Patent ID: 8316081
Filing Date: 2012-11-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a portable media player for previewing a user's media collection on the portable media player comprising: generating a play history identifying media files played by the portable media player prior to a first synchronization process, the media files having distinct characteristics; providing the play history to an associated system during the first synchronization process; receiving, at the portable media player from the associated system, a plurality of previews that are previews of media files selected, at least in part, based on a user profile of a user associated with the portable media player and the associated system, wherein the user profile comprises information selected from a group consisting of at least one user preference and demographic information regarding the user, the plurality of previews being previews of media files programmatically selected by the associated system from the user's media collection, which is stored on the associated system, wherein the plurality of previews are previews of media files selected based on the distinct characteristics of the media files in the play history, the plurality of previews having characteristics related to the distinct characteristics of the media files played by the portable media player; playing the plurality of previews on the portable media player; identifying a select one of the plurality of previews at the portable media player; and obtaining, by the portable media player, a one of the media files corresponding to the select one of the plurality of previews from the associated system.