Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING FILE CATALOGS ON A
WIRELESS HANDHELD DEVICE
[0001] The present invention relates generally to wireless handheld devices,
and more
particularly to a system and method for managing media file catalogs on such
devices.
[0002] Some wireless handheld devices may perform numerous functions including
telephony, text messaging, wireless e-mail, Internet browsing, camera,
multimedia player,
etc. Often, these handheld devices have limited memory and storage capacity,
restricting
the number and/or size of files that may be stored on the devices at one time.
Given these
limited device resources, files stored on the handheld device need to be
regularly managed
by deleting some files from the dt-vice and adding other files onto the device
as needed.
The device may also need to be synchronized with a personal or host system
from time to
time in order to maintain up-to-date copies of files stored on the handheld
device,
GENERAL
[0003] Thus, in an aspect, there may be provided a method of managing file
metadata
stored in one or more catalogs on a wireless handheld device, comprising:
connecting to
one or more file libraries stored remotely from the device; downloading to the
device one
or more catalogs storing file metadata for one or more file libraries stored
remotely from
the device; and remotely updating on the device the one or more catalogs such
that the file
metadata for one or more file libraries stored remotely from the device are
substantially
up-to-date on the device.
10004] In an embodiment, the method may further comprise accessing a wireless
carrier
network to remotely update on the device the one or more catalogs such that
the one or
more catalogs are substantially up-tc--date.
[0005] In another embodiment, the method may further comprise queuing from the
device
one or more files for downloading from the one or more file libraries stored
remotely from
the device.
[0006] In another embodiment, the method may further comprise: maintaining an
access
history of files accessed for playback via it media player on the device; and
in dependence
upon the access history, deleting one or more files from the device, or
queuing from the
device one or more files for downloading from the one or more file libraries
stored
remotely from the device.
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100071 In another embodiment, the one or more file libraries stored remotely
from the
device may be stored on a storage de-vice of a personal computer, and the
method further
comprises synchronizing, upon local connection of the device to the personal
computer,
the file metadata stored in one or more catalogs on the device with the
corresponding one
or more file libraries stored on the storage device of the personal computer.
[0008] In another embodiment, the one or more file libraries stored remotely
from the
device may be also stored on one or more storage servers connected via the
Internet, and
the method further comprises synchronizing, upon connection of the device to
the one or
more storage servers connected via the Internet, the file metadata stored in
one or more
subcatalogs on the device with the corresponding one or more file libraries
stored on the
one or more storage servers.
[0009] In another embodiment, the method may further comprise scheduling from
the
device one or more files to download from the one or more storage servers
connected via
the Internet to the one or more file libraries stored on the storage device of
the personal
computer.
[0010] In another aspect, there may be provided a wireless handheld device for
managing
one or more file catalogs, the wireless handheld device adapted to; connect to
one or more
file libraries stored remotely from the device; download to the device one or
more catalogs
storing file metadata for one or more file libraries; stored remotely from the
device; and
remotely update on the device the one or more catalogs such that the file
metadata for one
or more file libraries stored remotely from the device are substantially up-to-
date on the
device.
[0011] in an embodiment, the device may be further adapted to access a
wireless carrier
network to remotely update on the device the one or more catalogs such that
the one or
more catalogs are substantially up-to-date.
[0012] In another embodiment, the device may be further adapted to queue from
the
device one or more files for downloading from the one or more file libraries
stored
remotely from the device.
100131 In another embodiment, t he device may be further adapted to. maintain
an access
history of files accessed for playback via it media player on the device; and
in dependence
upon the access history, delete one or more files from the device, or queue
from the device
one or more files for downloading from the one or more file libraries stored
remotely from
the device.
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10014] In another embodiment, the one or more file libraries stored remotely
from the
device may be stored on a storage device of a personal computer, and the
device may be
further adapted to synchronize, upon local connection of the device to the
persona l
computer, the file metadata stored in one or more catalogs on the device with
the
corresponding one or more file libraries stored on the storage device of the
personal
computer.
100151 In another embodiment, the one or more file libraries stored remotely
from the
device may also be stored on one or more storage servers connected via the
Internet, and
the device is further adapted to synchronize, upon connection of the device to
the one or
more storage servers connected via the Internet, the file metadata stored in
one or more
subcatalogs on the device with the corresponding one or more file libraries
stored on the
one or more storage servers.
100181 In another embodiment, the device may be further adapted to schedule
from the
device one or more files to download from the one or more storage servers
connected via
the Internet to the one or more file libraries stored on the storage device of
the personal
computer.
10017] In another aspect, there maybe provided a data processor readable
medium storing
computer code that when loaded into a wireless handheld device adapts the
device to
manage file metadata stored in one or more file catalogs, the data processor
readable
medium comprising: code for connecting to one or more file libraries stored
remotely
from the device; code for downloading to the device one or more catalogs
storing file
metadata for one or more file libraries stored remotely from the device; and
code for
remotely updating on the device the one or more catalogs such that the
metadata for one or
more file libraries stored remotely from the device are substantially up-to-
date on the
device.
[0018] In an embodiment, the data processor readable medium may further
comprise code
for accessing a wireless carrier network to remotely update on the device the
one or more
catalogs such that the one or more catalogs are substantially up-to-date.
[0019] In another embodiment, the data processor readable medium may further
comprise
code for queuing from the device one or more files for downloading from the
one or more
file libraries stored remotely from the device.
[0020] In another embodiment, the data processor readable medium may further
comprise:
code for maintaining an access history of files aocessed for playback via a
media player on
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the device; and code for deleting one or more files. from the device, or
queuing from the
device one or more files for downloading from IN, one or more file libraries
stored
remotely from the device, in dependence upon the access history.
[0021] In another embodiment, the one or more file libraries stored remotely
from the
device may be stored on a storage device of a personal computer, and the data
processor
readable medium further comprises code for synchronizing, upon local
connection of the
device to the personal computer, the file metadata stored in one or more
catalogs on the
device with the corresponding one or more file libraries stored on the storage
device of the
personal computer.
[0022] In an embodiment, the one or more file libraries stored remotely from
the device
may also be stored on one or more storage servers connected via the Internet,
and the data
processor readable medium further comprises code for synchronizing, upon
connection of
the device to the one or more storage servers connected via the Internet, the
file metadata
stored in one or more subcatalogs on the device with the corresponding one or
more file
libraries stored on the one or more storage servers.
[0023] In an embodiment, the data processor readable medium may further
comprise code
for scheduling from the device one or more files to download from the one or
more
storage servers connected via the Internet to the one or more file libraries
stored on the
storage device of the personal computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] In the figures which illustrate exemplary embodiments:
FIG. I is a schematic block diagram of various components of an illustrative
handheld
device;
FIG. 2 is an illustrative front view of an illustrative embodiment of a
handheld device
including the various components as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a network environment in which the
device of FIG.
1 and FIG. 2 may operate;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic block diagrams of operative connections between
a
catalog module on the handheld device, personal storage, and network servers
in
accordance with an embodiment;
PIGS. 5A to SD are illustrative user interface screens as may be displayed on
the handheld
device of FIG. 2; and
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FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart o3' a method in accordance with an
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED I MBOI)IMENTS
100251 As noted above, the present invention relates to a system and method
for managing
5 file catalogs on a wireless handheld device.
[00261 In an illustrative embodiment, the invention may be practiced with a
wireless
handheld device in a wireless operating environment. Shown in FIG. I is a
schematic
block diagram of an illustrative wireless handheld device 100. The device 100
may
comprise a number of components, including a main processor 102 which controls
the
overall operation of device 100. Communication functions, including data and
voice
communications, may be performed through a communication subsystem 104. The
communication subsystem 104 may receive messages from and send messages to one
or
more wireless networks (not shown).
[00271 The main processor 102 may also interact with additional subsystems
such as a
random access memory (RAM) 106, a flash memory 108, a display 110, an
auxiliary
input/output (I/O) subsystem 112, a data port 114, a keyboard 116, a trackball
117, a
speaker 118, a microphone 120, short-range communications 122, a GPS subsystem
124, a
camera module 126, and associated camera logic 128.
[0028] Some of the subsystems of device 100 may perform communication-related
functions, whereas other subsystems may provide "resident" or on-device
functions. By
way of example, the display 110 and the keyboard 116 may be used for both
communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for
transmission over a
wireless network, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task
list. The
trackball 117 may be used for various navigation functions, such as navigating
through a
graphical user interface (GUI) menu displayed on display 110. The trackball
117 may
also be configured with a secondary actuation feature, such as allowing a user
to depress
the trackball, to allow selection of a highlighted item.
[00291 The GPS subsystem 124 may include a OPS antenna to receive signals
transmitted
by a minimum number of in-view GPS satellites required to acquire accurate
latitude and
longitude coordinates.
[0030] The camera module 126 may be adapted to capture an image through a lens
onto a
light sensitive image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor
array or a
complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor array. The camera lens
may
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be a fixed focus lens, or a variable focus lens with or without zoom features
and controlled
by camera logic 128 to focus an image onto the CCD or CMOS sensor array. Once
captured by the CCD or CMOS sensor array, the image may then be processed by
camera
logic 128 into a suitable digital image file format such as Joint Photographic
Experts
Group (JPEG), Tagged-Image File Format (TIFF), Bit Mapping (BMP), different
variations on these standard image file formats, or a vendor proprietary RAW
image
format. The image file may then be stored in available device storage such as
flash
memory 108, and displayed on display 110.
[0031] Still referring to FIG. 1, operating system software used by the main
processor 102
is typically stored in a persistent store such as fla:;h memory 108. Those
skilled in the an
will appreciate that the operating system, specific device applications, or
parts thereof,
may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store, such as the RAM 106, for
processing by
main processor 102.
[0032] The device 100 may send and receive conununication signals over the
wireless
network after required network registration or activation procedures have been
completed.
Network access may be associated with it subscriber or user of the device 100.
[0033] The device 100 may be a battery-powered device and may include a
battery
interface 132 for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 130. In some
embodiments,
the battery 130 may be a smart battery with an embedded microprocessor. The
battery
interface 132 is coupled to a regulator (not shown), which assists the battery
130 in
providing power V+ to the device 100. The battery 130 may be used to power all
components and modules in the device 100, including the camera module 126 and
associated camera logic 128.
[0034] To identify a user, the communications device 100 may use a
SIMIRUIM/USIM
card 125 (i.e. Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable User Identity Module
or a
Universal Subscriber Identity Module, etc.), which is inserted into a
SIM/RUIM/USIM
interface 129, to communicate with a network, The SIM/RUIM/USIM card 125 is
one
type of a conventional "smart card" that cm be used to identify a user of the
communications device 100 and to personalize the communications device 100,
among
other things. Without the SIM/RUIM/USIM card 125, the communications device
100
may not be fully operational for communication with the wireless network 200,
in some
embodiments. By inserting the SIM/RIJIMIUSIM card 125 into the SIMIRUIM/USIM
interface 129, a user can access subscribed services, Such subscribed services
may
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include, for example, web browsing and messaging such as email, voice mail,
SMS, and
Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS).
[0035] The main processor 102, in addition to its operating system functions,
enables
execution of various software applications 1 34 on the device 100. A subset of
software
applications 134 that control basic device operations, including data and
voice
communication applications, will normally be installed on the device 100
during its
manufacture.
[0036] The software applications 134 may include a messaging application 136.
The
messaging application 136 can be any suitable software program that allows a
subscriber
or user of the device 100 to send and receive wireless text communications.
Various
alternatives exist for the messaging application 136 as is well known to those
skilled in the
art. Messages that have been sent or received by the user are typically stored
in local
storage such as flash memory 108 of the device 100, or in some other suitable
storage
element in The device 100. In an alternative embodiment, some of the sent and
received
messages may be stored remotely from the device 100 such as in a data store of
an
associated host system that the device 100 communicates with. In an
embodiment, the
messaging application 136 may include a Message List user interface that is
configured to
allow a user to see a list of message objects (i.e. email messages) in a
convenient list form.
This will be described in detail further below.
10037] The software applications 134 may also include a GPS map application
146 for
providing geographic navigation, and location coordinates for geo-tagging
objects. GPS
map application 146 may be configured to operatively connect to GPS subsystem
124 to
receive UPS latitude and longitude coordinates for a current position of the
device 100.
CPS map application 146 may also store scalable maps of various geographic
regions in
order to show the current position of device 100 on the map. As well, the GPS
map
application 146 may be configured 10 obtain latitude and longitude location
coordinates by
allowing a user to select a position on the GPS map.
[0038] Still referring to FIG. 1, device 100 may also include a catalog module
148 that
may be operatively integrated with various other modules including a media
player 149,
Internet browser module 138, messaging application 136, address book module
142, UPS
map module 146, etc. Catalog module 148 in cooperation with other components
in
device 100 may be adapted to provide various file cataloging functions as will
be
described in more detail further below. In an embodiment, catalog module 148
may
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include various file catalogs for cataloging various types of media, such as
music 148A,
videos 148B, and pictures 148C.
[0039] The device 100 may further include a device state module 140, an
address book
142, a Personal Information Manager (PIM) 144, and various other modules 150.
Additional software applications may also he loaded onto the device 100
through at least
one of a wireless network via , the auxiliary I/O subsystem 112, the data port
114 (e.g.
USBTM), the short-range communications subsystem 122 (e.g. BluetoothTM, Wi-
FiTM), or
other device subsystem 124.
(0040] Now referring to FIG. 2, shown is an illustrative embodiment of a
handheld mobile
device 200 that may provide a suitable operating environment. As shown, the
device 200
may include a display 110, a keyboard 116, and other input or navigation means
such as a
trackball 117. The display 110 may be configured to display various screens
allowing the
user of device 200 to view screen outputs from the various software
applications 134,
including the image applications 148. Display 110 may also be configured to
provide a
touch-sensitive screen input in response to a prompt or query displayed on
display 110.
The device 200 may further include a camera lens that may be used to capture
an image as
described above with reference to FIG. 1. In an embodiment, the integrated
camera 126
may provide a camera lens 1 27 on the back of the device 200, such that a user
may use the
display 110 as a camera viewfinder for framing an image.
[0041] Now referring to FIG. 3, shown is a schematic block diagram of an
illustrative
communication network 300, which may provide: a suitable operating
environment. As
shown, network 300 includes a device server 310 for hosting various server
applications
for device 100. Network 300 further includes a wireless carrier network 320
which
provides wireless communications between device 100 and device server 310.
[0042] For the purposes of the present discussion, the phrase "connect to"
means
connected for the purposes of information exchange. Thus, two modules are
"connected
to" one another when information coin move from one to the other. As will be
described
below, this connection may be made directly or indirectly, and by wired or
wireless
means. Thus, "connected to" is not to be construed as being limited to any
mechanical or
electrical connection, although such connections may facilitate the
information exchange.
[0043] As well, for the purposes of the present discussion, "file metadata"
means data
related to a file but not the full content of the file. For example, a music
file may have
metadata associated with it including the song name, the artist name, the
album name, its
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genre, the duration of the song, the number of times it has been played, etc.
Similarly, a
video file may have metadata associated with it including the filename,
duration, format,
the number of times it has been accessed, etc. A photo file may have metadata
associated
with it including filename, files size or resolution, the date the picture was
taken,
associated GPS location information, the number of times it has been viewed,
etc,
(0044] Still referring to FIG. 3, network 300 also includes an Internet server
330 which
provides a connection to the Internet 340. With a suitable Internet browser
module 138
provided on device 100, device 100 may access the Internet 340 via the
wireless carrier
network 320, and the Internet server :130.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, Internet 340 may Pother include a number of
servers, such as
music server 350, video server 360, and photo server 370. Music server 350 may
be, for
example, a commercial music downloading service including a searchable music
catalog,
such as iTunesTM. Video server 360 may be a commercial video server such as
You
TubeTM, including a search engine for locating video titles or subjects of
interest. Photo
server 370 may be a shared image repository such as FlickrTM, for example,
which may
also include a search engine for locating various types of images, either
uploaded by a user
of device 100 or by others. Music server 350, video server 360, and photo
server 370 may
also be non-commercial servers, simply providing online storage and access for
various
types of media files. However, access to certain media files on music server
350, video
server 360, and photo server may be restricted to registered users who have
accounts, or if
certain access security parameters have been set,
[0046] Still referring to FIG 3, device 100 may be connected to a personal
computer 380
by wire, such as a USB cable 101 for example, Personal computer 380 may have a
connected storage device 382 which may include one or more local media file
libraries,
such as a music library 382A, video library 38213, and photo library 382C.
Music library
382A may be a small subset of music files that may be available from music
server 350,
but which have been paid for, downloaded, and saved locally on storage device
382,
[0047] Video library 382B may be a subset of video files downloaded from video
server
360, or if video server 360 permits uploads, a subset of video files from
video library
382B may be uploaded to video server 360 to be shared with other users on the
Internet.
Similarly, photo library 382C may include a subset of images downloaded from
photo
server 370, or photo server 370 may include a subset of images uploaded from
photo
library 3 820 to be shared with other users.
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[0048] Now referring to FIG. 4A, shown is a schematic block diagram 400A of
illustrative
connections allowing an information flow between catalog module 148, storage
device
382 of personal computer 380, and one or more media file servers 350, 360, 370
connected via the Internet 340. As noted earlier, the term "connections"
should be
5 interpreted broadly to mean any physical, electrical, wireless radio, or any
other type of
connection required for the information flow.
[0049] For the purposes of the present discussion, any libraries or servers
not stored in
device 100 will be considered "off the device" or stored remotely. For
example, music
library 382A, video library 382B, and photo library 382C are considered off
the device
10 and stored remotely. As well, music server 350, video server 360, and photo
server 370
are also considered off the device and stored remotely.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 4A, in an embodiment, catalog module 148 or one of its
submodules 148A, 148B, 148C may be adapted to be connected to various media
libraries
stored locally to personal computer 380 on storage device 382. For example,
catalog
module 148 may include a music catalog 148A adapted to connect to music
library 382A,
a video catalog 148B adapted to connect to video library 382B, and a photo
catalog 148C
adapted to connect to photo library 382C. Each of music catalog 148A, video
catalog
148B, and a photo catalog 148C may be adapted to download to the device 100
file
metadata for each of the music library 382A, video library 3 82A, and photo
library 3820
stored in personal computer 380. As will be explained further below, once
downloaded to
device 100, the file metadata stored in each of music catalog 148A, video
catalog 148B,
and a photo catalog 148C may be remotely updated such that the file metadata
stored
remotely from the device in music library 382A, video library 382A, and photo
library
382C are substantially up-to-date in music catalog 148A, video catalog 148B,
and a photo
catalog 148C on the device. As noted above, music catalog 148A, video catalog
148B,
and a photo catalog 148C are adapted to store file metadata, but not
necessarily the full
contents of each file. This will be explained in more detail below.
[0051] It will be appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment, each of
these different
types of media may be stored in the same catalog, but separate media catalogs
will be
described for the purposes of the present illustrative example.
[0052] Still referring to FIG. 4A, music library 382A, video library 382B, and
photo
library 3820 may in turn be adapted to access and communicate with music
server 350,
video server 360, and photo server 370 via an Internet 340 connection from
personal
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11
computer 380. For example, music library 382A may be adapted to access music
server
350, via a media manager or player installed on personal computer 380, to
download
additional music files for local storage in music library 382A. In an
embodiment, music
library 382A maintains a searchable catalog of music files locally stored
within music
library 382A. Similarly, video library 3821 maintains a searchable video
catalog
comprising video file names or corresponding descriptions. Photo library 382C
may also
have a searchable photo catalog comprising photo file names, or other
searchable
information such as dates, locations (if tagged using GPS coordinates for
example), or
other tags or descriptions such as navies of people appearing in the photos.
These
searchable catalogs may be accessed via a common media manager application
executing
on personal computer 3$0, or possibly individually using different media
applications.
[0053] In an embodiment, catalog module 148 is adapted to keep up-to-date
catalogs
storing file metadata for all media files stored in music library 382A, video
library 382B,
and photo library 382C on storage device 382. In an embodiment, catalog module
148
may be configured to check for updates to each of the catalogs created for
music library
382A, video library 3828, and photo library 382C, for example whenever device
100 is
connected locally by wire 101, or by a local wireless connection such as
Bluetooth or Wi-
Fi, to personal computer 380.
[0054] However, in a preferred embodiment, catalog module 148 is adapted to
keep an
up-to-date catalog of all file metadata for media files stored in music
library 382A, video
library 382B, and photo library 3820: at all times, even when device 100 is
not connected
locally to personal computer 380, In this case, catalog module 148 on device 1
00 may
access music library 382A, video library 382B, and photo library 382C on
storage device
382 remotely via wireless carrier network 320 (through communication subsystem
102 of
FIG. 1), and via Internet 340 connection to personal computer 380. Thus, any
changes
made to the catalogs for music library 382A, video library 3821, and photo
library 3820
may be updated remotely as long as device 100 has some form of access to
network 300.
[00551 Various methods may be used to update the catalog module 148. For
example, in
an embodiment, catalog module 148 may be configured to periodically request an
update
from personal computer 380, either via scheduling or via user action to
initiate the request.
However, in another embodiment, updated catalog information may be pushed
automatically to device 100 via device server 310 and wireless carrier network
320. For
example, this may be done via messaging application 136 receiving a message
from
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12
personal computer 380, or through Internet browser module 138 (FIG. 1) with
Internet 340
access to personal computer 3 80.
[00561 Catalog module 148 on device 100 is thus adapted to provide a
substantially up-to-
date, fully searchable catalog storing file metadata for each of music library
382A, video
library 382B, and photo library 3820 at all times. Here, "substantially" up-to-
date means
that catalog module 148 may not have exactly the most current data for brief
periods of
time, such as when a change has been made in music library 382A for which an
update has
been sent, but not yet been received at device 100 (e.g. the device 1 00 may
be temporarily
out of service range, such as when the device is ciuried to an underground
parking garage
or a subway). However, given the limited storage space on device 100, in
practice, only a
small subset of the media files catalog in catalog module 148 may actually be
stored on
device 100 (e.g. in flash memory 108) at any one time. Thus, while catalog
module 148
maintains a full catalog, it also maintains a record of which of the media
files are currently
locally stored on device 100.
100571 In an embodiment, each catalog 148A, 148B, 148C of catalog module 148
maybe
adapted to be compatible with the database schema for each of music library
382A, video
library 382B, and photo library 382C, respectively. For example, music catalog
148A
may be configured to support the database schema of music library 382A, which
in turn
supports the database schema of music server 350, With a compatible database
schema,
music catalog 148A may be configured to conveniently receive catalog
information
created for music library 382A. This, may include tags that have been created
in the
catalog for music library 382A including, for example, the number of times a
song has
been listened to, the songs that have been played recently, the rating given
to each song,
the genre of the song, etc.
[00681 In an embodiment, the compatible database schema between music catalog
148A
and music library 382A may be used to automatically clean-up and synchronize
files
between device 100 and personal computer 380. For example, if some music files
previously stored in music library 3 82A have been deleted, those music files
may be
deleted from device 100 if currently stored there. In an embodiment, catalog
module 148
may perform this automatic clean-up or synchronization remotely via wireless
carrier
network 320. However, given the size of some media files, such automatic clean-
up or
synchronization may be easier for file deletions. For media file additions
downloaded
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13
wireless to the device 100, a n:latively fast wireless connection with high
bandwidth may
be necessary.
[0059] In another embodiment, catalog module 148 may be configured to
automatically
update device 100 based on user listening preferences, For example, catalog
module 148
may maintain an access history which may track statistics of which media files
have been
accessed on device 100 via media player 149, and if the user consistently
listens to certain
artists or certain genres of music, catalog module 148 may be configured to
automatically
rotate music files from those genres each time device 100 is locally connected
to personal
computer 380. For example, W& user regularly listens to jazz, as evidenced by
statistics
recorded in the access history, device 100 may queue more music files having
jazz as the
genre when updating or rotating music files on device 100. The access history
may also
identify music files stored on device 100 that are rarely accessed or not at
all. Suitable
parameters may be set (e.g. not accessed for past 365 days) to delete these
rarely accessed
or never accessed files from the device 100 so that more storage space is made
available
for downloading one or more files from the one or more file libraries stored
remotely from
the device. However, even when a file is deleted from the device 100, the
catalog
information for that deleted file will remain in catalog module 148 if the
file remains in
one or more of the remotely stored libraries to which catalog module 148 is
synchronized.
[0060] Now referring to FIG. 4B, in another embodiment, catalog module 148 may
be
configured to wirelessly coruiect to one or more media servers on the
Internet, such as
music server 350, video server 360, and photo server 370. Thus, rather than
having
personal computer 380 act as an intermediary, device 100 may directly access
the library
catalogs on these servers. In an embodiment, given sufficient memory provided
on device
100, catalog module 148 may be configured to store up-to-date catalogs from
one or more
of music server 350, video server 360, and photo server 370. However, as each
of music
server 350, video server 360, and photo server 370 may contain millions of
media files, it
may not be practical for catalog module 148 to store even just the catalogs
for every media
file. In this case, catalog module 148 may store an up-to-date subcatalog for
a useful
subset of files. For example, music catalog 148A may store the current "Top
100" music
downloads of a certain genre from music server 350, such that the current Top
100 is
always available for searching from device 100. If the user wishes to have the
Top 100 for
several different genres of music, such as Pop, R&B and Soundtracks, multiple
subeatalogs may be kept up to date by catalog module 148,
CA 02703504 2010-05-10
14
100611 In an embodiment, catalog module 148 may be adapted to display, in a
catalog
listing of a remotely stored library, a slag or some other visual indication
whether or not a
file is currently stored on device 100. Thus, for e-cample, when device 100
accesses a
Top 100 catalog made available from music server 350, catalog module 148 may
be able
to quickly determine which Top 100 songs are already on the device 100. In
addition, any
files currently stored on device 100 may be listed separately in a "device
catalog" of such
files, as shown by example further below.
[00621 In an embodiment, catalog module 148 may be used to control which files
the user
wishes to delete or download to device 100, based on user preferences and
based on
available storage space on device 100 (e.g. space remaining on flash memory
108). Any
edits made to catalog module 148, or requests for downloads of media files to
the device
100, may be queued in a download queue, and synchronized with the personal
computer
380 the next time there is a wireless/wired connection between the device 100
and
personal computer 380. In this manner, effective control over music library
382A, video
library 3825, and photo library 3820 is available from device 100.
[00631 In an embodiment, catalog module 148 may be used to specify which files
the user
wishes to download from one or more of the music server 350, video server 360,
and
photo server 370 to personal computer 380. As catalog module 148 has complete
catalog
information for music library 382A, video library 382B, and photo library 382C
on
storage device 380, catalog module 148 therefore has the information necessary
to
determine which media files are not yet stored in music library 382A, video
library 382B,
and photo library 382C. Thus, media files which may be prohibitively large to
download
via wireless carrier network 320 may be schedulod instead for download to
personal
computer 380, e.g. via high speed cable or DSL modem. The next time device 100
is
locally connected to personal computer 380, catalog module 148 may be
synchronized and
updated accordingly.
[0064] FIGS. 5A to SD are illustrative user interface screens as may be
displayed on
device 100. As shown, in FIG. 5A, screen 500A shows a user interface for an
illustrative
music catalog 502. Music catalog 502 currently shows the contents of the
"Device"
catalog 504, including the number of songs, artists, albums, genres, and
playlists, for
example. Also shown in screen 500A are other catalogs on device 100, including
an
illustrative "Alen's Personal Computer" catalog 506, and an "Internet Music"
catalog 508.
CA 02703504 2010-05-10
[0065] Now referring to FIG. 5B, shown is screen 500B in which the contents of
device
catalog 504 is collapsed, and instead the contents of Alen's Personal Computer
catalog
506 are shown. As noted earlier, this catalog 506 on device 100 may store all
of the file
metadata for all music files actually stored on Alen's Personal Computer, but
may store
5 only a small fraction of the actual music files on device 100. Screen 5008
also shows an
iilus-trative "Downloads" option 510, and an illustrative "Auto Fill" option
512, which will
be explained below.
[0066] Now referring to FIG. SC, shown is illustrative screen 500C, in which
the
'`Downloads" option 510 has been selected to show the actual music files
currently queued
10 to download to device 100. While selection of music files for this download
queue may
be manual, as noted earlier, the music files may also be queued automatically
based on the
access history. FIG. 5D thus shows an illustrative "Auto Fill" option 514
which may be
turned on upon selection of the Auto Fill option 512. Turning on Auto fill may
be
confirmed by clicking OK at 516, or may be cancelled at 518.
15 [0067] Now referring to FIG. 6, shown is a schematic flow chart of a method
of managing
one or more file catalogs on it wireless handheld device in accordance with an
embodiment. As shown, method 600 begins and at block 602, where method 600
connects to one or more file libraries stored remotely from the device.
[0068] Method 600 then proceeds to block 604, where method 600 downloads to
the
device one or more catalogs storing file metadata for one or more file
libraries stored
remotely from the device.
[0069] Method 600 then proceeds to block 606, where method 600 remotely
updates on
the device the one or more catalogs such that the metadata for one or more
file libraries
stored remotely from the device are substantially up-to-date on the device,
[0070] Method 600 then proceeds to block 607, where method 600 accesses a
wireless
carrier network to remotely update on the device the one or more catalogs such
that the
one or more catalogs are substantially up-to-date.
[0071] Method 600 then proceeds to block 608, where method 600 queues from the
device
one or more files for downloading from the one or more file libraries stored
remotely from
the device.
[0072] Method 600 then proceeds to block 610, where method 600 maintains an
access
history of files accessed for playback via a media player on the device.
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16
[0073] Method 600 then proceeds to block 612 where, in dependence upon the
access
history, method 600 deletes one or more files from the device, or queuing from
the device
one or more files for downloading from the one or more file libraries stored
remotely from
the device.
[0074] Method 600 then proceeds to block 614, A here the one or more file
libraries stored
remotely from the device are stored on a storage device of a personal
computer, and the
method 600 synchronizes, upon local connection of the device to the personal
computer,
the file metadata stored in one or more catalogs on the device with the
corresponding one
or more file libraries stored on the storage device of the personal computer.
[0075] Method 600 then proceeds to block 616, where the one or more file
libraries stored
remotely from the device are also stored on one or more storage servers
connected via the
Internet, and the method 600 synchronizes, upon connection of the device to
the one or
more storage servers connected via the Internet, the file metadata stored in
one or more
subcatalogs on the device with the corresponding one or more file libraries
stored on the
one or more storage servers.
[0076] Method 600 then proceeds to block 618, where method 600 schedules from
the
device one or more files to download from the one or more storage servers
connected via
the Internet to the one or more file libraries stored on the storage device of
the personal
computer. Method 600 then ends.
[00771 The techniques shown in FIG. 6, and as described generally in this
disclosure, may
be embodied as instructions carried by a data processor readable medium such
as magnetic
or optical tape or disk or read-only memory. The medium may include
instructions that
cause a processor, such as processor 102 in FIG. 1, to carry out the
techniques shown in
FIG. 6.
[0078] While illustrative embodiments have been described above, it will be
appreciated
that various changes and modifications may be made. More generally, the scope
of the
invention is defined by the following claims.
