Patent Publication Number: US-2003223319-A1

Title: Optical disc player providing user-management function for MP3 files and method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-8754, filed Feb. 19, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to an optical disc player, and more particularly, to an optical disc player providing a user-management function for MP3 files, grouping the MP3 files according to a user preference, and re-naming the MP3 files, and a method thereof.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] MP3, as a kind of a coding compression standard, has been widely used due to its capability of using a small storing capacity to store a large amount of data by a high compression rate and securing high-quality sounds when being reproduced. In addition, MP3 players have also been widely used along with MP3 data.  
       [0006] However, a conventional optical disc player includes only a reproducing function and a repeat function with respect to management of the MP3 data or MP3 files.  
       [0007] When it is assumed that one MP3 file corresponds to a piece of music or a song, the optical disc player can reproduce a lot of the MP3 files. For example, one storing medium can include more than 200 directories and 400 files.  
       [0008]FIG. 1 is an example of a user interface window for reproducing MP3 files in a conventional optical disc player.  
       [0009] Here, the user interface window of the conventional optical disc player includes a file display window  100  for displaying the MP3 files read from a recording medium. In FIG. 1, the MP3 files are displayed as respectively corresponding numbers, for example, “01 02 03 04 . . . 399 400”. In addition, the user interface window of the conventional optical disc player includes a program window  110 , which provides a user input interface function, allowing a user to use a predetermined reproduction editing function. Accordingly, the user can see all of the MP3 files, which are read from the recording medium, via the file display window  100  and select files from the read MP3 files to be displayed on the program window  110 . Thus, the optical disc player reproduces or repeats the reproduction of the selected files, which are displayed on the program window  110 , according to commands from the user. However, a file list of the selected MP3 files can only be stored temporarily. In other words, when the program window  110  is closed, the power of the optical disc player is reset, or a tray of the recording medium in the optical disc player is open, the file list displayed on the program window  110  is erased. In addition, a new file can only be added to the file list as a last file while a function of determining an order of the files is not provided. Furthermore, a grouping or listing function of the MP3 files, which is provided by the optical disc player for reproducing the MP3 files using the program window  110  of FIG. 1, permits only one group or list of MP3 files to be displayed on the program window  110  of FIG. 1. Accordingly, the provided management function for the user&#39;s MP3 files is not sufficient to organize the MP3 files.  
       [0010] Here, the window shown in FIG. 1 is only an example, and the conventional optical disc player may display names of the MP3 files using characters instead of numbers. For example, when an MP3 storing medium includes a directory of LeeSuYoung, which has files of Leesuyoung_i believe.mp3 and Leesuyoung_and love you.mp3, the optical disc player should display the MP3 file names on the user interface window, i.e., the file display window  100  of FIG. 1, as follows.  
       [0011] LeeSuYoung-Leesuyoung_i believe  
       [0012] Leesuyoung_and love you  
       [0013] However, the conventional optical disc player cannot support sufficient fonts to display the MP3 file names and the directories thereof. Accordingly, the directory names and the file names included in the directories are displayed on the user interface window of the optical disc player in a broken state so that the user cannot recognize the directory names and the file names.  
       [0014] As described above, since the conventional optical disc player does not provide sufficient interface functions or editing functions, further additional user interface functions are required to edit the MP3 files, such as re-naming the MP3 file names, and generate folders or directories to group the MP3 files therein.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015] The present invention provides an optical disc player providing a user-management function for MP3 files that allows a user to selectively group the MP3 files, and a method thereof.  
       [0016] The present invention also provides an optical disc player providing a user-management function for MP3 files that allows a user to re-name the MP3 files or directories, and a method thereof.  
       [0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.  
       [0018] According to an aspect of the present invention, an optical disc player reproducing MP3 files includes a file management control unit, which generates specific directories designated by a user and lists files selected by the user in the directories from the files included in an MP3 file storing medium, and a directory storing unit, which stores the specific directories and the files listed in the directories.  
       [0019] It is possible that the number of the directories is at least one, and the directories are stored with sub files.  
       [0020] It is possible that the optical disc player further includes a user input/output interface unit, which generates the directories, selects the files, and displays the selected files.  
       [0021] It is possible that the file management control unit provides a re-naming function to the user input/output interface unit so that the user re-names the directories and files when a predetermined directory and the files listed in the directory are displayed.  
       [0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of managing MP3 files in an optical disc player, which reproduces MP3 formatted data files, includes reading a recording medium, displaying MP3 data in unit of a file unit, generating predetermined directories, and listing and storing the MP3 files selected by a user in the directories.  
       [0023] It is possible that plural numbers of the directories and file lists corresponding to the directories are formed.  
       [0024] It is possible that the method further includes re-naming the MP3 files and the directories by the user.  
       [0025] It is possible that the method further includes classifying the MP3 files according to a generated and stored directory structure and displaying the classified MP3 files.  
       [0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, an optical disc player for reproducing MP3 files includes a unit which provides a first function of displaying the MP3 files read from a recording medium and directories thereof and a second function of allowing a user to re-name the directories and the MP3 files.  
       [0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of managing MP3 formatted data files in an optical disc player, which reproduces the MP3 data files from a recording medium including the MP3 data files, includes reading the recording medium, displaying names of the MP3 files or directories thereof, and allowing a user to correct or rename the names of the directories and MP3 files.  
       [0028] It is possible that the method provides a predetermined font to re-name the directories and the files.  
       [0029] It is possible that the predetermined font is English language font. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0030] The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
     [0031]FIG. 1 is an MP3 management user interface window of a conventional optical disc player;  
     [0032]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an optical disc player including an MP3 file management function according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0033]FIGS. 3A and 3B are examples of user interface windows relating to MP3 files of the optical disc player shown in FIG. 2; and  
     [0034]FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing files in the optical disc player, which reproduces MP3 formatted data files, shown in FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0035] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment is described in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
     [0036]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an optical disc player managing MP3 files according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates elements relating to the management of the MP3 files, and descriptions of the elements and the drawings directly relating to reproduction of data files are omitted. Each MP3 file represents a piece of music or song, an MP3 formatted data file, or a file reproduced in the optical disc player or a computer and an MP3 player compatible with the optical disc player.  
     [0037] The optical disc player managing the MP3 files includes a file management control unit  200  and a directory storing unit  210 .  
     [0038] The file management control unit  200  generates directories, which are designated by a user, and file lists, which will be included in the directories. In this case, the user may generate a file list containing the MP3 files read by the optical disc player, for example, according to genres, such as jazz. The user inputs a command to generate a jazz directory by using a predetermined interface unit of the optical disc player. Thus, the file management control unit  200  generates the directory according to the command generating directories. Here, a name of the directory can be a number automatically set by the optical disc player or a title, such as jazz, which has been input by the user. When the directories are generated, the user selects the MP3 files, which will be included in the directories. For example, the user can select the MP3 files, which will be included in the jazz directory. The file management control unit  200  lists or groups the MP3 files selected by the user, as sub items in the corresponding directory. Here, a plurality of the directories and sub items can be generated. For example, the file management control unit  200  provides a function of generating the directories, such as classic, rock, jazz, and rhythm and blues, and another function of listing the sub files corresponding to the directories.  
     [0039] The directory storing unit  210  stores the directories and the file lists generated in the file management control unit  200 . Here, unlike a conventional optical disc player, the directory storing unit  210  can maintain information on the directories and the file lists corresponding to the directories, according to a selection of the user. In order to store the directories and the file lists corresponding to the directories, the information can be recorded in an empty region of a recording medium, such as an optical disc or the MP3 player, including the MP3 files or overwritten on an initial directory structure of the recording medium. In another case, the information can be stored in a memory of the optical disc player. When the information is stored in the memory of the optical disc player, the information should include identification information on the recording medium including the MP3 files or a directory structure of the MP3 files. Accordingly, in a case where the identification information on the recording medium is identical with the identification information stored in the memory, when the recording medium whose directory structure is stored in the memory of the optical disc player is reproduced, the optical disc player displays the MP3 files by using the directory structure, which has been stored in the memory.  
     [0040] In addition, the optical disc player can provide a function of erasing the directories or MP3 files by a directory unit or a file unit as well as the function of generating the directories of the MP3 files.  
     [0041] In order to generate the directories and generate and erase the file lists of the directories, the optical disc player requires a user interface unit (not shown), which receives user inputs and displays a result of the user inputs.  
     [0042] According to a file structure of the MP3 files, the user generates desired classification items, i.e., directories, and lists the MP3 files in the classification items, i.e., groups the MP3 files, to manage the MP3 files according to a user preference. In addition, the user may perform several additional functions, such as reproducing the files in the selected directory, by using the file structure.  
     [0043]FIGS. 3A and 3B are examples of user interface windows of the optical disc player shown in FIG. 2. Here, a left window  300  of FIG. 3A displays MP3 data stored in the recording medium by the file unit. A right window  310  of FIG. 3A displays the directories generated by the user and the file lists included in the directories. FIG. 3B is an example of re-naming the directories and the MP3 files by the user using the user interface window.  
     [0044] In general, the MP3 files of the recording medium include additional information, such as names. However, a great number of MP3 file names are displayed by numbers or by characters, such as “?  **?,” which cannot be recognized by the user, on the optical disc player due to a limitation in the fonts of the optical disc player or the limitation in a memory capacity allotted to a display of MP3 file names. The optical disc player has a function of re-naming the MP3 files read from the recording medium. Accordingly, the user changes the directory names and the file names into signs, which can be easily recognized by the user, so that the user can easily recognize the directories and the MP3 files. To this end, the optical disc player should include a predetermined unit (not shown) having such a re-naming function. The re-named file names and directory names can be recorded or overwritten on the corresponding recording medium or can be stored in the memory of the optical disc player along with the information on the directories and file lists.  
     [0045] In addition, the fonts, which will be used by the user, should be prepared in the optical disc player. In this case, it is possible that the optical disc player uses English language fonts, which require a small amount of the memory capacity.  
     [0046]FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing files in the optical disc player reproducing the MP3 data files.  
     [0047] First, the optical disc player reads the recording medium including the MP3 data files and displays the MP3 data file structure in operation  400 . Here, the user may re-name the MP3 files and the directories by using specific keys or the user interface unit, such as a graphic user interface (GUI), which is provided by the optical disc player.  
     [0048] When the user inputs a command of generating a specific folder or directory by using the user interface unit, the optical disc player generates folders or directories according to the command from the user in operation  410 . Here, the user may name the folders or the directories.  
     [0049] When the user selects the MP3 files to be included in the folders or the directories, the optical disc player lists the MP3 files to be included in the folders or the directories, in operation  420 . Thereafter, the optical disc player stores and displays the folders or the directories and the directory lists in operation  430 . Here, the directories and the directory lists can be stored in the memory of the optical disc player or on the recording medium including the corresponding files.  
     [0050] As described above, the optical disc player provides functions of generating the file structure for the user&#39;s convenience and re-naming the file names so that the user can conveniently manage the files.  
     [0051] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.