Electronic equipment with shuffle operation

Abstract

An electronic equipment is provided that includes access to a playlist, the content of which identifies a plurality of media objects, and a media player section configured to play the plurality of media objects identified in the playlist in an order. In addition, the electronic equipment includes a shuffler section for altering at least one of the order in which the plurality of media objects in the playlist are played by the media player, or the content of the playlist, in response to a shuffle command. The electronic equipment further includes a motion sensor that detects motion of the electronic equipment, the motion sensor producing an output based on detected motion from which the shuffle command is derived.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A portable media player comprising:
 a media player function for playing a plurality of media objects in a prescribed order; and   a motion sensor in operative communication with the media player function to alter at least one of the prescribed order or content of the plurality of media objects to be played by the media player function.   
     
     
         36 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , further comprising a shuffler section for altering at least one of the prescribed order or content of the plurality of media objects to be played by the media player function in response to a shuffle command, wherein the motion sensor detects motion of the electronic equipment and produces an output based on detected motion from which the shuffle command is derived. 
     
     
         37 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein the shuffler section alters the prescribed order using a pseudo-random generator. 
     
     
         38 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein the shuffler section alters the prescribed order primarily throughout the plurality of media objects. 
     
     
         39 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the shuffler section alters the prescribed order using a pseudo-random generator. 
     
     
         40 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein the shuffler section alters a content of a playlist in response to the shuffle command signal. 
     
     
         41 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 41 , wherein the electronic apparatus includes a library of media objects, the content of the playlist representing a subset of the media objects within the library, and the shuffler section alters the content of the playlist by at least one of adding additional media objects from the library to the playlist, or substituting additional media objects from the library for all or part of the plurality of media objects already identified in the playlist. 
     
     
         42 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein the shuffle command signal is operational to identify different degrees of motion detected by the motion sensor, the different degrees being operative to cause the shuffler section to perform corresponding different degrees of altering. 
     
     
         43 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 42 , wherein the different degrees of motion detected by the motion sensor pertain to the electronic equipment being shaken for a relatively short time versus a relatively long time. 
     
     
         44 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 42 , wherein the different degrees of motion detected by the motion sensor pertain to the electronic equipment being shaken relatively softly versus relatively aggressively. 
     
     
         45 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 42 , wherein in response to the shuffle command signal identifying a first degree of motion the shuffler section alters the order which the media objects are played primarily in a local area of a media object within the playlist which is being played at a time when the shuffle command is issued, and in response to the shuffle command signal identifying a second degree of motion the shuffler section alters the order primarily throughout the entire playlist. 
     
     
         46 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 42 , wherein in response to the shuffle command signal identifying a first degree of motion the shuffler section alters the content of the playlist to a relatively small extent, and in response to the shuffle command signal identifying a second degree of motion the shuffler section alters the content of the playlist to a relatively large extent. 
     
     
         47 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the media objects comprise at least audio files. 
     
     
         48 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the media objects comprise at least video files. 
     
     
         49 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the media objects comprise at least image files. 
     
     
         50 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the portable media player is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         51 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the portable media player is a portable personal entertainment device. 
     
     
         52 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the motion sensor is located remote from a main housing of the portable media player. 
     
     
         53 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the playlist is located remote from the portable media player. 
     
     
         54 . A portable media player as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of media objects are located remote from the portable media player.