Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a media player. The media player includes a play and a station. The player decodes media data. The station includes a first connection and a second connection unit The first connection unit connects to a network and transmits and receives data. The second connection unit exchanges data with the first connection unit in a state of being connected to the player.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to the U.S. Provisional application No. 60/703,817 filed on Jul. 28, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to a media playing apparatus and, more particularly, to a player device, and a stand device on which the player device is seated and through which the player device is charged with power, etc., the player device and the stand device being capable of being separated from each other.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0005]     With the remarkable development of technology, recent portable devices have lighter weight and higher storage capacity, therefore many people frequently perform an operation of acquiring media data, such as audio data files in Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer-3 (MP3) format, via Personal Computers (PCs), connecting portable devices to the PCs, and then copying or moving and storing the acquired files in the storage means of the portable devices. By playing the above-described stored media files at the time desired by users, the users can enjoy the media files regardless of the time and location.  
         [0006]     Meanwhile, when a speaker for outputting audio is mounted on such a portable device, it limits the possible weight reduction of the portable device, therefore the portable device is not equipped with a speaker but requires users to listen to audio via earphones. However, since the long-term use of earphones is excessively harmful to the sense of hearing, a user may wish to listen to audio content played via the portable device when the user remains in a defined space, such as a home or an office.  
         [0007]     In order to satisfy such a desire, a device, in which a speaker is provided on a stand device  2  for charging a portable device  1  with power, such as a cradle or station, and audio data is provided to the stand device  2  via a connection port, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, while the portable device  1  is seated on the stand device  2 , as shown in  FIG. 1A , thereby outputting audio via the speaker provided in the stand device  2 , has been developed and is currently being popularized  
         [0008]     The construction of the device shown in  FIG. 1A  corresponds to a communication protocol structure shown in  FIG. 1B  so as to perform data communication. As exemplified in  FIG. 1B , the portable device  1  and the stand device  2  are provided with peer physical layer/link layer protocols besides connection structures for charging the portable device  1  with power, the audio data decoded in the portable device  1  is transmitted to the stand device  2  via the protocols, undergoes necessary signal processing  2   a , such as digital to analog conversion and signal amplification, in the stand device  2 , and is then output as sound via the speaker  2   b.    
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a media player having a portable device and a stand device, in which a function of communication with a network is provided in the stand device, therefore the acquisition of media content is made convenient and various types of reproduction are enabled  
         [0010]     In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a media playing apparatus, including a player for decoding media data; and a station including a first connection unit for connecting to a network and transmitting and receiving data, and a second connection unit for exchanging data with the player in a state of being connected to the player.  
         [0011]     In addition in order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a media playing apparatus, including a decoding unit configured to transmit signals which are obtained by decoding media data, to a station in a state of being seated on the station; and a stack structure including a hierarchically organized first protocol stack and a second protocol stack organized in parallel with the first protocol stack, the fist protocol stack being composed of a counterpart point-to-point port to be connected to a point-to-point communication port embedded in the station and a protocol for network connection, the second protocol stack being composed of a point-to-point port.  
         [0012]     In an embodiment of the present invention, the first connection unit includes a physical layer for connection to a network, the second connection unit includes a point-to-point communication port, and the station relays data between the first and second connection units.  
         [0013]     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the first connection unit includes a physical layer for connection to a network and a protocol for connection to a network above the physical layer, the second connection unit includes a point-to-point communication port, and the station relays data between tile first and second connection units.  
         [0014]     In a still further embodiment of the present invention, the first connection unit includes a physical layer for connection to a network and a protocol for connection to a network above the physical layer, the second connection unit includes a point-to-point communication port and a protocol for connection to a network above the point-to-point communication port, and the station relays data between the first and second connection units.  
         [0015]     In an embodiment of the present invention the point-to-point communication port is a USB port.  
         [0016]     In an embodiment of the present invention, the protocol for connection to a network includes TCP/IP.  
         [0017]     In an embodiment of the present invention, the station connects to a server on a network-via the first connection unit, searches for a media file, requests the transmission of the media file, and relays the transmitted media file to the player via the second connection unit.  
         [0018]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the station connects to a server on a network via the first connection unit, searches for a media file, requests the transmission of the media file, stores the transmitted media file in a storage means, and provides the stored media file to the player via the second connection unit in response to a request from the player.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more dearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an example of a state in which a portable (mobile) media player is seated on a stand device and is charged with power;  
         [0021]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a construction related to the audio output of data, which is decoded in a portable media player, via a speaker provided in a stand device;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the construction of a media player connected to a network, according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the structure of the protocol stacks of the portable media player and stand device of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention and the structure of the protocol stacks of the portable media player and stand device of  FIG. 2  according to another embodiment of the present invention, respectively,  
         [0024]      FIG. 3C  illustrates the structure of the protocol stacks of the portable (mobile) player device and stand device of  FIG. 2  according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0025]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the structure of the protocol stacks of tile portable player device and stand device of  FIG. 2  according to a still further embodiment of the present invention and the structure of the protocol stacks of the portable player device and stand device of  FIG. 2  according to a still further embodiment of the present invention, respectively. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the construction of a media player connected to a network according to the present invention. The media player induces a portable (mobile) device  10  having a media reproduction function and a stand device  20  having a speaker. Furthermore, the stand device  20  has a function of connecting to a network, such as the Internet, and performing communication, besides a function of charging the portable device  10  with power. According to the present invention, the communication function of the stand device  20  may be implemented in various fashions. The portable device  10  may be an MP3 player that plays music files in MP3 format, or another small-size multimedia player that is equipped with a liquid crystal screen and can be carried.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of a protocol stack for a communication function that is constructed in the stand device  20 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3A , the stand device  20  includes a USB unit (or a USB port)  20   a  including a protocol for performing one-to-one communication with the portable device  10  and an Ethernet unit  20   b  including a protocol for connecting to and performing communication with a network  30 . USB and Ethernet, used in the description of the present invention, are only examples. In place of USB, another connection protocol for point-to-point communication (for example, PS2 port) or a connection protocol for multi-to-multi communication (for example, IEEE1394 port) may be used, while, in place of Ethernet, another Local Area Network A) protocol for network connection may be used. This is applied to descriptions of other embodiments in the same manner. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the Ethernet unit  20   b  includes only a physical layer protocol and is not used to further include a link layer or network layer protocol. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, the Ethernet protocol unit may include protocols for the lint layer and network layer above the physical Layer, as shown in  FIG. 3B . In this case, a stand device  20 ′ is provided with a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) unit corresponding to that of the portable device  10  in a protocol unit  20   a ′ corresponding to that of the portable device  10 , thereby matching the protocols of the network  30  and the portable device  10  to each other and relaying messages.  
         [0029]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3A , in the case where the stand device  20  is connected to the portable device  10 , the stand device  20  functions to relay messages. That is, a message received from the portable device  10 , through the USB unit  20   a  is divested of a protocol header, is added with an Ethernet header via the Ethernet protocol unit  20   b  (or is converted into another type of signal) and is then transmitted to the network  30 . In the reverse case, a message received via the Ethernet protocol  20   b  is divested of a protocol header, is added with a USB header via the USB unit  20   a  (or is converted into another type of signal), and is then transmitted to the portable device  10 . For this relay function, a program (or hardware) for a required control function, besides the protocol units  20   a  and  20   b  shown in  FIG. 3A , may be separately executed (or operated) in the stand device  20 . Alternatively, it may be combined with one or both of the shown protocols  20   a  and  20   b  and then be executed.  
         [0030]     The stand device  20  provides the above-described message relay function, with the result that an Application Program (AP)  11  corresponding to the application layer of the portable device  10  connects to a server on the network  30  via the TCP/IP unit  10   a  and performs required functions, such as search. For example, the application program  11  provides a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browser function.  
         [0031]     Accordingly, while the portable device  10  is seated on the stand device  20 , the user can start the application program  11  via an appropriate UI provided by the portable device  10 , connect to a desired content server  31  for providing media content, such as music, in a streaming or download mode, and search for, select and receive desired media content. This received data is relayed by the stand device  20  to reach the portable device  10 .  
         [0032]     In the case where media content is received in a streaming mode, the application program  11  starts a media player suitable for the stream format and, thereby, decodes and outputs a stream. In this case, media data, such as audio data, decoded by the decoding unit (or decoding program) within the portable device  10  is transmitted to the stand device  20  as described above, and is output via a speaker (not shown) provided in the device.  
         [0033]     In the case where media content is received in a non-streaming mode, that is, a download mode, the application program It stores the received data in an internal storage means (a hard disk, non-volatile memory, or the like) in file form. The management (selection, deletion and the like) of files stared as described above is carried out via a UI provided by the portable device  10 .  
         [0034]     Accordingly, while the portable device  10  is seated on the stand device  20  and is charged with power, the user can search a desired web site for desired media data, such as music, receive the media data, and play the media data, or store the media data and play the stored media data at the desired time.  
         [0035]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the protocol stack of the portable device may be constructed as shown in  FIG. 3C . In this embodiment, while the portable device  10 ′ is seated on the stand device  20  or  20 ′, the operation described with reference to  FIG. 3A  or  3 B can be performed along a path SI via the TCP/IP unit in the same manner. A path S 2  along which the application layer directly transmits and received data to and from the USB unit is used to connect to another device, such as a PC, and transmit and receive data. Accordingly, the user may directly connect the portable device  10 ′ to a PC and download a media file or the like stored in the PC to the portable device  10 ′ along the connection path S 2 , or acquire media data from the network  30  via the connection path S 1  and the stand device  20  or  20 ′ in a streaming or download mode, Meanwhile, in order to directly connect the portable device  10 ′ to another device and acquire media data, a separate application program for that purpose is embedded in the portable device  10  and the program is selected via the UI provided by the portable device  10 ′.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4A  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment the stand device  50  is provided with a separate storage means  51 , for example, a hard disk or high-capacity memory. Furthermore, a TCP/IP unit Sa for connection to the network  30 , and an application layer  50   b  for automatic connection to a network acquisition of media data, and communication with a portable device  40 , corresponding to an application program  52 , are also embedded in the stand device  50 .  
         [0037]     As a protocol for communication with the portable device  40 , a USB unit for physical connection is provided. Accordingly, the portable device  40  enables communication between application programs  41  and  52  within the respective devices only via the USB unit. In the present embodiment, the portable device  40  may directly connect to a device other than the stand device  50 , for example, a PC, and download media data via the USB unit as described above with reference to  FIG. 3C .  
         [0038]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4A , the application program  52  of the stand device  50  automatically connects a server, for example, a server  31  for providing media content, which is connected to the network  30 , via a TCP/IP unit  50   a  according to a previously set method and information, searches for a media file, and downloads the media file. The downloaded media file is stored in the storage means  51 . An example of searching for necessary files is periodically performing a search according to set information, finding files created since a previous search, and downloading the found files.  
         [0039]     The set information is information that is set by the application program  52  of the stand device  50  based on information that is delivered from the application program  41  of the portable device  40  via a USB connection. This set information includes information about the location of a server or directory to be searched, for example, Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), information about a search cycle or search data, or information about files to be searched for. The user starts the application program  41  via the appropriate UI, provided by the portable device  40 , inputs required information via a UT provided by the application program  41 , and transmits the information to the application program  52  of the stand device  50 , so information required for an operation to be automatically performed by the stand device  50  is set  
         [0040]     Meanwhile, the application program  52  of the stand device  50  prepares a list of media files automatically searched for, received and stored as described above, and provides the list in response to a request via the application program  41  of the portable device  40 . The list is prepared based on, for example, the file names of received media files and information about the time and dates of reception of the media files.  
         [0041]     When a desired media file is selected from the list, received via the application program  41  of the portable device  40 , and is requested, the application program  52  of the stand device  50  reads the corresponding media file from the storage means  51  based on selection information and provides the media file to the application program  41  of the portable device  40  via the USB connection. Then, the application program  41  of the portable device  40  stores the received media file in the storage means thereof  
         [0042]     Meanwhile, the management (deletion or the like) of media files stored in the storage means  51  of the stand device  50  is performed by the application program  52  in such a way as to transfer appropriate commands to the application program  52  of the stand device  50  via the application program  41  of the portable device  40 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 4B  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a stand device  50 ′ is provided with a separate storage means  51 . A TCP/IP unit  50   a  for connection to the network  30 , a corresponding TCP/IP unit  50   c  corresponding to a protocol unit  40   a  for connection to a network, which is provided in a portable device  40 ′, and an application layer  5   b ′ for automatic connection to a network., acquisition of media data and communication with the portable device  40 ′, which- corresponds to an application program  52 ′, are implemented in the stand device  50 ′.  
         [0044]     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the portable device  40 ′ is provided with a protocol for connection to a network, therefore the application program  41 ′ of the application layer can connect to a desired web site or directory via the stand device  50 ′. In the case, the stand device  50 ′ provides a protocol matching function, and is responsible for message relay via both TCP/IP units  50   a  and  50   c . The function can be activated or inactivated via the application program  41 ′ in such a way as to transfer appropriate commands to the application program  52 ′ of the stand device  50 ′.  
         [0045]     In the present embodiment, the automatic search, download and storage functions described with reference to  FIG. 4A  are performed in the same manner by the application program  50 ′. The information required for the function is set by the stand device  50 ′ based on the information input by the user via the application program  41 ′ of the portable device  40 ′ and transferred to the application program  52 ′ of the stand device  52 ′. The application program  52 ′ of the device  52 ′ uses the set information.  
         [0046]     Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the connection between the portable device  40 ′ and the stand device  50 ′ must be performed via TCP/IP units  40   a  and  50   c  for connection to a network therefore connection setup, such as the setup of a session, is first performed to transmit commands and/or responses between the two application programs  41 ′ and  52 ′. After tile connection setup, when a message relay function is inactivated, operations, such as an operation of receiving a stored file, a control operation and the like, can be performed on the stand device  50 ′ via the application program  52 ′. When the message relay function is activated, surfing and searching can be performed on the network,  30  via the portable device  40 ′. The application program  52 ′ of the stand device  50 ′ sets the inactivation of the message relay function for a basic mode. The reason for this is to enable the control of the stand device  50 ′ via the application program  52 ′ of the stand device  50 ′ by initializing the stand device  50 ′, at any time necessary.  
         [0047]     Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the stand device  50 ′ acquires a list of media files downloaded in the storage means  51  thereof in an inactivated state of the message relay function after the network connection has been set up between the two application programs  41 ′ and  52 ′. After the list has been acquired, the selection of desired files and the copying or movement of the selected files to the stand device  50 ′ are performed in the same manner as those in the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 4A . The present embodiment is different from the embodiment of  FIG. 4A  only in that a media file is received via the TCP/IP units  40   a  and  50   c  for connection to a network, therefore the data of the file is transmitted in packet form.  
         [0048]     In still another embodiment of the present invention, the portable device  40 ′ of  FIG. 4B  may have the protocol stack structure illustrated in  FIG. 3C . When the portable device  40 ′ has the protocol stack structure illustrated in  FIG. 3C , operations of directly connecting to a separate device, such as a PC, receiving a media file stored in the PC via a USB connection, and storing the media file in the storage means thereof, besides the operations described with reference to  FIG. 4B , may be performed  
         [0049]     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitution are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.