Patent Publication Number: US-2011055709-A1

Title: Electronic device and network communication method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and methods, and particularly to an electronic device and a method of communication for an electronic device and a network terminal. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Embedded devices, for example, digital photo frames (DPFs), are becoming increasingly popular due to their convenience and ease of function. However, the typical digital photo frame can only display photos. A DPF providing Internet access is thus desirable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device communicating with a network terminal, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method, in accordance with an embodiment, of an electronic device for communicating with a network terminal to retrieve a station list. 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  is a flowchart of a method, in accordance with an embodiment, of an electronic device for communicating with a network terminal to retrieve a playlist. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be appreciated that modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electronic device includes a graphical user interface (GUI) application module  10 , a network service control module  20 , a content analysis module  22 , a content acquisition module  23 , and a daemon application module  60 . The electronic device communicates with a network terminal  50  through a network. 
     The GUI application module  10  retrieves network content from the network. For example, the GUI application module  10  can be a personal network radio GUI application module capable of acquiring network radio content. 
     The network service control module  20  acquires the network content from the network terminal  50  and routes the network content to the GUI application module  10 . The network terminal  50  authorizes the network service control module  20  to retrieve the network content. 
     The network service control module  20  includes an application program interface (API) module  21  providing communication between the network terminal  50  and the GUI application module  10 . The API module  21  retrieves the network content (such as a station list, a playlist of one station, or other) from the network terminal  50 . 
     The content analysis module  22  connects the network service control module  20  with the content acquisition module  23 . Since, when the network service control module  20  acquires the network content from the network terminal  50 , both applicable and non-applicable information is retrieved, content analysis module  22  analyzes the acquired network content and extracts applicable information. 
     The content acquisition module  23  provides interfaces for the content analysis module  22  and the Internet service terminal  50 , working asynchronously with the GUI application module  10 . As the content acquisition module  23  downloads the network content from the network terminal  50 , the GUI application module  10  continues to function. The content acquisition module  23  downloads the network content from the network terminal  50  via multiple threads. The content acquisition module  23  can monitor and display download progress of the network content. The content acquisition module  23  supports a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) header to fetch the network content. The content acquisition module  23  can download multi-service content from the network terminal  50 . The network terminal  50  provides the network content to the content acquisition module  23 . 
     The daemon application module  60  saves the network content before the GUI application module  10  is shut down. The daemon application module  60  sends the saved network content to the GUI application module  10  after the GUI application module  10  is initialized. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method of an electronic device (e.g. that of  FIG. 1 ) communicating with a network terminal to retrieve network content (e.g. a station list), in accordance with one embodiment. 
     In block S 01 , if the electronic device is locked, a username and password are entered to log onto the electronic device. GUI application module  10  sends a request for authorization to the API module  21 . 
     In block S 02 , the API module  21  logs onto the network terminal  50 . The network terminal  50  returns a login success message to the API module  21 . 
     In block S 03 , the API module  21  acquires the station list from the network terminal  50 . The network terminal  50  returns the station list to the API module  21 . 
     In block S 04 , the API module  21  transfers the station list to the GUI application module  10  for display. 
     In block S 05 , the GUI application module  10  sends the station list to the daemon application module  60  for saving. The GUI application module  10  closes. Thus, when the GUI application module  10  is closed, the daemon application module  60  saves the station list. 
     In block S 06 , the GUI application module  10  starts up. The GUI application module  10  acquires the station list from the daemon application module  60 . 
     In block S 07 , the GUI application module  10  displays the station list. 
       FIG. 3(   a ) and  FIG. 3(   b ) show flowcharts of a method of an electronic device communicating with a network terminal to retrieve a radio playlist, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     In block S 08 , a radio station is chosen from the station list transferred by the API module  21  to the GUI application module  10 . 
     In block S 09 , the GUI application module  10  acquires a playlist of the station from the API module  21 . 
     In block S 10 , the API module  21  sends a request to the network terminal  50 . The network terminal  50  returns the playlist of the station to the API module  21 . 
     In block S 11 , the API module  21  plays selected playlist items, for example, the playlist may be played in sequence. 
     In block S 12 , the GUI application module  10  sends the playlist to the daemon application module  60 . The GUI application module  10  is shut down. 
     In block S 13 , the daemon application module  60  includes a playback sub-module. The GUI application module  10  sends a network address to the playback sub-module. The playback sub-module retrieves the network content before the GUI application module  10  exits. At this time, the electronic device is playing a background music file. The daemon application module  60  goes on to play selected tracks from the playlist. 
     In block S 14 , the GUI application module  10  starts up. The GUI application module  10  acquires the playlist from the daemon application module  60 . The daemon application module  60  stops playback of the playlist items. The GUI application module  10  plays the selected items. 
     Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps of methods described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certain steps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.