Patent ID: 8682399

Claim:
A method for operating a portable media device, the method comprising, by the portable media device: determining a holder status for the portable media device based on readings from a plurality of motion sensors disposed within the portable media device, wherein determining the holder status comprises: determining an orientation angle of the portable media device based on the readings from the plurality of motion sensors; in response to determining the orientation angle, determining whether the determined orientation angle corresponds to a stored orientation angle associated with a holder status; and determining the holder status based on the holder status associated with the corresponding stored orientation angle; determining a holder motion status in response to determining the holder status, wherein determining the holder motion status comprises: determining a frequency spectrum; in response to determining the frequency spectrum, determining whether the determined frequency spectrum corresponds to a reference frequency spectrum associated with a holder motion status; and determining the holder motion status based on the holder motion status associated with the corresponding reference frequency spectrum; selecting a mode of operation for the portable media device based at least in part on the holder status and the holder motion status; and operating the portable media device in the selected mode of operation.