Patent ID: 7765326
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: G06F,G11B,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for synchronizing media items of a portable media player with a host computer, the media player storing player media information, and the host computer storing host media information, said method comprising: retrieving a media player identifier from the media player, wherein the media player identifier is a pseudo-random identifier that specifically identifies the media player; comparing the media player identifier with a synchronized device identifier stored at the host computer to produce first comparison information, wherein the synchronized device identifier identifies a device that has been locked for synchronization with the host computer; determining whether synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed based on the first comparison information; and automatically synchronizing the media player with the host computer when said determining determines that synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed, wherein said synchronizing transfers one or more media items to the media player from the host computer, whereby for the one or more media items being received, media item data is received at the media player via a first electronic file and stored in a media store at the media player, and media information data is received at the media player via a second electronic file and stored in a media database at the media player, the second electronic file being distinct from the first electronic file, wherein the media information data including at least one quality characteristic, the at least one quality characteristic includes at least one or more user-specified equalization settings, wherein when the media player is configured to play an identified one of the media items, the media player is configured to play the identified one of the media items in accordance with at least one of the one or more user-specified equalization settings corresponding thereto, wherein said determining whether synchronization between the media player and the host computer should be performed comprises determining that synchronization should be automatically performed if said comparing of the media player identifier with the synchronized device identifier indicates that the media player is the media player that has been previously locked for synchronization with the host computer, wherein said synchronizing of the media player with the host computer is not automatically performed when said determining determines that the media player identifier does not match the synchronization device identifier, wherein said method further comprises: wherein the media player and the host computer are separate devices.