BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multimedia device used in a motor vehicle according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating menu levels for selecting audio data following a first selection of a first menu item from a first menu level;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the menu levels for selecting audio data following a second selection of a first menu item;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a menu level with a deactivated first menu item;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a menu level and a result list following full selection of audio data; and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating menu levels with a menu item for a result of a concluded menu-controlled selection of audio data and a file directory.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the text which follows, the same reference symbols have been used throughout for elements which are the same or have the same action. Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a schematic basic illustration of an inventive apparatus, which is in the form of a multimedia device 1 in this instance. The multimedia device 1 is used in a motor vehicle 2 in the present exemplary embodiment. The motor vehicle contains a radio, a CD player, an MP3 player, a navigation appliance and further components. The multimedia device 1 has a memory 3 for storing digital audio and/or video data and an interface 4 to which a portable storage medium 5 can be connected. In this case, the interface 4 is what is known as an universal synchronous bus (USB) interface. The portable storage medium 5 may be a USB stick or a mobile hard disk, for example. The multimedia device 1 also contains a display device 6 for displaying a visual, particularly menu-controlled, user interface, for displaying videos, navigation information and other information. A control device 7 is used to control the processes and functions of the multimedia device 1. It is used particularly to control the menu-controlled user interface. The various components of the multimedia device 1 are connected to one another by a bus 8.
The storage medium 5 stores a large number of files containing audio data which correspond to pieces of music or music productions. In this case, the audio data are stored in MP3 format. However, it is also possible to use other formats, such as WMA or AAC. In addition, it is also possible for video data, for example from a music video, or other contents to be held on the storage medium 5 in addition or as an alternative to the audio data. The files may have associated additional metadata with statements relating to the contents of the files. In the case of the audio data with pieces of music, such metadata are particularly information relating to the artists, to the albums on which the individual pieces of music are held, to the tracks from the pieces of music and relating to musical styles with which the pieces of music may be associated. Since the audio data are available in MP3 format here, the metadata are stored as what are known as ID3-tags. The files are stored on the storage medium 5 using a prescribed file system. For this, the storage medium 5 holds a file directory which contains the structure for storing the files. By way of example, the files may be stored in the manner of a file system which is divided into various folders, as is known particularly from the program Windows Explorer in the computer operating system Microsoft Windows.
To select audio data, a user of the multimedia device 1 connects the storage medium 5 to the interface 4. In this case, this is detected by the multimedia device 1 substantially automatically, so that the control device 7 prompts the metadata to be read from the storage medium 5. Using the metadata which have been read, the files stored on the storage medium 5 are associated with prescribed categories. The categories correspond to individual menu items on a menu level in a menu on the user interface for selecting the audio data. In this context, the categories are particularly artists, albums, tracks and musical styles. The multimedia device 1 uses the metadata to compile a database which allows structured, simple access to the individual files containing the audio data using the various categories. The database and particularly the references and associations between the individual files and the various categories may advantageously be implemented by use of pointers. The database is stored in the memory 3, but may alternatively or additionally be stored on the storage medium 5. It is possible for the control device 7 to control reading of the audio data stored on the storage medium 5 and storage thereof in the memory 3. In this case, the files containing the audio data are likewise available in the multimedia device 1. The user can then remove the storage medium 5 from the interface 4 and use it for other purposes. The pieces of music can later be played back by accessing the memory 3 and do not necessarily need to be played back by accessing the connected storage medium 5 via the interface 4. This allows faster access. Nevertheless, it is also possible to access the files stored on the storage medium 5 when the storage medium is connected. Advantageously, the user can stipulate whether the files need to be loaded into the memory 3. Following creation of the database containing the metadata and/or the files containing the audio data, the multimedia device 1 can stipulate, when the same or another storage medium 5 is connected to the interface 4 again, whether the files stored thereon and their associated metadata are the same as previously. Changes to the composition of the files and the metadata are advantageously detected automatically, so that a new database can be set up or the already existing database can be adapted. The database can then be searched using a filter-based search which is implemented in the control device 7.
The filter-based search on the basis of the categories and metadata can be used for directly selecting pieces of music and files associated with them and compiling them into a result list which can then be accessed to play back the pieces of music on the MP3 player of the multimedia device 1. The filter-based search is performed using the visual user interface displayed on the display device 6. The search is menu-controlled, so that various menu levels are set up in succession which list menu items which can be selected by the user. The selection can be made through suitable activation of keys on the multimedia device 1 or by touching an appropriately marked field on the display device 6, for example. The filter-based search is controlled by the control device 7.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary illustration of three menu levels for selecting audio and/or video data. The menu levels are displayed in succession on the display device 6, with the individual menu levels being in hierarchic form relative to one another. FIG. 2 shows a main menu level 9 which contains a menu item 10, Look For Music, which is used to select a service on the multimedia device 1 that is used to look for pieces of music. When menu item 10 has been selected, a first menu level 11 is set up. This process is illustrated in FIG. 2 by an arrow 12 pointing from menu item 10 to the first menu level 11. The first menu level 11 contains two columns arranged next to one another with menu items. The right-hand column shows the categories Artists, Albums, Tracks and Musical styles as first menu items 13, 14, 15 and 16. In addition, the right-hand column contains a first menu item 17, Play. In the left-hand column of the first menu level 11, the first menu items 13-16 have associated fields 18, 19, 20 and 21 which show a selection in one of the categories which the user may have made previously. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, no such selection has yet been made, which results in that the fields 18-21 indicate that all the contents of the respective category are detected.
Upon selection of menu item 17, Play, the multimedia device 1 is prompted to play back hitherto selected and compiled pieces of music using the MP3 player and to access the files associated with these pieces of music. When one of the first menu items 13-16 is selected, the user can restrict the search for pieces of music further and branch to the category associated with the respectively selected menu item 13-16. By way of example, in FIG. 2 the selection of menu item 13, Artists, is identified by an arrow 22 which points from menu item 13 to a second menu level 23. The display of the second menu level 23 on the display device 6 is controlled via the control device 7. The second menu level 23 contains a plurality of second menu items. A top second menu item 24 contains all the selection options combined under the selected category. In the present case, the second menu item 24 contains all the available artists. Selection of the second menu item 24 would therefore not involve any restrictive selection being made for the Artists category, but rather all the available artists would be selected. Besides the second menu item 24, the second menu level 23 contains further second menu items which are associated with individual artists. FIG. 2 shows a second menu item 25 for an artist 1, a second menu item 26 for an artist 2, a second menu item 27 for an artist n and a second menu item 28 to represent an arbitrary number, situated between 2 and n, of further artists. In this case, n is a natural number. The number of second menu items on the second menu level 23 is dependent on the number of different artists available for selection. The user can now select one of the second menu items 24-28. In the present exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, he selects menu item 25, Artist 1. This is shown by an arrow 29 which points from menu item 25 to the first menu level 11. This makes it clear that following selection of menu item 25 the invention involves a branch back to the first menu level 11 again.
FIG. 3 shows another illustration of the menu levels 11 and 23 for selecting pieces of music and audio data associated with them. To display to the user his previously made selection of artist 1, this selection is displayed in field 18. Field 18 now contains the information that artist 1 has been selected, for example by showing the name of artist 1. Having branched back from the second menu level 23 to the first menu level 11, the user is provided with the option of further restricting his selection to audio data and pieces of music. However, the user can likewise actuate menu item 17, Play, in order to prompt playback of all the pieces of music from artist 1. The user can also correct his selection of artist 1. To do so, he again actuates menu item 13, so that, as described above in connection with FIG. 2, the second menu level 23 is set up again and provides him with a fresh selection of artists by use of menu items 24-28. In principle, even after branching back to the first menu level 11, the user can make a random selection from its menu items 13-17. That is to say that the user can select any of menu items 13-17. He is in no way restricted in his selection options.
In the present exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the user wishes to restrict his selection further. He actuates menu item 14 and in so doing selects the Albums category. The display device 6 then sets up the second menu level 23 with new second menu items 30-34. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 by an arrow 35 which points from menu item 14 to the second menu level 23. These second menu items 30-34 represent the various albums from artist 1 which have pieces of music available from them here. Menu item 30 contains all the available albums from artist 1. Menu item 31 represents an album 1, menu item 32 represents an album 2, menu item 33 represents an album m and menu item 34 represents an arbitrary number, situated between 2 and m, of further albums from artist 1. In this case, m is a natural number. The number of second menu items on the second menu level 23 is dependent on the number of different albums from artist 1 which are available for selection. The user can now select one of the second menu items 30-34. In the present exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, he selects menu item 32, Album 2. This is indicated by an arrow 36 which points from menu item 32 to the first menu level 11. This makes it clear that following selection of menu item 32 there is a branch back to the first menu level 11 again.
To achieve a particularly high level of convenience for the user, the menu items on the first menu level 11 and/or on the second menu level 23 can be used to indicate how many selection options are concealed by these individual menu items. In this regard, FIG. 4 shows another illustration of the first menu level 11 with the first menu items 13-17 in the right-hand column. As already described with reference to FIG. 3, the first menu level 11 in this case represents the situation where the user has previously selected artist 1. This is shown in field 18. Menu item 14, which represents the Albums category, uses a number two in brackets to additionally indicate to the user that, following selection of artist 1, menu item 14 has the option of selecting between two different albums from artist 1. If, in a subsequent selection, the user were to select menu item 14 then the second menu level would open with three menu items. Of these three menu items, one is associated with all, i.e. in this case both, available albums from artist 1 and the other two are associated with the two individual albums which are available. Menu item 15, which represents the Tracks category, furthermore uses a number twenty in brackets to indicate to the user that, following selection of artist 1, menu item 15 has the option of selecting between twenty different tracks from artist 1. If, in a subsequent selection, the user were to select menu item 15 then the second menu level would open with twenty-one menu items. Of these twenty-one menu items, one is associated with all, i.e. in this case the twenty, available tracks from artist 1 and the other twenty are associated with the twenty individual tracks which are available.
FIG. 4 also shows the first menu item 16 in a deactivated state. This indicates to the user that in this case menu item 16 does not conceal any further selection option. Actuation of menu item 16 would not get the user any further in his restrictive selection, so that this is advantageously indicated to him by the deactivation. In addition, field 21 could be filled with appropriate information, in particular automatically, e.g. with musical style 1, such as pop.
FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the first menu level 11. The left-hand column of the first menu level 11 indicates to the user the selection which he has previously made. In the present exemplary embodiment, field 18 indicates the selection of artist 1, field 19 indicates the selection of album 2, field 20 indicates no restrictive selection, i.e. all the tracks have been selected, and field 21 indicates the selection of the musical style pop. At this juncture, the user's selection is at an end and he wishes to play back the selected pieces of music. This is made possible by virtue of him actuating the first menu item 17, Play.
Alternatively, the multimedia device 1 may be in a form such that when the first menu item 17, Play, is actuated a result list 37 containing the tracks or titles from the pieces of music from the selection made is first of all shown on the display device 6. This is illustrated in FIG. 5 by an arrow 38 which points from menu item 17 to the result list 37. In this case, the result list 37 contains tracks 1 to k on album 2 from artist 1, whose music is associated with the musical style pop. In this case, k is a natural number. If menu item 17 were selected again, for example, tracks 1 to k in the result list 37 would then be played back sequentially by the multimedia device 1.
FIG. 6 shows an illustration of the main menu level 9 which, besides menu item 10, Look For Music, shows another menu item 39, Track List. Selecting menu item 39 allows the user to call the file directory in which the various audio files stored on the storage medium 5 or in the memory 3 are shown in structured form in folders with prescribed titles. This is shown in FIG. 6 by an arrow 40 which points from menu item 39 to a menu level 41 which is hierarchically subordinate to the main menu level 9. The menu level 41 shows such a file directory 42, which shows, by way of example, various folders 43 and 44 and a folder 45 to represent a possible multiplicity of further folders, and various tracks 46 and 47 and a track 48 to represent a possible multiplicity of further tracks from pieces of music. The folders 43, 44, 45 conceal further tracks from pieces of music. These tracks can be displayed by opening the folders 43, 44, 45. In addition to the file directory 42, menu level 41 contains a menu item 49 for the result of the menu-controlled selection of audio data already concluded previously, as described with reference to FIG. 5. Menu item 49 therefore conceals the result list 37 with tracks 1 to k on album 2 from artist 1. The user can therefore access the pieces of music previously selected under menu control when selecting menu item 39 too. It is also possible to show further result lists, containing tracks from pieces of music which have been compiled during other searches previously carried out, in menu level 41 via a separate menu item. This also allows the user simple access to these result lists.
Patent Application
20070271530
