Music marking system

Abstract

A method and apparatus that permits a user to electronically make a notation of a recorded music selection that he or she would like to take a later action on. Such later actions might include purchase actions or information gathering actions as well as other actions. The user actuates a button on a portable music player that plays music stored on a removable storage medium (e.g., a minidisc) and the music player stores identifying information that identifies the currently playing track of music. By connection of the music player to a personal computer, the user can then download the marked tracks to the personal computer and carry out actions over the Internet with service providers to complete transactions or queries.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A media player An apparatus, comprising:
 a music player for playback of music selections, where the music selections are stored on a storage medium; 
 where the storage medium further stores identifiers associated with the music selections on the storage medium; 
 where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the music selection identified by the identifier;  
 a processor that controls a portion of operation of the music player; 
 a user interface that receives commands from a user and sends those commands as signals to the processor; 
 a memory coupled to the processor; and 
 wherein, upon receipt of a mark command from the user interface as a result of a command from the user, the processor stores an the identifier associated with the music selection in the memory that identifies a music selection that is playing at the time of receipt of the mark command. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a computer interface coupled to the processor that permits the media music player apparatus to be coupled to a computer. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the identifier stored in the memory is accessible to the computer via the computer interface. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the music player further comprises a recorder, and wherein the recorder can record information to the storage medium that stores the music selections. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the music selections are organized on the storage medium using a Table of Contents (TOC) and wherein the computer can instruct the recorder to update the TOC to include additional information stored on the computer. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the computer interface comprises a serial interface. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the serial interface comprises one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface and an IEEE 1394 bus. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage medium comprises one of a minidisc, a compact disc, a video disc, a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a memory stick, a memory card, and a removable nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a dedicated mark button that when actuated sends the mark command to the processor. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a button that sends the mark command in addition to a second command. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the second command comprises a play command. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the button sends the mark command if actuated during playback. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the button sends the mark command if a user actuates the button by pressing and holding the button in an actuated position for at least a predetermined duration of time during playback. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the media music player comprises a personal portable media music player. 
     
     
       15. A method of operation of a media music player, comprising:
 playing a music selection stored on a storage medium; 
 receiving a mark command signal from a user interface in response to a command from a user; and 
 responsive to the mark command signal from the user interface, storing an identifier in a memory to identify the music selection that is playing at the time of receipt of the mark command signal; 
 where the storage medium stores identifiers associated with the music selections; and 
 where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the music selection identified by the identifier. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising receiving an instruction from a computer, coupled to the media music player via a computer interface, to send a list of identifiers of marked music selections to the computer. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the music player further comprises a recorder, and further comprising recording information to the storage medium. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the music selections are organized on the storage medium using a Table of Contents (TOC) and further comprising the computer instructing the recorder to update the TOC to include additional information stored on the computer. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the storage medium comprises one of a minidisc, a compact disc, a video disc, a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a memory stick, a memory card, and a removable nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the user interface comprises a dedicated mark button that when actuated sends the mark command signal to the processor. 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the user interface comprises a button that sends the mark command signal in addition to a second command signal. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the media music player comprises a personal portable media music player. 
     
     
       23. An A tangible non-transitory electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out the method of operation of a media music player according to  claim 15 . 
     
     
       24. A method of operation of a media player, comprising:
 playing a music selection stored on a storage medium;   receiving a mark command from a user interface;   responsive to the mark command from the user interface, storing an identifier in a memory to identify the music selection that is playing at the time of receipt of the mark command;   connecting the media player to a computer;   sending the identifier to the computer; and   conducting a transaction over the Internet relating to the music selection identified by the identifier.   
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the transaction is carried out with at least one service provider accessed via the Internet. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the transaction comprises at least one of an information query relating to the music selection, a financial transaction relating to the music selection, and a communication function relating to the music selection. 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising matching the identifier with a information stored in a database in the computer. 
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising obtaining information by manual input in the event there is no match of the identifier with information stored in the database. 
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the storage medium organizes stored music selections using a Table Of Contents (TOC) and further comprising updating the TOC with information stored in the database. 
     
     
       30. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the conducting further comprises:
 presenting a menu of actions available for the music selection identified by the identifier;   receiving an indication of a selected action from the user; and   conducting a transaction determined by the indication of the selected action from the user.   
     
     
       31. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the storage medium comprises one of a minidisc, a compact disc, a video disc, a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a memory stick, a memory card, a removable nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       32. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the mark command is received via a user interface that comprises a button that when actuated sends the mark command to the processor. 
     
     
       33. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the media player comprises a personal portable media player. 
     
     
       34. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the computer has an electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on the computer, carries out the process of conducting a transaction. 
     
     
       35. A method of obtaining information, comprising:
 retrievinga programmed processor issuing commands that retrieve a list of identifiers from a mediamusic player, the list of identifiers identifying tracks that have been marked for later retrieval from a storage medium that stores the identifiers and music selections identified by the identifiers by a user action of issuing a mark command to identify a currently playing track, the list containing at least one identifier; and 
 where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the music selection identified by the identifier; and  
 conducting a transaction over the Internet relating to the music selection identified by the identifier. 
 
     
     
       36. The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the transaction is carried out with at least one service provider accessed via the Internet. 
     
     
       37. The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the transaction comprises at least one of an information query relating to the track, a financial transaction relating to the track, and a communication function relating to the track. 
     
     
       38. The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising matching the identifier with a information stored in a database. 
     
     
       39. The method according to  claim 38 , further comprising obtaining information by manual input in the event there is no match of the identifier with information stored in the database. 
     
     
       40. The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the media music player plays tracks stored on a storage medium that organizes tracks using a Table Of Contents (TOC) and further comprising updating the TOC with information stored in the database. 
     
     
       41. The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the conducting further comprises:
 presenting a menu of actions available for the track identified by the identifier; 
 receiving an indication of a selected action from the user; and 
 conducting a transaction determined by the indication of the selected action from the user. 
 
     
     
       42. The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the media music player plays tracks stored on a storage medium comprising one of a minidisc, a compact disc, a video disc, a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a memory stick, a memory card, and a removable nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       43. The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the media music player comprises a personal portable media music player. 
     
     
       44. An A tangible non-transitory electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on the a computer, carries out the method of obtaining information comprising:
 retrieving a list of identifiers from a media music player, the list of identifiers identifying tracks that have been marked for later retrieval from a storage medium that stores the identifiers and music selections identified by the identifiers by a user action of issuing a mark command to identify a currently playing track, the list containing at least one identifier; 
 where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the music selection identified by the identifier; and 
 conducting a transaction over the Internet relating to the music selection identified by the identifier. 
 
     
     
       45. The electronic storage medium according to  claim 44 , wherein the transaction is carried out with at least one service provider accessed via the Internet. 
     
     
       46. The electronic storage medium according to  claim 44 , wherein the transaction comprises at least one of an information query relating to the track, a financial transaction relating to the track, and a communication function relating to the track. 
     
     
       47. The electronic storage medium according to  claim 44 , wherein the method further comprises matching the identifier with a information stored in a database. 
     
     
       48. The electronic storage medium according to  claim 44 , wherein the method further comprises obtaining information by manual input in the event there is no match of the identifier with information stored in the database. 
     
     
       49. The electronic storage medium according to  claim 44 , wherein the conducting further comprises:
 presenting a menu of actions available for the track identified by the identifier; 
 receiving an indication of a selected action from the user; and 
 conducting a transaction determined by the indication of the selected action from the user. 
 
     
     
       50. A method of updating a table of contents (TOC) of a recorded medium, comprising:
 retrievinga programmed processor issuing commands that retrieve a list of identifiers from a mediamusic player, the list of identifiers identifying tracks that have been marked for later retrieval from a storage medium that stores the identifiers and music selections identified by the identifiers by a user action of issuing a mark command to identify a currently playing track, the list containing at least one identifier; 
 comparing the list of identifiers with a database to obtain further information regarding the list of identifiers; 
 where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the music selection identified by the identifier; and 
 updating the recorded medium's table of contents with the updated information. 
 
     
     
       51. The method according to  claim 50 , further comprising carrying out a transaction with at least one service provider accessed via the Internet in order to obtain further information regarding the list of identifiers. 
     
     
       52. The method according to  claim 50 , further comprising obtaining information by manual input in the event there is no match of the identifier with information stored in the database. 
     
     
       53. The method according to  claim 50 , further comprising conducting a transaction over the Internet relating to the retrieved list of identifiers comprising:
 presenting a menu of actions available for each track identified by each identifier; 
 receiving an indication of a selected action from the user; and 
 conducting a transaction determined by the indication of the selected action from the user. 
 
     
     
       54. A media music player apparatus, comprising:
 an electronic media music player that plays selections from stored on a storage medium; 
 where the storage medium further stores identifiers associated with the music selections on the storage medium; 
 where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the music selection identified by the identifier;  
 a user interface to the electronic media music player; 
 a memory; and 
 means, responsive to receipt of a signal from the user interface in response to a command from a user, for retrieving an identifier that identifies a selection currently playing on the electronic media music player and for storing the identifier in the memory. 
 
     
     
       55. The apparatus according to  claim 54 , further comprising a computer interface coupled to the media music player apparatus for connecting the media music player apparatus to a computer. 
     
     
       56. The apparatus according to  claim 55 , wherein the identifier stored in the memory is accessible to the computer via the computer interface. 
     
     
       57. The apparatus according to  claim 54 , wherein the storage medium comprises one of a minidisc, a compact disc, a video disc, a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a memory stick, a removable memory card, and a removable nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
       58. The apparatus according to  claim 54 , wherein the user interface comprises a dedicated mark button that when actuated sends the signal. 
     
     
       59. The apparatus according to  claim 54 , wherein the user interface comprises a button that sends the signal in addition to other command signals. 
     
     
       60. An electronic media A music player apparatus, comprising:
 a media music player device for playback of audio content from stored on a removable electronic storage medium; 
 where the storage medium further stores identifiers associated with the audio content on the storage medium; 
 where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the audio content identified by the identifier;  
 an electronic memory; and 
 a processor within the media music player apparatus that, in response to receipt of a mark command from a signal initiated by a user, obtains identifying information from the removable electronic storage medium and stores the identifying information in the electronic memory, wherein the mark command signal identifies a music selection that is playing at the time of receipt of the mark command signal. 
 
     
     
       61. The apparatus according to  claim 60 , wherein the identifying information comprises at least one of a minidisc identifier (MDID), a track identifier, a track name, and a song identifier and a portion of a song. 
     
     
       62. The apparatus according to  claim 60 , wherein the media music is stored on media that comprises one of a minidisc, a compact disc and a removable flash memory. 
     
     
       63. The apparatus according to  claim 60 , wherein the media music is stored on media that comprises a minidisc and wherein the identifying information comprises a minidisc identifier and a track identifier. 
     
     
       64. The apparatus according to  claim 60 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor stores the identifying information in the electronic memory in response to a user input via the user interface. 
     
     
       65. A minidisc playback apparatus, comprising:
 a minidisc player mechanism for playback of audio content from a minidisc;   an electronic memory; and   a processor that obtains identifying information from the minidisc and stores the identifying information in the electronic memory in response to receipt of a mark command from a user received during playback of a track of the minidisc.   
     
     
       66. The apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein the identifying information comprises at least one of a minidisc identifier (MDID), a track identifier, a track name, a song identifier and a portion of a song. 
     
     
       67. The apparatus according to  claim 65 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor stores the identifying information in the electronic memory in response to a user input via the user interface. 
     
     
       68. A minidisc playback apparatus, comprising:
 a minidisc player mechanism for playback of audio content from a minidisc;   an electronic memory;   a user interface; and   a processor that obtains identifying information from the minidisc in response to a mark command from the user interface received during playback of a track and stores the identifying information associated with the track that is playing in the electronic memory.   
     
     
       69. The apparatus according to  claim 68 , wherein the identifying information comprises at least one of a minidisc identifier (MDID), a track identifier, a track name, a song identifier and a portion of a song. 
     
     
       70. The apparatus according to  claim 68 , further comprising means for transmitting a marking list to a remote user. 
     
     
       71. A method of obtaining information, comprising:
 a programmed processor issuing commands to receive information from a media player, the information identifying at least one track that has been marked for later retrieval by a user action of issuing a mark command to identify a currently playing track;   where the media player further stores identifiers associated with the music selections;   where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the track identified by the identifier; and   conducting a transaction over the Internet relating to the music selection identified by the information.   
     
     
       72. The method according to claim 71, wherein the sending comprises sending the information using wireless communication. 
     
     
       73. The method according to claim 71, wherein an application program automatically starts running on a computer upon connection of the media player to the computer. 
     
     
       74. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an application program automatically starts running on a computer upon connection of the music player to the computer. 
     
     
       75. The method according to claim 15, further comprising sending the identifier to a computer using wireless communication. 
     
     
       76. The method according to claim 15, wherein an application program automatically starts running on a computer upon connection of the music player to the computer. 
     
     
       77. The method according to claim 35, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving the identifier using wireless communication. 
     
     
       78. The method according to claim 35, wherein an application program automatically starts running on a computer upon connection of the music player to the computer. 
     
     
       79. The electronic storage medium according to claim 44, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving the identifier using wireless communication. 
     
     
       80. The electronic storage medium according to claim 44, wherein an application program automatically starts running on a computer upon connection of the music player to the computer. 
     
     
       81. The method according to claim 50, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving the list of identifiers using wireless communication. 
     
     
       82. The method according to claim 50, wherein an application program automatically starts running on a computer which carries out the retrieving, comparing and updating upon connection of the music player to the computer. 
     
     
       83. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving the information using wireless communication. 
     
     
       84. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein an application program automatically starts running on a computer upon connection of the music player to the computer. 
     
     
       85. The apparatus according to claim 60, further comprising a computer interface and wherein the processor sends the identifying information to the computer interface for communication to a computer using wireless communication. 
     
     
       86. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein an application program automatically starts running on a computer upon connection of the music player to the computer. 
     
     
       87. A method of operation of a portable media player, comprising:
 receiving a mark command signal in response to a user operation;   storing an identifier in memory, the identifier identifying a currently playing song stored on a storage medium at a time the mark command signal is received;   where the storage medium further stores identifiers associated with the song on the storage medium;   where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the song identified by the identifier; and   transmitting the identifier to an external computer upon connection of the portable media player to the external computer.   
     
     
       88. The method according to claim 87, where the transmitted identifier is used to conduct a transaction over the Internet based on the retrieved identifier. 
     
     
       89. The method according to claim 87, where the transaction comprises downloading data over the Internet. 
     
     
       90. The method according to claim 87, where the portable media player and the external computer are connected via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. 
     
     
       91. A portable media player, comprising:
 a user interface that generates a mark command signal in response to a user operation;   a processor that receives the mark command signal;   a memory that stores an identifier, the identifier identifying a currently playing song at a time the mark command signal is received;   where the identifiers comprise file descriptors that exclude a sample of the song identified by the identifier; and   an interface that transmits the identifier to an external computer upon connection of the external computer to the portable media player.   
     
     
       92. The portable media player according to claim 91, where the transmitted identifier is used to conduct a transaction over the Internet based on the retrieved identifier. 
     
     
       93. The portable media player according to claim 91, where the transaction comprises downloading data over the Internet. 
     
     
       94. The portable media player according to claim 91, where the portable media player and the external computer are connected via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.