Abstract:
A method of selecting an audio source includes the step of providing an audio system that includes a source of audio data which can be supplied to a speaker to produce sound. A portable audio source device is enabled to be operatively connected to the audio system. When the portable audio source device is operatively connected to the audio system, the audio system automatically stops supplying audio data from the source of audio data to the speaker and starts supplying audio data from the portable audio source device to the speaker to produce sound.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for playing audio information and for presenting metadata on a display. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    According to a first, aspect of the invention, method of selecting an audio source includes the step of providing an audio system that includes a source of audio data which can be supplied to a speaker to produce sound. A portable audio source device is enabled to be operatively connected to the audio system. When the portable audio source device is operatively connected to the audio system, the audio system automatically stops supplying audio data from the source of audio data to the speaker and starts supplying audio data from the portable audio source device to the speaker to produce sound. 
         [0003]    The portable audio source device can be operatively connected to the audio system with as electrical conductor. The portable audio source device can be operatively connected to the audio system wirelessly. The audio system can include a head unit for an automobile infotainment system. The source of audio data, can be selected from one of FM, AM, satellite radio, CD, DVD, hard drive and navigation system. The portable audio source device can be an iPod®. 
         [0004]    According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of downloading metadata, includes the steps of providing an audio system and enabling a portable audio source device to be operatively connected to the audio system. When the portable audio source device is operatively connected to the audio system, metadata stored on the portable audio source device is automatically downloaded to the audio system. 
         [0005]    The downloaded metadata can be stored in a volatile memory of the audio system. The volatile memory can be random access memory. The downloaded metadata can be stored in a non-volatile memory of the audio system. The non-volatile memory can be a hard disk drive. Downloaded metadata that is saved by the audio system is not re-downloaded when the portable device is disconnected from the audio system and then again operatively connected to the audio system. Downloaded metadata that is saved by the audio system is not re-downloaded when it is determined that the metadata stored on the portable device has not changed from when the portable device was connected to the audio system to when the portable device was next connected to the audio system. 
         [0006]    According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of presenting metadata includes the steps of providing an audio system that includes a display and enabling a portable audio source device to be operatively connected to the audio system. After the portable audio source device is operatively connected to the audio system, metadata for audio tiles stored on die portable audio source device is presented on a display of the audio system in a format which is different from a format in which the metadata is displayed on a display of the portable audio source device. 
         [0007]    The metadata presented on the portable device display lists the name of each artist but does not list the name of an album for each artist, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the name of each artist and lists the name of the album for each artist. The metadata presented on the portable device display does not list the total number of albums stored on the portable device, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the total number of albums stored on the portable device. The metadata presented on the portable device display does not list an order of a selected album among a total number of albums stored on the portable device, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the order of a selected album among the total number of albums stored on the portable device. 
         [0008]    The metadata presented on the portable device display lists the name of each track on an album but does not list the name of an artist for that album, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the name of each track on the album and lists the same of the artist for that album. The metadata presented on the portable device display does not list the total number of tracks on the album, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the total number of tracks on the album. The metadata presented on the portable device display does not list an order of a selected track among a total number of tracks on the album, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the order of a selected track among the total number of tracks on the album. 
         [0009]    The metadata presented on the portable device display lists the name of each track stored on the portable device but does not list the name of an artist for a selected one of the tracks, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the name of each track stored on the portable device and lists the name of the artist for the selected track. The metadata presented on the portable device display does not list the total number of tracks stored on the portable device, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the total number of tracks stored on the portable device. The metadata presented on the portable device display does not list an order of a selected track among a total number of tracks stored on the portable device, whereas the metadata presented on the audio system display lists the order of a selected track among the total number of tracks stored on the portable device. 
         [0010]    According to a still further aspect of the invention, a method of presenting metadata includes the steps of providing an audio system that includes a display and enabling a portable audio source device to be operatively connected to the audio system. After the portable audio source device is operatively connected to the audio system, metadata associated with an audio file stored on the portable audio source device and metadata associated with, an audio file stored on the audio system are simultaneously presented on the display. 
         [0011]    An indicator can be provided on the display for a particular piece of metadata that indicates whether an audio file associated with that metadata is stored on the portable device, or whether the audio file is stored on the audio system. Metadata for audio files stored on the portable device is stored on the audio system in a non-volatile memory of the audio system. The non-volatile memory can be a hard disk drive. 
         [0012]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, an audio system includes a storage device for digitally storing a first plurality of songs and metadata associated with each of the first plurality of songs. An interface unit is provided for interfacing with a portable audio source device having a second plurality of songs and metadata associated with each of the second plurality of songs. A user interface is configured to present a single menu that allows a user to select a song from either the first or second plurality of songs without having to change source selection. 
         [0013]    An indicator can be provided on a display of the user interface for a particular piece of metadata that indicates whether an audio file associated with that metadata is stored on the portable device, or whether the audio file is stored on the storage device. Metadata for audio files stored on the portable device is stored on the storage device in a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be a hard disk drive. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the invention, an audio system includes a storage device for digitally storing a first plurality of songs and metadata associated with each of the first plurality of songs. An interface unit is provided for interfacing with a portable audio source device having a second plurality of songs and metadata associated with each of the second plurality of songs. A song selection module is configured to playback songs from either the first or second plurality of songs without user input. 
         [0015]    The song selection module randomly selects songs from among the first and second plurality of songs. The song selection module intelligently selects songs from among the first and second plurality of songs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is schematic view of an audio system and a portable audio source device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a portable device operatively connected to the audio system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an audio system showing metadata from a portable device half downloaded to the audio system; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an audio system showing metadata from a portable device completely downloaded; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the audio system presenting artist/album information; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an audio system presenting tracks on a particular album; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an audio system presenting tracks in alphabetical order; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an audio system presenting artist/album information from both the audio system and the portable device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an audio system  20  is a head unit for a car infotainment system. However, in other implementations, the audio system may be a home, commercial, and/or portable audio system. System  20  includes a number of internal sources of audio data including FM, AM and satellite radio tuners, a CD/DVD drive (not shown), a hard disk drive for storing audio content, and a navigation system. The system also includes the ability to render audio delivered from external audio sources such as a mobile telephone and a personal audio device. 
         [0025]    Each of these sources can be used to provide audio data which can be supplied to a speaker  22  (or set of speakers) to produce sound. The hard disk drive acts as a storage device for digitally storing music files (e.g., mp3 files) and metadata associated with these files. In some implementations, the hard drive may store other content such as contact information (e.g., names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc), digital images (e.g., digital photos) and digital video content. Further features of audio system  20  are described in U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 11/317,558 (filed Dec. 22, 2005), Ser. No. 10/626,349 (filed Jul. 23, 2003), Ser. No. 10/956,836 (filed Oct. 1, 2004), and Ser. No. 10/820,233 (filed Apr. 5, 2004), all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0026]    A display  24  (e.g., an LCD display) provides visual information to a user of the audio system through a user interface (e.g., a graphical user interface). The user interface includes a source indicator  26  that indicates the source currently being played by the audio system, which, in the example of  FIG. 1 , is the FM tuner. The user interface also includes an information window  27  that displays further information about the source and/or audio content currently playing, which, in the example of  FIG. 1 , the information window  27  shows the call letters of the FM station (WZLX), the FM frequency of the station (100.7 MHz), and the genre of the station (Rock). 
         [0027]    System  20  also includes a cable  36  that connects the system to a portable audio device  32 , such as an iPod® or other mp3 player, a cell phone, or portable digital assistant. The portable audio device  36  includes digital content, such as music (or audio) files and metadata, (e.g., song title, artist, album, genre, etc.) associated with each music file. In this example, the portable device includes a display  33  for presenting visual information and a control area  35  for controlling operation of the device. 
         [0028]    The cable  36  connects to the portable audio device  32  in the glove box  34  of the automobile. In other implementations, however, the portable audio device may be connected through inserting the portable audio device through a slot in the dashboard of the vehicle, such as described in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/145,168 filed on Jun. 3, 2005 which is incorporated herein by reference. In non-automobile implementations, the portable audio device may be connected to an audio system via an external or integrated docking cradle. In addition, other implementations may wirelessly connect the portable audio device to the system  20  by, for example, a Bluetooth A2DP wireless link. 
         [0029]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the portable audio device  32  includes a display  33  for presenting visual information and a control area  35  for controlling operation of the device. A dashed line  34  represents a glove box of an automobile. Device  32  has been placed in the glove box  34  but has not yet been operatively connected to audio system  20  by a connector cable (electrical conductor)  36 . Connector cable  36  is part of an interface unit. At this point device  32  is in a play mode and is playing the song “Goodbye Earl” by the Dixie Chicks (see display  33 ). Device  32  could also he in pause mode at this point. 
         [0030]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , now cable  36  has been connected to portable audio device  32 . Upon connection, the audio system  20  immediately recognizes that the portable audio device has been connected and automatically switches from playing a previous audio source (e.g., FM tuner) to playing content from the portable audio device. In this embodiment the portable device is preferably in play or pause mode when it is connected to cable  36 . This switch is visually indicated on the user interlace by the source indicator  38  changing from FM (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to an icon representing the portable audio device (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Also upon connection, the display  33  on the portable device indicates that it is “OK To Disconnect”. At any point portable device  32  can be safely disconnected from audio system  20 . It should be noted that when portable device  32  is disconnected from cable  36 , the audio system reverts to using the original source of audio data (e.g. FM tuner) that was playing prior to the portable device being connected to supply audio data to speaker  22  to produce sound. 
         [0031]    Additionally, the information window  27  of the user interface shows that the audio system  20  has recognized connection of the portable audio device and provides information about the audio content currently being played (“Goodbye Earl” and 2:40 time left until the end of the song). The information window  27  also shows the state of a discovery process in which the audio system  20  is discovering the content stored on the portable audio device  32 , which in this example, shows that, audio system  20  is “Connecting To iPod” and has “Discovered 0%” of the portable device&#39;s metadata. 
         [0032]    In the discovery process, die audio system  20  connects to the portable music device and automatically downloads (or discovers) the metadata stored on portable device  32 . Metadata is well known by those skilled in the art and includes information about each song such as artist, album, genre, playtime etc. The audio system  20  downloads the complete set of metadata for all audio content on portable device  32  and stores it in random access memory (RAM), a volatile memory, and/or on the hard disk (a non-volatile memory) of audio system  20 . For a volatile memory a trickle current can continue to be supplied to the memory when the audio system is shut down in order to prevent the metadata from being lost from the volatile memory. In a car audio system, this trickle current would be supplied by the car battery. 
         [0033]    Storing the metadata on the hard disk (or other local storage device) provides the following advantage. When the portable device is disconnected and then reconnected to audio system  20 , the audio device cheeks a “fingerprint” of the portable device to see if it is the same portable device as the previous portable device to be connected to the audio system. The fingerprint is checked by (a) looking at the name (identifier) assigned to the portable device by its owner or manufacturer, (b) looking at the total number of albums, artists and tracks stored on the portable device, and (c) checking some random strings in the metadata such as the first and last song stored on the portable device. If it is determined from the fingerprint that the same portable device has been connected to the audio system as the previous portable device that was connected, and the total number of tracks stored on the portable device has not changed, then the metadata from the portable device is not re-downloaded to the audio system. If it is determined from the fingerprint that a different portable device has been connected to the audio system, or that the same portable device has been connected but with changed metadata, then all of the metadata on the connected portable device is downloaded to the audio system. This feature can greatly decrease the time and processing power it takes for the portable device to connect to the audio system. Additionally, downloading the metadata to the audio system  20  allows the system  20  to render content selection menus of the audio content stored on the portable audio device in a manner consistent with how the system  20  renders content selection menus from other stores of audio content (e.g., music files stored on a local hard drive or music files on a different portable audio device). See  FIG. 8  for a representation of this feature. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the information window  27  now indicates that the discovery process has reached a point at which 50% of the metadata from portable device  32  has now been downloaded (discovered) to RAM in the audio system. “Goodbye Earl” is still being played and there are now 2:22 of time left on this song. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , all of the metadata from portable device  32  has been downloaded to RAM in audio system  20  and the information window  27  now reflects information only about the current song being played (here, the song “Goodbye Earl” by the “Dixie Chicks” from their album “Top of the World” with 2:03 of time remaining). It should be noted that while in this particular example the discovery process only downloaded and stored metadata to the audio system, in other implementations, a discovery may download and store the actual audio content. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 5-7 , portable audio device  32  is shown operating in stand-alone mode as well as connected to audio system  10  to illustrate that system  20  may present source selection menus via its user interface in a manner that is different to how portable audio device  32  presents its source selection menus. 
         [0037]    Referring again to  FIG. 4 , if a listener would like to change from listening to “Goodbye Earl” to another song, they would rotate an outer knob  42  on the audio system. This causes the information to be displayed in display  24  as shown in  FIG. 5 . By rotating knob  42  letters  44  are caused to rotate on the display in the same direction as the direction of knob rotation. These letters represent the first letter of the name of the artist. 
         [0038]    By comparing the information on a display  46  of portable device  32  in stand-alone mode with the information on display  24  shown in  FIG. 5 , it can be seen, that metadata is presented on display  24  in a format which is different from a corresponding format in which the metadata is displayed on display  46 . In display  46  only the artists are presented. In display  24 , both the artist and an album of that artist are displayed. Also, the total albums ( 17 ) and the point in the list of albums ( 4 / 17 ) are displayed. If the listener decides they want to listen to the Dixie Chicks&#39; album “Top of the World”, they press a knob  46 . As represented in  FIG. 6 , this action causes a new set of information to be presented on display  24 . Again, metadata is presented on display  24  in a format which is different from a corresponding format in which the metadata is displayed on display  46 . On display  46  only the title of the album “Top of the World” is displayed, whereas on display  24  the name of the artist (Dixie Chicks) is also displayed in addition to the album title. Further, the total tracks on the album ( 11 ) and the point in the list of tracks ( 4 / 11 ) are displayed. The listener would then rotate knob  46  in one direction or the other to select the desired track and then press knob  46  to start playing the selected track. This aspect of the disclosure applies to an audio system that does not have its own source of audio because it relates to how metadata from the portable device is presented on its display verses the display of the audio system. For example, this aspect of the invention can be used with a powered speaker that has a display and which can be operatively connected to a portable device. This comment also applies to the disclosure of the next paragraph. 
         [0039]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , if a listener wants to see an entire list of tracks that are stored on portable audio device  32 , they would press a button  48 . This causes display  24  to present a choice of organizing the metadata by artist/album or by track (not shown in the drawings). The listener would then rotate knob  46  to select organizing by track and then press a knob  48  to exit that screen. This action causes display  24  to present the metadata shown in  FIG. 7 . Here all of the tracks or organized alphabetically. A listener rotates knob  42  which causes letters  44  are caused to rotate on the display in the same direction as the direction of knob rotation. Here the listener has rotated knob  42  to select tracks that start with the letter “L”. To move within the “L” tracks the listener rotates knob  46 . It should be noted that knob  46  can be rotated to move to another letter such as “K” or “M”. Knob  42  is a macro rotation knob and knob  46  is a micro rotation knob. Currently the track “Long Time Gone” is selected. In order to play this song the listener would press knob  46 . The artist and album (Dixie Chicks/Top of the World) for the selected track are listed at the top of the screen. Further, the total number of tracks ( 227 ) and the point (order) in the list of tracks ( 106 ) are displayed. Again, metadata is presented on display  24  in a format which is different from a corresponding format in which the metadata is displayed on display  46 . Display  46  does not provide the name of the artist or album for the selected track. Nor does display  46  present the total number of tracks (songs) or the order in the list of tracks. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the display is similar to what is shown in the example of  FIG. 5 . Here, however, artists/albums are presented on display  24  which are stored on both portable device  32  and a hard disk drive of audio system  20 . In other words, metadata for audio files stored on the portable audio source device and metadata for audio files stored on the audio system are simultaneously presented on display  24 . A symbol  50  is located to the left of artists/albums that reside on portable device  32 , and a symbol  52  (“HDD”) is located to the left of artists/albums that reside on the hard disk drive of the audio system. Thus, a user is conveniently able to access content stored on two (or more) separate sources (e.g., a local hard drive and a portable audio device) through a single menuing system. The metadata for audio files stored on the portable device is presented on display  24  in the same format as the metadata for audio files stored on the audio system. This is true whether the metadata for the two sources of audio files are displayed simultaneously as in  FIG. 8  or not. 
         [0041]    This same consolidated presentation can be used when in the list of tracks mode as shown in  FIG. 7 . Symbol  50  or  52  is placed next to each track to indicate where the track is stored. This arrangement provides a user interface configured to present a single menu that allows a user to select a song from either a first plurality of songs stored on the hard disk drive of the audio system or a second plurality of songs stored on portable device  32  without having to change source selection. 
         [0042]    Audio system  20  also includes a song selection module (not shown) that plays back songs stored on either the hard drive or portable audio device without user input, the song selection module may use the locally stored metadata (associated with local content and external content) to randomly select and play songs stored on either the local hard drive or portable audio device. Alternatively, the song selection module may use the locally stored metadata (associated with local content and external content) to intelligently select songs from either source for playback. The song selection module may use any known intelligent selection algorithms to select songs based on implicit and/or explicit user feedback, such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/180,900 filed on Jun. 25, 2002 which published on Dec. 25, 2003 as 2003/0236582, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0043]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous modifications of, departures from and uses of the specific apparatus and techniques herein disclosed. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each and every novel feature and novel combination of features presented in or possessed by the apparatus and techniques herein disclosed and limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.