Method and portable device with local catalog management

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 method for acquiring digital media content by a device, the method comprising:
 providing an electronic catalog of digital media content available from at least one source of digital media content;   storing at least a portion of the electronic catalog in a database on a local storage medium of the device;   selecting at least one item of digital media content from the database stored on the local storage medium; and   retrieving the at least one item of digital media content from the associated source of digital media content when access to the associated source is available.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the retrieving is done through a wireless connection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communication between said device and the source is intermittent comprising the establishing communication with the source; determining if a previous communication with the source has been completed, and if not, completing said communication. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said catalog includes listings of items further comprising updating the catalog. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said updating includes receiving one of an addition and a deletion and modifying said catalog with said addition or deletion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising generating a playlist from said catalog containing a plurality of identifiers related to different items, said playlist defining a sequence in which said items are rendered to the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said catalog includes at least one of a listing of content available from the network, a listing of segments that have been ordered, a listing of segments that have been downloaded, a listing of segments that have been rendered to the user and a listing of prices for playing said segments. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said catalog includes a partial listing of the content available to the portable device, further comprising caching said partial listing on the device and updating the cached listing as the cached listing is being browsed by the user. 
     
     
         9 . 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 catalog of digital media segments;   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; and   a controller for managing the transfer, storage, and presentation of the digital media segments.   
     
     
         10 . The portable media player of  claim 9  where the network interface connects to a wired network. 
     
     
         11 . The portable media player of  claim 9  where the network interface connects to a wireless network. 
     
     
         12 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said controller interacts with the user interface to provide the user with a listing of the catalog. 
     
     
         13 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said catalog includes information about digital media segments from a remote server available on the network. 
     
     
         14 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said catalog includes information about digital media segments available from other devices associated with the network. 
     
     
         15 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said controller and user interface cooperate to allow the user to browse the content of the catalog using a predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         16 . The portable media player of  claim 15  wherein said controller and user interface interact to provide said listing independently of whether the player is connected to the network or not. 
     
     
         17 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein catalog is arranged in a database of identifiers identifying segments by at least one of title, artist, genre, album and playlist and wherein said catalog is searched using said identifiers. 
     
     
         18 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said catalog is updated automatically from a remote location. 
     
     
         19 . The portable media player of  claim 9  further comprising a playlist generated from said catalog and including a plurality of segments rendered in sequence. 
     
     
         20 . The portable media player of  claim 19  wherein said playlist is generated on the player. 
     
     
         21 . The portable media player of  claim 19  wherein said playlist is generated using one of a particular set of preferences from the user and a profile of the user. 
     
     
         22 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said user interface is used to search said listing using one of an identifier of segments and using a scrolling list of initial letters. 
     
     
         23 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said user interface receives a selection from the user defining a mode of browsing the catalog. 
     
     
         24 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said catalog is updated after some of the segments have been rendered. 
     
     
         25 . The portable media player of  claim 9  wherein said user interface incorporates a touchscreen that allows the user to browse and search the available content using one of a stylus and his finger.