A piece of music is then selected in response to the determined rate, and the piece of music is played. This piece of music has a tempo selected to match or approximate the rate of the repetitive motion, so that the repetitive motion and the music are substantially in harmony.

1 . A method comprising: 
 sensing a repetitive motion;    determining a rate of the repetitive motion;    selecting an initial piece of music in response to the rate; and    playing the initial piece of music,    wherein the initial piece of music has a tempo selected to match or approximate the rate of the repetitive motion.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 re-sensing the repetitive motion, before a current piece of music is through playing;    calculating a new rate of the repetitive motion;    selecting an other piece of music in response to the new rate; and    playing the other piece of music after the current piece of music is through playing,    wherein the other piece of music has a tempo selected to match or approximate the new rate of the repetitive motion.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the current piece of music is the initial piece of music.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the other piece of music is selected to be different from previously played pieces of music including the current piece of music.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a brief prefatory piece of music is played after the sensing step has begun, but prior to playing the initial piece of music.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the piece of music is selected from a music storage device, or from a broadcast, or via a network.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , 
 wherein the sensing and re-sensing are performed by an accelerometer; and    wherein the accelerometer is in a sleep mode between sensing and re-sensing the repetitive motion.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the sensing is performed by an accelerometer; and    wherein the tempo of the initial piece of music is modified as the rate of the repetitive motion changes.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising visibly indicating that re-sensing is occurring.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein if the re-sensing detects no repetitive motion then the other piece of music has a tempo selected to match or approximate the rate of the current piece of music.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an accelerometer configured to sense a motion, and provide a motion data signal;    a processor configured to determine, in response to the motion data signal, a rate at which the motion repeats;    a selector configured to select an initial piece of music in response to the rate; and    a player configured to play the initial piece of music,    wherein the initial piece of music has a tempo matching or approximating the rate at which the motion repeats.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the accelerometer is also configured to re-sense the repetitive motion, before a current piece of music is through playing;    wherein the processor is also configured to determine a new rate at which the motion repeats;    wherein the selector is also configured to select an other piece of music in response to the new rate; and    wherein the player is also configured to play the other piece of music after the current piece of music is through playing,    wherein the other piece of music has a tempo selected to match or approximate the new rate at which the motion repeats.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the current piece of music is the initial piece of music, and wherein the apparatus further comprises components that enable the apparatus to function as a wireless communication terminal.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the selector is configured to select the other piece of music so that the other piece of music is different from previously played pieces of music including the current piece of music.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the player is also configured to play a brief prefatory piece of music prefacing the initial piece of music while the motion is sensed.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the motion is walking, running, or tapping.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , 
 wherein the accelerometer has a sleep mode between sensing and re-sensing the motion.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the tempo is modifiable as the rate of the repetitive motion changes.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a visible indicator configured to indicate that re-sensing is occurring.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein if the re-sensing detects no repetitive motion then the other piece of music has a tempo that matches or approximates the rate of the current piece of music.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for sensing a motion, and provide a motion data signal;    means for calculating, in response to the motion data signal, a rate at which the motion repeats;    means for selecting an initial piece of music in response to the rate; and    means for playing the initial piece of music,    wherein the initial piece of music has a tempo matching or approximating the rate at which the motion repeats.    
   
   
       22 . A computer readable medium encoded with a software data structure for performing the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       23 . A software product comprising a computer readable medium having executable codes embedded therein, the codes, when executed, being adapted to carry out the functions of: 
 sensing a repetitive motion;    calculating a rate of the repetitive motion;    selecting an initial piece of music in response to the rate; and    playing the initial piece of music,    wherein the initial piece of music has a tempo selected to match or approximate the rate of the repetitive motion.    
   
   
       24 . An accelerometer module comprising: 
 a motion sensor configured to sense a motion, and    a signaling unit configured to provide a motion data signal in response to the motion sensing,    wherein the motion sensor is responsive to an activation signal prior to the end of a piece of music, and    wherein the motion data signal is indicative of a property of a next piece of music.    
   
   
       25 . A music player comprising: 
 at least one speaker configured to play a piece of music;    a selector configured to select the piece of music in response to accelerometer data,    wherein the piece of music has a tempo matching or approximating a rate indicated by the accelerometer data.