Abstract:
A dual handheld player system including a smaller handheld player including a smaller memory for storing audio files, and audio playback circuitry, operative to play the audio files stored in the smaller memory when the smaller player is slid out of a larger player, and the larger handheld player, including tracks for sliding the smaller player in and out, a larger memory for storing audio and video files, and audio-video playback circuitry that is operative to play the audio and video files stored in the larger memory when the smaller portable player is slid in the tracks, and is not operative to play the audio and video files stored in the larger memory when the smaller portable player is slid out of said track.

Description:
PRIORITY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/612,971, entitled SMALL REMOVABLE AUDIO PLAYER THAT ATTACHES TO A HOST MEDIA PLAYER, and filed on Sep. 13, 2012 by inventor Itay Sherman. U.S. application Ser. No. 13/612,971 is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/827,701, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,340,795, entitled SMALL REMOVABLE AUDIO PLAYER THAT ATTACHES TO A HOST MEDIA PLAYER, and filed on Jul. 13, 2007 by inventor Itay Sherman. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/827,701 claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/920,037, entitled SYNCHRONIZED MEDIA PLAYERS WITHIN A SINGLE HOUSING, and filed on Mar. 26, 2007 by inventor Itay Sherman. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to digital media players. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Today, media players with a variety of capabilities are available. Larger top-of-the-line players, such as the iPod® manufactured by Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., have large memories, include a speaker and a color video display for output, and various input controls, such as buttons and jog dials, for command input. Smaller MP3 players, such as the iPod Shuffle, also manufactured by Apple, Inc., have smaller memories, do not have color video displays and include only limited controls for command input. 
         [0004]    Often users would like to have a large media player in certain situations, such as when they are in an airplane or in a hotel room, and a small MP3 player in other situations, such as when they are jogging or hiking. To this end, users may purchase two players, a larger player and a small player, but then they are faced with the constant task of independently synchronizing the players with their music of choice. Using prior art technology, synchronizing the players requires the medium of a desktop or laptop personal computer. The iTunes® software, distributed by Apple, Inc., for example, may be used to synchronize two iPod players via a personal computer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
       [0005]    The present invention overcomes drawbacks of maintaining two separate digital media players, and provides players that attach one to another. More specifically, the present invention includes a portable host digital media player (referred to herein as the “host” or the “host player”) with a small removable audio player (referred to herein as the “removable player”) that attaches thereto. Both players have memories for storing digital files, and the host&#39;s controller or the removable audio player&#39;s controller, or both controllers, are able to automatically or manually synchronize files stored in the two memories. 
         [0006]    The host player has its own battery, its own non-volatile memory for storing media files, and its own controller. The host player generally includes a display, and includes user interface controls to organize, select, play and view metadata for songs or video files. 
         [0007]    The removable player may be hosted by the host player. The removable player is also a standalone audio player, but with limited features in comparison to the host player. The removable player includes its own battery sub-system, its own removable non-volatile memory for storing digital audio files, and its own controller. The removable player also includes a wireless modem, including inter alia a cellular modem, a WLAN modem or a WiMax modem, which enables download of digital media files from remote sources. The removable player generally does not have its own display, and generally has a limited user interface to play a song, to advance to a next song, and to return to the beginning of a song. 
         [0008]    The removable player is used in circumstances where it is convenient for a user to handle a small player. When a user is jogging, for example, it is easier for him to carry a small player. 
         [0009]    The media files played by either player may be obtained via the host&#39;s connection to remote media sources, via physical USB or SD connection, or via wireless connection. The media files may also be obtained via the removable player&#39;s wireless modem connection. Media files obtained via the removable player&#39;s wireless modem may be transferred to the host player. As such, the removable player may be used to download files intended for the host player, such as video files, which generally cannot be played on the removable player. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment of the present invention the host controller synchronizes the media files stored on the host player and the removable player. In another embodiment of the present invention, the removable player&#39;s controller synchronizes the media files stored on the host player and the removable player. Synchronization of media files is based primarily on the media formats that each player supports. Generally, the removable player supports only audio formats, such as MP3 formats, where the host player supports also video formats, such as MP4 formats. As such, when the two players interact to synchronize their respective memories, only files supported by each player are stored in the player. 
         [0011]    Additionally, synchronization is governed by user preferences. For example, a user may specify that those songs which are most often played or most recently played, or which have high rankings, are to be shared on both players. 
         [0012]    There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a media player, including a host player, including a host media playing module for playing digital media files, a host storage unit for storing digital media files, a host battery for supplying power to the host player, a host controller for storing incoming media files in the host storage unit, a host display unit, and at least one host user interface control for user command input to navigate and play the digital media files stored in the host storage unit, and a removable player which can be attached to the host player and detached from the host player, and which is operative to play digital audio files when it is attached to the host player and when it is detached from the host player, including an audio playing module, a storage unit for storing digital media files, a wireless modem for receiving digital media files from remote sources, a battery for supplying power to the removable player, which is charged by the host battery when the removable player is attached to the host player, and a controller for storing incoming media files in the removable player storage unit and for selectively copying media files from the removable player storage unit to the host storage unit when the removable player is attached to the host player, wherein the host controller selectively copies media files from the host storage unit to the removable player storage unit when the removable player is attached to the host player. 
         [0013]    There is additionally provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a method for synchronizing a host media player and a removable audio player, when the removable audio player is attached to the host media player, including receiving a new media file via an external connector in the host media player, wherein the new media file may be a digital audio file or a digital video file, storing the new media file in a storage unit within the host media player, and conditionally copying the new media file to a storage unit within the removable audio player when the removable audio player is attached to the host media player, if the new media file is an audio file. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are simplified block diagrams of a digital audio player attached to a digital media player, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a simplified flowchart of a method for synchronizing media files between a host media player and a removable audio player, when the media files are received by the removable player, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a simplified flowchart of a method for synchronizing media files between a host media player and a removable audio player, when the media files are received by the host player, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a simplified flowchart of operations carried out when a removable audio player is attached to a host media player, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The present invention relates to a digital audio player that attaches to a digital media player, such as an MP3 player that attaches to an MP3/MP4 player. Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , which are simplified block diagrams of a digital audio player attached to a digital media player, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  are a host media player  100  and a removable audio player  110 . Removable audio player  110  can be attached or detached from host media player  100 . Removable audio player  110  slides in and out of host media player  110  along tracks  120 . Host media player  100  and removable audio player  110  are operative to play songs stored in digital audio files. Host player  100  is also operative to play video files. 
         [0020]    Host media player  100  includes a player module  125 . Host player  100  also includes a storage unit  130 , which is generally HD or flash memory, for storing digital media files. Host media player  100  also includes a battery subsystem  135  for powering player module  125 . 
         [0021]    Removable audio player  110  includes a player module  111 . Removable audio player  110  also includes a storage unit  112 , which is generally a built-in flash memory such as NAND flash or a detachable memory card such as an SD card, or both, for storing digital audio files. 
         [0022]    Removable audio player  110  is powered by a battery subsystem  113  that includes a small removable battery. Battery subsystem  113  is charged by battery subsystem  135 , when removable audio player  110  is attached to host player  100 . When removable audio player  110  is detached from host player  110 , it is powered by battery subsystem  113 , until the stored charge in battery subsystem  113  is exhausted. Battery subsystem  113  may also be charged from an external power source, via a charger, or via a USB connection. 
         [0023]    Special connectors  140  and  114  are used to transfer data and power between host media player  100  and removable audio player  110 , respectively. 
         [0024]    Incoming data may be transferred to host media player  100  via an external connector  145 , such as a USB port or an SD connector, or both. Host media player  100  may optionally include a wireless modem  150 , through which data is received from remote sources. 
         [0025]    Removable audio player  110  includes a wireless modem  115 , which is generally a cellular modem. 
         [0026]    Host player  100  includes a microprocessor controller  155 , and removable audio player  110  includes an SD switch controller  116 . Controllers  155  and  116  are operative to store incoming digital files on either or both of host memory  130  and removable player memory  112 , automatically or manually as instructed by a user. Synchronization of files between the host media player  100  and removable audio player  110  is described hereinbelow with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0027]    Host media player  100  is large enough to include a display  160 , for displaying command menus and song metadata to a user, and for displaying videos. Host media player  100  also includes user interface controls  165 , for organizing, playing and selecting media files. User interface controls  165  also enable a user to manage files stored in host memory  130  and removable player memory  112 . User interface controls  165  enable a user to select to which or both of memories  130  and  112  incoming files are to be saved. User interface controls  165  also enable a user to add and delete files from memories  130  and  112 , and to copy media files from one memory to another. 
         [0028]    As distinct from host media player  100 , removable audio player  110  may not have a display at all, or may have a simple LCD display  117 . Removable audio player includes limited user interface controls via a small keyboard  118 . Keyboard  118  enables a user to perform basic functions, including inter alia playing a song, advancing to a next song, and returning to the beginning of a song. 
         [0029]    Host media player  100  may or may not be operative to play media when removable player  110  is detached therefrom. 
         [0030]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1  is but one of many possible implementations of the present invention, and that the various components in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  may be positioned and inter-connected differently than the specific configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0031]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which is a simplified flowchart of a method for synchronizing media files between host media player  100  and removable audio player  110 , when the media files are received by removable player  110 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step  205  new media files are downloaded via cellular wireless modem  115  of removable audio player  110 . At step  210  the files are stored in a temporary allocated memory of storage  112 , and marked as new files. The new files are classified as being audio files or other files. 
         [0032]    At step  215  a determination is made whether or not removable audio player  110  is currently attached to host media player  100 . If so, then at step  220  a determination is made whether there are more new files to process. If so, then at step  225  processing advances to the next new file. At step  230  a message is sent to host media player  100 , indicating that there is a media update. At step  235  a determination is made whether the new file currently being processed is an audio file. If so, then at step  240  a duplicate copy of the file is written to storage  130  of host media player  100 . Processing then advances to step  220 , to process the next file. If all of the new files have already been processed, then the synchronization ends. If the new file currently being processed is not an audio file, as determined at step  235 , then at step  245  the file is copied to storage  130  of host media player  100 , and at step  250  the new file is erased from storage  112 . Processing then advances to step  220 . 
         [0033]    If removable audio player  110  is not currently attached to host media player  100 , as determined at step  215 , then at step  255  a determination is made whether there are more new files to process. If so, then at step  260  processing advances to the next new file. At step  265  a determination is made whether the new file currently being processed is an audio file. If not, then at step  270  a determination is made, generally based on user preferences, whether or not to erase the new file from storage  112  or else to keep the new file in storage  112  until removable player  110  is subsequently attached to host player  100 . If so, then at step  275  the new file is erased. Otherwise, at step  280  no operation is required. Processing then advances to step  255 , to process the next file. If the new file currently being processed is an audio file, as determined at step  265 , then at step  280  no operation is required. When removable audio player  110  is subsequently attached to host media player  100 , the new audio files in storage  112  may be transferred to host storage  130 . Processing then advances to step  255 . 
         [0034]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which is a simplified flowchart of a method for synchronizing media files between host media player  100  and removable audio player  110 , when the media files are received by host player  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step  305  new media files are received by host media player  100 , via wireless modem  150  or external connector  145 . At step  310  the files are stored in host memory  130  and marked as new files. The new files are classified as being audio files or other files. 
         [0035]    At step  315  a determination is made whether removable audio player  110  is currently attached to host media player  100 . If so, then at step  320  a determination is made whether there are more new media files to process. If so, processing advances to the next new media file at step  325 . At step  330  a determination is made whether the new media file currently being processed is an audio file. If so, then at step  335  the new file is copied to storage  112 . Processing then advances to step  320 , to process the next new file. If all of the new files have been processed, then the synchronization ends. If the new file currently being processed is not an audio file, as determined at step  330 , then processing advances directly to step  320 . 
         [0036]    If removable audio player  110  is not currently attached to host media player  100 , as determined at step  315 , then at step  340  no operation is required, and the new files may be transferred to removable audio player  110  when it is subsequently attached to host media player  100 . The synchronization then ends. 
         [0037]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which is a simplified flowchart of operations carried out when removable audio player  110  is attached to host media player  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step  405  removable audio player  110  is attached to host media player  100 . When the two players are attached, host player  100  receives a corresponding interrupt, and is thus informed of the attachment at step  410 . Such interrupt may be implemented as an SDIO interrupt on the SD bus, or via a dedicated signal. 
         [0038]    At step  415 , memories  112  and  130  are searched and a determination is made whether there are new media files in one or both of the memories. If so, then at step  420  the host player are removable player are synchronized in accordance with  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Specifically, steps  220 - 250  are performed to copy new files from memory  112  to memory  130 , and steps  320 - 335  are performed to copy new files from memory  130  to memory  112 . 
         [0039]    Processing then proceeds to step  425 , whereat the players are synchronized according to predefined user preferences. User preferences may indicate, for example, that all audio files are synchronized, subject to memory availability; or that audio files most often or more frequently listened to are synchronized, subject to memory availability; or that audio files with high user ratings are synchronized, subject to memory availability. 
         [0040]    If there are no new media files in memories  112  and  130 , as determined at step  415 , the processing proceeds directly to step  425 . After step  425 , the synchronization ends. 
         [0041]    In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific exemplary embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.