Method and system for controlling video selection and playback in a portable media player

Abstract

A method and system in accordance with the present invention allows an accessory to control settings of a portable media player when providing video to an accessory, to control playback of the portable media player and to provide for navigation between video tracks in a hierarchical fashion. In so doing, a portable media player can then utilize this information to provide for the maximum functionality of the accessory when connected to the portable media player.

1 . A method for using an accessory communicably coupled to navigate video content stored on a portable media player according to a video hierarchy; the method comprising, by the accessory:
 sending a first selection command to the media player to select a media kind from the video hierarchy;   sending a second selection command to the media player to select a category of the media kind; and   sending one or more additional selection commands to the media player until a desired video track is located.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the media kind is selected from a group of media kinds that includes at least one of a television show media kind, a movie media kind, a music video media kind, or a video podcast media kind. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 in the event that the television show media kind is selected, sending a third selection command to select a season of the television show.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the category is selected from an artist category, an album category, or a song track category. 
   
   
       5 . A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling operation of an accessory communicably coupled to a media player that stores video content according to a video hierarchy, the program code comprising:
 program code for sending a first selection command to the media player to instruct the media player to select a media kind from the video hierarchy;   program code for sending a second selection command to the media player to instruct the media player to select a category of the media kind; and   program code for sending one or more additional selection commands to instruct the media player to make additional selections.   
   
   
       6 . The computer readable medium of  claim 5  wherein the media kind is selected from a group of media kinds including at least one of a television show media kind, a movie media kind, a music video media kind, or a video podcast media kind. 
   
   
       7 . The computer readable medium of  claim 6  further comprising:
 program code for sending a third selection command to select a season of the television show in the event that the television show media kind is selected.   
   
   
       8 . A connector interface system for an accessory comprising:
 an interface configured to transmit and receive signals with a media player,   wherein the signals include a plurality of commands for navigating video content stored on a portable media player according to a video hierarchy, the plurality of commands including:
 a first command that instructs the media player to select a media kind from the video hierarchy; 
 a second command that instructs the media player to select a category of the media kind; and 
 a third command that instructs the media player to make a further selection within the video hierarchy. 
   
   
   
       9 . The connector interface system of  claim 8  wherein the interface comprises a wireless interface. 
   
   
       10 . The connector interface system of  claim 8  wherein the interface includes a plurality of signal contacts. 
   
   
       11 . The connector interface system of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of signal contacts includes a serial pin and the commands are sent over the serial pin. 
   
   
       12 . The connector interface system of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of signal contacts comprises a connector. 
   
   
       13 . The connector interface system of  claim 12  wherein the connector comprises:
 a keying arrangement, wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length.   
   
   
       14 . The connector interface system of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of signal contacts includes:
 a ground contact;   a power contact;   an accessory identify contact;   an accessory detect contact.   
   
   
       15 . The connector interface system of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of signal contacts further includes a video contact. 
   
   
       16 . The connector interface system of  claim 8  wherein the media kind is selected from a group of media kinds that includes at least one of a television show media kind, a movie media kind, a music video media kind, or a video podcast media kind. 
   
   
       17 . The connector interface system of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of commands further includes a fourth command that instructs the media player to select a season of the television show in the event that the television show media kind is selected. 
   
   
       18 . The connector interface system of  claim 8  wherein the category is selected from an artist category, an album category, or a song track category. 
   
   
       19 . An accessory comprising:
 a device; and   a connector interface system in communication with the device, the connector interface system comprising an interface configured to transmit and receive signals with a media player,   wherein the signals include a plurality of commands for navigating video content stored on a portable media player according to a video hierarchy, the plurality of commands including:
 a first command that instructs the media player to select a media kind from the video hierarchy; 
 a second command that instructs the media player to select a category of the media kind; and 
 a third command that instructs the media player to make a further selection within the video hierarchy. 
   
   
   
       20 . The accessory of  claim 19  wherein the interface includes a plurality of signal contacts. 
   
   
       21 . The accessory of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of signal contacts includes a serial pin and the commands are sent over the serial pin. 
   
   
       22 . The accessory of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of signal contacts comprises a connector. 
   
   
       23 . The accessory of  claim 22  wherein the connector comprises:
 a keying arrangement, wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length.   
   
   
       24 . The accessory of  claim 23  wherein the plurality of signal contacts includes:
 a ground contact;   a power contact;   an accessory identify contact;   an accessory detect contact.   
   
   
       25 . The accessory of  claim 24  wherein the plurality of signal contacts further includes a video contact. 
   
   
       26 . The accessory of  claim 19  wherein the media kind is selected from a group of media kinds that includes at least one of a television show media kind, a movie media kind, a music video media kind, or a video podcast media kind. 
   
   
       27 . The accessory of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of commands further includes a fourth command that instructs the media player to select a season of the television show in the event that the television show media kind is selected. 
   
   
       28 . The accessory of  claim 19  wherein the category is selected from an artist category, an album category, or a song track category. 
   
   
       29 . A method for locating video content stored within a portable media player using an accessory communicably coupled to the portable media player; the method comprising, by the accessory:
 sending to the portable media player a first command to select a video hierarchy within a database of media tracks stored on the portable media player, the database of media tracks including at least one video track;   sending to the portable media player a second command to select a media kind from within the video hierarchy;   receiving from the media player information indicating a number of video tracks stored within the media player that correspond to the selected media kind; and   in the event that more than one video track corresponds to the selected media kind, sending to the portable media player a third command to select a category within the media kind.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the second command selects a media kind from a group of media kinds consisting of television shows, movies, music videos, and video podcasts. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein in the event that the second command selects the television shows media kind, the third command selects one of a plurality of seasons of a television show. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the third command selects a category from a group of categories consisting of a first category that maps to an artist, a second category that maps to an album, and a third category that maps to a track. 
   
   
       33 . An accessory for use with a portable media player, the accessory comprising:
 an interface adapted to be coupled with a portable media player and configured to support an accessory protocol for exchanging with the portable media player commands and information related to playback of video tracks stored on the portable media player; and   a control module coupled to the interface, the control module being configured to:
 send to the portable media player a first command to select a video hierarchy within a database of media tracks stored on the portable media player, the database of media tracks including at least one video track; 
 send to the portable media player a second command to select a media kind from within the video hierarchy; 
 receive from the media player information indicating a number of tracks stored within the media player that correspond to the selected media kind; and 
 send to the portable media player, in the event that more than one video track corresponds to the selected media kind, a third command to select a category within the media kind. 
   
   
   
       34 . The accessory of  claim 33  wherein the interface comprises a connector having a plurality of signal pins, the signal pins being arranged to mate with corresponding signal pins on a mating connector of the portable media player. 
   
   
       35 . The accessory of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of signal pins includes a pair of serial pins and wherein the first command, the second command, and the third command are sent via a transmit pin of the pair of serial pins. 
   
   
       36 . The accessory of  claim 35  wherein the plurality of signal pins further includes:
 a ground pin and a power pin;   an accessory identify signal pin;   an accessory detect signal pin; and   a video output pin.   
   
   
       37 . The accessory of  claim 36  wherein the plurality of signal pins further includes:
 a USB signal pin; and   a USB power pin.   
   
   
       38 . The accessory of  claim 37  wherein the plurality of signal pins further includes:
 a Firewire signal pin; and   a Firewire power pin.   
   
   
       39 . The accessory of  claim 36  wherein the plurality of signal pins further includes an accessory power pin. 
   
   
       40 . The accessory of  claim 36  wherein the plurality of signal pins further includes a line signal pin. 
   
   
       41 . The accessory of  claim 34  wherein the connector comprises:
 a keying arrangement including a first set of keys separated by a first length and a second set of keys separated by a different length.   
   
   
       42 . The accessory of  claim 33  wherein the second command selects a media kind from a group of media kinds consisting of television shows, movies, music videos, and video podcasts. 
   
   
       43 . The accessory of  claim 42  wherein in the event that the second command selects the television shows media kind, the third command selects one of a plurality of seasons of a television show. 
   
   
       44 . The accessory of  claim 33  wherein the third command selects a category from a group of categories consisting of a first category that maps to an artist, a second category that maps to an album, and a third category that maps to a track.