U.S. patent application number 11/303097 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for portable media device interoperability.
This patent application is currently assigned to Yahoo!, Inc.. Invention is credited to Scott Austin Haynie, Daniel Carter Hunt, Matthew David New, Jonathan Cooper Ochenas.
Application Number | 20060195864 11/303097 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36941496 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060195864 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
New; Matthew David ; et
al. |
August 31, 2006 |
Portable media device interoperability
Abstract
A method of adding content to a portable entertainment device,
comprising identifying DRM capabilities of the portable
entertainment device, defining a first set of content, defining a
second set of content which is comprised of content selected by a
user from the first content set, identifying content which is not
compatible with the DRM capabilities of the portable entertainment
device, and obtaining rights which allow at least a subset of the
identified content to be copied to the portable entertainment
device. The method also allows new content to be periodically added
to the portable entertainment device. Also disclosed is a user
interface through which the user can build a list of content to be
copied to the portable entertainment device and through which the
user can obtain any necessary rights to such content.
Inventors: |
New; Matthew David; (Irvine,
CA) ; Ochenas; Jonathan Cooper; (Santa Monica,
CA) ; Haynie; Scott Austin; (Santa Monica, CA)
; Hunt; Daniel Carter; (Carlsbad, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James J. DeCarlo;GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP
MetLife Building
200 Park Avenue
New York
NY
10166
US
|
Assignee: |
Yahoo!, Inc.
Sunnyvale
CA
|
Family ID: |
36941496 |
Appl. No.: |
11/303097 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60657222 |
Feb 28, 2005 |
|
|
|
60678718 |
May 5, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/25 ;
725/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 29/06027 20130101;
G06F 16/9535 20190101; G06F 16/273 20190101; G06F 2221/2113
20130101; H04L 67/306 20130101; H04L 67/34 20130101; G06F 2216/01
20130101; G11B 27/105 20130101; H04L 63/0263 20130101; H04L 63/105
20130101; G11B 27/34 20130101; H04L 2463/101 20130101; G06Q 30/06
20130101; H04N 21/41407 20130101; H04L 51/04 20130101; H04L 65/4084
20130101; H04N 21/4627 20130101; H04L 67/327 20130101; H04N 21/658
20130101; H04N 21/4622 20130101; H04N 21/4788 20130101; G06F 21/10
20130101; H04N 21/2541 20130101; Y10S 707/913 20130101; G06F
16/3344 20190101; G06F 16/639 20190101; H04L 67/22 20130101; G06F
16/4393 20190101; G06F 2213/0038 20130101; H04L 63/101 20130101;
H04N 21/4331 20130101; H04N 21/8355 20130101; H04L 67/325 20130101;
G06F 21/6236 20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101; H04L 12/1822
20130101; H04N 21/4126 20130101; G06Q 20/386 20200501; G06Q 10/10
20130101; G06F 2221/2137 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; G11B
20/00086 20130101; H04N 21/4825 20130101; H04L 67/06 20130101; H04N
21/47214 20130101; G06F 16/637 20190101; H04N 21/8113 20130101;
G06F 16/4387 20190101; G06Q 20/1235 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/025 ;
725/062 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/16 20060101
H04N007/16 |
Claims
1. A method of adding content to a portable entertainment device,
comprising: identifying digital rights management capabilities of a
portable entertainment device onto which content is to be added;
defining a first content set, wherein at least one content
attribute is associated with each member of the first content set;
defining a second content set, wherein the second content set is
comprised of content selected from the first content set whose
content attributes match those selected by a user; identifying as a
third content set that content in the second content set which is
not compatible with the digital rights management capabilities of
the portable entertainment device and/or rights of the user;
obtaining rights which allow at least a subset of the third content
set to be transferred to the portable entertainment device; and,
allowing the content defined in the second content set and for
which appropriate rights have been obtained to be transferred to
the portable entertainment device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second content set is
represented as a playlist associated with the portable
entertainment device.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein additional content is added to
the second content set based on the playlist.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the additional content is
automatically added to the playlist.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the additional content is
substituted for the least frequently accessed content in the
playlist.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein additional content is added to
the second content set based on the attributes selected by the
user.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the additional content is
automatically added to the second content set.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the additional content is
substituted for the least frequently accessed content in the second
content set.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the additional content is
substituted for a plurality of content based on content size.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the content attributes are
comprised of random, access frequency, size, genre, artist, and
album.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user can select from a
plurality of the content attributes.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising allowing the user to
order the selected content attributes.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising allowing the user to
create rules based on the selected content attributes.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second content set is
further comprised of content whose content attributes are similar
to those selected by the user.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the degree of similarity is
determined at least in part by user rankings of members of the
first content set.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the degree of similarity is
determined at least in part by the frequency with which the user
has elected to access content from the first content set and
attributes associated with the most frequently accessed
content.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein rights compatible with the
portable entertainment device are automatically obtained for each
member of the third content set.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein rights compatible with the
portable entertainment device are automatically obtained for at
least a subset of the third content set.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein rights compatible with the
portable entertainment device are obtained for members of the third
content set only after user authorization.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the user authorization applies
to all members of the third content set.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the user authorization applies
to at least one subset of the third content set.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital rights management
capabilities of the portable entertainment device include the
ability to support content subscription.
23. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether
rights to content stored on the portable media device have expired
and prohibiting access to content for which the rights have
expired.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising obtaining additional
rights to the content for which the rights have expired.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein additional rights are obtained
for at least a subset of the content for which the rights have
expired.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the additional rights are
obtained automatically.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the additional rights are
obtained after user authorization.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from Provisional U.S.
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/657,222, filed Feb. 28, 2005, and
Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/678,718 filed May
5, 2005, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
[0002] This application includes material which is subject to
copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the
facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it
appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but
otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of portable media
reproduction devices, and more specifically to the creation and
maintenance of playlists for portable media reproduction
devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The advent of computers has greatly changed how users
transport and access music, movies, television shows, photographs,
and other sensory-stimulating content. Perhaps one of the biggest
drivers in recent years is the advent of the Motion Picture
Entertainment Group Layer 3 ("MP3") standard for audio encoding,
and the resulting cadre of portable devices capable of playing
audio encoded in the MP3 standard. From cellular telephones, such
as the Audiovox SMT 6500 Smartphone, to portable digital assistants
("PDA's"), to specialized devices such as the iPod line of portable
entertainment devices by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.,
the Zen and MuVo lines of portable entertainment devices by
Creative Technology, Ltd., and the iRiver line or portable
entertainment devices by IRiver Incorporated of Seoul, South Korea,
a wide variety of products are available which allow people to take
their favorite music and other content with them wherever they
go.
[0005] However, such devices often pose unique problems for users.
Although the devices can carry tens of thousands of pictures,
several thousand songs, hundreds of hours of television shows, or
other such single- and multi-media content, the users can become
bored with accessing the same content over and over, even where the
order and/or frequency of playback is determined through one or
more playlists. Thus, users frequently wish to update their
portable entertainment devices with new content.
[0006] Users can add content to a portable media device through a
variety of means. With respect to music content, such means include
creating one or more MP3 files from songs on a compact disc ("CD"),
tape, or phonograph, a process referred to as "ripping". While
ripping is popular, it requires that users visit a
bricks-and-mortar or online retailer, purchase the CD or other
physical copy of the content, and then take the time to convert the
content file or files into the desired format. This is both time
consuming and technologically challenging for many consumers. To
help facilitate users gaining access to larger music libraries, and
thus allowing them to enhance the scope of content available on a
portable media device, some services have been launched through
which a user can download an MP3 or other content file from an
online music source.
[0007] Several different content sources have become available in
recent years, and many use differing business models. One business
model, supported by the Yahoo! Music Engine service offered by
Yahoo!, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., is the "tethered-download" or
subscription model. In this model, users pay a flat fee to download
content files from a central source to their home computer. This
flat fee is typically relatively low because content downloaded
from such services is protected using digital rights management
("DRM") technology, and will frequently expire (i.e. cannot be
played or accessed) if the user stops subscribing to the service.
Some services allow the downloaded content to be transferred to
portable entertainment devices, where the devices support DRM.
[0008] While such services have gained in popularity, not all
portable entertainment devices support digital rights management,
and some services require different forms of digital rights
management. Thus, unless a user has a DRM-compatible portable
entertainment device, the user is not able to take full advantage
of the content provided by such services.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system
and method creating playlists for portable entertainment devices,
and for obtaining appropriate DRM rights for the content in such
playlists, that substantially obviates one or more of the problems
due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method
of adding content to a portable entertainment device, comprising
identifying digital rights management capabilities of a portable
entertainment device onto which content is to be added; defining a
first content set, wherein at least one content attribute is
associated with each member of the first content set; defining a
second content set, wherein the second content set is comprised of
content selected from the first content set whose content
attributes match those selected by a user; identifying as a third
content set that content in the second content set which is not
compatible with the digital rights management capabilities of the
portable entertainment device and/or rights of the user; obtaining
rights which allow at least a subset of the third content set to be
transferred to the portable entertainment device; and, allowing the
content defined in the second content set and for which appropriate
rights have been obtained to be transferred to the portable
entertainment device.
[0011] It is a further object of the invention to provide a user
interface for defining content to be transferred to a portable
entertainment device, comprising a list of available content, a
selected content list, and a transfer content user interface
element, wherein the user interface allows content from the list of
available content to be added to the selected content list, wherein
content in the selected content list for which the user has
appropriate rights to allow the content to be transferred to the
portable entertainment device are presented differently than other
content, and wherein, upon activation of the transfer content user
interface element, rights are obtained to transfer to the portable
entertainment device any content in the selected content list for
which the user does not have appropriate rights.
[0012] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the
appended drawings.
[0013] An embodiment of the invention is implemented as part of
content management software for portable entertainment devices. The
software allows a user to easily build one or more "playlists", or
lists of content to be transferred to a portable entertainment
device, and to associate the playlist with a given portable
entertainment device such that changes to the content in the
playlist are automatically transferred to the portable
entertainment device when the portable entertainment device is
synchronized or otherwise connected to a content source, or such a
content source is made available to the portable entertainment
device. Such content sources may include, without limitation,
content stored on a computer associated with the user, content
stored remotely on a server, and content available from other
users.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, playlists may include individual
content entries selected by the user (such as by dragging and
dropping entries from a list of available content onto the
playlist), and/or rules by which content available to the user can
be selected for inclusion in the playlist. By way of example,
without intending to limit the present invention, a playlist rule
may indicate that all content by the user's three favorite artists
are to be given the highest priority, and that randomly selected
content of a specific genre is to be given the next highest
priority. The software can then select from the available content
that content which meets the user-defined rules and can add such
content to the playlist.
[0015] The software can also preferably monitor content added to a
playlist and automatically determine whether the user has the
rights necessary to allow the content to be transferred to the
portable entertainment device. By way of example, without intending
to limit the present invention, the portable entertainment device
may not support DRM, or may not support a particular DRM method,
thus the user may not be authorized to copy the currently-available
content file to the portable entertainment device. In such
instances, the software can ask the user whether rights should be
obtained which permit the content to be copied to the portable
entertainment device and, where the user authorizes obtaining such
rights, the software can automatically obtain the rights for the
user.
[0016] In one embodiment, the software also provides visual
feedback to the user regarding the DRM licensing status of
particular content with respect to a given portable entertainment
device. Such feedback may include, but is not limited to,
displaying the title, artist, track, or other information
associated with content for which the user does not have an
appropriate DRM license in a different font, altering the color of
the font, altering the background behind the text, striking through
the text, drawing a box around the text, or the like. Furthermore,
the software may order the playlist so that entries corresponding
to content for which appropriate licensing information is not
available appear at the bottom or top of the playlist, or in an
alternative window or portion of the window associated with the
playlist.
[0017] The software can also allow new content to be added to a
portable entertainment device. Such content can be selected based
on the contents of a playlist. By way of example, without intending
to limit the present invention, a user's preferences may be
determined based on the frequency with which an artist or genre
appears within a playlist, based on the frequency with which a
particular content file is played by the user, based on the user's
ratings of different content within the playlist, or combinations
thereof. The software can then select new content that has similar
characteristics to those preferred by the user and the new content
can be added to the playlist, thereby allowing the user to access
new content. Similarly, rules associated with a playlist may be
used to select appropriate content.
[0018] Where a portable entertainment device is capable of storing
new content, the new content can merely be added to the device.
However, where the device is too full to allow new content to be
copied thereto, the software can substitute the new content for
content in the playlist associated with the device. The user can
preferably control the number of playlist entries and/or content
files that can be substituted, and the frequency with which such
substitutions may occur. The user can also preferably control the
manner in which the software chooses a content file or files for
which the new content is to be substituted. By way of example,
without intending to limit the present invention, the user may
choose the content files to be removed, the user may choose to have
the lowest rated content removed first, or the user may choose to
have the least frequently accessed content removed first.
[0019] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of
the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of at least one embodiment of the invention.
[0021] In the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a method through
which content can be added to a portable entertainment device.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a network
architecture through which content can be added to a portable
entertainment device.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a screen capture illustrating a user interface
through which individual content files can be added to a
playlist.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a screen capture illustrating an alternative user
interface through which DRM licensing information is displayed to a
user.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a screen capture of a user interface through which
DRM licensing information is displayed to a user.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a screen capture illustrating a user interface
through which DRM licensing information can be acquired or
reacquired.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a screen capture illustrating a user interface
through which DRM license acquisition status information is
conveyed to a user.
[0029] FIG. 8 is a screen capture illustrating a user interface
through which a playlist can be associated with a portable
entertainment device.
[0030] FIG. 9 is a screen capture illustrating a user interface
through which a playlist can be automatically filled with content
based on user preferences and/or rules.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0032] An aspect of the present invention allows a user to easily
obtain rights to content such that the content can be copied to a
portable entertainment device. The rights necessary may vary
depending on the DRM capabilities of the portable entertainment
device and rules related to the copying of such content set forth
by the content's author, publisher, or other content provider. By
way of example, without intending to limit the present invention, a
content provider may agree that a user can copy any song from a
music library to a portable entertainment device that supports
Windows Media DRM, published by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,
Wash., because such devices can prevent users from distributing the
content. While the content provider may prefer the controls a
Windows Media DRM-enabled device provides, the content provider may
not wish to be limited to only selling or licensing content to
users with Windows Media DRM-enabled devices. Thus, the content
provider may decide to charge an additional fee if the user wishes
to transfer the content to a device that does not support Windows
Media DRM, in an effort to discourage content piracy. Although
reference is made to only two types of DRM-enabled devices,
specifically non-DRM enabled devices and Windows Media DRM-enabled
devices, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that
alternative DRM arrangements, including providing support for a
plurality of DRM solutions, may be substituted therefor without
departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a method through
which content can be added to a portable entertainment device. In
Block 100 of FIG. 1, a set of content is defined which includes
content available to the user. Such content may include, but is not
limited to, content ripped by the user, content available to the
user by virtue of the user having subscribed to a content provider,
and content available for a fee from another source. In a preferred
embodiment, such content will have at least one attribute, such as,
without limitation, access frequency, size, artist, actor(s),
title, genre, producer, director, album, track, scene, or the like
associated therewith. Such attributes typically simplify
identifying content files and allow users to more easily find and
access the associated content.
[0034] As described above, not all portable entertainment devices
support all of the various DRM technologies that exist, and most
current DRM technologies are not interoperable. Thus, it is
advantageous to content providers that portable entertainment
devices that support the content provider's preferred DRM
technology be readily identified, thereby allowing the content
provider to give users access to DRM-protected content where
possible, and to identify where alternative licensing architectures
must be utilized.
[0035] In Block 110, the DRM capabilities of the user's portable
entertainment device are identified. Such DRM capabilities may be
determined through a variety of means including, without
limitation, by polling the portable entertainment device for its
DRM capabilities, cross-referencing a device identifier associated
with the portable entertainment device with a list of known device
identifiers associated DRM capabilities, and retrieving the model
and software revision numbers associated with the portable
entertainment device and cross-referencing these against a list of
known DRM capabilities.
[0036] In Block 120, the user selects content to be transferred to
the device from the set of user-accessible content. In one
embodiment, this user-selected content can be stored in a playlist
associated with the portable entertainment device, thereby
facilitating maintenance of the content stored on the portable
entertainment device.
[0037] In an alternative embodiment, if the user so chooses, new
content can be added to a playlist associated with a portable
entertainment device at user-defined intervals, thereby adding
variety to the content available to the user via the portable
entertainment device. By way of example, without intending to limit
the present invention, if a user has a favorite artist, new content
created by that artist can be copied to the portable entertainment
device when the new content becomes available. As another example,
the user's content preferences can be determined by analyzing the
attributes associated with the contents of a playlist. These
preferences can then be used to identify content similar to that
preferred by the user, and thereby allow the user to access content
with which the user is not familiar, and to which the user may not
otherwise have had access. Such similarities may be based on user
preferences as evidenced by a playlist, including the frequency
with which specific content is accessed, the user's ratings of
specific content, and the like. The similarities may be based on
general content attributes, such as those described above, or based
on rhythm, words appearing in the lyrics or script, themes,
orchestration, colors, settings, character types, or other such
characteristics.
[0038] New content can be added to the playlist when requested by
the user, or at pre-defined intervals, such as, without limitation,
daily, weekly, or monthly. Similarly, the last date on which
content was accessed can be used to determine when new content
should be substituted for the content. By way of example, a user
may specify that any content that has not been accessed with the
past two months is to be removed from the portable entertainment
device, and new content substituted therefor.
[0039] New content can be substituted for another entry or entries
in a playlist associated with a portable media player, as
necessary, based on one or more criteria. Such criteria can
include, but are not limited to, the space available in the
portable entertainment device, the number of content files
supported by the portable entertainment device, and the like.
Selection of content to be removed from a playlist can occur based
on a variety of user-selectable options. By way of example, without
intending to limit the present invention, the user may select the
content to be removed. Continuing the example, the content may be
automatically removed based on the frequency with which the content
has been accessed by the user; the user's rating of the content;
the user's preference for a given genre, artist, or the like; or
combinations thereof. Such preferences may be determined based on
the content comprising the playlist.
[0040] In Block 130, the DRM capabilities of the portable
entertainment device are compared to the DRM attributes associated
with the content to be transferred to the device. In Block 140,
where the portable entertainment device's DRM capabilities are
compatible with those of the selected content, and where the
content's DRM attributes permit the content to be copied to the
portable entertainment device, the portable entertainment device is
permitted to copy the content, or the content is copied to the
portable entertainment device, as appropriate for the particular
device.
[0041] Where the portable entertainment device's DRM capabilities
are not compatible with those of the selected content, or where the
portable entertainment device does not support DRM, the appropriate
rights are obtained to the content. In a preferred embodiment, the
user can select from a variety of rights-authorization modes. One
such mode allows the user to indicate that all necessary rights to
content to be transferred to a portable entertainment device should
be automatically obtained without further user intervention.
Another mode allows the user to indicate a set of content, or
content whose attributes match certain rules, for which appropriate
rights are to be automatically obtained. Still another mode
requires user intervention for each content file for which rights
must be obtained. The set of modes described above is intended to
be exemplary, and it should be apparent to one skilled in the art
that alternative modes may be substituted therefor, or added
thereto, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the
invention.
[0042] While FIG. 1 presents blocks 100 through 130 as occurring in
a particular order, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art
that alternative orders may be substituted therefor without
departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
[0043] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary architecture through which
the present invention can be implemented. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 2, it is assumed, as is standard at the present
time, that portable entertainment device 210 has limited
communication and/or storage capabilities, or that portable
entertainment device 210 may not have as consistent access to
Internet 230 and resources provided thereby as user computer 200,
and thus it is preferable to have portable entertainment device 210
obtain content from a local resource such as user computer 200.
However, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that
alternative content acquisition means, such as, without limitation,
allowing portable entertainment device 210 to directly access
Internet 230, or allowing portable entertainment device 210 to
communicate directly with server 260 or content database 270 via a
dedicated communications means, can be substituted therefor without
departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
[0044] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, content is provided by content
provider 230 to one or more user computers 200 via Internet 220. In
the illustrated embodiment, content provider 230 employs a
redundant architecture to provide improved availability,
reliability, and scalability. While a redundant architecture is
preferred, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that a
single server may be substituted therefore without departing from
the spirit or the scope of the invention. Similarly, although a
redundant architecture with only two of each hardware device is
illustrated, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that
additional hardware devices can be added, or hardware devices
removed, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the
invention.
[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, routers 240 facilitate proper
traffic flow between Internet 220 and other hardware employed by
content provider 230. Router 240 may also provide firewall
protection and other such services.
[0046] Routers 240 are communicatively coupled to hub/load
balancers 250. Hub/load balancers 250 can preferably monitor the
capabilities, workload assignments, and response times for each of
servers 260. This allows hub/load balancers 250 to select the
appropriate server or servers for any new incoming service
requests.
[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, servers 260 preferably
provide an interface to content databases 270. Servers 260
preferably authenticate users, control user access to content
stored in content databases 270, monitor DRM rights associated with
content stored in content databases 270, provide user computer 200
with a list of DRM compatible devices, and perform other such
functions. Servers 260 preferably use hypertext markup language
("HTML"), eXtensible Markup Language ("XML") or other structured
language to provide such an interface. In one embodiment, user
computer 200 employs a browser or other software application
capable of receiving HTML or XML information from servers 260 and
converting this information into a user-readable form.
[0048] Users accessing user computer 200 can preferably select
content to be downloaded and stored locally on user computer 200,
to access content streamed to user computer 200 via content
provider 230, and the like. As described above with respect to FIG.
1, where the DRM capabilities of portable entertainment device 210
are consistent with the DRM rights of a given content file, the
user can transfer content from user computer 200 to portable
entertainment device 210 via a wired or wireless connection. This
can be done, for example, by associating a playlist stored on user
computer 200 with portable entertainment device 210.
[0049] Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of
a user interface through which playlists can be created, associated
with a portable entertainment device, and maintained. Exemplary
embodiments of such a user interface are illustrated in FIGS. 3
through 9. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, content is made
available to the user from a plurality of content sources,
including subscription service 310 and local content 320. When the
user selects a content source, the user is presented with a list of
available content. Such content can be organized based on one or
more content attributes. In the illustrated embodiment, the content
is organized by genre, with individual content entries listed in
content pane 350. The user can select one or more content entries
from content pane 350, and drag them to playlist area 360, where
they are listed as content entries 300. When the user is satisfied
with the content in playlist area 360, the user can store the
playlist by clicking Save button 380. The playlist will then appear
under playlists 340. When the user is ready to transfer the content
listed in the playlist to a portable entertainment device, such as
one of the portable devices listed in portable devices list 330,
the user can click Actions button 370 or otherwise interact with a
user interface element to initiate the content transfer.
[0050] In a preferred embodiment, as content is added to playlist
are 360, the DRM attributes of the content are compared to the DRM
capabilities of a portable entertainment device with which the
playlist is associated. If the DRM capabilities are incompatible,
the user interface preferably indicates the incompatibility to the
user. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, content entries 300
are incompatible with the portable entertainment device, and the
content entries are highlighted. In alternative embodiments,
alternative means for indicating DRM incompatibilities may be used,
including, without limitation, striking through the content
entries, using a bold or italic font, using an alternative font,
using an alternative font color, placing a DRM-associated icon next
to or near the content entry, such as burnable icon 400 of FIG. 4,
and the like.
[0051] Where the DRM capabilities of the portable entertainment
device are incompatible with those of one or more content files, or
where rights have not yet been obtained to one or more content
files, a dialog box or other user interface element similar to that
of FIG. 5 can be presented to the user. Such a dialog box
preferably identifies the content with which the DRM capabilities
of the portable entertainment device are incompatible and provides
instructions to the user as to how to remedy the
incompatibility.
[0052] In one embodiment, the user interface preferably allows the
user to specify whether any necessary DRM rights are to be
automatically obtained or whether such rights should be obtained
through various degrees of user interaction.
[0053] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary user interface through which
additional licensing can be acquired, and through which current
licensing, such as licenses obtained via a subscription, can be
reacquired. In the illustrated embodiment, the user's preference
for license reacquisition or acquisition is determined by the
context within the user interface. That is, where the content list
is the list of all available content and where the content is
subscription content, the user interface can presume the user
wishes to reacquire a license. Where the content list is a playlist
associated with a portable entertainment device, the user interface
can presume the user wishes to acquire a license that allows the
content to be copied to the portable entertainment device.
[0054] In FIG. 6, when the user right-clicks or otherwise interacts
with content from a content list associated with a portable
entertainment device, the user can then navigate the resulting menu
to access Reacquire License 600. By clicking on or otherwise
interacting with Reacquire License 600, the user can initiate
acquisition of an appropriate license. It should be apparent to one
skilled in the art that although multi-tiered menus are illustrated
as the means through which the user instructs the user interface to
acquire new licenses or to reacquire licenses, alternative user
interface elements, such as, without limitation, buttons or
single-tiered menus, may be substituted therefor without departing
from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the user is advised as to the
status of any license acquisition or reacquisition via a dialog box
or other user interface element such as dialog box 700 of FIG. 7.
By way of example, without intending to limit the present
invention, status information may also or alternatively be
presented in status bar 710. The status information may also
include the cost of any necessary licenses, and can allow the user
to authorize payment of such costs. Payment can be made at that
time via a credit card, debit card, or debit account associated
with the user, or by adding the cost to the user's monthly fee. It
should be apparent to one skilled in the art that alternative
payment means may be substituted for those described herein without
departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
[0056] FIG. 8 is a screen capture of an exemplary user interface
through which the user can indicate one or more synchronization
preferences for a given portable entertainment device. In this
embodiment, the user can select, by checking checkbox 800, whether
content should be automatically synchronized each time the portable
entertainment device is communicatively coupled to a content
source, such as a local computer or content provider. If the
portable entertainment device is to be synchronized, the user can
specify the synchronization settings in synchronization settings
810. In the illustrated embodiment, the user can elect to have all
available local content synchronized, or to have content associated
with one or more playlists, illustrated in Playlists 820,
synchronized with the portable entertainment device. Where the user
wishes to create a new playlist to be associated with a portable
entertainment device, the user can click on build playlist button
830 or other activate another such user interface element.
[0057] Clicking on build playlist button 830 preferably causes a
window similar to that illustrated in FIG. 9 to appear. The
playlist creation window illustrated in FIG. 9 allows the user to
name the playlist in text box 900, and to create rules governing
how content is to be added to the playlist. In the illustrated
embodiment, the user selects a content attribute type from content
attribute type list 910, which causes a list of available content
attributes to be listed in content attribute list 930. The user can
then select one or more content attributes from content attribute
list 930, or select all available content attributes using select
all button 920. The user then clicks Create Playlist 940 or
otherwise activates another such user interface element to initiate
the generation of a playlist according to the rules specified by
the user. Once the playlist has been generated, the content
associated with the playlist can be transferred to a portable
entertainment device using the methods described above.
[0058] While the invention has been described in detail and with
reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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