Patent Application
20110098833
The present disclosure relates generally to controlling media and more particularly to controlling media using dedicated controls in a portable communication device.
The number of applications and device functions provided by portable communication devices such as mobile phones increases rapidly with each generation. An increasing number of device applications and device functions results in a more complex and more sophisticated handling of the total mobile phone operation. Conventionally, such devices utilize the overall navigation paradigm to control media on the devices. For traditional mobile phones this often means users control their media using a 5-way navigation cluster having a plurality of controls, each operated to perform more than one function on the device. In order to control a media player, the navigation controls are used to navigate through a graphical and/or text based menu. In more detail, the user has to navigate through the menu by selecting adapted input means, i.e. navigation keys, to track down certain menu items provided for controlling and managing the media player. Other known techniques of controlling a media player on a portable communication device include morphing technology i.e., dynamically changing the keypad controls to focus the interaction to media when in media mode. Also, direct interaction models such as touch screens enable touch based controlling of a media player in media mode.
However, none of the above techniques provide an easy, fast, and non-mode dependent media controls that require minimum user interaction. For example, tracking of a menu requires time and in many cases, a complex menu unacceptable to users. Moreover, menu-driven interfaces require a user to look at the menu on a display while operating the controls or listen to an audio prompt in cases of a voice based menu. Such interactions require a user to be completely attentive and engaged while operating the controls, which is becoming increasingly unacceptable to modern users.
It would be considered an improvement in the art, to provide controls that minimize user distraction during operation. For example, during operation, such as exercising, bike riding, jogging, crossing a street, and the like, it would be considered an improvement if a user could easily control a media player by feel or “blindly”, without having to be distracted by looking at a display.
It would further be considered an improvement in the art, to provide a plurality of controls configured to provide a unique specific user action or signature, for each operation, for minimizing distractions.
It would further be considered an improvement in the art, to provide a plurality of controls configured to provide a unique specific user action or signature for each operation, which is intuitive to a user.
It would further be considered an improvement, to provide a plurality of controls which are accessible and located on a device, for simplified operation.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for controlling media in a portable communication device.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
Various embodiments of the invention disclose a method and apparatus for controlling a media player in a portable communication device. The method includes providing a plurality of controls dedicated to controlling the media player. Each of the controls is configured in a manner that requires a unique user action for providing an input. In other words, the user action required for operating a control is different from a user action required for operating each of the other controls. The method further includes receiving a user input at each of the controls and controlling the media player based on the received user inputs. Each of the controls is operable to perform a specific function for managing media.
A portable communication device includes a media control unit for controlling a media player. The media control unit includes a plurality of controls dedicated to controlling the media player by receiving user inputs. Each of the controls is configured so as to require a user action for activating the control, the user action being different from a user action required for activating each of the other controls. Further, each of the plurality of controls performs a specific function for managing media. The portable communication device further includes a processor for receiving control signals from the media control unit and controlling the media player.
Before describing in detail the method for controlling a media player in a portable communication device, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to controlling a media player in a portable communication device. Accordingly, the method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
The user interface 130 directs user input data to the processor 160 and represents input devices and output devices for interfacing with a user. The input devices are used for receiving user inputs to the PCD 100 and communicating the user inputs to the processor. The input devices may generate key input data from commands entered by a user to control various operations of the PCD 100. The input devices allow the user to enter various types of information, and may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (e.g., a touch sensitive member that detects changes in resistance, pressure, capacitance, etc. due to contact), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like. In particular, when the touch pad is overlaid on the display in a layered manner, it may form a touch screen. The output devices render information to the user, and may include a printer, a speaker, a monitor, and the like.
The processor 160 (such as a microprocessor or the like) typically controls the general operations of the PCD 100. For example, the processor 160 performs controlling and processing associated with computation, communication, transaction, and the like. The memory 140 may store software programs or the like used for the processing and controlling operations performed by the processor 160, or may temporarily store data (e.g., a phonebook, messages, still images, video, etc.) that have been inputted or which are to be outputted. For example, the memory 140 stores the graphic user interface (GUI) program that contains the commands for presenting information on a display. The memory 140 may include at least one type of storage medium including a Flash memory, a hard disk, a multimedia card, a card-type memory (e.g., SD or DX memory, etc), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and the like.
The transceiver unit 170 can be implemented as a transmitting and receiving component of the PCD 100. In an embodiment, the functions of the transceiver 170 can be implemented in the processor 160. The transceiver unit 170 makes content available to the PCD 100 over an antenna (not shown). The antenna includes any known or developed structure for radiating and receiving electromagnetic energy in the frequency range containing the wireless carrier frequencies.
The media player 150 is configured to provide an interface to a user to allow the user to control and interact with the media player. The term “media player” as used herein refers to an application that allows one or more types of media to be viewed and/or played by a user. The media player 150 includes a control program stored in the memory 140, for media playback and automatic selection of media items from a plurality of media items stored in a database in memory. The media player 150 may also, for example, perform the automatic population of play lists and/or the automatic re-ordering of play lists. The control program also processes playlists, playing songs and/or displaying images in accordance with the sequential requirements of one or more play lists stored in memory 140. The control program also manages the downloading of new media items into a database of the media player 150.
The processor may also be configured to perform the various embodiments described herein. For example, the processor is operative to monitor the media control unit 120 by receiving the associated input signals from the user. Based upon the characteristics of input signals received from the media control unit 120 the processor determines whether or not the user has imparted a user action to operate upon the media player 150.
Advantageously, the portable communication device 100 provides a media control unit 120, which solves a problem of user distraction during operation. For example, while exercising, bike riding, jogging, crossing a street, and the like, a user can easily and intuitively control the media control unit 120, by feel or “blindly”, without having to be distracted by looking at a display.
Further, the media control unit 120 advantageously provides a unique specific user action, signature or gesture, for each separate operation, for enhanced blind operation and user experience. In a preferred embodiment, the user actions or gestures are intuitive.
The media control unit 120 is particularly adapted to be accessible, in a blind application, such as when located in a user's exercising holster or pocket, and the media control unit 120 is located and accessible to a user, for simplified operation, as detailed herein.
As shown in
The second control 220, as shown in
The third control 230, as shown in
In an embodiment, the media control 120 unit may have an arrangement for locking the controls 210, 220, 230 from operation in certain environments. For example, the media control unit 120 can include a sensor arrangement for detecting whether the PCD 100 as a whole is in motion, such as while the PCD 100 is with a user who is walking or jogging. In the event, the sensor arrangement detects that the PCD 100 is in an environment that may cause unintended operation (false user action) on the media control unit 120, a locking signal is provided by the sensor arrangement. Based on the locking signal, the processor 160 locks the controls from being operation. The media control unit 120 can be locked by either making the controls immobile or by configuring the controls to be unresponsive to an operation. Examples of the sensor arrangement include, pressure sensor, accelerometer based sensor, capacitive sensors etc.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used.
Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61255275 | Oct 2009 | US |
