Patent ID: 8271713

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of: communicatively coupling, via a remotely controllable docking assembly (1) a portable digital media storage and playback device having a first display element, with (2) an audio and video reproduction system having a television-compatible second display element and a first audio amplifier adapted to drive at least one speaker, wherein the remotely controllable docking assembly comprises: (i) an externally accessible video output port adapted to communicate a television-compatible video signal to the second display element via interface cable connectable to the video output port, and (ii) a video processor adapted to communicate to the video output port a television-compatible video signal indicative of a signal received from the portable digital media storage and playback device for display by the second display element, and wherein the docking assembly has an associated remote controller; (iii) A microprocessor adapted to receive and process signals from the portable digital media storage and playback device to yield television compatible communicable to a television-compatible display element of the playback device through at least one video port and/or at least one audio/video port, the microprocessor being disposed in communication with or otherwise switchably controlling a communication path between the portable digital media storage and playback device and the video processor, a digital signal processor of the docking assembly and an amplifier of the docking assembly, wherein receiving and processing signals from the portable digital media storage and playback device to yield television compatible signals communicable to a television-compatible display element of the playback device through the at least one video port and/or at least one audio/video port comprises developing television-compatible display menus, storing the television-compatible display menus within a storage element of the docking assembly, populating the display menus with digital signal data received from the portable digital media storage and playback device and providing the populated display menus as a television-compatible signal to the at least one video port and at least one audio port, (iv) a wireless telephone transceiver adapted to rebroadcast telephonic signals between a telephone-enabled remote device and the portable digital media storage and playback device, (v) a remote control receiver adapted to receive an input signal from a wireless remote control device and to provide an output signal to the microprocessor, (vi) the digital signal processor adapted to adjust the output level of an audio signal to at least one audio port, displaying on the second display element information indicative of any of (1) a digital media file, and (2) a digital media file key, as available for download or transfer to the portable digital media storage and playback device; and selecting for download or transfer of any of the digital media file and the digital media file key using the remote controller.