System and method for personalizing the user interface of audio rendering devices

Abstract

Audio playback is used to enhance the control of Personal Digital Entertainment devices. Embodiments of the present invention provide audio message files associated with the activation of a control or provide other device status messaging Audio messages are also provided in file sets that are user selectable to give the user a choice of ‘themes’.

1 . A user interface on a portable media player configured to perform the following: 
 transform a first message presented on the display screen of the device to an audio message.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the message is a status message.  
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the message is selected from a set of audio files corresponding to a plurality of messages.  
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the message is correlated with an audio track that is being rendered.  
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the audio track that is being rendered and the message is a customized greeting from the artist of the music track to the user.  
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the message corresponds to a button interaction between the user and the device.  
   
   
       7 . The user interface as recited in  claim 1  further configured to perform a method of downloading a plurality of message themes and selecting one or more to be active at the same time.  
   
   
       8 . The user interface as recited in  claim 1  further configured to perform a method of exchanging one or more message themes between portable devices and/or host computers/devices.  
   
   
       9 . The user interface as recited in  claim 1  further configured to perform a method of recording one or more messages directly on the device and creating a personalized theme.  
   
   
       10 . A portable device having a user interface configured to perform the following: 
 selecting a first track; and    accessing a media object in response to the selection, wherein the media object includes linking information for a plurality of different type of media files associated with the selected track; and selecting one of the plurality for access.    
   
   
       11 . A method for providing enhanced content in a user interface of a digital media player, the method comprising: 
 selecting a first track; and    accessing a media object file associated with the track in response to the selection, wherein the media object includes linking information for a plurality of different type of media files associated with the selected track; and selecting one of the plurality for access.    
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein accessing the media object results in a display of the plurality in a media listing.  
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the media listing includes linking information for each of the plurality in the listing.  
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the first track is a music track and the media listing includes linking information for videos and text-based background information.  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the first track is a music track and the media listing includes linking information for photos associated with the music track.  
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the first track is a music track and the media listing includes linking information for album art associated with the music track.  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the media listing is a flat list.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the media listing presents a hierarchical arrangement of links to the user.  
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the media listing includes at least one grouping of different types of media files.  
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the media listing is configured with a predetermined template for a user interaction with the media listing.