Abstract:
A solid-state music player has a writable and erasable memory for storing music and a digital music player application, a speaker system for providing audio, a rechargeable battery for powering on the music player, and an interactive touch screen interface for controlling the functions and features of the music player. The solid-state music player may be removably docked into a docking bay provided in a communications device and then ejected for play in standalone mode.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is in the field of portable music devices and equipment and pertains particularly to methods and apparatus for integrating a hardware portable music player with a communications device for charging and loading the player with music for standalone play once ejected. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0004]    Mobile phone technology is becoming increasingly more advanced with the advent of smart phone technology. A smart phone is a communications device in the form of a mobile phone offering advanced communications and entertainment capabilities beyond what a typical mobile cellular telephone might offer. Many smart phones exhibit functionality similar to a personal computer (PC). Some smart phones are capable of running complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers. 
         [0005]    A noticeable trend in the development of smart phone technology is the integration of software media players such as MP3 players, for example, which enable users to play their favorite MP3 music files stored on their smart phone or streamed from the Internet directly from their smart phone. While this technology integration has been beneficial to the user, it can be problematic to the user in certain scenarios. For example, some public places ban mobile telephones from being on at the premises. If a user, for example, was at a health club exercising where mobiles were not permitted to be turned on, he or she would be limited to the music playing on the global system for all users. 
         [0006]    Other activities may not be compatible with the active use of an expensive mobile telephone to play music. For instance, some users may find that performing certain activities while using their mobile phone to listen to their music is cumbersome and carries an added threat of damaging their mobile phones. Some sports like mountain biking, surfing, snowboarding, and so on could be problematic relative to soundness of the mobile phone system used to play music while engaged in such activities. 
         [0007]    Therefore, what is needed is a new type of hardware music player and host system that solves the problems stated above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The problem stated above is that portability is desirable for a digital audio system, but many of the conventional means for enabling portability for listening to music such as playing the music from a mobile telephone, also increase the risk of unpleasant circumstances occurring for a user attempting to listen to music. The inventors therefore considered functional components of a digital music system, looking for elements that exhibit interoperability that could potentially be harnessed to provide portable music but in a manner that would not create difficulties or missed opportunities to enjoy the music accessible from the player. 
         [0009]    The present inventor realized in an inventive moment that if music could be stored on a communications device and then transferred to a portable music player that was dedicated to simply playing back the transferred selections, significant reduction in restrictive circumstances may occur. The inventor therefore constructed a unique music storing and rendering system for transferring and listening to music files that allowed dedicated portable use of the system for listening to music, but constrained the form factor of the music playing component to an economic and easily used profile compatible with most active situations where music might be played. A significant convenience for the user results, with no impediment to direct listening of stored music files created. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, a solid-state music player is provided and includes a writable and erasable memory for storing music and a digital music player application, a speaker system for providing audio, a rechargeable battery for powering on the music player, and an interactive touch screen interface for controlling the functions and features of the music player. The music player may be removably docked into a docking bay provided in a communications device and then ejected for play in standalone mode. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the solid-state music player has a form factor including a length, width, and thickness adapted for insert into a card slot provided in the communications device, the communications device functioning as a host device and docking station for the solid-state music player. In a variation of this embodiment, the communications device is a Smartphone. In a preferred embodiment the solid-state music player further includes a wireless transceiver and circuitry. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the touch screen is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) touch screen. In one embodiment, the solid-state music player is also insertable into a pocket of a wearable arm or wrist band during standalone play when the player is not docked. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a music storing and rendering system is provided and includes a solid-state music player including a writable and erasable memory for storing music, a speaker system for providing audio, a rechargeable battery, and an interactive touch screen interface; and a communications device having a card slot with a form factor including a length, width, and thickness provisioned to accept the solid-state player in a removable state of docking. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the solid-state music player is accessible from a touch screen provided on the communications device. In a variation of this embodiment, the communications device is a Smartphone. In another variation of this embodiment, the touch screens are OLED touch screens. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the card slot includes a mechanism for writing to and erasing from the memory of the solid-state music player while docked therein, the tasks controllable from one or more controls on the communications device. In one embodiment the system further includes a port for recharging a first rechargeable battery on the communications device and a second rechargeable battery on the solid-state music player. 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment, music may be streamed wirelessly from the communications device to the solid-state music player while it is not docked to the communications device. In a variation of this embodiment, music may be streamed wirelessly from the solid-state music player to a hosted speaker unit or system while it is not docked to the communications device. In one embodiment, the solid-state music player and the communications device may be wirelessly synchronized to enable the same music selections stored for playback from either device. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the invention, using a music storing and rendering system including a solid-state music player with a writable and erasable memory for storing music, a speaker system for providing audio, a rechargeable battery, and an interactive touch screen interface, and a communications device having a card slot with a form factor including a length, width, and thickness provisioned to accept the solid-state player in a removable state of docking, a method for establishing a portable music station including the steps (a) with the solid-state music player docked into the communications device, writing at least one music file to the memory on the player from another memory storing the at least one file, (b) ejecting the solid-state music player from the communications device, (c) staging the solid-state music player for listening to music, (d) selecting at least one of the stored music files, and (e) playing the at least one music file. 
         [0018]    In one aspect of the method, in step (a), the music player charges while docked into the communications device. In a preferred aspect, in step (b), the solid-state music player is physically ejected by touching an icon on a touch screen on the communications device. In another aspect of the method, in step (c), the solid-state music player is inserted into a transparent pocket of an arm band or wrist band. In a preferred aspect of the method, in step (d), selection is made using a touch screen provided on the solid-state music player. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a Smartphone with an ejectable solid-state music player according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the music player of  FIG. 1  with the touch screen display removed for clarity. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the music player of  FIG. 1  with the touch screen display illustrated. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for ejecting the player to listen to music. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The inventors provide a unique music storing and rendering system for transferring and listening to music files that allowed dedicated portable use of the system for listening to music, but constrained the form factor of the music playing component to an economic and easily used profile compatible with most active situations where music might be played. The methods and apparatus of the invention are described in the following examples, which may include descriptions of more than one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a Smartphone  101  with an ejectable solid-state music player  102  according to an embodiment of the present invention. A music playing system  100  includes Smartphone  101  and a solid-state music player  102 . Smartphone  101  represents one type of communications device that may support hosting of a solid-state media player like player  102 . Smartphone  101  includes many attributes common to a Smartphone. Smartphone  101  includes a digital camera  104  and a speaker system  103 . Smartphone  101  may be adapted to play music stored in local memory or streamed from the Internet or from some external device memory. A software music player (not illustrated) is presumed installed on and operable from telephone  101 . In this regard, Smartphone  101  can play music without using solid-state music player  102 . 
         [0025]    Smartphone  101  includes a docking bay  117  integrated within the body of the phone. Docking bay  117  is adapted to accept solid-state player  102 . Docking bay  117  includes a charging mechanism for charging a battery provided on the solid-state music player and an eject mechanism for ejecting the solid-state player from the telephone. Music player  102  has a form factor similar to that of a credit card and may easily and conveniently fit inside the body of Smartphone  101  without interfering with any other electronics of the Smartphone. 
         [0026]    Music player  102  is adapted as a standalone battery-powered player when not docked to Smartphone  101 . Player  102  has a battery, speaker, and other circuitry required to enable full function as a music player. More detail about electronics components of solid-state player  102  is provided later in this specification. Player  102  has a touch screen  112 , which may be an organic light emitting diode (OLED) touch screen. Touch screen  112  may extend partly over the surface of the player or it may take up the entire front surface of player  102 . 
         [0027]    Smartphone  101  has a touch screen  105 , which may be an OLED touch screen. Touch screen  105  includes full touch screen navigation capability in several different modes. In this example, the Smartphone is set to music player mode. In music player mode, the touch screen typically includes controls and views for working with music, songs, playlists, etc. In music player mode, touch screen  105  includes a dynamic graphics display  106 . Graphics display  106  may contain an album cover, video graphic, animated skin, or some other graphic representation of a song that is playing or a playlist that is being played. 
         [0028]    Touch screen  105  on Smartphone  101  includes a now playing section that displays one or more song titles  107  of the songs that are loaded for play. Smartphone  101  is adapted for wireless transmission of music to another wireless enabled device. A Bluetooth™ icon is displayed in the now playing section of touch screen  105  indicating that the player is capable of streaming music to an external Bluetooth-enabled device. 
         [0029]    An interactive eject option  108  is displayed in touch screen  105  of Smartphone  101  and may be selected and invoked to eject solid-state player  102 . The ejection mechanism (not illustrated) may be a mechanical spring loaded system with a lock for preventing unintended ejection of the player from the phone. In this example a lock lever  111  must be positioned at the bottom of the host track to release a spring mechanism to facilitate physical ejection of the solid-state media player from the Smartphone. 
         [0030]    Touch screen  105  on Smartphone  101  in player mode includes a control set  109  for play, pause, stop, skip forward, and skip backward. It is noted herein that many more controls may be added such as volume, mute, equalizer controls, skin selection controls, and so on. Such controls are common with many SW media players. Touch screen  105  of Smartphone  101  includes a navigation control set  110  that includes a control for playing music (current mode), a control for playing video, a control for playing radio (sourced online), and a control for viewing and editing settings relative to the current mode of the Smartphone. 
         [0031]    Solid-state music player  102  is in a state of being ejected from Smartphone  101 . The player is ejected in the general direction of the arrow placed underneath the player. In this case lock lever  111  is slid all the way down the track enabling unfettered ejection. Several tasks may be performed while the solid-state music player is docked in docking bay  117  on Smartphone  101 . Solid-state player  102  may be charged while it is docked. When Smartphone  101  is being charged, the solid-state player is also charged at the same time. In one embodiment the solid-state player takes charge from the battery of the Smartphone if the Smartphone is not plugged in for charging. Other charging methods are available and are known to the inventor such as magnetic charge pads and vehicle adaptors. 
         [0032]    Solid-state music player  102  has a touch screen  112  provided thereon, which may occupy part of or all of the front area of the player. Touch screen  112  may be an OLED touch screen. Touch screen  112 , like touch screen  105 , on Smartphone  101  includes a set of player controls  116 , a graphics window  113  for displaying an album cover, or some other art or animation. Touch screen  112  includes an equalizer bar and associated controls  115 . In this example a play list  114  on touch screen  112  is the same as the list  107  open Smartphone touch screen  105 . Once ejected from Smartphone  101 , solid-state music player  102  may function as a standalone music player where the songs played are selected from the touch screen interface on the front of the player. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment of the present invention, Smartphone  101  may stream music for playback to solid-state music player  102  over a wireless connection once it is ejected from docking bay  117 . Solid-state music player  102  includes wireless transceiver capability for receiving music streams from and sending music streams to another device for playback purposes. A wireless connection such as a Bluetooth™ connection may also be used for file synchronization and file download or upload and transfer. More detail about internal components of solid-state music player  102  is provided later in this specification. 
         [0034]    Solid-state music player  102  may be adapted to play MP3 files, AVI files, and any other digital music or video compression formats. In one embodiment player  102  may, in addition to playing music, display images and play movies. In this case, touch screen  112  would contain navigation controls to invoke those features. Other features and links may also be provided like radio links, TV links, and so on. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a front view of music player  102  with the touch screen display removed for clarity. Solid-state music player  102  is illustrated in front elevation and in right side view to illustrate the ultra thin profile of the device. Music player  102  includes a microprocessor  204  and a small amount of random access memory (RAM)  205  for loading boot instructions and applications installed on the device. Solid-state music player  102  is a standalone music player and includes a rechargeable battery or power cell  203  and a speaker or speaker system  207 . Solid-state music player  102  contains a Flash memory  202  for storing media like music files, images, and movie files assuming the latter media is supported by the device. 
         [0036]    Solid-state music player  102  includes a wireless transceiver (TX/RX)  201  to enable receipt of wirelessly streamed music from another wirelessly-enabled device or system for play on the device. Music may be wirelessly streamed from player  102  to another wirelessly-enabled device or system such as a stereo system, a wireless headset, or some other device having a music player and speaker system for rendering the music files. In this example, solid-state music player includes a charging contact  206  fixedly attached to the rear surface for enabling a contact charge when the player is docked into a host system or device like Smartphone  101 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a front view of solid-state music player  102  with the touch-screen display illustrated in player mode. Touch screen display  112  includes at minimum, playback control set  116 , equalization bar  115 , and dynamic graphics display  113 . In one embodiment, the device supports processing of a radio streams and a navigation control set  117  is provided so that a user may navigate to a pre-set radio station broadcasting online and may connect to a live radio stream. Control set  117  may also include links to one or more online TV and movie providers that may aggregate several online media sources or stations that can be pre-set in a control panel so that the shortcut icons to those sources can be readily displayed on touch screen  112 . 
         [0038]    Solid-state music player  102  may be operated as a standalone music player once ejected from a host Smartphone like Smartphone  101 . In this regard a user may physically hold the player while playing music. In one embodiment an accessory stand may be provided for stationing the solid-state music player for stationary playback such as from a countertop. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment a wrist band or arm band is provided that includes a pocket with a transparent face so the user may still access touch screen options. In this embodiment a user may eject player  102  from its host system and insert the player into the pocket of wrist band or arm band. In this way the player may be operated more safely and conveniently in portable mode during higher level activities like while jogging, working out, snowboarding, and so on. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart  400  illustrating steps for ejecting the player to listen to music. At step  401  a user ejects the solid-state music player from the host system. In this step the user may slide a lock lever down to the bottom of a track after eject is selected unlocking a spring mechanism (not illustrated) for physically ejecting the player from the host. At this point the player may be ready to play selected music. 
         [0041]    At step  402  the user might decide whether to play music by streaming it wirelessly from the solid-state music player to a remote system. If at step  402  the user decides to stream music to another system, at step  403  the user establishes a wireless connection between the player and a remote system having speakers and a compatible music player at step  403 . If at step  402  the user determines not to stream music to another system, then at step  404  the user may select media for playback using the touch screen interface on the player. After connection the player wirelessly to a remote system at step  403 , the user may select media for playback at step  404 . At step  405  the user plays media from the device. 
         [0042]    It is noted herein that when the solid-state music player is docked with a Smartphone, it may be the default player of the system. In this aspect it is possible to stream music wirelessly from the docked player to another wirelessly-enabled music system. In one aspect the user makes a decision at step  402  whether the Smartphone will be used to wirelessly stream music to the un-docked solid-state music player. 
         [0043]    It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the music rendering system of the invention may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are specific examples of a single broader invention which may have greater scope than any of the singular descriptions taught. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.