Automatic hierarchical categorization of music by metadata

Abstract

A method, performed by software executing on the processor of a portable music playback device, that automatically files tracks according to hierarchical structure of categories to organize tracks in a logical order. A user interface is utilized to change the hierarchy, view track names, and select tracks for playback or other operations. The user interface uses an overlapping hierarchy of categories. A song title can be accessed in multiple different ways by starting with different categories. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses the top-level categories “Albums”, “Artists”, “Genres” (or styles), and “Play Lists”. Within the Albums category are names of different albums of songs stored in the device. Within each album are the album tracks, or songs, associated with that album. Navigation is performed by presenting a sequence of display screens for each level of the hierarchy.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09 / 755,723, entitled AUTOMATIC HIERARCHICAL CATEGORIZATION OF MUSIC BY METADATA, and filed on Jan. 5, 2001, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. This application is related to application Ser. No. 09 / 755,629, entitled “System for Selecting and Playing Songs in a Playback Device with a Limited User Interface,” now abandoned (Atty. Docket No. 17002-020800); and application Ser. No. 09 / 755,367, entitled “Audioplayback Device with Power Savings Storage Access Mode,” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,590,730 (Atty. Docket No. 17002-022400), all filed January 5, 2001, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Today, portable consumer electronic devices are more powerful than ever. For example, small, portable music playback devices can store hundreds, even thousands, of compre...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention provides an efficient user interface for a small portable music player. The invention is suitable for use with a limited display area and small number of controls to allow a user to efficiently and intuitively navigate among, and select, songs to be played. By using the invention, very large numbers of songs can be easily accessed and played.

[0011] Advantageous use is made of the overlapping hierarchy to allow the user to quickly designate a song for playback. The device uses three “soft” pushbuttons that have assignable functions. The interface maintains consistent button functionality whenever possible and uses uniform command names and operations on different types of items so that the interface is more intuitive. For example, the user can open and queue both albums and songs with predictable results.

[0012] The interface also provides for multiple functions for a single control. For example, a “Play” button can act, in a first function, to play a currently-selected song. The Play button can act, in a second function, to cycle through different playback modes. The modes can be, e.g., (1) playback of songs from a hard disk; (2) playback of music from a radio receiver built into the device; and (3) playback of voice messages. The first function for the Play button can be activated by momentarily depressing the Play button for a short period of time. The second function is invoked by depressing the Play button for a longer period of time whereupon the device cycles through the different modes. Other ways of invoking the functions are possible such as where the second function is automatically entered from a powered-down state.

Problems solved by technology

Major problems facing the consumer are organizing and accessing the tracks.

The small size also limits the number, size, shape, and types of user input controls that can be mounted on the device.

Using such a compact user interface to navigate and select among hundreds of songs is inefficient and often frustrating.

The display screen can only show a few song titles at one time, and the limited controls make it difficult for a user to arbitrarily select, or move among, the songs.

However, the creation of playlists itself becomes problematic as the number of songs increases, since the user often arbitrarily selects songs from a large number of tracks to form a playlist.

This selection mechanism: can be fairly tedious; does not necessarily produce playlists that are of interest to the user over the course of time; may not remain up-to-date if new songs are added that logically fit into a previously created playlist (e.g. “Favorites by Band X” might become out of date if a new favorite by Band X is added after the playlist was created); and leads to “lost” songs that are not members of any playlist.

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