PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8131645-B2
Application Number: US-28631608-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: System and method for processing media gifts

Abstract:
Various techniques are provided for the gifting between multiple electronic devices of media content provided by an online digital media provider. An offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near-field communication (NFC) connection. If a connection to the online provider is available, the gifter device may transmit a gift request by which the gifter&#39;s account is charged for the gift file. Thereafter, a gift file created using DRM keys associated with the giftee&#39;s account may be downloaded to the giftee device. If a network connection is unavailable, the giftee device may transfer a locked gift file and a corresponding gift license to the giftee device using a peer-to-peer connection. The giftee device may authenticate the license and unlock the gift file once a connection to the online provider is available.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for approving the gifting of a digital media file from a first device to a second device using a server associated with an online digital media provider, the method comprising:
 receiving on the server a request from the second device to unlock a locked gift file, wherein the locked gift file was previously transmitted to the second device from the first device; 
 receiving a gift license from the second device, the gift license being associated with the locked gift file, wherein the gift license comprises at least an account belonging to a user of the first device; 
 authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file; and 
 providing the authorization to unlock the locked gift file to the second device, wherein the unlocked gift file may be played back on the second device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unlock request and the gift license are received using a communication interface on the server configured to establish a communication path with a communication interface on the second device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the communication interfaces comprise at least one of a LAN interface, a wireless LAN interface, or a WAN interface, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file comprises determining if the account belonging to the user of the first device may be charged for the gift file. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the authorization to unlock the locked gift file is provided from the server to the second device if the account belonging to the user of the first device is charged. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the authorization to unlock the locked gift file comprises permitting the second device to unlock the locked gift file using a digital rights management (DRM) key associated with an account belonging to a user of the second device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file further comprises:
 if the account belonging to the user of the first device cannot be charged, providing an option from the server to the second device, wherein the option may allow a user of the second device to authorize a charge for the gift file to an account belonging to the user of the second device; and 
 authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file if it is determined by the server that the account belonging to the user of the second device may be charged for the gift file. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first device or the second device is a portable electronic device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first device or the second device is a handheld device comprising at least one of a media player, a cellular phone or a personal data organizer. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first device or the second device is a handheld device having a height less than approximately 5.0 inches, a width less than approximately 2.5 inches, and a depth less than approximately 0.5 inches. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first device or the second device is a handheld device weighing less than approximately 5.0 ounces. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media file comprises an audio music file, a video file, an electronic book (e-book) file, an audio book file, a podcast file, an image file, a software application file, a video game, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the digital media file comprises at least one of an MP3, AIFF, WAV, MPEG-4, or AAC file format. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the locked gift file comprises a digital copy of the digital media file that is restricted from being played back using the second device prior to the server authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the locked gift file comprises a digital copy of the digital media file that is not permitted to be played back using the second device until a digital rights management (DRM) key associated with an account belonging to a user of the second device is applied to unlock the locked gift file. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the DRM key associated with the account belonging to the user of the second device is applied to the locked gift file by the second device if the server determines that the gift license is valid. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the gift license is determined by the server to be valid if the account belonging to the user of the first device is successfully charged by the server for the unlocking of the gift file. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gift license is processed by the server to determine whether a charge may be applied to the account belonging to the user of the first device for authorizing the unlocking of the locked gift file. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein determining whether a charge may be applied to the account belonging to the first user comprises determining whether a credit card account associated with the account belong to the user of the first device is valid. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein, if the charge is applied to the account belonging to the user of the first device, the gift license indicates approval of the charge. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the authorization to unlock the gift file is provided if the gift license indicates approval of the charge. 
     
     
       22. A method for using a server associated with a digital media content provider to authorize gifting of a digital media file from a first device to a second device comprising:
 using the server associated with the digital media content provider to: 
 receive a request from the second device to unlock a locked digital media file previously transmitted to the second device from the first device, wherein the locked digital media file comprises a digital copy of the digital media file that is not permitted to be played back using the second device until a digital rights management (DRM) key associated with an account associated with the digital media content provider and belonging to a user of the second device is applied; 
 receive a gift license associated with the locked digital media file from the second device, wherein the gift license comprises information to identify an account associated with the digital media content provider and belonging to a user of the first device; 
 validate the gift license by applying a charge to the account belonging to the user of the first device, the charge corresponding to a payment for the gifting of the digital media file; and 
 provide to the second device an authorization to unlock the locked digital media file if the charge is applied to the account belonging to the user of the first device, wherein the authorization to unlock the locked gift file comprises instructions permitting the second device to apply to the locked digital media file the DRM key associated with the account belonging to the user of the second device, wherein after applying the DRM key, the locked digital media file becomes unlocked and the unlocked digital media file may be played back using the second device. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the digital media file comprises at least an audio music file, a video file, an electronic book (e-book) file, an audio book file, a podcast file, an image file, a software application file, a video game, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the unlocked digital media file cannot be played back on the first device. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the user of the first device does not have digital rights to play back the unlocked digital media file gifted to the user of the second device, even though the payment for the gifted digital media file is charged to the account belonging to the user of the first device. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first device or the second device comprises a portable handheld electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the gifting of digital media content and, more particularly, to various systems, methods, and electronic devices configured to perform the gifting of digital media content. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     In recent years, the declining popularity of audio cassette tapes and compact discs in conjunction with the growing popularity of electronic devices capable of playing various forms of digital media content has led to a dramatic increase in the demand for downloadable digital media content. Many such digital media player devices, particular portable devices, are currently available on the market and support a wide variety of file formats that digital media files might take. For instance, downloadable digital music files are commonly provided in the following file formats, just to provide a few examples: MP3, AIFF, WAV, MPEG-4, AAC, etc. 
     Thus, as a result of market demands, various online digital media providers have been established and currently exist as a retailer for downloadable digital media content. Often times, downloaded media content may be received directly on a digital media player device and immediately played back, listened to, or viewed by a user of the device. In other instances, the downloaded media content may be received on a desktop computer and subsequently transferred to a digital media player for playback. To provide one example, an online digital media provider offering the above mentioned services may be the iTunes® online service, operated by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     While the download of digital media files directly to digital media player devices from an online digital media content provider may offer a convenient and simple solution to store various digital media files in a common location for playback on demand, the transfer of such files between individuals is often times problematic due to the nature of copyright protection. For example, downloadable digital media content may be protected using a variety of digital rights management techniques, which may generally refer to access control methods used by device manufacturers, content publishers/providers, and copyright holders in order to limit usage and distribution of digital media content. This ensures that the copyright holder&#39;s rights are honored and that the copyright holder is compensated for each sale of a copyrighted digital work. Thus, the transfer of a copyright protected digital media file from one device to a separate receiving device may oftentimes result in the transferred file being unplayable or inaccessible on the receiving device. 
     SUMMARY 
     Certain aspects of embodiments disclosed herein by way of example are summarized below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms that any implementation disclosed and/or claimed herein might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, any implementation disclosed and/or claimed herein may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
     The present disclosure generally relates to various techniques for gifting downloadable media files provided by an online digital media provider between multiple electronic devices. In accordance with one embodiment, a first device may initiate a gifting process by selecting one or more media files to be gifted to a receiving device. For example, in initiating the gifting the process, the user of the initiating device may authorize a gift charge to be applied to the user&#39;s account associated with the online digital media provider. Thereafter, a gift offer may be transmitted from the initiating device to the receiving device using a close range communication protocol, such as near-field communication (NFC) connection. The receiving device, upon receiving the offer, may transmit an acceptance message using the NFC connection, in which the receiver&#39;s account information associated with the online digital media provider is included and transferred to the initiating device. 
     The initiating device may then transmit a gift request to the online digital media provider. The online digital media provider may then process the gift request to charge the initiator&#39;s account for the gifting of the selected file. Thereafter, a gift file may be created using the receiver&#39;s digital media protection keys, such as a DRM key, such the gift file may be authorized for playback on the receiving device in accordance with copyright regulations. The gift file may then be downloaded to the receiving device, upon which the user of the receiving device may playback the gifted file. In one implementation, the gift file may be created by a server operated by the online digital media provider. In other implementations, the online digital media provider may provide the receiver&#39;s DRM key to the initiating device and the initiating device may be delegated the task of generating the gift file. 
     Further implementations of the present techniques are also provided in which after the offer and acceptance of the gift file, the initiating device is unable to establish a connection with the online digital media provider to transmit a gift request. In such situations, the initiating device may instead generate a locked gift file and a gift license to be transmitted directly to the receiving device. The locked gift file may not be played on the receiving device until a connection is later established with the online digital media provider, and the gift license is authenticated, whereby the initiator&#39;s account is charged the gift, and the locked gift file is unlocked for playback on the receiving device. The present techniques also provide for the gifting of media files where the initiating and receiving devices are in remote locations, such as by using electronic gift certificates generated by the initiating device and sent by an e-mail communication to the receiving device. The electronic gift certificate may then be redeemed by the receiving device with the online digital media provider, after which the selected gift file corresponding to the electronic gift certificate may be downloaded to the receiving device. The present techniques further provide for the gifting of multiple media files in a single transaction, as well as the customization and personalization of such gifts. 
     Various refinements of the features noted above may exist in relation to various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to one or more of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in any combination. Again, the brief summary presented above is intended only to familiarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodiments of the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a handheld electronic device in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the handheld electronic device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified block diagram depicting components which may be used in the handheld electronic device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation depicting the use of the handheld electronic device of  FIG. 1  to purchase of one or more media files from an online service in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a plurality of screen images that may be displayed on the device of  FIG. 1  illustrating a method for connecting to the online service of  FIG. 4  and selecting a media file for purchase; 
         FIG. 6  shows a plurality of screen images illustrating the playback the purchased media file of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  on the device of  FIG. 1  using a media player application; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic representation illustrating the gifting of the purchased media file of  FIG. 5B  from the handheld electronic device of  FIG. 1  to a separate device in accordance with one implementation of the present technique, wherein the handheld electronic device of  FIG. 1  acts as a gifter device and the separate device acts as a giftee device, and wherein the gifted media file is created by an online service depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic representation illustrating a communication process that may occur between the gifter and giftee devices during the gifting process depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of respective communication profiles associated with each of the gifter device and giftee device which may be exchanged between the gifter device and the giftee device during the communication process of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10A  shows a plurality of screen images that may be displayed on the giftee device illustrating a method for initiating the gifting process of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10B  shows a plurality of screen images depicting the transmission of gifting information from the gifter device to the giftee device using a communication path in accordance with the gifting process depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10C  illustrates the establishment of the communication path of  FIG. 10B ; 
         FIG. 10D  shows a plurality of screen images depicting the acceptance of the gifted media file by the giftee device and the transmission of a gift request to the online service by the gifter device in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 11A  shows a plurality of screen images illustrating the connection of the giftee device to the online service of  FIG. 4  to retrieve the gifted media file accepted by the giftee device in  FIG. 10D ; 
         FIG. 11B  shows a plurality of screen images illustrating the playback of the retrieved gifted media file from  FIG. 11A  on the giftee device using a media player application; 
         FIG. 11C  shows a plurality if screen images illustrating a method by which the giftee device may approve a payment for the gifted media file if the gifter&#39;s payment account cannot be charged; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic representation illustrating the gifting of the purchased media file of  FIG. 5B  from a gifter device to a giftee device, wherein the gifted media file is created on the gifter device in accordance with a further implementation of the present technique; 
         FIG. 13A  shows a plurality of screen images depicting the transmission of gifting information from the gifter device to the giftee device using a communication path in accordance with the gifting process depicted in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 13B  shows a plurality of screen images depicting the creation of a gift file on the gifter device in accordance with the gifting process depicted in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 13C  shows a plurality of screen images depicting the transmission of the gift file created in  FIG. 13B  from the gifter device to the giftee device; 
         FIG. 14  shows a plurality of screen images illustrating the playback of the gift file received in  FIG. 13B  by the giftee device; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic representation illustrating the a technique for gifting the purchased media file of  FIG. 5B  from a gifter device to a giftee device in accordance with a further implementation of the present technique, wherein the gifter device is temporarily unable to connect to the online service to transmit a gift request; 
         FIG. 16A  shows a plurality of screen images depicting the acceptance of a gift offer by the giftee device in accordance with the gifting process depicted in  FIG. 15 , and further illustrates, with respect to the gifter device, the unavailability of a connection to the online service; 
         FIG. 16B  shows a plurality of screen images depicting the transmission of a locked gift file and a gift license from the gifter device to the giftee device; 
         FIG. 17A  shows a plurality of screen images depicting how the locked gift file from  FIG. 16B  must be authenticated with the online service prior to being played back on the giftee device; 
         FIGS. 17B and 17C  show a plurality of screen images illustrating the authentication and unlocking of the locked gift file of  FIG. 16B  and the subsequent playback of the unlocked gift file on the giftee device; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic representation illustrating a technique for gifting the purchased media file of  FIG. 5B  from a giftee device to a giftee device without the use of the communication path depicted in  FIGS. 10B and 10C  in accordance with a further implementation of the present technique; 
         FIG. 19  shows a plurality of screen images depicting the creation of an electronic gift certificate on the gifter device in accordance with the gifting process depicted in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIGS. 20A-20C  show a plurality of screen images that may be displayed on the giftee device depicting a process for redeeming the electronic gift certificate with the online service and receiving a gift file in accordance with the gifting process of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIGS. 21A-21D  show a plurality of screen images depicting various techniques for personalizing a playlist having a plurality of media files to be gifted to a giftee device; 
         FIG. 22  shows a plurality of screen images for playing back media files associated with the gifted playlist described in  FIGS. 21A-21D ; 
         FIG. 23  shows a screen image depicting a graphical user interface for navigating and selecting the gifted playlist of  FIG. 22 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present techniques will be described below. These described embodiments are only exemplary of the present disclosure. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Turning to the drawings and referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an electronic device that may include one or more applications for providing the media gifting techniques and capabilities briefly mentioned above is illustrated and generally referred to by reference numeral  10 . In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device  10  may be a handheld device incorporating the functionality of one or more portable devices, such as a media player, a cellular phone, a personal data organizer, and so forth. Thus, depending on the functionalities provided by the electronic device  10 , a user may listen to music, play games, record video, take pictures, and place telephone calls, while moving freely with the device  10 . In addition, the electronic device  10  may allow a user to connect to and communicate through the Internet or through other networks, such as local or wide area networks. For example, the electronic device  10  may allow a user to communicate using e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging, or other forms of electronic communication. The electronic device  10  also may communicate with other devices using short-range connection protocols, such as Bluetooth and near field communication (NFC). By way of example only, the electronic device  10  may be a model of an iPhone®, available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. The electronic device  10 , such as a model of an iPhone®, may have a height of approximately 5.0 inches, a width of approximately 2.5 inches, a depth of approximately 0.5 inches, and a weight of approximately 5 ounces. 
     As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the device  10  may be enclosed by an enclosure or housing  12 . The enclosure  12  may serve to protect the internal components of the device  10  from physical damage. In addition, the enclosure  12  may also provide the device  10  and its internal components shielding from electromagnetic interference. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the enclosure  12  may be formed and/or constructed from any suitable material such as plastic, metal, or a composite material and may allow certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation to pass through to wireless communication circuitry within the device  10  for facilitation of wireless communications. 
     The enclosure  12  may further provide for access to various user input structures, depicted in  FIG. 1  by reference numerals  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 . By way of these user input structures, a user may interface with the device  10 , wherein each user input structure  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  may be configured to control one or more device functions when pressed or actuated. By way of example, the input structure  14  may include a button that when pressed or actuated causes a home screen or menu to be displayed on the device. The input structure  16  may include a button for toggling the device  10  between one or more modes of operation, such as a sleep mode, a wake mode, or a powered on/off mode, for example. The input structure  18  may include a dual-position sliding structure that may mute or silence a ringer in embodiments where the device  10  includes a cell phone application. Further, the input structures  20  and  22  may include buttons for increasing and decreasing the volume output of the device  10 . It should be understood that the illustrated input structures  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  are merely exemplary, and that the electronic device  10  may include any number of user input structures existing in various forms including buttons, switches, control pads, keys, knobs, scroll wheels, and so forth, depending on specific implementation requirements. 
     The electronic device  10  may further include a display  24  configured to display various images generated by the device  10 . By way of example, the display  24  may be configured to display photos, movies, album art associated with digital media files stored on the device  10 , and/or data, such as text documents, spreadsheets, text messages, and e-mail, among other things. The display  24  may also display various system indicators  26  that provide feedback to a user, such as power status, signal strength, call status, external device connections, or the like. The display  24  may be any type of display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or other suitable display. In certain embodiments, the device  10  may include a touch sensitive element, such as a touch screen interface (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) disposed adjacent to the display  24  that may function as an additional user input structure (e.g., in addition to structures  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 ). By way of this touch screen interface, a user may select elements displayed on the display  24  such as, for example, by touching certain elements using the user&#39;s finger or a stylus. 
     As further shown in the present embodiment, the display  24  may be configured to display a graphical user interface (“GUI”)  28  that allows a user to interact with the device  10 . The GUI  28  may include various graphical layers, windows, screens, templates, elements, or other components that may be displayed on all or a portion of the display  24 . For instance, the GUI  28  may display a plurality of graphical elements, depicted here generally as icons  30 . By default, such as when the device  10  is first powered on, the GUI  28  may be configured to display the illustrated icons  30  as a “home screen,” represented herein by the reference numeral  29 . In certain embodiments, the user input structures  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , may be used to navigate through the GUI  28  and, accordingly, away from the home screen  29 . For example, one or more of the user input structures may include a wheel structure that may allow a user to select various icons  30  displayed by the GUI  28 . Additionally, the icons  30  may also be selected via the touch screen interface. 
     As will be appreciated, the icons  30  may represent various layers, windows, screens, templates, elements, or other components that may be displayed in some or all of the areas of the display  24  upon selection by the user. Furthermore, the selection of an icon  30  may lead to or initiate a hierarchical screen navigation process. For instance, the selection of an icon  30  may cause the display  24  to display another screen that includes one or more additional icons  30  or other GUI elements. Also, as shown in the present embodiment, each graphical element  30  may have one or more textual indicators  32  associated therewith, which may be displayed on or near its respective graphical element  30  to facilitate user interpretation of each graphical element  30 . For example, as shown in the present figure, the icons  34 ,  36 , and  38  may be associated with the textual indicators “iTunes,” “iPod,” and “Mail,” respectively. It should be appreciated that the GUI  28  may include various components arranged in hierarchical and/or non-hierarchical structures. 
     When an icon  30  is selected, the device  10  may be configured to initiate, open, or run an application associated with the selected icon  30  and to display a corresponding screen. For example, when the icon  34  is selected, the device  10  may connect to and display an application providing the user an interface to an online service. By way of the example, the online service  34  may be an online service providing various downloadable digital media content, such as music or video files, electronic books (e-books), audiobooks, podcasts, software applications and programs, video games, or the like, which may be purchased by a user of the device  10  and subsequently downloaded to the device  10 . In one implementation, the online digital media provider may be provided by the iTunes® digital media service/store, offered and maintained by Apple Inc. When the icon  36  is selected, the device may initiate a media player application and display a listing of media files available for playback on the device  10 . By way of example, in one implementation, the media player application may be provided by an iPod® application available from Apple Inc. Similarly, the icon  38  may represent an e-mail program and, when selected, may initiate an e-mail application through which the user may read or send e-mail messages. Thus, for each application provided on the device  10 , one or more respective screen or screens may be displayed on the display  24  that may include various user interface elements corresponding to a respective application. Further, it should be understood that the embodiments provided herein have been described with reference to iTunes® by way of example only. Indeed, in other applications of the present technique, any suitable digital media provider may be utilized. For instance, where the gifted digital files are software applications, the online digital media provider may be provided by App Store®, also offered and maintained by Apple Inc. 
     The electronic device  10  may also include various input/output (I/O) ports, such as the illustrated I/O ports  40 ,  42 ,  44 . These I/O ports may allow a user to connect the device  10  to or interface the device  10  with one or more external devices. For example, the input/output port  40  may include a proprietary connection port for transmitting and receiving data files, such as media files. The input/output port  42  may include a connection slot for receiving a subscriber identify module (SIM) card, for instance, where the device  10  includes cell phone functionality. The input/output port  44  may be an audio jack that provides for connection of audio headphones or speakers. As will be appreciated, the device  10  may include any number of input/output ports configured to connect to a variety of external devices, such as to a power source, a printer, and a computer, or an external storage device, just to name a few examples. As will appreciated, the I/O ports may include any suitable interface type such as a universal serial bus (USB) port, serial connection port, FireWire port (IEEE-1394), or AC/DC power connection port. 
     Further, in some embodiments, certain I/O ports may be configured to provide for more than one function. For instance, in one embodiment, the I/O port  40  may be configured to not only transmit and receive data files, as described above, but may be further configured to couple the device to a power charging interface, such as an power adaptor designed to provide power from a electrical wall outlet, or an interface cable configured to draw power from another electrical device, such as a desktop computer. Thus, the I/O port  40  may be configured to function dually as both a data transfer port and an AC/DC power connection port depending, for example, on the external component being coupled to the device  10  through the I/O port  40 . 
     The electronic device  10  may also include various audio input and output elements. For example, the audio input/output elements, depicted generally by reference numeral  46 , may include an input receiver, which may be provided one or more microphones. For instance, where the electronic device  10  includes cell phone functionality, the input receivers may be configured to receive user audio input such as a user&#39;s voice. Additionally, the audio input/output elements  46  may include one or more output transmitters. Thus, the output transmitters may include one or more speakers which may be utilized by the device  10  in conjunction with the above-mentioned media player application  36  for transmitting audio signals to a user, such as while playing back music or video files, for example. 
     Further, where the electronic device  10  includes a cell phone application, an additional audio output transmitter  48  may be provided, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Like the output transmitter of the audio input/output elements  46 , the output transmitter  48  may also include one or more speakers configured to transmit audio signals to a user, such as voice data received during a telephone call. Thus, the input receivers and the output transmitters of the audio input/output elements  46  and the output transmitter  48  may operate in conjunction to function as the audio receiving and transmitting elements of a telephone. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device  10  further includes a near field communication (NFC) device  50 . The NFC device  46  may be located within the enclosure  12 , and a mark or symbol on the exterior of the enclosure  12  may identify its location within the enclosure  12 . The NFC device  50  may include an antenna that may generally be positioned along the circumference of the housing  12 , and may allow for close range communication at relatively low data rates (e.g., 424 kb/s), and may comply with standards such as ISO 18092 or ISO 21481. In some embodiments, the NFC device  50  may also allow for close range communication at relatively high data rates (e.g., 560 Mbps), and may comply with the TransferJet® protocol. As used herein, it should be understood that the term “NFC device” refers to both an NFC communication device  50 , as well as the above-mentioned antenna. 
     In certain embodiments, the communication using the NFC device  50  may occur within a range of approximately 2 to 4 cm. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, close range communication using the NFC device  50  may take place via magnetic field induction, thus allowing the NFC device  50  to communicate with other NFC-enabled devices or to retrieve information from tags having radio frequency identification (RFID) circuitry, for instance. Additionally, magnetic field induction may also allow the NFC device  50  to “wake” or induce another NFC-enabled device that is in a passive or sleep mode into an active mode. As will discussed in further detail below, the NFC device  50  may be utilized in conjunction with the media player application described above (e.g., represented by graphical element  36 ) to provide for the gifting (both sending and receiving) of media content. 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 2 , a rear view of the electronic device  10  depicted in  FIG. 1  is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the device  10  may include a camera  52 . The camera  52  may be used to acquire digital still or moving images, such as digital photographs or movies. As will be discussed in further detail below, the camera  52  may be utilized in conjunction with the aforementioned media player application  36 , in order to acquire one or more images to be sent with gifted media files. 
     Additional details of the illustrative device  10  may be better understood through reference to  FIG. 3 , which is a block diagram illustrating various components and features of the device  10  in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the device  10  may include the above discussed display  24 , the NFC device  50 , and the camera  52 , as well as one or more central processing units (CPU)  54 , control circuitry  56 , a storage device  58 , a plurality of communication interfaces  60 , a video controller  80 , a touch screen interface  82 , an I/O controller  84 , and a power source  86 . 
     The operation of the device  10  may be generally controlled by the central processing unit (CPU)  54  and the control circuit  56 . In cooperation, these elements may provide the processing capability required to execute an operating system, application programs (e.g., including the online service application  34 , the media player application  36 , and the e-mail application), the GUI  28 , and any other functions provided on the device  10 . The CPU  54  may include a single processor or, in other embodiments, it may include a plurality of processors. By way of example, the CPU  54  may include “general purpose” microprocessors, a combination of general and application-specific microprocessors, instruction set processors, graphics processors, video processors, as well as related chips sets and/or special purpose microprocessors. The control circuit  56  may include one or more data buses for transferring data and instructions between components of the device  10 . The control circuit  56  also may further include on board memory (RAM) for caching purposes. Additionally, although not illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the device  10  may include a standalone random access memory (RAM) in communication with the CPU  54  by way of one or more memory controllers, which may be integrated within the control circuit  56 . 
     Information used by the CPU  54  may be stored within a long-term storage device, represented by reference numeral  58 . The storage device  58  of the electronic device  10  may be utilized for storing data required for the operation of the CPU  54 , data to be processed or executed by the CPU  54 , as well as other data required by the device  10 , such as application and program data. By way of example, the storage device  58  may be configured to store the firmware for the electronic device  10  that is used by the CPU  54 . The firmware may include an operating system, as well as other programs, such as the above-mentioned applications represented by the icons  34 ,  36 , and  38 , or drivers that enable various functions of the electronic device  10 , GUI functions, and/or processor functions. The storage device  58  may also store components for the GUI  28 , such as graphical elements, screens, and templates. Additionally, the storage device  58  may store data files such as media (e.g., music and video files), image data, application software, preference information (e.g., media playback preferences, general user preferences), wireless connection information (e.g., information that may enable the device  10  to establish a wireless connection, such as a telephone or Internet connection), subscription information (e.g., information that maintains a record of podcasts, television shows or other media to which a user subscribes), telephone information (e.g., telephone numbers), and any other suitable data required by the device  10 . 
     The long term storage  58  may be non-volatile memory such as read only memory, flash or solid state memory, a hard disk drive, or any other suitable optical, magnetic, or solid-state computer readable media, as well as a combination thereof. Thus, although the long term storage  58  is depicted as a single device for purposes of illustration, it should understood that the long term storage  58  may include one or more of a combination of the above-listed storage devices operating in conjunction with the CPU  54 . 
     The device  10  may further include one or more communication interfaces, illustrated in  FIG. 3  by reference numeral  60 , for providing additional connectivity channels for receiving and transmitting information. For example, communication interface  60  may represent one or more network interface cards (NIC) and/or a network controller as well as various associated communication protocols. The communication interface  60  may include several types of communication interfaces, including but not limited to, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface  62 , an NFC interface  64 , an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) interface  66 , a personal area network (PAN) interface  68 , a local area network (LAN) interface  70 , a wide area network (WAN) interface  72 , and a short message service (SMS) interface  74 . 
     The PAN interface  68  may provide capabilities to network with, for example, a Bluetooth® network, an IEEE 802.15.4 (e.g., ZigBee) network, or an ultra wideband network (UWB). As will be appreciated, the networks accessible by the PAN interface  68  may, but do not necessarily, represent low power, low bandwidth, or close range wireless connections. The PAN interface  68  may permit one electronic device  10  to connect to another local electronic device, such as a computer or portable media player, via an ad-hoc or peer-to-peer connection. However, as can be appreciated, the connection may be disrupted if the physical distance between the two electronic devices exceeds the effective range of the PAN interface  68 . 
     The LAN interface  70  and WLAN interface  62  may provide longer-range communication channels, generally exceeding the range available via the PAN interface  68 . The LAN interface  70  may represent, for example, an interface to a wired Ethernet-based network providing a connection to an Intranet or the Internet, and the WLAN interface  62  may represent an interface for connecting to a wireless LAN, such as an IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless network. Additionally, in many cases, a connection between two electronic devices via the LAN interface  70  or the WLAN interface  62  may involve communication through one or more network routers, switches, gateways, or some other intermediary device. 
     Connection to a wide area network (WAN) may be provided by way of the WAN interface  72 . The WAN interface  72  may permit a private and/or secure connection to a cellular data network, such as the Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) network or the 3G network (e.g., based on the IMT-2000 standard). When connected via the WAN interface  72 , the electronic device  10  may remain connected to the Internet and, in some embodiments, to one or more additional electronic devices, despite changes in location that might otherwise disrupt a connection through the PAN interface  68 , LAN interface  70 , or the WLAN interface  62 . 
     In certain embodiments, the electronic device  10  may also include a service discovery networking protocol configured to interact with the above-discussed communication interfaces in order to establish a connection with an external device through one of the communication interfaces. For example, both the device  10  and the external device may broadcast identification information using internet protocol standards (IP). In some embodiments, the external device may additionally broadcast information relating to the available services the external device is capable of providing (e.g., printing services for a networked printer). The devices may then use the identification information to establish a network connection, such as a PAN connection or a WLAN connection, between the devices. By way of example, a device identification protocol may be provided by Bonjour®, developed by and available from Apple Inc. 
     Small size communications may be sent using the USSD interface  66  and the SMS interface  74 . The SMS interface  74  may allow transmission of text messages of 140 bytes or less. In certain embodiments, larger size messages may be sent using concatenated SMS. The USSD interface  66  may facilitate the transmission of real time text messages over GSM signaling channels. By way of example, the USSD interface  66  may be used to query for locations and addresses, movie showing times, stock quotes, or the like. 
     The device  10  may be further provided with close range communication capabilities by way of the NFC interface  64 . The NFC interface  64  may operate in conjunction with the above-described NFC device  50  to provide for close range communications between the device  10  and an external NFC-enabled device. The NFC interface  64  may exist as a separate component, may be integrated into another chipset, or may be integrated into the NFC device  50  itself, for example, as part of a system-on-chip (SoC) circuit. The NFC interface  64  may include one or more protocols, such as the Near Field Communication Interface and Protocols (NFCIP-1), for communicating with another NFC-enabled device. The protocols may be used to adapt the communication speed and to designate one of the connected devices as an initiating device that controls and/or initiates the NFC connection. In certain embodiments, the NFC interface  64  may be used to receive information, such as a service set identifier (SSID), channel, and/or encryption key that may be required to permit a connection through another communication interface, such as the WLAN interface  62 , the PAN interface  68 , the LAN interface  70 , or the WAN interface  72 . 
     In certain embodiments, the NFC interface  64  may enable the electronic device  10  to communicate in a peer-to-peer mode for exchanging data with another NFC-enabled device. By way of example, the media gifting techniques briefly mentioned above, which will be discussed in further detail below, may be initiated between an NFC-enabled gifting device (“gifter”) and an NFC-enabled receiving device (“giftee”) using a respective NFC interface  64  on each device. The NFC interface  64  also may be configured to switch the NFC device  50  between a “host” or active mode in which the NFC device  50  generates its own RF field, as well as a passive mode or “wake-on-NFC” mode in which the NFC device  50  may be induced into an active state for performing the transfer or receiving of data upon detection of an RF field generated by another device. As will be appreciated, operation of the NFC device  50  and interface  64  in the passive mode may prolong the battery life of the device  10 . In additional embodiments, the NFC device  50  may be controlled based on user or manufacturer preferences, represented herein by reference number  76 , which may be pre-configured by a manufacturer or vendor, or subsequently configured by a user of the device  10  based on the user&#39;s preferences. As shown in the present figure, these preferences  76 , whether pre-configured or later configured, may be stored in the storage device  58 . 
     In certain embodiments, the preferences  76  may further determine properties of the above-mentioned communication interfaces  60  (e.g., including  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 , and  74 ). For instance, the preferences  76  may include a list of networks that the device  10  may connect to and may further govern the order or priority between the communication interfaces  60 . By way of example, the device  10  may be configured to communicate through the NFC interface  64  if the communication is with regard to sending a media gifting request to or receiving a media gifting notification from an external device. Similarly, the device  10  may be configured to communicate through the WLAN  58  or LAN  66  interfaces if the communication is with regard communicating with an online service, such as an online digital media service provider, to authenticate or retrieve a gifted media file. 
     As will be further appreciated, the communication preferences associated with the preferences  76  may be further dependent upon security features  78  available for each respective communication interface  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 , and  74 . The security features  78  may be stored in the storage device  58  and may include one or more cryptographic protocols, such as a secure sockets layer (SSL) protocol or a transport layer security (TLS) protocol, for establishing secure communications between the device  10  and an external device. The security features  78  may also include one or more encryption applications for encrypting information sent from the device  10 . These features may be particularly useful when transmitting information of a sensitive nature, such as a user&#39;s account information, which may include a credit card account, associated with an online digital media provider. 
     To provide one example, a user&#39;s online digital media store account may be provided by an iTunes® account available through the iTunes® online digital media service, as discussed above. An iTunes® account may store payment information relating to one or more credit- or debit card accounts by which an account holder may use to purchase media files, such as music files, video and movie files, e-books, audiobooks, podcasts, software applications, or the like. Additionally, in some implementations, an iTunes® account may store information regarding a number of non-monetary “credits” by which the account holder may redeem or exchange at the iTunes® online media store for selected media files (e.g., as opposed to charging a credit card account). 
     The security features  78  may also include a secure access-restricted storage area (e.g., within the storage device  58 ) to limit access to the data that may be required by the certain aspects of the security features  78 , such as encryption keys, passcodes and passwords, digital certificates, or the like. In one embodiment, the secure storage area may store one or more encryption keys relating to the distribution, management, and playback of digital copyright protected media. For instance, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, digital rights management (DRM) techniques may be applied to various digital copyrighted media in order to prevent unauthorized distribution or playback of the copyrighted media by unauthorized persons or devices. As will be discussed in further detail below, copyrighted media that is obtained or purchased by a user from an authorized source may include DRM protection such that the purchased media file or files may only be accessed or played back on devices having the purchaser&#39;s DRM key stored thereon. Additionally, the use of DRM techniques may also ensure that the owner of the copyrighted material receives compensation for each sale of the media file to a user. For instance, where the media file is a digital music file, the use of DRM techniques may ensure that the artist gets credited with the sale. By way of example, a DRM system for managing the distribution of digital copyrighted media may be provided by FairPlay®, also available through Apple Inc. Further, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the digital content is a software application, copyright protection by way of software license keys or serial numbers may be utilized. 
     In certain embodiments, the secure storage area may include a microcontroller embedded within the electronic device  10 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the secure storage area, in addition to storing the above-mentioned sensitive data, may be further protected by its own respective password or authorization “personal identification number” (PIN), for example, in order to prevent unauthorized access to the information stored therein. 
     In accordance with further embodiments, the security features  78  may further allow a user to lock or temporarily disable all (e.g., lock on power-up) or only certain functions on the device  10 , such as the media gifting functionalities which may be provided by media player application (e.g., represented by the icon  36 ) described above. By way of example, when locked, the media gifting features briefly discussed above may be disabled or inaccessible by users until a user-specified PIN or password is provided. Further, the security features  78  may additionally include requiring that the PIN be provided prior to gifting a media file to an external device. As can be appreciated, the security features  78  described herein may aid to prevent the device  10  from being used to gift media files by unauthorized users. 
     As discussed above, the device  10  may also include the video controller  80 , which may be operatively coupled to the display  24  and configured to receive image data and to send voltage signals corresponding to the pixel values of the image data to the display  24 . The displayed image data may be representative of information received through the communication interface  60 , as well as information contained in the storage device  58 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, pixel values may be numerical assignments corresponding to respective pixel intensities. Thus, the display  24  may receive the voltage signals from the video controller  80  as an input and produce an image corresponding to the voltage signals. For instance, an image produced by the signals provided by the video controller  80  may represent a screen of the GUI  28  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     As further noted above, a user operating the device  10  may select various graphical elements which may represent applications or information that may be displayed through the GUI  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a touch screen interface  82  may be positioned in front of or behind the display  24  and may provide a user the ability to select graphical elements, such as the various icons  30  displayed by the GUI  28  described above in  FIG. 1 . The touch screen interface  82  may be configured to receive inputs based on a physical contact (e.g., touching the display  24 ) either by the user or an object (e.g., stylus) being controlled or manipulated by the user, and to send “touch event” information to the CPU  54 . The CPU  54  may then process the detected touch event information and perform a corresponding action. For instance, referring briefly back to  FIG. 1 , the “touching” of the icon  36  may be processed by the CPU  50  as an instruction to execute or initiate the corresponding media player application. The touch screen interface  82  may employ any suitable type of touch screen technology such as resistive, capacitive, infrared, surface acoustic wave, electromagnetic, or near field imaging. Furthermore, the touch screen interface  78  may employ single point or multipoint sensing. 
     The I/O controller  84  depicted in  FIG. 3  may provide an infrastructure for allowing a user to communicate with the CPU  54  through various input structures provided on the device  10 , such as the input structures represented by the reference numerals  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  in  FIG. 1 . The user input structures  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  may be used in conjunction with, or independently of, the touch screen interface  80  to provide input information to the device  10 . 
     The power source  86  of the device  10  may include the capability to power the device  10  in both non-portable and portable settings. For example, in a portable setting, in order to facilitate transport and ease of motion, the device  10  may include an integrated power source  86  for powering the device  10 . The power source  86  may include one or more batteries, such as a Li-Ion battery, which may be user-removable or secured to the enclosure  12 . In certain embodiments, the proprietary connection I/O port  40  may be used to connect the device  10  to a power source for recharging the battery. In other embodiments, the one or more batteries may be non-integrated and may include one or more rechargeable or replaceable batteries. Further, in a non-portable setting, the power source  86  may include AC power, such as provided by an electrical outlet. 
     As mentioned above, the device  10  of  FIG. 1  may include the application  34  which may provide a function by which the device  10  may connect to an online provider, such as an online digital media provider, to purchase and download various media files. Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a schematic representation of a system by which the electronic device  10  may communicate with an online digital media provider for the purchase or acquisition of media files is illustrated and generally referred to by the reference numeral  90 . The online digital media provider  92  may be provided by the iTunes® service, as discussed above. While the present example is presented in the context of an online digital media store, it should be appreciated that the present techniques may be applicable to any online service provider offering digital downloadable products or services. As illustrated here, the device  10  may communicate with the online digital media provider  92  by way of a network  94 , which may be provided by any type of suitable network, such as one or more of the communication interfaces discussed above and generally represented by the numeral  60 . By way of example, where the electronic device includes a mobile cellular phone, the network  94  may be provided by a wide area network, such as a 3G or an EDGE network connection using the wide area network interface  72  discussed above. Additionally, the network  94  may also be provided by a LAN (e.g., using the LAN interface  70 ) or wireless LAN connection (e.g., using the WLAN interface  62 ). 
     In order to communicate with the online digital media provider  92 , the electronic device  10  may first transmit the user&#39;s account information, referred to here by the reference numeral  96 , to the online digital media store. The online digital media store may include a server  98  which may be configured to receive the account information and to determine the identity of the user. Thus, the server  98  may further store credit card information pertaining to the provided account  96 , which may then be used to purchase media files from the online digital media provider  92 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the online digital media provider  92  may further include a database, illustrated here by the reference numeral  100 , which may store a variety of downloadable media content that may be selected and purchased by the user of the electronic device  10 . Additionally, it should be understood that although the server  98  is depicted as a single server for purposes of illustration, in practice, the online media service provider  92  may utilize a plurality of servers configured to perform the functions described herein. 
     As will be described in further detail below, once the user of the device  10  has successfully connected to the online digital media provider  92  using the account information  96 , a virtual store interface that may be provided by the application  34  may be viewed on the display of the electronic device  10 . Thus, as will be described in further detail below, the user of the device  10  may browse and enter search queries through the store interface in order to identify one or more media files which the user wishes to purchase. Once the desired media files have been identified, the user may transmit a purchase request, referred to here by the reference numeral  101  to the online digital media provider  92  using the network  94 . The purchase request  101  may be received by the server  98 , which may calculate a total payment owed for the requested files, and charge the requested amount to the user&#39;s account  96 . For example, the charges may be applied to a credit card account associated with the user&#39;s account, as mentioned above. Once the charge to the user&#39;s account has been authorized, the requested media files specified in the purchase request  101  may be retrieved from the database  100 . 
     As discussed above, due to the nature of copyright protection, digital copyrighted media files purchased by the user may need to be processed using one or more digital rights management techniques. By way of example, the user&#39;s account  96  may include one or more a digital rights management (DRM) encryption keys, which may have been assigned to the user upon establishing the account  96  with the online digital media provider. For instance, the user&#39;s DRM key or keys may be stored locally on the server  98 , as well as on the electronic device  10 . Thus, any media files purchased by the user of the device  10  may be protected by applying DRM protection to the purchased files, represented here by the reference number  102 , using the DRM keys associated with the user&#39;s account prior to transmitting the purchased files to the user&#39;s device  10  using the network  94 . Further, as will be appreciated, the DRM protected purchased media files  102  may be played back on the device  10  using the DRM keys stored on the device  10 . 
     While the use of DRM keys has been described herein as a copyright protection mechanism with regard to the media files discussed above, it should be understood that the present technique may be applicable to other forms digital copyrights-media, such as software applications. By way of example, the present technique may be applicable with regard to software programs purchased through the App Store®, operated by Apple Inc. Further, it should be understood that digital rights management techniques for software applications may utilize serial numbers, software activation keys, and so forth. For instance, if a software application is purchased from the App Store® and subsequently gifted to a giftee device, a gift license or serial number may be generated by the App Store® server (e.g., in addition to or instead of a DRM key) to authorize the gifting of the software application. 
     Continuing with the present disclosure,  FIGS. 5A-5B  and  FIG. 6  illustrate, by way of a plurality of screen images that may be displayed on the device  10 , the selection and purchase of media files from the online digital media provider  92  as well as subsequent playback of the purchased media files on the device  10 . The depicted screen images may be generated by the GUI  28  and displayed on the display  24 . For instance, these screen images may be generated as the user interacts with the device  10 , such as via the input structures  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , and/or the touch screen interface  78 . 
     As discussed above, the GUI  28 , depending on the inputs and selections made by a user, may display various screens including icons (e.g.,  30 ) and graphical elements. These elements may represent graphical and virtual elements or “buttons” which may be selected by the user by physically touching their respective location on the display  24  using the touch screen interface  76 , for example. Accordingly, it should be understood that the term “button,” “virtual button,” “graphical button,” “graphical elements,” or the like, as used in the following description of screen images below, is meant to refer to the graphical representations of buttons or icons represented by the graphical elements provided on the display  24 . Further, it should also be understood that the functionalities set forth and described in the subsequent figures may be achieved using a wide variety graphical elements and visual schemes. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the precise user interface conventions depicted herein. Rather, embodiments of the present invention may include a wide variety of user interface styles. 
     Beginning with  FIGS. 5A and 5B , these figures collectively illustrate screen images that may be displayed on the device  10  and depict a technique for interfacing connecting to the online digital media provider  92  and selecting and purchasing one or more media files in accordance with one embodiment. Referring first to  FIG. 5A , the user may select the graphical icon  34  from the home screen  29  of the GUI  28  displayed on the device  10  in order to connect to the online digital media provider  92 . As discussed above, the process of connecting or logging in to the online digital media store  92  may include the providing of account information  96  from the device  10  to the server  98 . Once the user&#39;s account information  96  has been authenticated by the server  98 , the screen  108  may be displayed on the device  10 . 
     The screen  108  may essentially provide a “home” or “main” screen for a virtual store interface initiated through the selection of the graphical icon  34 , by which the user may browse or search for specific media files that the user wishes to purchase from the online digital media provider  92 . As shown here, the screen  108  may display a message  110  confirming the identity of the user, for example, based on the account information  96  provided during the login process discussed above. The screen  108  may also display the graphical buttons  112  and  114 . The graphical button  112  may be initially selected by default and may display various music files on the screen  108 , such as those referred to by the reference numeral  116 . By way of example, the music files  116  displayed on the screen  108  may correspond to the current most popular music files, for instance. Essentially, the listings of the music files  116  on the screen  108  may serve to provide recommendations for various music files which the user may purchase. Each of the listed music files  116  may have associated therewith a graphical button  118 . The graphical button  118  may indicate the price of the music file  116 . Accordingly, the user of the device  10  may select a graphical button  118  corresponding to one of the music files  116  in order to purchase the selected music file  116 . 
     The screen  108  may further display a scroll bar element to provide a scrolling function, as represented here by the reference numeral  120 . Thus, where the listing of the music files  116  exceeds the display capabilities of the device  10 , the user may interface with the scroll bar element  120  in order to navigate the remainder of the listing. Alternatively, the user may also choose to view media files arranged in groups, such as by music albums, by selecting the graphical button  114 . As will be appreciated, an album may contain multiple musical files  116  which, in some instances, may be authored or recorded by the same artist, and may be provided as a package of media files that the user may select for purchase. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the screen  108  further includes the graphical buttons  122 ,  124 ,  126 , and  128 . Each of these graphical buttons may correspond to specific functions which will be described in further detail below. For instance the graphical button  122  may allow the user to access one or more of the media gifting functions briefly mentioned above. The graphical button  124  may allow the user to search for specific media files that the user wishes to purchase. The graphical button  126  may allow the user to view recently downloaded media files, as well as media files that are currently being downloaded onto the device  10 . Further, the user may also select the graphical button  128  to view the user&#39;s account information. Finally, the screen  108  may also include the graphical button  130 , which may provide the functionality of returning the user to the previous screen. By way of example, the selection of the graphical button  130  on the screen  108  may return the user to the home screen  29 , and in certain embodiments, may disconnect the user from the online digital media provider  92 . 
     As shown in the present figure, the selection of the graphical button  128  may navigate the user to the screen  132 , which may display the user&#39;s account information. The user&#39;s account information, generally designated by the reference numeral  134 , may include the user&#39;s identity  136 , as well as an e-mail address  138  associated with the user&#39;s account. As can be appreciated, the e-mail address  138  may be used to receive confirmations or payment receipts with regard to media files purchased through the online digital media provider  92 . Additionally, the screen  132  may display one or more payment account associated with the user&#39;s online digital media provider account. For example, as illustrated here, the payment account may be a credit card account  140 . Thus, media files selected for purchase by the user from the online digital media provider  92  may be charged to the displayed credit card account  140 . Additionally, the user may add or edit the preferred payment account by selecting the graphical button  142 . The screen  132  may further display a credit unit balance, referred to here by the reference numeral  144 . As will be appreciated, a “credit” may constitute a non-monetary unit of exchange that may be redeemed for media files from the online digital media provider. For example, the credits may be acquired as a gift from another user having an account with the online digital media provider  92 . 
     To initiate the process of searching for media files to purchase, the user may select the graphical button  124 . As shown here, the selection of the graphical button  124  may navigate the user to the screen  148 . The screen  148  may display various methods by which the user may search for a particular media file, depicted by the reference numerals  150 ,  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  158 , and  160 . For instance, the user may search for a particular media file by searching for a particular recording artist (e.g.,  150 ) or by searching for the title of the media file  152 . Additionally, the user may also search for groups of media files, such as a particular music album by a specific recording artist, as indicated here by the reference numeral  154 . Further, if the user does not have a particular media file in mind, the user may select one of the search categories  156 ,  158 , and  160 , to view recommendations by music genres or by what particular media files are currently in demand by other users of the online digital media provider  92  due to popularity. 
     As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the user may select the search category  150  in order to search for media files by a particular recording artist. Upon selecting the search category  150 , the user may be navigated to the screen  162 . As shown here, the screen  162  may display a text field  164  by which the user may enter the identity or name of a desired recording artist. For example, the entry of the recording artist&#39;s name may be accomplished by way of the text keyboard interface, depicted here by the reference numeral  166 . Further, though not shown in the present figure, where the recording artist&#39;s name includes numerical characters, the user may select the graphical button  168  to access a numerical keyboard for the input of numerical characters. Once the desired recording artist&#39;s name has been entered into the field  164 , the user may initiate a search for music files associated with the selected artist by selecting the graphical button  170 . 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 5B , the search results corresponding to the search initiated by selecting the graphical button  170  may be displayed on the screen  176 . As shown here, the search results displayed on the screen  176  may provide the user with a listing of music albums associated with the recording artist specified on the screen  162  in  FIG. 5A . The user may select one or more of the albums displayed on the screen  176  in order to either purchase the entire album or to select individual songs from the album for purchase. For example, by selecting the album referred to by the reference numeral  180 , the user may advance to the screen  182 . The screen  182  may display an image  184  which may correspond to an image associated with the selected music album. For instance, the image  184  may represent “album art” (e.g., the cover of a compact disc liner insert), an image of the recording artist, or the like. The screen  182  may further display a listing  186  of all the music files associated with the selected album  180 . 
     As shown here, where the listing of music files  186  exceeds the display capabilities of the display  24  on the device  10 , the scroll bar element  120  discussed above may be provided to assist the user with navigating through the remainder of the listing  186 . Additionally, the screen  182  may provide the graphical button  187  by which the user may select to purchase the entire album. In the presently illustrated figure, the graphical button  187  may include a total purchase price for the album  180 . Each music file displayed in the listing  186  may be associated with a graphic, represented here by the reference numeral  190 . Accordingly, the user may select a graphic element  190  corresponding to a particular music file in order to identify a corresponding music file as a selection for purchase. For instance, in the presently illustrated screen  182  the user may select the music file referred to here by the reference numeral  188 . Upon selection of the music file  188 , the graphical element  190  may be replaced with the graphical element  192  indicating that the music file  188  has been selected for purchase by the user. Next, the user may continue to select additional music files form the selected album  180  for purchase. For example, the user may view the remaining songs in the listing  186  by moving the scroll bar element  120  to further select the music file  196 . Accordingly, once all the desired music files have been selected, the user may proceed to purchase and download the selected music files by selecting the graphical button  194 . 
     Upon selection of the graphical button  194 , the user may be advanced to the screen  200 , which may display an invoice for the requested purchase. As will be appreciated, the screen  200  may represent a virtual “shopping cart” listing the file or files a user has selected for purchase. For instance, the screen  200  may display the selected music files  188  and  196 , as well as the price associated with each of the selected music files  118 . The prices  118  corresponding to each selected music file may further be summed to determine a total purchase amount, referred to here by the reference numeral  202 . The screen  200  may further display the graphical checkbox elements  204 , each corresponding to one of the credit card account  140  or the user&#39;s available credits  144 , as discussed above. Thus, the user may select one of the graphical checkboxes  204  in order to specify a method of payment for the requested purchase price  202 . In the illustrated embodiment, the user may select the credit account  140  as the payment method. Next, the user may either select the graphical button  206  or  208 . The graphical button  206  may allow the user to return to the store interface of the online digital media provider  92 , such as the screen  108 , for example, to continue browsing or shopping for additional media files that the user may wish to purchase. Alternatively, if the music files  188  and  196  are the only files that that the user wishes to purchase in the present connection session, the user may complete the purchase by selecting the graphical button  208 . 
     Upon selection of the graphical button  208 , the user&#39;s credit card account  140  will be charged for the total purchase price  202 . In some implementations, the process of charging the credit card account  140  may require communication with an external credit card verification server to authorize the charge for the purchase price  202 . Once the credit card charge has been authorized, the user may be advanced to the screen  212 , which may display the notification message  214  indicating to the user that the purchase has been completed and that a payment receipt has been provided, such as to the e-mail address  138  associated with the user&#39;s account, as indicated on the screen  132  of  FIG. 5A . Here, the user may again have the option of returning to the screen  108  to continue shopping for additional music files, or the user may select the graphical button  218  to begin downloading the purchased media files. For instance, referring back to  FIG. 4 , the purchased media files  102  may be transmitted to the user device  10  by way of the network  94 . Additionally, as discussed above, the prior to downloading the selected files, the files may be processed by the server  98  of the online digital media provider  92  to apply DRM protection to the files using the user&#39;s associated DRM keys. 
     Once the download of the files is completed, the screen  220  may be displayed on the device  10 . As shown here, the screen  220  may include the notification message  222  informing the user that the two purchased media files have been downloaded to the device  10 . Thereafter, the user may either select the graphical button  224 , which may represent a function by which a media player application (e.g.,  36 ) is initiated on the device  10 , or the user may exit the online digital media store and return to the home screen  29  by selecting the graphical button  226 . 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 6 , a plurality of screen images depicting the playback of a purchased media file on the device  10  using a media player application is illustrated. For example, by selecting the graphical button  226  from the screen  220 , the user may be returned to the screen  29  of the device  10 . Here, the user may initiate the media player application by selecting the graphical button  36 . Upon selection of the graphical button  36 , the user may be navigated to a home screen  230  of the media player application. As can be appreciated, the user may also be navigated to the screen  230  directly from the screen  220  by selecting the graphical button  224  in  FIG. 5B  instead of selecting the graphical button  226 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the screen  230  may initially display a plurality of playlists, referred to here by the reference numeral  232 . As will be appreciated, a playlist may correspond to a specific grouping of songs defined by the user. In some instances, a playlist may constitute all the song files from an entire music album. Additionally, a playlist may be a custom “mix” of media files chosen by the user of the device  10 . The screen  230  may also include the graphical button  234 , which upon being selected, may display information pertaining to a current media file presently being played in the media player application  36 . 
     The screen  230  also includes the graphical buttons  236 ,  238 ,  240 ,  242 , and  244 . Each of these graphical buttons may correspond to specific functions that will be described in further detail below. For example, the graphical button  236  may function to display the listing  232  of the playlists on the present screen if the user navigates away from the screen  230 . The graphical button  238  may organize the media files stored on the device  10  by a listing of artists associated with each media file. The graphical button  240  may represent a function by which the media files corresponding specifically to music (e.g., song files) may be sorted and displayed on the device  10 . For instance, the selection of the graphical button  240  may display all music files stored on the device alphabetically in a listing that may be navigated by the user. Additionally, the graphical button  242  may represent a function by which the user may access video files stored on the device. Finally, the graphical button  244  may represent one or more functions associated with the media gifting techniques mentioned above. These and other various techniques will be explained in further detail below. 
     As shown in the present figure, the selection of the graphical button  238  may navigate the user to the screen  248 . In the screen  248 , the music files stored on the device  10  may be organized according to the recording artist associated with each music file. In the presently illustrated screen, the listing  250  of the recording artist may be displayed alphabetically. The user may also select the graphical button  242  to access the screen  254  which may display one or more video files stored on the device  10 , represented here by the reference numeral  256 , which upon selection may be viewed on the device  10 . The user may also select the graphical button  240  to navigate to the screen  258 , which may display a listing of all music files stored on the device  10 , as indicated by the reference numeral  260 . Here again, the scroll bar function  120  may be provided so that the user may view the entirety of the listing  260  if the listing  260  exceeds the display capabilities of the device  10 . In the presently illustrated figure, the music files may be provided on the screen  258  in alphabetical order. It should be noted that the media files  188  and  196  recently purchased from the online digital music provider  92  may be included in the listing  260 . In order to play back or listen to one of these music files, the user may select the desired music file, in this case the music file  196 , to continue to the screen  264 . 
     As shown in the screen  264 , information pertaining to the selected music file  196  may be displayed and generally depicted by the reference numeral  266 . For instance, the information, which may include song information, may display the name of the recording artist, the title of the music file  196 , as well as the album to which the music file is associated. The screen  264  may also display the album image  184 , as discussed above with reference to the screen  182  in  FIG. 5B . The screen  264  may further include the graphical buttons  268 ,  270 , and  272 . As will be appreciated, the graphical button  268  may allow the user to pause a media file that is presently being played back on the device  10 . Though not illustrated here, it should be appreciated that the selection of the graphical button  268  while the media file  196  is paused may continue playback of the pause media file. Additionally, where the presently played media file  196  is part of a playlist, as discussed above, the graphical buttons  270  and  272  may represent the functions of returning to the previous file in the playlist or continuing to the subsequent file in the playlist. As can be appreciated, where a playlist is being played or in a random or shuffle mode, the graphical buttons  270  and  272  may function select a random file from the play list for playback. 
     The screen  264  may also include a progress indicator  274  indicating the total playing time of the selected media file, and the additional playback time required to complete the playback of the selected media file. In one embodiment, once the playback of the selected media file  196  has begun, the selected media file  196  may continue playing even if the user navigates away from the screen  264 , such as by selecting the graphical button  130 . Further, if the user chooses to navigate away from the screen  264 , the user may return to the screen  264  at anytime by selecting the graphical button  234  from one of the screens  230 ,  248 ,  254 , or  258 . As discussed above, the media player application  36  may include one or more media gifting functionalities. For example, referring still to the screen  264 , the graphical button  276  may be displayed during the playback of the media file  196 . As will be explained in further detail in the subsequent figures, the selection of the graphical button  276  may allow the user to initiate a variety of media gifting functions. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a schematic representation of a system  280  configured to provide for a technique for gifting of one or more media files from the electronic device  10  (“gifter device”) to a separate receiving device (“giftee device”) is illustrated in accordance with one implementation of the present technique. Before continuing with the present discussion, it should be noted that the term “gifter,” as used herein, shall refer to an individual who is using a device to send or provide a media file to another individual as a gift. Additionally, it should be understood that the term “giftee” shall refer to an individual who is using a device to receive a media file from another individual as a gift. Thus, the terms “gifter device” and “giftee device” shall be understood to refer to the electronic device  10  and the electronic device  282  being operated by the gifter and the giftee, respectively. Further, in the various embodiments that will be described below, it should be kept in mind that the giftee device  282  may be an NFC-enabled device similar to the gifter device  10 , and may include similar applications, such as the above-discussed applications represented by the graphical icons  34 ,  36 , and  38 . 
     As shown in the system  280 , one or more media files may be initially selected on the gifter device  10 . Prior to initiating the gifting of the selected files, the gifter may be prompted, such as by a notification displayed on the display of the device  10  to approve the payment charges that may be associated with the files to be gifted. As can be appreciated, the payment charges may essentially be the cost of the gift files to be received by the giftee device  282 , but paid for by the gifter. These actions may be generally referred to as a “gifting offer” or “gifting request,” and referred to by the reference numeral  284 . Once the gift charges corresponding to the selected media file or files have been approved by the gifter, the gifting request or offer may be transmitted to the giftee device  282 . As noted above, the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282  may both be NFC-enabled devices. Accordingly, the gifting offer  284  may be transmitted from the gifter device  10  to the giftee device  282  by way of an NFC connection  286  established using a tap operation, referred to here by the reference number  288 . 
     As used herein, the term “tap” and “tap operation,” or the like shall be understood to mean the action of placing one NFC-enabled device within the proximity of one or more additional NFC-enabled devices such that an NFC-based connection may be established between the devices. As discussed above, one technique for establishing an NFC-based connection may be through magnetic field induction, whereby a first NFC-enabled device acting as a host device generates an RF field, which in turn induces an NFC device located within a separate device to transition from a passive state to an active state, thus establishing an NFC connection. Once established, information may be exchanged between the devices by way of the NFC connection. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a tap operation  288  is illustrated in further detail. For instance, prior to the initiation of the NFC connection  286 , the giftee device  282  may be in a passive or a “wake on NFC” mode, as denoted by reference numeral  290 . While in the passive state, an NFC device  50  and an NFC interface  64  that may be included in the giftee device  282  may remain inactive until the NFC interface  64  detects an NFC transmission from a separate external device, such as the gifter device  10 . By way of example, once the gifter device  10  is operated to transmit the gift offer  284 , the NFC interface  64  and corresponding NFC device  50  located within the gifter device  10  may transition to an active or host mode, as indicated by reference numeral  292 . While in the host mode  292 , the NFC device  50  of the gifter device  10  may periodically emit NFC communication signals to seek out other NFC-enabled devices having their own respective NFC interfaces  64  and NFC devices  50  that are within the appropriate range to facilitate and establish an NFC connection  286 . 
     For instance, when the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282  are placed within an appropriate range (e.g., the tap operation  288 ) for establishing an NFC connection, the establishment of the connection may begin with an initiation handshake, referred to herein by reference numeral  294 . It should be understood, that in tapping the devices, it is important that the NFC devices  50  within each respective device are positioned in such a way that the distance between the respective NFC devices  50  is suitable for establishing an NFC-based connection. For example, if the giftee device  282  is a relatively large non-portable device, the gifter would be required to position the gifter device  10  such that the NFC device  50  within the gifter device  10  is within the appropriate distance of any corresponding NFC circuitry within the giftee device  282  in order to establish the NFC connection  286 . 
     While the NFC interface  64  and the NFC device  50  of the gifter device  10  are operating in the host mode  292 , the gifter device  10  may periodically emit ping messages  298 . The corresponding NFC interface  64  of the giftee device  282  may receive the ping messages  298 , thus causing the NFC device  50  located within the giftee device  282  to awake upon the detection of the NFC transmission (e.g., wake on NFC), thereby transitioning from a passive mode to an active mode, as indicated by reference numeral  296 . Thus, once powered on and active, the NFC device  50  of the giftee device  282  may reply in response to the ping message  298  by sending an acknowledgement message  300  which may be received via the opposite NFC interface  64  of the gifter device  10 , thus completing the initiation handshake  294 . 
     Following this initiation handshake  294 , the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282  may exchange device profiles as indicated by the reference numeral  302 . The device profiles  302  may include a variety of information regarding the functions available on each of the devices  10  and  282 . In one embodiment, the device profiles  302  may be represented by data messages of any suitable form, including extensible markup language (XML), which may denote the device name, serial number, owner name, device type, as well as any other type of identifying information. For example, where one or both of the devices  10  and  282  includes telephone functionality, additional identifying information may include the name of a service provider, such as a network or cellular telephone service provider. The device profiles  302  may additionally include information with regard to the capabilities of the gifter device  10  or the giftee device  282  by indicating which applications, drivers, or services may be installed on each device, as well as a communication profiles, referred to here by the reference number  304 , which may indicate the communication networks to which the devices  10  and  282  are capable of establishing a network connection. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 9 , the communication profiles  304  may include a first communication profile  306  corresponding to the gifter device  10  and a second communication profile  308  corresponding to the giftee device  282 . For instance, as depicted by the communication profile  306 , the gifter device  10  may be capable of connecting to one or more wireless LAN connections, as indicated by the reference number  310 , a wide area network connection  312 , or may further be capable of connecting to a personal area network (PAN) connection  314 . As illustrated by the communication profile  306 , the gifter device  10  may be capable of establishing a network connection with either of the wireless LAN networks  316  and  318  and may be presently connected to the wireless LAN network  316 . 
     The communication profile  308  for the giftee device  282  may also include one or more wireless LAN network connections, referred to here by the reference number  322 , a wide are network connection  324 , as well as a personal area network connection  326 , such as a Bluetooth connection. In the illustrated embodiment, the giftee device  282  may be capable of establishing a network connection with either of the wireless LAN networks  316  and  318  and may be presently connected to the wireless LAN network  318 . Thus, the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282  may presently be connected to different wireless LAN networks. Based on the NFC tap operation  288 , the communication profiles  306  and  308  may be broadcasted to each respective device. As mentioned above, in one embodiment, a service discovery networking protocol, such as Bonjour®, may be provided such that the devices  10  and  282  may automatically, or in response to a prompt from one of the devices  10  or  282 , establish a connection to a common network thru which data, including media files, may be transferred. By way of example, the giftee device  282 , based on the communication profile information  306  received from the gifter device  10 , may automatically (or via a prompt to a user of the giftee device  282 ) establish a connection with the wireless LAN network  316  such that a common network connection exists between the devices  10  and  282 . 
     Referring back the  FIG. 8 , the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282  may also exchange information with regard to the encryption capabilities available on each device, as represented by reference numeral  330 . As discussed above, because the process of gifting media files may invariably involve the transfer of certain sensitive data, such as information relating to the giftee&#39;s and the gifter&#39;s accounts associated with the online digital media provider  92 , the use of one or more encryption measures for protecting the gifting information being transferred between a gifter device  10  and a giftee device  282 , as well as to one or more servers (e.g., server  98 ) associated with the online digital media provider  92 , may be implemented. Thus, once the NFC connection  286  is established and the device profiles  302  and encryption capabilities  330  are exchanged, data may be exchanged between the devices  10  and  282 , as indicated by reference numeral  332  using a secure connection. For instance, the data  332  transferred between the devices  10  and  282  may include the gifter&#39;s and the giftee&#39;s online digital media provider account information, as well as information indicating the media file or files to be gifted to the giftee device  282 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 7 , upon receiving the gift offer  284  from the gifter device  10 , the giftee device  282  may transmit an acceptance message, referred to here by the reference number  336 , to the gifter device  10  by way of the NFC connection  286  using a second tap operation  338 . The acceptance message  336  may include the giftee&#39;s account information associated with the online digital media provider  92 . Once the acceptance  336  of the gifting request is received by the gifter device  10 , the gifter device  10  may transmit a gift request, referred here by the reference numeral  340 , to one or more servers  98  associated with the online digital media provider  92  by way of a network  342 . The network  342  may be provided by any suitable networking interface available on the gifter device  10 , such as the various network interfaces discussed above with reference the communication interface circuitry  60  of  FIG. 3 . For instance, the network  342  may be a wireless internet connection established by way of the wireless LAN interface  62 , a local area network connection established through the LAN interface  70 , or a wide area network connection established by way of the WAN interface  72 , which may include one of various WAN mobile communication protocols, such as a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection, an EDGE connection (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution connection), or a 3G connection, such as in accordance with the IMT-2000 standard discussed above. Further, it should be noted in certain instances, where the giftee device  282  and the gifter device  10  maintain the NFC connection  286 , such as be remaining within a suitable proximity or range (e.g., 2-4 cm) for facilitating an NFC connection, that a second tap operation (e.g.,  338 ) may not be required. 
     The gift request  340  may include the gifter&#39;s account information, the giftee&#39;s account information (e.g., received in the acceptance message  336 ), as well as the identity of the selected media files to be gifted to the giftee device  282 . Once the gift request is received by the server  98 , the gift request  340  may be processed by the server  98 , as indicated by the reference numeral  344 . By way of example, the processing of the gift request  340  may include accessing the gifter&#39;s account and charging an appropriate amount for the selected gift files. As noted above, the charges may be applied to a credit card account associated with the gifter&#39;s online digital media provider account. Thereafter, once the gift request  340  has been processed, an approval message may be transmitted to the gifter device  10  by way of the network  342 . 
     Once the gifter&#39;s account has been charged for the gifted media file or files, the server  98 , using one or more DRM keys associated with the giftee&#39;s account, may identify the selected media files (e.g., stored in the database  100  of  FIG. 4 ) and create a gift copy of the media file which may be processed to apply DRM protection, as indicated by the reference number  366 . Once the DRM protected the gift files have been created by the server  98 , these files may be transmitted to the giftee device  282  by way of the network  342 . In one embodiment, the DRM-protected gift files may be automatically transferred to the giftee device  282 , such as by attachment in an e-mail message. In further embodiments, the gift files may remain on the server  98  until the giftee device  282  connects to the online digital media provider  92  to retrieve the gift files. Upon receiving the gift files, indicated here by the reference number  368 , the giftee may play the gift files on the giftee device  282 , such as by using the media player application  36 , as discussed above. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10A-10C , a plurality of screen images depicting the gifting of a media file in accordance with the gifting process shown in  FIG. 7  is illustrated. For instance, beginning with the screen  264 , which was previously discussed with reference to  FIG. 6 , the gifter may initiate the gifting process on the gifter device  10  by selecting the graphical button  276 . Upon selection of the graphical button  276 , a pop-up window  374  may be displayed on the screen  264  and provide the graphical buttons  376 ,  378 , and  380 . As shown here, the graphical button  376  may provide a function by which a media file may be gifted using an e-mail communication, which will be discussed in further detail below. The graphical button  378  may represent the function by which the gifter may gift the selected media file using an NFC connection, such as the NFC connection  286  illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Additionally, the pop-up window  374  may provide the graphical button  380  by which the giftee may select to cancel the gifting process and return to the screen  264 . 
     As shown in the present figure, the gifter may select the graphical button  378  to navigate to the screen  382  in order to initiate the process of gifting the selected music file  196  using an NFC connection. As displayed on the screen  382 , a notification message  384  may appear on the gifter device  10  generally informing the gifter as to the identity of the media file  196  that has been selected for gifting to the giftee device  282 . The notification message  384  may further prompt the gifter to select a payment method to which the gifting of the selected file  196  may be charged. For instance, as illustrated in the present figure, the gifter may select the check box graphic  386  to specify that the gifted file is to be charged to a credit card account associated with the gifter&#39;s online digital media provider account. The screen  382  may also display the graphical button  388  by which the user may select to initiate the NFC connection once the payment method has been selected, as well as the graphical button  390  by which the user may select to cancel the gifting process. As will be appreciated, the steps performed in accordance with the screen images of  FIG. 10A  may constitute the determination of the gift offer  284  of  FIG. 7  to be transmitted to the giftee device  282 . 
     The function represented by the graphical button  388  may correspond to executing an instruction on the gifter device  10  to power on the NFC device  50  of the gifter device  10 , thus placing the device  10  into an NFC active mode and enabling the NFC interface  64 , as described above. For example, referring now to  FIG. 10B , upon selection of the graphical button  388 , the screen  394  may be displayed on the gifter device  10 . The screen  394  may include a notification message  396  indicating that the NFC interface  64  of the gifter device  10  is presently active and capable of establishing an NFC connection with an external device for the transmission of the gift offer  284 . Accordingly, the notification message  396  may further instruct the gifter to tap the gifter device  10  to the giftee device  282  in order to establish the NFC connection (e.g.,  286 ) for transferring the gift offer  284 . 
     Referring briefly to  FIG. 10C , the establishment of an NFC connection  286  between the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282  by way of the tap operation  288  is illustrated. As discussed above, the NFC device  50  of the gifter device  10  may be powered on upon the selection of the graphical button  388  illustrated in  FIG. 10A , thus placing the gifter device  10  into a host mode or active mode (e.g.,  292 ) in which the active gifter device  10  may periodically emit NFC transmission ping messages  298 , as discussed above with reference to  FIG. 8 . As the active gifter device  10  is placed within an acceptable distance  399  (e.g., 2-4 cm) from the giftee device  282 , which may presently be in a passive or wake on NFC mode (e.g.,  290 ), the giftee device  282  may transition from the passive to an active mode in which the NFC device  50  within the giftee device  282  is powered on, thus enabling the giftee device&#39;s  282  corresponding NFC interface  64  and providing for the establishment of the NFC connection  286  between the between respective NFC interfaces  64  on the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282  through which the gift offer  284  may be transmitted. Further, although the giftee device  282  illustrated in  FIG. 10C  is depicted as being a portable device similar to the gifter device  10 , it should be understood that the present technique may also be implemented in which the giftee device  282  includes a non-portable device, such as a personal computer or a computing workstation. Thus, it should be understood that various implementations of the present technique are intended to provide for the gifting of media files between any suitable types of electronic devices, whether portable or non-portable. 
     Returning to  FIG. 10B , once the giftee device  282  and the gifter device  10  are tapped (e.g., tap operation  288 ), the giftee device  282  may detect the NFC transmissions (e.g., ping messages  298 ) being emitted from the gifter device  10 , and transition from a passive to an active mode, in which a corresponding NFC device  50  of the giftee device  282  is powered on. For example, as shown in  FIG. 10B , upon the detection of the NFC transmissions from the gifter device  10 , the screen  400  may be displayed on the giftee device  282 . The screen  400  may include a notification message  402  informing the giftee that an NFC transmission has been detected and that in response, the corresponding NFC device  50  of the giftee device  282  is being powered on, thus enabling the corresponding NFC interface  64 . The notification screen  400  may further provide a graphical button  404  which, if selected, may allow the giftee to cancel the NFC connection process depicted herein. 
     As shown in the present figure, if the establishment of the NFC connection  286  is permitted on the giftee device  282 , then the screen  394  displayed on the gifter device  10  may be updated to display the notification message  406 . The notification message  406  may indicate that an NFC connection (e.g.,  286 ) has been established between respective NFC interfaces  64  of the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282  and that through the NFC connection  286 , the gift offer  284  is being transmitted to the giftee device  282 . The screen  394  may also include the graphical button  398  by which the gifter may select to canceling the gifting process either prior to or during the transmission of the gift offer  284 . Meanwhile, the notification screen  400  displayed on the giftee device  282  may similarly be updated to display the notification message  410 . The notification message  410  may indicate to the giftee that the NFC connection  286  has been established between the giftee device  282  and the gifter device  10 , and that gift offer  284  transmitted from the gifter device  10  is being received on the giftee device  282  by way of its corresponding NFC interface  64 . 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 10D , once the gift offer  284  has been received by the giftee device  282 , the screen  400  may be updated to display the notification message  412 . The notification message  412  may indicate to the giftee that the gifter is attempting to gift the media file  196  to the device  282  being operated by the giftee. If the giftee chooses to accept the gift offer  284 , the giftee may do so by selecting the graphical button  414 . Upon selection of the graphical button  414 , the acceptance message  336 , which may include the giftee&#39;s account information associated with the online digital media provider  92 , as discussed above with reference to  FIG. 7 , may be transmitted to the gifter device  10  by way of the NFC connection  286 . Thereafter, once the acceptance message  336  has been received by the gifter device  10 , the screen  394  may be updated to display the notification message  416 , which may indicate to the gifter that the giftee has accepted the gift offer  284  (e.g., in this case the media file  196 ) and that a gift request  340 , which may include the gifter&#39;s and giftee&#39;s account information associated with the online digital media provider  92 , is being sent to the online digital media provider  92  for processing. 
     As mentioned above with reference in  FIG. 7 , the server  98 , based on the account information specified in the gift request  340 , may obtain authorization to charge the gifter&#39;s account for the price of the media file  196  to be gifted to the giftee. Once the gifter&#39;s account has been charged, the server  98  may generate a gift file using one or more DRM encryption keys associated with the giftee&#39;s account. In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, the generated gift file may be stored on the server  98  and may be retrieved by the giftee, for example, by connecting to the online digital media service  92 . For instance, referring back to the screen  400 , once the acceptance  336  of the gift offer  284  has been sent, the screen  400  may be updated to display the notification message  418 . The notification message  418  may inform the giftee that the accepted gift, which may be the media file  196 , may be retrieved or downloaded to the giftee device  282  by connecting into the online digital media provider  92 . Additionally, the updated screen  400  may include the graphical button which when selected may initiate a connection to the online digital media provider  92 , such as by initiating the application associated with the graphical icon  34  discussed above, through which the giftee may retrieve the gifted media file  196 . In other implementations, the server  98  of the online digital media provider  98  may be configured to automatically transfer the generated gift file to the giftee as an attachment in an e-mail message, as mentioned above. 
     The retrieval of the gifted media file  196  from  FIG. 10D  may now be illustrated by the screen images depicted in  FIG. 11A . For example, by selecting the graphical button  420 , the giftee may initiate a connection to the online digital media provider  92  and cause the home screen  108  of a virtual store interface provided by the online digital media provider  92  to be displayed on the giftee device  282 . As noted above, the home screen  108  may essentially provide the giftee with a virtual store interface through which the giftee may search for and select from various types of media files for purchase. It should also be noted that the screen  108  illustrated in  FIG. 11A  may be identical to the screen  108  depicted in  FIG. 5A  with the exception of the notification message  422 . Here, the notification message  422  may display the identity of the giftee as opposed to the identity of the gifter (e.g., notification message  110 ). 
     As discussed above, the screen  108  may also display the graphical icon  122 . The graphical icon  122  may provide a user with access to one or more gifting functions; which may include the retrieval of gifted files sent by another user (e.g., the gifter), as well as provide functions for the redeeming of electronic gift certificates or the authentication of locked gift files, as will be discussed in detail below. For example, by selecting the graphical icon  122 , the giftee may navigate to the screen  426 , which may display a listing  428  of received gifts that have been received by the giftee, as well as a listing  430  of gifts that have been sent to other users of the online digital media provider  92  by the giftee. Additionally, the graphical button  432  may also be provided on the screen  426 , and may provide additional functions, such as the above-mentioned functions for redeeming electronic gift certificates and for authenticating and unlocking gifted files, as will be discussed in further detail below. Further, thought not depicted in the present figure, in some implementations, the screen  426  may further provide the giftee with additional media file recommendations based on the received gifts. For instances, the online digital media provider  92  may suggests additional songs in the same genre as the gifted song  196 , by which the giftee may decide to purchase. 
     Referring back to the listing  428  of received gifts, the screen  426  may indicated to the giftee that the gifted media file  196  has been sent by the gifter  136 . In order to retrieve the gifted media file  196 , the giftee may select the graphical button  434 . For example, by selecting the graphical button  434  the giftee may initiate the process of downloading the gifted file, which may have been temporarily stored on the server  98  of the online digital media provider  92 , to the giftee device  282 . For instance, as illustrated in the present figure, the selection of the graphical button  434  may cause the pop-up window  436  to be displayed on the screen  426 . The pop-up window  436  may include the notification message  438  informing the giftee that the gifted music file  196  is currently being downloaded to the giftee device from the server  98 . The pop-up window  436  may include the graphical button  440  which may allow the giftee to cancel the download is necessary. 
     Once the download has been completed, the popup window  436  may be updated to display the notification message  442 . Next, the giftee may have the option of selecting the graphical button  444  in order to initiate the media player application (e.g., represented by the icon  36 ) discussed above, or may return to the virtual store application of the online digital media provider  92  by selecting the graphical button  446 . For example, by selecting the graphical button  446 , the giftee may be returned to the screen  426 . It should be noted, that the listing of received gift files  428  in the updated screen  426  may reflect that there are currently no gifted files to be downloaded since the gifted file  196  has already been received on the giftee device  282 . 
     Referring back to pop-up window  436 , if the giftee chooses to select the graphical button  444  once the download of the gift media file  196  has been completed, the media player application  36  may be initiated on the giftee device  282 . Referring to  FIG. 11B , a technique for playing back received gifted music file  196  on the giftee device  282  is illustrated. As discussed above, the initiation of the media player application  36  may cause the screen  230  to be displayed on the giftee device  282 . Here, the screen  230  displayed on the giftee device  282  may include a listing  452  of the playlists defined by the giftee. By selecting the graphical button  240  on the screen  230 , the giftee may navigate to the screen  258  which, as discussed above, may display a listing  454  of music files presently stored on the giftee device  282 . As illustrated in the present figure, the listing  454  of music files stored on the giftee device  282  may include the gift file  196  downloaded from the online digital media provider  92  in  FIG. 11A . Accordingly, as discussed above, the giftee may play back the gifted music file  196  by selecting its location on the listing  454 , thereby navigating the giftee to the screen  264  by which the giftee may enjoy the playback of the gifted music file  196  on the giftee device  282 . Additionally, the giftee may have the option of gifting the media file  196  to additional users of the online digital media provider  92  by selecting the graphical button  276  and performing one or more of the gifting processes set forth in the present disclosure. 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 11C , an alternate scenario is illustrated in which the gifter&#39;s account could not be charged for the gifted music file  196 . In this situation, the giftee, upon attempting to retrieve the gifted file  196 , may be notified of the failure to charge the gifter&#39;s account and may be provided the option of charging the gifted file  196  to the giftee&#39;s own account. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 11C , the giftee may access the screen  426  by selecting the graphical icon  122  from the screen  108  as discussed above. Upon selecting the graphical button  434  from the screen  426  to download the gifted media file  196 , the pop-up window  460  may be displayed on the giftee device  282  and may include the notification message  461  informing the giftee that the gifted media file  196  could not be charged to the gifter&#39;s account. The notification message  461  may further offer the giftee the options, by way of the graphical buttons  462  and  464 , respectively, of either charging a payment associated with the gifted music file  196  to the giftee&#39;s own account or declining the download of the gifted media file  196 . For example, as illustrated in the present figure, if the graphical button  464  is selected, the pop-up window  460  may be updated to display the notification message  463  informing the giftee that the gifted media file  196  cannot be downloaded. Thus, the giftee may select the graphical button  466  to return to the virtual store interface of the online digital media provider  92 , such as the screen  108 , and may have the option of selecting additional media files for purchase and download to the giftee device  282 . 
     If the giftee chooses to charge the gifting of the media file  196  to the giftee&#39;s own account, the giftee may select the graphical button  462 , whereby the pop-up window  460  may display the notification message  465  indicating to the giftee that the charge for the gifted media file  196  will be applied to the giftee&#39;s account. Thereafter, the download of the gifted music file  196  may begin, thus transferring the gifted media file  196  from the server  98  to the giftee device  282 . As shown here, the giftee may cancel the download if necessary by selecting the graphical button  467 . In accordance with one embodiment, a download of a gifted file that was canceled while in progress may be resumed from the point from which the download was canceled. 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 12 , a schematic representation of a system  470  for gifting a media file from the gifter device  10  to the giftee device  282  is illustrated in accordance with a further implementation of present technique. In the presently illustrated figure, the creation of the gift file  196  may be performed externally with respect to the server  98  associated with the online digital media provider  92 . For example, once the selected file or files to be gifted have been accepted by the giftee device  282 , such as by transmitting the acceptance message  336  to the gifter device  10 , a gift request  340  may be transmitted to the server  98  of the online digital media provider  92  by way of the network  340  which, as discussed above, may be provided by any of the networking communication interfaces available on the gifter device. In the present implementation, the gift request  304  may include a request for one or more DRM keys associated with the giftee&#39;s account. 
     As illustrated by the reference number  344 , the gift request  340  may be processed by the server  98 , such as to charge the price of the gifted media file or files to the gifter&#39;s account. In the presently illustrated embodiment, once the gift request has been processed, the creation of the gifted file may be delegated to the gifter device  10 . For example, rather than creating the gifted file on the server  98 , the server  98  may instead transmit the giftee&#39;s DRM keys to the gifter device, as indicated by the reference number  472 , in response to the gift request  340 . As shown here, the giftee&#39;s DRM keys may be transmitted to the giftee device  282  by way of the network  342 . Upon receiving the giftee&#39;s DRM keys, these keys may be used by the gifter device  10  to create the gift file, which may essentially be a duplicate file of the originally selected media file  196 , but with DRM protection applied such that the gift file  196  may only be played on authorized devices associated with the giftee&#39;s account. As will be appreciated, by offloading the tasks of processing media files for the application of DRM protection in creating the gift file to the gifter device  10 , the server  98  may be able to save substantial processing and communication bandwidth for what may be a relatively light computational task. 
     Once DRM protection has been applied to the gift file using the giftee&#39;s DRM keys, as indicated by the reference number  474 , the gift files may be transferred to the giftee device by way of a network connection, which may be determined by the communication profiles  306  and  308  exchanged during the tap operation  288 , as discussed in  FIG. 9 . For instance, using the device service discovery protocol mentioned above, the giftee device  282  and gifter device  10  may establish a connection to a common network, such as the wireless LAN connection  316 . Thus, through the established network  316 , the giftee device  282  may receive the gift files, as indicated by the reference number  478 . It should be appreciated, however, that the network by which the gift files are transferred from the gifter device  10  to the giftee device  282  may be provided by any suitable peer-to-peer connection that may be established between the devices, including an ad-hoc connection, or a PAN connection, such as using the Bluetooth communication protocol, for example. 
     The media gifting techniques depicted in  FIG. 12  may be better understood with reference to the screen images depicted in  FIGS. 13A-13C . Referring first to  FIG. 13A , the establishment of the NFC connection  286  through which the gifter device  10  may transmit the gift offer  284  and receive an acceptance of the gift from the giftee device  282  is illustrated. For example, as discussed above, the gifting process may be initiated by selecting the graphical button  378  from the screen  264 . Once the graphical button  378  is selected, establishment of the NFC connection  286  may be initiated, as illustrated by the screens  394  and  400  in  FIG. 13A . As discussed above, once the NFC connection  268  is established, gifter device  10  may transmit the gift offer  284  to the giftee device  282  and may wait for an acceptance of the gift offer by the giftee device  282 . For example, as discussed above with reference to  FIG. 10D , an acceptance message  336  may be transmitted to the gifter device  10  by way of the established NFC connection. Thereafter, the gifter device  10  may transmit a gift request (e.g.,  340 ) to the server  98 . As discussed above, if the gift request is approved by the server  98 , one or more DRM keys associated with the giftee&#39;s account may be transmitted or sent to the gifter device  10  to be used in the creation of a DRM protected gift file which may be transferred to the giftee device  282  (e.g., using the network  316 ). 
     For instance, referring now to  FIG. 13B , once the gift request  340  has been approved by the server  98 , the giftee&#39;s DRM key may be sent to the gifter device  10  using the network  342 , and the screen  394  displayed on the gifter device  10  may be updated to display the notification message  482 . Once the giftee&#39;s DRM key is received, the screen  394  may be further updated to display the notification message  484 . As shown here, the notification message  484  may indicate that a gift file  196  is being prepared. As shown in the illustrated figure, the screen  394  may further display the identity of the gift file  196 , as well as a progress indicator graphical element  486 . For example, the progress indicator  486  may convey to the gifter the progress of the DRM protection process being applied to the gift file  196 . Once the application of DRM protection is completed, the screen  394  may be further updated to display the notification message  488  and the graphical buttons  490  and  492 . As shown here, the notification message  488  may indicated to the gifter that the gift file  196  has been created and may be presently stored on the gifter device  10 . Accordingly, the gifter may transmit the gift file to the giftee device  282  immediately by selecting the graphical button  490 , or may choose to send the gift file at a later time by selecting the graphical button  492 . For example, in one embodiment, the selection of the graphical button  492  may allow the gifter to send the gift file  196  to the giftee device  282  at a later time remotely, such as by using an e-mail program. Further, as will be appreciated, for security purposes, once the gift file  196  is created, the giftee&#39;s DRM keys may be deleted from the gifter device  10 . 
     If the graphical button  490  is selected, the gifter device  10  may attempt to establish a network connection with the giftee device  282  in order to facilitate the transfer of the gift file  196  to the giftee device  282 . For example, referring now to  FIG. 13C , upon selection of the graphical button  490 , the screen  394  may be updated to display the notification message  494 . Referring briefly back to  FIG. 9 , the connection profile  306  associated with the gifter device  10  may indicate that the gifter device  10  is presently connected to a wireless LAN network  316 . Thus, in the presently illustrated embodiment, the gifter device  10  may be configured to wait for the giftee device  282  to join the network  316  as well. It should be appreciated however, that in additional implementations, the gifter device  10  may be configured to identify and join a network to which the giftee device  282  is connected, such as the network  318  as indicated by the giftee device&#39;s  282  communication profile  308 . Referring back to  FIG. 13C , the screen  400  displayed on the giftee device  282 , as discussed above, may also be updated to display the graphical message  496 . As will be appreciated, the updated screen  400  in  FIG. 13C  may be displayed upon acceptance of the gift offer  284  send from the gifter device  10  using the NFC connection  286 . Further, based on the tap operation  288  used to establish the NFC connection, the giftee device  282  may identify a network to which the gifter device  10  is presently connected, such as by analyzing the gifter device&#39;s communication profile  306 . Accordingly if a commonly available network, such as the network  316 , is identified, the notification message  496  may include a prompt asking whether the gifter wishes to connect to the network  316  for receiving the gift file  196 . Thus, the giftee may select the graphical button  498  to connect to the network  316  or select the graphical button  500  to cancel the gifting process. 
     If the giftee selects the graphical button  498 , a connection may be established to the network  316 . As will be appreciated, the connection of the giftee device  282  to the network  316  in the presently illustrated embodiment may include first terminating the connection to the network  318  to which the giftee device  282  was previously connected. Upon detecting the connection of the giftee device  282  to the network  316 , the screen  394  displayed on the gifter device  10  may be further updated to display the notification message  502  which may indicated that the giftee device  282  is presently connected to the network  316 , which may be a common network to which each of the devices  10  and  282  are connect, or a peer-to-peer network, such as an ad-hoc connection or a Bluetooth pairing, for instance. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the gifter device  10  may be configured to automatically initiate the transfer of the gift file  196  once the gifter device  282  is detected on the network  316 . For instance, the notification message  502  may further indicate that the gift file  196  created in  FIG. 13B  is being transmitted to the giftee device  282  by way of the network  316 . Meanwhile, the screen  400  on the giftee device  282  may also be updated to display the notification message  506 . As shown here, the notification message  506  may indicate to the giftee that the giftee device  282  has connected to the network  316  and is presently receiving the gift file  196  (e.g., via a wireless LAN interface  62 ). 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 14 , once the gift file  196  has been received by the giftee device  282 , the screen  400  may be further updated to display the notification message  508 . As shown here, the notification message  508  may indicate that the gift file  196  transmitted from the gifter device  10  has been received and stored on the giftee device  282 . The screen  400  may also include the graphical buttons  510  and  512 . In order to play back the received gift file  196 , the giftee may select the graphical button  510  to initiate the media player application  36 , as discussed above. For instance, the selection of the graphical button  510  may cause the screen  230  to be displayed on the giftee device  282 . Alternatively, the user may also navigate to the screen  230  by selecting the graphical button  512  to return to the home screen  29  of the GUI  28 , as discussed above, and further selecting the graphical icon  36  to initiate the media player application  36 , thus displaying the screen  230  on the giftee device  282 . 
     From the screen  230 , the giftee may select the graphical icon  240  in order to navigate to the screen  258 , which, as discussed above, may display a listing  454  of music files presently stored on the giftee device  282  and available for playback. As shown here, the listing  454  may include the gift file  196  transferred from the gifter device  10  in  FIG. 13C . Accordingly, the giftee may select the gift file  196  to further navigate to the screen  264 , in which the gift file may be played back on the giftee device  282 . For example, as discussed above, where the gift file is a music file, the audio input/output elements  46  may be utilized to output sound from the device  282 . Alternatively, the user may connect a set of headphones or external speakers to the input port  44  in order to facilitate the playback of the gift file  196 . As discussed above, the screen  264  may also display the graphical button  276  by which the giftee may further gift the media file  196  to additional users of the online digital media provider  92  using one or more of the techniques discussed in the present disclosure. 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 15 , a system for gifting a media file in accordance with a further implementation of the present technique is illustrated and generally referred to herein by the reference numeral  516 . Specifically, the presently illustrated embodiment depicts a scenario in which subsequent to the acceptance of a gift offer  284  by the giftee device  282 , the gifter device  10  is unable to connect to a network to communicate a gift request  340  to the server  98  of the online digital media provider  92 . As illustrated in the present figure, the steps of selecting one or more gift files and transmitting a gift offer (e.g.,  284 ) to the giftee device  282 , as well as the acceptance of the gift (e.g.,  336 ) by the giftee device  282  may be generally identical to the techniques described above with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 12 . Specifically, these actions achieved by way of an NFC connection  286  established between the devices  10  and  282  which, as discussed above, may be established by one or more tap operations (e.g.,  288  and  338 ). 
     Because the gifter device  10  is unable to connect to the server  98  to transmit the gift request  340  in the presently illustrated embodiment, the gifter device  10  may instead transferred a locked gift file, which may correspond to the selected media file  196 , as well as a gift license. The locked gift file, once received on the giftee device  282 , may not be played back on the giftee device  282  until the gift license is authenticated with the server  98  upon which the gifter&#39;s account may be charged for the gifting of the media  196 . As illustrated here by the reference numeral  518 , upon receiving acceptance  336  of the gift offer  284 , the gifter device  10  may transfer a locked gift file and a corresponding gift license to the giftee device  282  by way of a peer-to-peer network  520  which may be an ad-hoc network, or a personal area network, such as via a Bluetooth connection. As will be appreciated, the gift license associated with the locked gift file may contain the gifter&#39;s account information in order to insure that the gifter&#39;s account is properly charged when the giftee authenticates the gift license to unlock the locked gift file  518 . After receiving the locked gift file and gift license, the giftee device  282  may connect to a network, as indicated by the reference numeral  522 . For example, referring back to  FIG. 8 , the giftee device  282  may connect to the wireless LAN network  318 , as discussed above with reference to the communication profile  308  in  FIG. 9 . It should be appreciated however, that any type of suitable network capable of establishing a communication path between the giftee device  282  and the server  98  of the online digital media provider  92  may be utilized in accordance with the present technique. 
     Once the giftee device is connected with the server  98  by way of the network  318 , the giftee device  282  may transmit a request to the server  98  to authenticate the gift license and to unlock the locked gift file  518  received from the gifter device  10 , as indicated by the reference number  524 . The server  98 , upon receiving the unlock request may first charge the gifter&#39;s account for a payment amount corresponding to the gift file, illustrated here by the reference number  526 . Once the gifter&#39;s account has been charged, the server  98  may authenticate the locked gift file  518 , thus unlocking the gift file and permitting the playback of the gift file on the giftee device  282 , as indicated by the reference number  528 . As will be appreciated, the unlocking process may take place via the network connection  318 . Accordingly, once the locked gift file  518  originally received from the gifter device  10  has been unlocked (e.g., creating the unlocked gift file  196 ), the giftee may play back the unlocked gift file  196  on the giftee device  282 , as depicted by the reference number  530 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16A and 16B , a plurality of screen images illustrating a technique for transmitting a locked gift file  518  from the gifter device  10  to the giftee device  282  is illustrated. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 16A , the transfer of the gift offer (e.g.,  284 ) from the gifter device  10  and the subsequent acceptance  336  of the gift offer by the giftee device  282  using the NFC interface  286  may be initiated by selecting the graphical button  378  from the screen  264 , as discussed above. Upon receiving the notification of the gift offer has been accepted, the screen  532  may be displayed on the giftee device  282 . As shown here, the screen  532  may display the notification message  534  which may identify the gifter, as well as provide the identity of the media file  196  being offered by the gifter as a gift file. The screen  532  may further include the graphical buttons  536  and  538 . The graphical button  538  may be selected if the giftee wishes to accept the gift file  196  being offered by the gifter. If the giftee does not wish to accept the gift file  196 , the giftee may select the graphical button  538  to cancel the gifting process. As discussed above, upon selection of the graphical button  536 , an acceptance message  336  may be transmitted to the gifter device  10 , such as by way of the NFC interface  286 . 
     Upon receiving the acceptance message  336 , the screen  540  may be displayed on the gifter device  10  and may include the notification message  542 . The screen  540  may also include the graphical button  544  by which the gifter may select to cancel the gifting process if necessary. As shown here, the notification message  542  may indicate that the giftee has accepted the gift offer  284  and that the gifter device  10  is presently attempting to initiate the transmission of a gift request to the server  98  of the online digital media provider  92 . As discussed above and shown in  FIG. 16A , a network capable of providing the gifter device  10  a connection to the server  98  may not be presently available. Thus, upon detecting a failure to establish a connection to the online digital media provider  92 , the screen  540  on the gifter device  10  may updated to display the notification message  546 , which may offer the gifter the option of transferring a locked gift file (e.g.,  518 ) to the giftee device  282  in accordance with the gifting process illustrated in  FIG. 15 . The screen  540  may also include the graphical buttons  548  and  550  which, respectively, may be selected by the gifter to either proceed or not proceed with the sending of the locked gift file  518 . 
     If the graphical button  548  is selected, a locked gift file  518  may be created and temporarily stored on the gifter device  10 . In one embodiment, the locked gift file may not have the appropriate DRM protection applied to enable playback on the giftee device  282 . Accordingly, the giftee may be required to authenticate a gift license, which may be sent along with the locked gift file  518 , in order to unlock the locked gift file  518  to enable playback on the giftee device  282 . The gift license may include the gifter&#39;s account information as well as an indication of an approval of applicable gift charges. Thus, the process of unlocking a locked gift file, as will be explained in further detail below, may entail applying DRM protection to the gift file only after the gift license is authenticated and the gifter&#39;s account is successfully charged for the gift file. 
     If the gifter selects the graphical button  548  to send the locked gift file  518  to the giftee device  282 , an ad-hoc network, such as the network  520  depicted in  FIG. 15 , may be established to facilitate the transfer of the locked gift file  518 . For instance, referring now to  FIG. 16B , upon selection of the graphical button  548 , the gifter device  10  may initiate the ad-hoc network  520  and wait for a connection to be established between the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282 . This may be reflected in the notification message  552  displayed on the updated screen  540  of  FIG. 16B . Accordingly, the giftee may be presented on the giftee device  282  the option of joining the ad-hoc network  520  established by the gifter device  10 . For instance, the screen  532  on the giftee device  282  may be updated to display the notification message  554  indicating to the giftee that the giftee device  282  is establishing a connection to the ad-hoc network  520 . Thereafter, once the giftee device  282  is connected to the ad-hoc network  520 , the screens  540  and  532  may be updated to display the notification messages  556  and  558 , respectively. As shown here, the notification message  556  may indicate to the gifter that a locked gift file and a gift license, represented here by the reference number  518 , is being transferred to the giftee device  282 . The notification message  558  may indicate to the giftee that the giftee device  282  is connected to the ad-hoc network  520  and that the locked gift file  518  is being received on the giftee device  282 . 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 17A , a series of screen images is provided in order to demonstrate how the locked gift file  518  must be first authenticated with the online digital media provider  92  prior to being unlocked for playback on the giftee device  282 . As shown in  FIG. 17A , once the transfer of the gift file  518  has been completed, the screen  532  displayed on the giftee device  282  may display the notification message  560 . The notification message  560  may inform the giftee that the gifted file  518  has been received, but may indicate that the gifted file must first be authenticated with the online digital media provider  92  prior before playback on the giftee device  282  is permitted. Accordingly, the graphical button  562  is provided by which the giftee may select to connect to the online digital media provider  92  for authentication of the gift license and unlocking of the locked gift file  518 . The graphical button  564  is also provided and, if selected, may allow the giftee to return to the home screen  29  as illustrated in the present figure. The remaining screens in  FIG. 17A  are meant to illustrate how the gift file  518  is not permitted to be played or accessed by the giftee device  282  until being authenticated and unlocked by the online digital media provider  92 . For example, upon returning to the home screen  29 , the giftee may select the graphical icon  36  to execute the media player application discussed above and to display the screen  230   
     From the screen  230 , the giftee may select the graphical icon  240  in order to access the screen  258 , which may display the listing  454  of music files presently stored on the giftee device  282 . As shown here, the locked gift file  518  received from the gifter device  10  may be included in the listing  454  in  FIG. 17A . If the locked gift file  518  is selected for playback, as indicated in the present figure, the giftee may be navigated to the screen  264  which, as discussed above, may be utilized for the playback of selected media files. However, as shown in the present figure, because the selected media file is locked, the pop-up window  568  may be displayed when the giftee device  282  attempts to play the locked gift file  518 . The pop-up window  568  may inform the giftee that the selected file  518  is locked and must be first authenticated with the online digital media provider  92  and unlocked before playback may be permitted. The pop-up window  568  may further provide the graphical button  570  and  572 . Accordingly, the giftee may select the graphical button  572  to return to the screen  258  to access the listing  454 , such as to select another media file that is not currently locked, or the giftee may select the graphical button  570  to connect to the online digital media provider to perform the authentication process and unlock the gift file  518 . 
     If the graphical button  570  is selected, the giftee device  282  may establish a connection to the online digital media provider  92  and initiate the virtual store interface application  34 , thus displaying the screen  108  as shown in  FIG. 17B . From the screen  108 , the giftee may select the graphical icon  122  to navigate to the screen  426  which, as discussed above, may include a listing  428  of gifted media files received, as well as a listing  430  of media files recently sent by the giftee to other users of the online digital media provider  92  as gift files. As discussed above, the graphical button  432  may also be provided in order to perform one or more authentication functions applicable to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 15 . As shown here, upon selection of the graphical button  432 , the giftee may be presented with the screen  574 . The screen  574  may include the graphical buttons  476  and  478 . The graphical button  476  may represent a function by which a giftee may unlock a locked gift file, such as the locked gift file  518 . Additionally, the graphical button  578  may represent a further function by which the giftee may not presently have a gift file, either locked or unlocked, but may redeem an electronic gift certificate received from a gifter with the online digital media provider  92  to receive a gift file. The latter function will be described in further detail below. 
     As shown in the present figure, the giftee may select the graphical button  576  to further navigate to the screen  582 . The screen  582  may include a field  584  in which the giftee may specify the identification of a locked gift file  518  that the giftee wishes to unlock. As discussed above, the locked gift file  518  may include a gift license which may include the identity of the gifter, as well as the gifter&#39;s account information. The screen  582  may also include the graphical button  586  by which the giftee may select in order to display a listing of locked gift files present on the giftee device  282  that may be selected for authentication and unlocking by the online digital media provider  92 . For example, as illustrated in the present figure, the selection of the graphical button  586  may cause the pop-up window  592  to be displayed on the screen  582 . As shown here, the pop-up window  592  may include a selectable listing  594  of locked gift files presently stored on the giftee device  282 . Thus, the giftee may select the locked gift file  518  received from the gifter device  10  in  FIG. 15 , and then select the graphical button  596  in order to return tot the screen  582  to complete the process of selecting a locked gift file  518  to unlock. As shown in the updated screen  582 , based on the giftee&#39;s selection in the pop-up window  592 , the field  584  may be populated to display the name of the locked gift file  518 . The giftee may then select the graphical button  588  to initiate the process of authenticating the gift license and unlocking the locked gift file  518 . 
     As will be appreciated, upon selection of the graphical button  588 , the online digital media provider  92  may determine the identity of the gifter and the gifter&#39;s account based on, for example, the information contained in the gift license associated with the locked gift file  518 . If the online digital media provider  92  (e.g., by way of the server  98 ), determines that the gifter&#39;s account may be charged for the gifting of the gift file  518 , then the server  98  may authorize the unlocking of the locked gift file  518 . For example, referring now to  FIG. 17C , once the locked gift file  518  and its associated gift license has been authenticated by the server  98 , the screen  600  may be displayed on the giftee device  282 . The screen  600  may include the notification message  602  indicating to the giftee that the locked gift file  518  is presently being unlocked. For example, in the presently illustrated embodiment, the unlocking of the gift file  518  may include applying DRM protection to the gift file  518  using one or more DRM keys associated with the giftee&#39;s account, such that the gift file  518  may be authorized for playback on the giftee device  282 . The screen  600  may also include the graphical button  604  by which the giftee may select in order to cancel the unlocking process if necessary. 
     As will be appreciated, the unlocking of the gift file  518  may be performed locally on the giftee device  282 . For example, the unlocking process may allow the giftee device  282  to process the locked gift file  518  using the giftee&#39;s DRM keys in order to generate a media file that is specific for playback on authorized devices belonging to the giftee, which may include the giftee device  282 . Further, as discussed above, in a situation in which the gifter&#39;s account specified in the gift license associated with the locked gift file  518  cannot be charged, the giftee may be presented with the option of charging the gifting of the file  518  to the giftee&#39;s own account, or else declining the gift file  518 . 
     Once the gift file  518  has been unlocked, the screen  608  may be displayed on the giftee device  282  and indicate to the giftee, by way of notification message  610 , that the gift file  518  has been authenticated and is now enabled for playback on the gift device  282 . Accordingly, the screen  608  may provide the giftee with several options, by way of graphical buttons  612 ,  614 , and  616 . As illustrated here, the graphical button  612  may represent a function by which a giftee may return to the previous screen  582  to unlock additional locked gift files, such as those provided in the listing  594  in  FIG. 17B . The graphical button  614  may represent a function by which a giftee may initiate the media player application  36 , as discussed above, in order to select the now unlocked gift file  518  for playback on the giftee device  282 . Additionally, the giftee may select the graphical button  616  to disconnect from the online digital media provider  92  and exit the associated virtual store interface application  34  to return to the home screen  29  of the GUI  28  on the giftee device  282 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17C , the selection of the graphical button  614  may initiate the media player application  36  and cause the screen  230  to be displayed on the giftee device  282 , as discussed above. Here, the giftee may select the graphical icon  240  to access the listing of music files  454  presently stored on the giftee device  282  on the screen  258 . As shown here, the listing  454  has been updated to indicate that the gift file  518  is no longer locked and may now be selected for playback using the media player application  36 . Thus, by selecting the now unlocked gift file  518 , the giftee may advance to the screen  264 , whereby the gift file  518  may be played back on the device  282 . Additionally, as discussed above, the giftee may further select the graphical button  276  displayed on the screen  264  in order to initiate a process of gifting the received gift file  518  to additional users of the online digital media provider  92  using any of the gifting techniques set forth in the present disclosure. 
     While the above described techniques for gifting a media file have been initiated using a close range communication process, such as the NFC connection  286 , additional aspects of the present technique may further provide for the gifting of media files without the use of close range communications. For instance, continuing now to  FIG. 18 , the present technique also provides an implementation in which the offer and acceptance of a gift file, or multiple gift files, need not require that the giftee device  282  and the gifter device  10  are within the proximity required for an NFC connection to occur. For example, the system depicted by the reference number  620  in  FIG. 18  illustrates an embodiment in which the gifting of a media file may be initiated using an e-mail communication. For example, as indicated by reference numeral  622 , the gifting process may begin with the selection of one or more gift files on the gifter device  10 , as well as the creation of a gift license. In accordance with the present embodiment, a gift license may essentially function as an electronic gift certificate that may be redeemed with the online digital media provider  92  by the giftee in order to acquire the gifted files selected by the gifter. For instance, as mentioned above, the gift license may include the gifter&#39;s account information, such that upon redemption by the giftee, the gifter&#39;s account may be charged for the gifted file or files. If multiple gift files are selected for gifting, a separate respective gift license may be generated for each gift file, or, in some embodiments, a single license including all the selected gift files at step  622 , may be created. Once the gift license or licenses are created, the licenses may be transmitted to the giftee device  282  by using an e-mail message, as illustrated by the reference number  624 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , the e-mail communication may occur by way of a network  626 . The network  626  may be provided by any suitable type of network interface available on the gifter device  10  and the giftee device  282 , such as those provided in the communication interface circuitry  60  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 3  and may not require a direct connection between the two devices. For example, the e-mail communication may be transmitted from the gifter device  10  to the giftee device  282  using the Internet. Upon receiving the e-mail message containing the gift license or licenses transmitted by the gifter, the giftee device  282  may initiate a connection to the online digital media provider  92 . Once a connection is established, such as by using the network  626 , the giftee device  282  may provide the gift license to the server  98  of the online digital media provider  92 , as shown by reference number  628 , in order to redeem the electronic gift certificate and retrieve the gift file selected by the gifter at step  622 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, security measures may be implemented such that the electronic gift certificate  664  may only be used one time and only by the giftee to acquire the gifted media files. This ensures that the electronic gift certificate may not be used by unauthorized persons and may not be used to retrieve the same gift file(s) multiple times. 
     Upon receiving the gift license, the server  98  may first process the license information in order to charge the gifter&#39;s account for the gifted file (or files), as indicated by the reference number  630 . Thereafter, once the gifter&#39;s account is successfully charged, a corresponding gift file may be created using the giftee&#39;s DRM keys. The creation of the DRM protected gift file is illustrated here by the reference numeral  632 . Accordingly, once the DRM protected gift file has been created, the gift file may be transmitted to the giftee device  282  by way of the network  626 . Upon receiving the DRM protected gift file, as indicated by the reference number  634 , the giftee may select these files for playback on the giftee device  282 , such as by using the media player application  36 . Here again, it should be kept in mind that if the gifter&#39;s account specified in the provided gift certificate (e.g., step  628 ) cannot be charged, the giftee may be presented with the option of charging the gifting of the file to the giftee&#39;s own account, or else declining the gift file altogether. 
     The technique described in  FIG. 18  may be better understood with reference to  FIG. 19 , in which a series of screen images depicting the gifting process illustrated in  FIG. 18  is provided. For example, the gifting process may begin with the selection of the music file  196 , which may be in the process of being played back on the screen  264  on the gifter device  10 . As discussed above, the selection of the graphical button  276  may cause the graphical buttons  376  and  378  to be displayed thus providing the gifter with various gifting options. Here, instead of initiating the gifting process using an NFC connection, as provided by the graphical button  378  (e.g., in accordance with techniques of  FIGS. 7 ,  12 , and  15 ), the gifter may instead select the graphical button  376  to initiate the gifting processing using an e-mail communication. For example, the selection of the graphical button  376  may cause the screen  636  to be displayed on the gifter device  10 . The screen  636  may include the text fields  638  and  640 . As shown here, the text field  638  may request that the gifter provide the gifter&#39;s e-mail address, and the text field  640  may request that the gifter provide an e-mail address associated with the giftee receiving the gift file  196 . The information required by the text fields  638  and  640  may be entered by the gifter using the provided text keyboard interface  166 , as discussed above. Additionally, the gifter may also be prompted to select a payment method which, as discussed above, may be a credit card account associated with the gifter&#39;s online digital media provider account. Additionally, the gifter may also elect to pay for the gifting of the file  196  by the use of credits associated with the gifter&#39;s account. As shown in the present figure, the gifter may select a credit card account as the payment method by selecting the check box graphic  642 . 
     Once the required information has been provided on the screen  636  by the gifter, the gifter may select the graphical button  644  to generate the gift license which is then e-mailed to the giftee. For example, upon selection of the graphical button  644 , the pop-up window  646  may be displayed on the screen  636 . The pop-up window  646  may include the notification message  648  indicating to the gifter that a gift license is presently being generated in the form of the electronic gift certificate file. As shown here, the pop-up window  646  may also include the graphical button  650  allowing the gifter to cancel the generation of the electronic gift certificate if selected. In the present embodiment, once the gift license and electronic gift certificate have been generated, the certificate and license may be sent to the giftee&#39;s e-mail address provided in the text field  640 , as indicated by the notification message  652  in the updated pop-up window  646 . The updated popup window  646  may also include the graphical button  654 , which may allow the gifter to return to the screen  264  to resume playback of the music file  196 , for instance. 
     Next, the redemption of the electronic gift certificate described in  FIG. 19  by the giftee device  282  may be explained with reference to  FIGS. 20A-20C , which depict by way of screen images a technique for receiving electronic gift certificate and redeeming the received gift certificate with the online digital media provider  92  in order to acquire a gifted media file. For example, referring first to  FIG. 20A , from the home screen  29  on the giftee device  282 , the giftee may select the graphical icon  38  in order to initiate an e-mail application. Upon the initiation of the e-mail application  38 , the screen  656  may be displayed on the giftee device  282 . The screen  656  may display a listing of recent e-mail messages received on the giftee device  282  and may include the e-mail message referred to by the reference number  658 , which may correspond to the e-mail sent by the gifter device  10  in  FIG. 19 . The screen  656  may also include a variety of graphical icons  660 , each of which may represent various functions associated with the e-mail application  38 . Upon selecting the e-mail message  658 , the giftee may view the text associated with the e-mail message  658  on the screen  662 . As shown here, the screen  662  may further indicate that the e-mail message  658  has been sent with an included file attachment, referred to here by the reference number  664 . In the present illustration, the attached file may represent the electronic gift certificate generated and sent by the gifter device  10 , as described above with reference to  FIG. 19 . Thus, as will be understood, the giftee may save the electronic gift certificate locally on the giftee device  282 , wherein the saved gift certificate may be used later to acquire a corresponding gift file from the online digital media provider  92 . Further, as shown in the present figure, by using the scroll bar element  120 , the giftee may view the remainder of the e-mail message  658 , which may include a hyperlink  668  allowing the user to directly connect to the online digital media service  92  for redemption of the electronic gift certificate  664 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 20B , upon selecting the hyperlink  668 , a connection may be established with the online digital media provider  92  and the virtual store application  34  may be initiated, thus displaying the home screen  108  of the online store interface on the giftee device  282 . As discussed above, the giftee may then access the screen  426  by selecting the graphical icon  122 . In order to authenticate the electronic gift certificate  664 , the giftee may further select the graphical button  432 , thus advancing to the screen  574 . Here, rather than select the graphical button  576 , as discussed above in  FIG. 17B , the giftee may instead select the graphical button  578 , which represents a function by which the giftee may redeem an electronic gift certificate (e.g.,  664 ) to download corresponding gifted media file. As shown here, the selection of the graphical button  578  may further advance the giftee to the screen  672 . The screen  672  may include the field  674  in which the giftee may specify a particular electronic gift certificate file to be redeemed. For example, by selecting the graphical button  676 , the pop-up window  680  may be displayed on the screen  672 . As shown in the present figure, the pop-up window  680  may display a listing of available redeemable electronic gift certificates stored on the giftee device  282 , and may include the electronic gift certificate  664  received in the e-mail message  658  discussed in  FIG. 20A . 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 20C , once the electronic gift certificate  664  is selected, the giftee may select the graphical button  682  to return to the screen  672 , in which the field  674  may be updated to reflect the selection of the electronic gift certificate  664  for redemption. Thereafter, the giftee may select the graphical button  678  in order to initiate the process of redeeming the provided electronic gift certificate  664  and acquiring a corresponding gifted media file. For instance, upon selecting the graphical button  678 , the screen  684  may be displayed on the giftee device  282 . The screen  684  may include the notification message  686  indicating that the provided gift certificate  664  is being authenticated and that the gift file specified in the certificate  664  is being downloaded to the giftee device  282 . As will be appreciated, the authentication of the gift certificate  664  may include determining, based on information contained in the gift certificate, the account corresponding to the gifter. Accordingly, once the gifter&#39;s account is properly charged for the gifting of the selected file, a gift file may be generated on the server  98  using the giftee&#39;s DRM keys, as discussed above, and subsequently transferred to the giftee device  282  from the server  98 . As shown here, the screen  684  may also include the graphical button  688  by which the giftee may select to cancel the process of redeeming the certificate  664  if needed. 
     Once the gift file has been successfully downloaded to the giftee device  282 , the screen  690  may be displayed on the giftee device  282 . The screen  690  may include the notification message  692  informing the giftee that the gift file has been received on the device  282  and is now available for playback. Here, the screen  690  may further provide the giftee with various options by way of the graphical button  694 , as well as the graphical buttons  614  and  616  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 17C . As shown here, the graphical button  694  may represent a function by which the giftee may return to the screen  672  in order to redeem additional gift certificates. The giftee may also exit the interface application  34  with the online digital media provider  92  by selecting the graphical button  616 , thus returning to the home screen  29  of the device  282 , or the giftee may select the graphical button  614  to execute the media player application  36  discussed above in order to select the downloaded gift file for playback, such as illustrated by the screens  230 ,  258 , and  264  in  FIG. 17C . 
     While the above-described embodiments have depicted the gifting of a single media file, namely the media file  196 , it should be appreciated that the present technique also provides for the gifting of multiple media files in a single gifting session. For example, referring to  FIG. 21A , in accordance with one implementation of the present technique, the gifter may select a playlist, which as discussed above, may include a plurality of music files, to be gifted to a giftee device  282 . Referring now to the screen  230  in  FIG. 21A , a listing  232  of playlists presently stored on the gifter device  10  may be displayed upon initiation of the media player application  36  on the gifter device  10 . The presently illustrated figures may depict a technique by which the gifter may choose to gift the playlist referred to by the reference numeral  698  to the giftee device  282  using one or more of the gifting techniques set forth in the present disclosure. As shown here, the gifter may select the playlist  698  in order to view each of the media files defined in the playlist  698 , as shown by the screen  700 . Thus, by gifting the playlist  698  to the giftee device  282 , each of the music files in the listing referred to by the reference number  702  may be gifted in one transaction in which the gifter&#39;s account is charged for each of the media files in the playlist. 
     In order to begin the process of gifting the playlist  698 , the gifter may first select the graphical icon  244 , which may advance the gifter to the screen  704 . As shown on the screen  704 , the graphical buttons  706  and  708  may be provided. The graphical button  706  may represent a function by which the gifter may select an individual media file for gifting, as discussed in the above embodiments. The graphical button  708  may represent the function of gifting a playlist having multiple media files in accordance with the present embodiment. By selecting the graphical button  708 , the gifter may be presented with the screen  710  by which the gifter may select the playlist to be gifted (e.g., the playlist  698 ), as well as add additional customized or personal components to the gifted playlist  698 . For instance, additional personal components that may be included with the gifted playlist may include a personalized voice greeting and/or a custom or personalized image that may be displayed as an album image on the screen  264  of the giftee device during the playback of the gifted playlist  282 . 
     In order to customize the playlist  698  prior to gifting, the gifter may select the graphical button  712  to access the screen  714 , as depicted in  FIG. 21B . The screen  714  may include the graphical buttons  716  and  718 . For example, as illustrated in the present figure, the graphical button  716  may allow the gifter to record a voice greeting that may be included with the gifted playlist  698 . For example, upon selecting the graphical button  716 , the gifter may be able to record a voice greeting, depicted here by the reference numeral  720 , which may be and recorded and stored by the gifter device  10 , such in the storage device  58 , discussed above. As shown in the present figure, the selection of the graphical button  716  may cause a pop-up window  722  to be displayed an the screen  714 . The pop-up window  722  may represent a recording application configured to receive sound inputs, such as through the audio input/output elements  46 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . For example, the pop-up window  722  may include the notification message  724  indicating to the gifter that a microphone, which may be one or more of the components included with the audio input/output elements  46 , is active. The pop-up window  722  may also display a timer  726  which may indicate to the gifter as to the length of the voice greeting being recorded. Thus, once the desired voice greeting  720  has been recorded by the device  10 , the gifter may select the graphical button  728  to exit recording application  722  and return to the screen  714 . As shown in the updated screen  714 , the graphical button  730  may be displayed, and may provide the gifter with the function of playing back the recorded voice greeting  720  prior to gifting the playlist  698 . 
     Next, the gifter may proceed to add a personalized image to the gifted playlist  698  by selecting the graphical button  718 . By selecting the graphical button  718 , an imaging application may be initiated on the gifter device  10 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 21C , the selection of the graphical button  718  may cause the screen  732  to be displayed on the gifter device  10 . The screen  732  may display a viewfinder  734  that may be configured to display in real time the images being acquired by the camera device  52 . The viewfinder may include an image frame  736  which may assist the gifter in aligning or centering a desired image. As shown in the present figure, the gifter may then position the device  10  to acquire an image of the object  738 . Once the object  738  is aligned or centered within the imaging frame  736  of the viewfinder  734 , the gifter may select the graphical button  740  to acquire an image  744  of the object  738 . If the acquired image  744  is satisfactory, the gifter may select the graphical button  742  to return to the screen  714 . Additionally, if the gifter wishes to acquire another image, the gifter may return to the viewfinder  734  by&#39;selecting the graphical button  746 . Further, in some implementations, the technique may provide for the acquisition of multiple images which may be gifted with the selected playlist  698  as a slideshow, for instance. These images may be acquired using either the camera  52  or from images previously stored on the device or downloaded from another source (e.g., Internet). As will be understood, a slideshow need not necessary be limited to the gifting of a playlist (e.g., multiple files) and, in some implementations, may be gifted with an individual file as well. 
     As shown in the updated screen  714  of  FIG. 21C , once the acquired image  744  has been accepted, the screen  714  may further display the graphical button  748 . The graphical button  748  may allow the gifter to view the image  744  prior to initiating the gifting of the playlist  698 . At this point, if the voice greeting  720  and the personalized image  744  are satisfactory, the gifter may select the graphical button  130  to return to the screen  710  as illustrated in  FIG. 21D  to begin the process of gifting the playlist  698 . For instance, by selecting the playlist  698  on the screen  710 , the pop-up window  750  may be displayed on the screen  710 , and provide the gifter with a variety of options, as indicated by the graphical buttons  752 ,  754 , and  756 . As can be appreciated, the graphical button  752  may provide a function by which the gifter may gift the playlist  698  using an e-mail communication, such as in accordance with the technique illustrated in  FIG. 18 . Additionally, the gifter may select the graphical button  758  to initiate the gifting of the playlist  698  using an NFC connection to the giftee device  282  in accordance with one or more of the techniques illustrated in  FIGS. 7 ,  12 , and  15 . The gifter may also cancel the gifting process of the playlist  698  by selecting the graphical button  756 . Thus, it should be understood that the gifting of the playlist  698  may be performed in accordance with any of the gifting techniques provided in the present disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 22 , a plurality of screen images is provided depicting the playback of a media file from the gifted playlist  698  on the giftee device  282 . For example, after receiving the gifted playlist  698 , the giftee may initiate the media player application  36  on the giftee device  282 . As discussed above, upon being initiated, the media player application  36  may cause the screen  230  to be displayed. The screen  230  may display a listing of playlists presently stored on the giftee device  282 , which may include the received gifted playlist  698 . As shown here, by selecting the gifted playlist  698 , the giftee may navigate to the screen  758  in which the giftee may view a listing, referred to here by the reference number  760 , of all media files associated with the gifted playlist  698 . It should be noted here that the listing  760  may be identical to the listing  702  provided in  FIG. 21A  on the gifter device  10 , with the addition of the voice greeting  720  recorded by the gifter, as described above with reference to  FIG. 21B . Accordingly, the giftee may have the option of listening to the voice greeting  720  by selecting it from the listing  760 . 
     In the present figure, the giftee may select the music file  762  for playback, thus advancing the giftee to the screen  264 . As shown here, the screen  264 , during the playback of the music file  762 , may display the image  744  acquired by the gifter, as described in  FIG. 21C , and sent as a gift image along with the gifted playlist  698 . It should be understood that the displaying of the personalized image  744  may be a default setting associated with the gifted playlist  698 , and that the giftee may choose to configure the media player application to display an alternate image, such as an album cover, associated with the selected playback file  762 . Further, if multiple images are provided with the gifted playlist  698  (e.g., a slideshow), the device  282  may display the slideshow of multiple images, such as during the playback of files from the gifted playlist  698 . 
     The giftee may have the option of gifting individual music files from the gifted playlist  698 , such as by selecting the graphical button  276  on the screen  264 . The giftee may also have the option of gifting the entire gifted playlist  698 , to additional users if so desired, using the playlist gifting techniques described with reference to  FIGS. 21A-21D . As can be appreciated, further gifting of the playlist  698  by the giftee may replacing the personalized components (e.g., image  744  and voice greeting  720 ) selected by the gifter and received by the giftee with personalized components selected by the giftee. 
     As can be appreciated, each of the devices  10  and  282  may include various user interface techniques allowing for a user of the device to select media, such a playlist of song files, for playback using the media player application  36 . In certain embodiments, an electronic device may include one or more accelerometers configured to register a change in device orientation. For example, when a device (e.g.,  10  or  282 ) displaying the screen  230  of  FIG. 22  is turned sideways by a user, the accelerometer may detect the change in the orientation of the device and cause the device to display the screen  764  illustrated in  FIG. 23 . As shown in the  FIG. 23 , the screen  764  may display each the items in the listing  452  as a selectable image, represented by the reference numbers  766 . For example, by moving an object (e.g., a stylus) or a finger across the screen  764 , a user may easily navigate through the playlists stored on the device. As the user navigates through the selectable images  766 , the label or name associated with the playlist represented by the selectable image may be displayed, as indicated by the reference number  768 . Thus, by navigating the selectable images  766 , the user (in the case the giftee) may select the gifted playlist  698  from  FIG. 22 . By way of example only, the user interface technique depicted in  FIG. 23  may be provided using the Cover Flow format by Apple Inc. Additionally, it should be understood that by turning the device  282  upright, the user (e.g., the giftee) may navigate back to the screen  230  of  FIG. 22 . 
     Additionally, it should be understood that the gifting of either the playlist  698  or any of the media files provided in the listing  760  by the giftee to additional users of the online digital media provider  92 , may be performed using any of the media gifting techniques described in the present disclosure. Further, while the implementations provided here by way of example in the present disclosure have discussed the gifting of music files, it should be appreciated that the media gifting techniques disclosed herein may be applicable to any suitable type of digital media files, including video files, e-books, audiobooks, podcasts, copyrighted images, video games, or the like. Further, as mentioned above, the present techniques may also be applicable for the gifting of software applications and programs. By way of example, such software applications may be purchased from App Store®, provided by Apple, Inc., and subsequently gifted to other users having accounts associated with App Store® in accordance with one or more of the presently disclosed techniques. 
     Additionally, as shown in presently illustrated implementations of the present disclosure, the various gifting functionalities discussed herein may be provided by way of the media player application  36  in conjunction with the store interface application  34  associated with the online digital media provider  92 . The applications may be stored on a device in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Indeed, the applications  34  and  36  may include encoded instructions stored on one or more machine readable media, such as on the storage device  54 , and configured to be executed by the processor  50  to provide for one or more of the functionalities of the device  10  discussed above. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the applications  34  and  36  may also include encoded instructions defining the various graphical screen images and user interface functions discussed throughout the present disclosure. However, it should also be understood that the functionalities set forth and described in the above figures may be achieved using a wide variety graphical elements and visual schemes, and that the present invention is not intended to be limited to the precise user interface conventions depicted above. 
     While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20080930
Publication Date: 20120306
Grant Date: 20120306
Priority Date: 20080930
Inventors: LIN GLORIA
MIKHAK AMIR MAHMOOD
NAKAJIMA TAIDO LANTZ
MAYO SEAN ANTHONY
ROSENBLATT MICHAEL
HODGE ANDREW
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06Q20/123", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G07F17/0014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G07F17/0014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06Q20/123", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 42058506