Abstract:
Methods and systems for remotely controlling operation of a digital media player are described herein. A wristwatch or other alternatively-purposed device may incorporate a transceiver for communicating with a digital media player. A user may interact with the wristwatch using a plurality of buttons disposed about a housing of the watch, through which the user may adjust a volume level of the digital media player, navigate audio playback, power the digital media player on and off, request playback of a song previously identified by the user, and adjust settings of the wristwatch. The wristwatch and/or the digital media player may be in communication with a biological performance measurement device, and the user, via the wristwatch, may request playback of a biological performance measurement recorded by the biological performance measurement device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a non-provisional application based on and claiming priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/802,636, filed May 22, 2006, having the first named inventor Stefan Andren and attorney docket number 005127.00649. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to user interfaces on consumer electronic devices. More specifically, the invention relates to a user interface for remotely controlling a digital media player, such as a media player that plays MP3, ACC, or other audio files. Various examples of the invention are particularly applicable for use with a watch that remotely controls a digital media player.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Digital media players, such as music players that play back sound files stored in an electronic storage medium, are becoming ubiquitous. Because of their portability, many people listen to music or other recordings while performing some type of physical activity, such as jogging or exercising. While the small form factor of digital media players allows them to be easily carried while performing a physical activity, that same small form factor often makes them difficult to control during such physical activity due to the fine motor skills required to control most digital media players. That is, while performing a physical activity such as jogging, it becomes more difficult to use the fine motor skills necessary to control a digital media player.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.  
         [0005]     To overcome limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, aspects of the present invention are directed to a remote control device for controlling a digital media player. Some implementations may be used on a watch or similar alternately-purposed device configured to control a digital music player in addition to performing other functions. A wristwatch or other alternatively-purposed device may incorporate a transceiver for communicating with the digital media player.  
         [0006]     A user may interact with the wristwatch using a plurality of buttons disposed about a housing of the watch, through which the user may adjust a volume level of the digital media player, navigate audio playback, power the digital media player on and off, request playback of a song previously identified by the user, and adjust settings of the wristwatch. The wristwatch and/or the digital media player may be in communication with a biological performance measurement device, and the user, via the wristwatch, may request playback of a biological performance measurement recorded by the biological performance measurement device.  
         [0007]     Methods and systems may encompass a device (e.g., a watch) having a device housing configured to be worn by a human user, a display providing visual output of the device, an input subsystem comprising a plurality of input buttons, a transceiver for communicating with a digital media player based on input received from a user via the plurality of buttons, and a processor for controlling overall operation of the device based on stored control logic. The control logic may indicate that the device, upon detecting a brief press of a first button of the plurality of input buttons, sends a play/pause toggle command to the digital media player. The device, upon detecting a brief press of a second button of the plurality of input buttons, sends a command to the digital media player to skip to a next audio file. The device, upon detecting a long press of the second button, sends a command to the digital media player to fast forward a currently playing audio file. The device, upon detecting a brief press of a third button of the plurality of input buttons, sends a command to the digital media player to skip to a previous audio file. The device, upon detecting a long press of the third button, sends a command to the digital media player to rewind a currently playing audio file. The device, upon detecting a brief press of a fourth button of the plurality of input buttons, sends a command to the digital media player to increment a volume up one step. The device, upon detecting a long press of the fourth button, sends a command to the digital media player to scroll volume up while the fourth button remains in a depressed state.  
         [0008]     The device, upon detecting a brief press of a fifth button of the plurality of input buttons, sends a command to the digital media player to decrement a volume down one step. The device, upon detecting a long press of the fifth button, sends a command to the digital media player to scroll volume down while the fifth button remains in a depressed state. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a watch according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a feedback/PowerPlay control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a volume control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a track change control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a track change control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates a play/pause/power control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrates an adjust mode control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 10-12  illustrate animations that may be displayed by a watch while controlling a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0018]      FIG. 13  illustrates a multi-button control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0019]      FIG. 14  illustrates a demo mode animation according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0020]      FIG. 15  illustrates a wake up animation according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0021]      FIG. 16  illustrates a watch according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 17  illustrates a volume control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0023]      FIG. 18  illustrates a track control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0024]      FIG. 19  illustrates a track control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0025]      FIG. 20  illustrates a feedback/PowerPlay control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0026]      FIG. 21  illustrates a play/pause/power control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0027]      FIG. 22  illustrates an adjust mode control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0028]      FIG. 23  illustrates a sport mode control flow for controlling the operation of a watch and a remote digital music player according to an illustrative aspect described herein.  
         [0029]      FIG. 24  illustrates a block hardware diagram of a watch according to one or more illustrative aspects described herein. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     As discussed herein, various examples of the invention may be employed with a watch or other multipurpose device to control the operation of a digital media player. Digital media players include, for example, music players that play back sound files saved in any of a variety of formats, including MP3 files, ACC files, and WAV files. Depending upon the type of digital media player, these files may be stored on a magnetic storage medium, such as a magnetic hard disk drive, in an electronic memory circuit, such as a flash memory device, or in any other known storage media. With some examples of the invention, the sound files may be stored on an optical storage medium, such as a compact disc player. Still further, with some examples of the invention, the digital media player may additionally play back and display a video file, such as an MPEG file, display photos, play games, etc.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates a watch that may implement one or more aspects of the invention. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the watch may include five buttons on its face: a center button  103 , a left face button  105 , a right face button  107 , an upper face button  109  a lower face button  111 , a left side button  113 , and a right side button  115 . This button arrangement or a portion thereof (e.g., buttons  103 - 111 ) may correspond to a conventional button configuration on a digital media player. Buttons  105 - 111  may be disposed about a bezel of watch  101 . In this configuration, the center face button  103  may correspond to a “PLAY” command, the left face button  105  may correspond to a “REWIND/PREVIOUS TRACK” command, the right face button  107  may correspond to a “FORWIND/NEXT TRACK” command, the upper face button  109  may correspond to a “VOLUME UP” command, and the lower face button  111  may correspond to a “VOLUME DOWN” command. In the illustrated example, watch  101  also has a pair of buttons on either side of its casing, referred to herein as left side button  113  and right side button  115 , respectively. Watch  101  may also include a display area  117 , e.g., an LCD display, dot matrix LEDs, or the like.  
         [0032]     Watch  101  may wirelessly communicate with digital media player  121  based on button commands input by a user or wearer of watch  101 . For example, when a user presses an initial button (e.g., any button), watch  101  may wirelessly “pair up” with digital media player  121 .  
         [0033]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , depressing each button of watch  101  activates a function on either the watch, digital media player  121  communicating with the watch from a remote location, or both. As used in the figures, the abbreviation “P” indicates the action of briefly depressing a corresponding button, also referred to herein as a brief press. The abbreviation “LP” indicates the action of depressing the corresponding button and then holding that corresponding button in the depressed position for some threshold period of time, e.g., greater than 0.5 seconds, also referred to herein as a long press. Thus, in the illustrated example of  FIG. 2 , briefly depressing right side button  115  causes the watch to display its current time values, while depressing and holding (long press) right side button  115  causes the watch to initiate its adjust mode, allowing the user to adjust the current time values.  
         [0034]     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the left side button  113  may perform functions associated with the remotely controlled digital media player. With various examples of the invention, the digital media player (or the watch) may be in communication with yet another device  119  that measures an activity performance parameter associated with the user. The activity performance parameter measurement device  119  may be a device that measures a biological performance parameter associated with the user, such as the user&#39;s heart rate or blood oxygen content. The activity performance measurement device  119  alternately or additionally may be a device that measures a physical performance parameter associated with the user, such as the distance traveled by a user, the user&#39;s speed, or a current position of the user. With these examples of the invention, when the user briefly depresses the left side button  113 , the watch  101  may command the digital media player to audibly play back the value of the performance parameter most recently measured by the activity performance measurement device  119 .  
         [0035]     If, however the user depresses and holds left side button  113 , then watch  101  may command the digital media player to enter a PowerPlay mode, where the digital media player plays back a specific sound file previously designated by the user. For example, a user may find a favorite song particularly inspirational when performing some type of physical activity such as running up a hill or lifting heavy weights. If the user feels the need to obtain extra inspirational encouragement, such as just before getting his or her second wind or at the final length of an arduous race, the user can depress and hold left side button  113  to cause the digital media player to begin playback of the previously designated song. Of course, in addition to an inspirational song, a user can designate left side button  113  to playback any desired sound file, such as a sound file containing inspirational words or a song useful to maintain a specific pace.  
         [0036]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , top button  109  and bottom button  111  may be used to remotely adjust a volume level up and down, respectively, of the digital media player. When a user briefly presses top button  109 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to increase its volume one incremental step. When a user presses and holds top button  109 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to keep increasing its volume until top button  109  is released. When a user briefly presses bottom button  111 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to decrease its volume one incremental step. When a user presses and holds bottom button  111 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to keep decreasing its volume until bottom button  111  is released. As shown in  FIG. 4 , watch  101  may provide visual feedback based on each action.  
         [0037]     With reference to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , left button  105  and right button  107 , respectively, may be used to move backward and forward, respectively, audio playing on digital media player  121 . When a user briefly presses left button  105 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to skip to a previous or prior audio file. When a user presses and holds left button  105 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to rewind a currently playing audio file. When a user briefly presses right button  107 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to skip to a next or subsequent audio file. When a user presses and holds right button  107 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to fast forward a currently playing audio file. As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , watch  101  may provide visual feedback based on each action.  
         [0038]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , center button  103  may be used to control start/stop operations of digital media player  121 . For example, when a user briefly presses center button  103 , watch  101  sends a play/pause toggle command to digital media player  121  to alter between a play and a pause state. When a user presses and holds center button  103 , watch  101  sends a command to the digital media player to either stop/pause a workout (when in a special workout mode) or to power down (when not in the special workout mode). As shown in  FIG. 7 , watch  101  may provide visual feedback based on each action.  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  illustrates display  117  in a default state, e.g., displaying no information. Each of  FIGS. 2-7  illustrate display  117  providing visual feedback based on the action that watch  101  performs. The visual feedback may include a static display of a symbol, design, pattern, number or letter (collectively, icon), flashing icon, or an animated icon.  
         [0040]     In an embodiment incorporating a speaker, audible feedback may be included as well, for example, to confirm button presses. Each of  FIGS. 2-7  further indicates a wait period or other event associated with each action that, upon the occurrence of the event, display  117  returns to a default state.  
         [0041]      FIGS. 2-7  illustrate basic operations of an illustrative embodiment. If any button becomes stuck in a pressed position, watch  101  may send a clear signal after some predetermined period of time, e.g., 2 minutes. Watch  101  may require some predetermined minimum time lapse between button presses. That is, watch  101  may ignore a button press that follows less than the predetermined amount of time after a previous button press. According to an illustrative embodiment, multiple simultaneous button presses may be ignored, or may cause watch  101  to perform an additional function. For example,  FIG. 13  illustrates that a demo mode may be entered by pressing a first button combination, e.g., buttons  105 ,  107 , for some predetermined amount of time, e.g., &gt;5. A master reset may be performed by pressing a second button combination, e.g., buttons  103 ,  109 , for some predetermined amount of time, e.g., &gt;5 secs. Other button combinations and/or predetermined amounts of time may be used.  
         [0042]      FIGS. 8-9  illustrate a control flow for adjusting the time values of watch  101 . While in the time adjust mode, display  117  may remain in an always on state. After some predetermined amount of time of inactivity, e.g., 30 seconds, watch  101  may revert to a default mode (i.e., exit the time adjust mode) and return display  117  to a default state.  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate animations  1001 ,  1003 ,  1005 ,  1101 ,  1103 ,  1005  that may be displayed by watch  101  on display  117  during various steps of the control flow illustrated in  FIGS. 8-9 . For example, upon entering time adjust mode by pressing and holding right side button  115  for some predetermined amount of time (e.g., &gt;0.5 seconds),  FIG. 8  indicates that the “Hours” icon “H” may be displayed in an animated manner according to animation  1001  ( FIG. 10 ) before the user may adjust the hours. The remainder of  FIGS. 8-9  also identify which of the animations shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  correspond to each action while watch  101  is in the time adjust mode depicted  FIGS. 8-9 . The animations in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  are similar, except that whereas in  FIG. 10  the icons appear from the right, in  FIG. 11  the icons appear from the left. In an alternative embodiment, the same animation may be used regardless of whether a left or right button triggered an action.  
         [0043]      FIG. 12  similarly illustrates animations  1201 ,  1203 ,  1205 ,  1207 ,  1209 , and  1211  that may be displayed by watch  101  on display  117  during various steps of the control flow illustrated in  FIGS. 3-9 . For example, watch  101  may display animation  1201  on display  117  when a user briefly presses button  107  from a default mode to skip to a next track. Watch  101  may display animation  1203  on display  117  when a user briefly presses button  105  from a default mode to skip to a previous track. Watch  101  may display animation  1205  on display  117  when a user briefly presses button  113  from a default mode to request voice feedback to audibly play back a value measured by the activity performance measurement device  1   19 . Watch  101  may display animation  1207  on display  117  when a user simultaneously presses button  113  and button  115  to exit an adjust settings mode. Watch  101  may display animation  1209  on display  117  when a user presses and holds button  113  for a predetermined amount of time, e.g., &gt;0.5 seconds, from a default mode to request the PowerPlay mode described above. Watch  101  may display animation  1211  on display  117  when a user presses and holds button  103  for a predetermined amount of time, e.g., &gt;0.5 seconds, from a default mode to request that digital media player  121  either stop/pause a workout or put the digital media player in a power down mode (depending on the current mode of the digital media player, as discussed above).  
         [0044]      FIG. 14  illustrates a demo mode animation  1401  that may be displayed by watch  101  on display  117  as a result of a user pressing a button combination to enter a demo mode, e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 15  illustrates a wake up animation sequence that watch  101  may display on display  117  when either watch  101  and/or digital media player  121  wakens from a power down mode.  
         [0045]      FIG. 16  illustrates a watch  1601  according to a second illustrative embodiment of the invention. Watch  1601  may include input buttons  1603 ,  1605 ,  1607 ,  1609 ,  1611 ,  1613 ,  1615 , and  1617 , and visual display  1619 . Watch  1601  may wirelessly communicate with digital media player  121 . Digital media player  121  and/or watch  1601  may be in further communication with performance measuring device  119 . Buttons may be placed around a bezel of watch  1601 , on one or more sides of watch  1601 , on the face of watch  1601 , or elsewhere as desired.  
         [0046]     One or more buttons  1603 - 1617  may cause watch  1601  to send one or more commands to digital media player  121 . In the presently illustrated embodiment, button  1617  may correspond to a “PLAY” command, button  1607  may correspond to a “REWIND/PREVIOUS TRACK” command, the button  1609  may correspond to a “FORWIND/NEXT TRACK” command, button  1603  may correspond to a “VOLUME UP” command, and button  1605  may correspond to a “VOLUME DOWN” command. Watch  101  may wirelessly communicate with digital media player  121  based on button commands input by a user or wearer of watch  101 . For example, when a user presses an initial button (e.g., any button), watch  101  may wirelessly “pair up” with digital media player  121 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 17  illustrates a control flow for adjusting a volume level of digital media player  121  using watch  1601 . Top button  1603  and bottom button  1605  may be used to remotely adjust a volume level up and down, respectively, of digital media player  121 . When a user briefly presses top button  1603 , watch  1601  sends a command to the digital media player to increase its volume one incremental step. When a user presses and holds top button  1603 , watch  1601  sends a command to the digital media player to keep increasing its volume until top button  1603  is released. When a user briefly presses bottom button  1605 , watch  1601 sends a command to the digital media player to decrease its volume one incremental step. When a user presses and holds bottom button  1605 , watch  1601  sends a command to the digital media player to keep decreasing its volume until bottom button  1605  is released. As shown in  FIG. 17 , watch  1601  may provide visual feedback based on each action.  
         [0048]     With reference to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , right button  1609  and left button  1607 , respectively, may be used to move forward and backward, respectively, audio playing on digital media player  121 . When a user briefly presses left button  1607 , watch  1601  sends a command to the digital media player to skip to a previous or prior audio file. When a user presses and holds left button  1607 , watch  1601  sends a command to the digital media player to rewind a currently playing audio file. When a user briefly presses right button  1609 , watch  1601  sends a command to the digital media player to skip to a next or subsequent audio file. When a user presses and holds right button  1609 , watch  1601  sends a command to the digital media player to fast forward a currently playing audio file. As shown in  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , watch  1601  may provide visual feedback based on each action.  
         [0049]     With reference to  FIG. 20 , when the user briefly depresses the northwest button  1611 , watch  1601  may command the digital media player to audibly play back the value of a performance parameter most recently measured by activity performance measurement device  119 . When the user depresses and holds northwest button  1611 , then watch  1601  may command the digital media player to enter the PowerPlay mode described above. As indicated in  FIG. 20 , watch  1601  may provide visual feedback based on the action performed.  
         [0050]     With reference to  FIG. 21 , southwest button  1617  may be used to control start/stop operations of digital media player  121 . For example, when a user briefly presses southwest button  1617 , watch  1601  sends a play/pause toggle command to digital media player  121  to alter between a play and a pause state. When a user presses and holds southwest button  1617 , watch  1601  sends a command to the digital media player to either stop/pause a workout (when in a special workout mode) or to power down (when not in the special workout mode). As shown in  FIG. 21 , watch  1601  may provide visual feedback based on each action.  
         [0051]     Again referring to  FIG. 18 , when a user presses northeast button  1613 , watch  1601  may enter a sport mode, further discussed below with reference to  FIG. 23 . When a user briefly presses southeast button  1615 , watch  1601  may illuminate a built in light for some predetermined period of time. When a user long presses, watch  1601  may enter an adjust mode, described with reference to  FIG. 22 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 22  illustrates control flow of watch  1601  during an adjust mode, e.g., through which a user can alter settings of watch  1601 . Initially, a user long presses southeast button  1615  to enter the adjust mode, and watch  1601  may provide visual feedback  2201  that watch  1601  is in adjust mode. Upon entering adjust mode, watch  1601  may present a first variable for adjustment, e.g., hours. While in the adjust mode, pressing button  1603  may step up a variable currently being adjusted, and long pressing button  1603  may scroll up a variable currently being adjusted. Pressing button  1605  may step down a variable currently being adjusted, and long pressing button  1605  may scroll down a variable currently being adjusted. According to one illustrative embodiment, watch  1601  may cycle through the variables: hours, minutes, seconds, month, day, year, 12/24 time format, display settings (Day-01, Mon-01), and power settings (e.g., power save mode after 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours). A user can advance to a next variable or go backward to a previous variable using buttons  1607  and  1609 . Pressing button  1609  may advance the variable being adjusted to a subsequent variable, whereas pressing button  1607  may change the variable being adjusted to a previous variable. Upon reaching the end of the variable list, watch  1601  may loop back to the first variable in the list.  
         [0053]      FIG. 23  illustrates control flow of watch  1601  during a sport mode, e.g., that provides a chronograph feature. Initially, from a default mode, a user may long press button  1613  to cause watch  1601  to enter the sport mode. Once in the sport mode, pressing button  1613  may start and stop a chronograph displayed on watch  1601 , and long pressing button  1615  may clear or reset the chronograph. Another button, e.g., button  1611 , may provide a lap feature while watch  1601  is in sport mode.  
         [0054]     The aforementioned embodiments are for illustrative purposes only. Modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of invention. For example, button functions may be swapped, removed, added, or otherwise changed. Watch  101 ,  1601  may directly communicate with performance measuring device  119  or may communicate with performance measuring device  119  indirectly through digital media player  121 . Watch  101 ,  1601  and digital media player  121  preferably communicate wirelessly, e.g., using Bluetooth, RF, etc., however they may alternatively be directly connected via a cable. Some implementations may be used on a watch or similar alternately-purposed device configured to control a digital media player in addition to performing other functions.  
         [0055]      FIG. 24  illustrates a block hardware diagram of a device  2401  that may be used according to one or more aspects illustrated herein. Device  2401  may represent watch  101 , watch  1601 , or some other alternately-purposed device that is adapted to operate in conformance with one or more aspects described herein. Device  2401  may include a processor  2403  controlling overall operation of the device based on instructions stored in a primary subsystem  2417  and DM control subsystem  2415 . Primary subsystem  2417  stores control logic to cause device  2401  to operate in conformance with a primary function, such as a watch function as is illustrated above, or may include functions for any other alternate-purpose device, e.g., scuba diving, mobile telephony, mobile communications, etc. Alternatively, device  2401  may be a special-purpose device that only controls a digital media player as described herein. Digital media control subsystem  2415  stores control logic to cause device  2401  to operate in conformance with one or more aspects described herein. Subsystems  2415  and  2417  may include volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, as needed.  
         [0056]     Device  2401  may further include input system  2405 , display  2407 , speaker  2409 , I/O data port  2411 , and transceiver  2413 . Input system  2405  may include multiple input buttons such as buttons  103 - 115  and/or button  1603 - 1617 . Input buttons may include physical buttons, soft buttons, switches, levers, toggles, or any other actuatable device or system. Input system,  2405  may further include a microphone for voice recognition. Display  2407  may include an LCD display such as is illustrated in  FIGS. 16-23 , and/or a dot matrix LED display such as is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-15 . Any other type of known display may alternatively be used. Speaker  2409  may provide audio feedback based on actions/functions of device  2401 , e.g., button confirmation clicks, alarms based on the biological performance parameter meeting predefined criteria (alarms may alternately be implemented in the digital media player to play the alarm through a headset worn by the user). Device  2401  may use a communication port to communicate with digital media player  121  (not shown). For example, I/O  2411  may be used to provide a direct cable connection between device  2401  and digital media player  121  (not shown). Alternatively (or in addition) device  2401  may primarily communicate with digital media player  121  (not shown) via transceiver  2413 , such as a Bluetooth transceiver, RF transceiver, home band radio transceiver, or the like.  
         [0057]     Control logic may be embodied in computer-usable data and/or computer-executable instructions, such as in one or more program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types when executed by a processor in a computer or other device. The computer executable instructions may be stored on a computer readable medium such as a hard disk, optical disk, removable storage media, solid state memory, RAM, etc. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. In addition, the control logic may be embodied in whole or in part in firmware or hardware equivalents such as integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and the like. Particular data structures may be used to more effectively implement one or more aspects of the invention, and such data structures are contemplated within the scope of computer executable instructions and computer-usable data described herein.  
         [0058]     While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein.