Portable media device with list management tools

Abstract

A portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system and method for selecting, requesting, downloading, and playing audio and/or video data content files from an Internet-based database server. The wireless link is preferably implemented in accordance with the WiFi protocol, which allows connectivity to the Internet by being in proximity with a local base station or WiFi hotspot (i.e., publicly available local wireless access hub connected to the Internet). The portable wireless communications subscriber audio and/or video player apparatus and system preferably include a security means for monitoring and blocking unauthorized use of the player apparatus and system. The player apparatus further preferably has the capability to communicate with other neighboring player apparatus for the purpose of exchanging content data files, playlists and personal messages.

1 . A networked portable media player device comprising:
 a network interface for sending and receiving digital media segments;   a digital storage medium coupled to the network interface for storing the digital media segments;   a catalog of digital media segments available to the device from the network;   a media decoder coupled to the digital storage medium;   a media presentation element coupled to the media decoder for presenting the digital media segments to a user;   a user interface for interaction with the user;   a display; and   a controller cooperating with said user interface to selectively display a portion of said catalog on said display, and in response to commands from said user, generating a playlist of preferred segments from said catalog.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said controller and said user interface cooperate to provide browsing of said catalog by said user. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said controller and said user interface cooperate to allow the user to rearrange and manipulate items from the catalog to the playlist. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said display includes a touch screen receiving commands from the user. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said controller and said user interface cooperate to present a rolling sequence of letters to the user for selection of entries to the playlist. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said network interface is one of a wired, a wireless, an ad-hoc and a peer-to-peer network. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said playlist is presented on the display in an order selected by the user, and the segments are rendered in the order displayed. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a DRM unit receiving DRM information associated with each segment and monitoring the rendering of the segment is performed in accordance with DRM information. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said device shares segments with other devices and wherein said DRM unit monitors the segment sharing to insure that the DRM rules are followed. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a security unit monitoring communications with other devices to insure that the communications are protected. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said communications follow SSL protocols. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said network interface establishes network communications without a browser, said interface generating signals consistent with a browser. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a base used to provide external power to the device. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said base further provides an alternate interface for interfacing with the network. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said alternate interface is wired. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said alternate interface is wireless. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said network interface establishes network communications using a browser. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  further comprises a messaging unit receiving messages from a remote location over the network, said messaging unit generating a flag on said display indicating the presence of a message. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein said message is selected from an audio, a voice, a text and a video message. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18  wherein said message pertains to one of billing for content rendering or sharing, availability of new segments, updates to software and the catalogs. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said network interface manages intermittent communication with the network, wherein incomplete incoming and outgoing data is cached while the communication is interrupted and then data transfer is resumed when communication is resumed. 
     
     
         22 . A wireless media player device comprising:
 a network interface;   a digital storage media for storing data that is received; and   a controller that periodically polls available network connections and selects an optimal one or, upon certain conditions, scans in ad hoc device-to-device mode for other compatible devices.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22  wherein the user is given the option via a user interface on said device to control whether the device automatically seeks ad-hoc connections or not. 
     
     
         24 . A networked portable media player comprising
 a network interface for sending and receiving digital media segments;   a digital storage medium coupled to the network interface for storing the digital media segments;   a rights management system coupled to the network interface for limiting access to the digital media segments;   a media decoder coupled to the digital storage medium;   a media presentation means coupled to the media decoder for presenting the digital media segments to a user;   a user interface for interaction with the user; and   a controller for managing the transfer, storage, and presentation of the digital media segments.   
     
     
         25 . The player of  claim 24  wherein said digital media segments are obtained by one of a purchase, a rental, a lease and a barter.