Robbin, Jeffrey L. (Los Altos, CA, US)
Jobs, Steve (Palo Alto, CA, US)
Wasko, Timothy (High River, CA)

10/282861

03/25/2004

10/28/2002

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Apple Computer, Inc. (Cupertino, CA)

84/615

(IPC1-7): G10H007/00; G10H001/18

BEYER WEAVER & THOMAS LLP (P.O. BOX 778, BERKELEY, CA, 94704-0778, US)

What is claimed is:

1. A method of assisting user interaction with a multimedia asset player by way of a hierarchically ordered user interface, comprising: displaying a first order user interface having a first list of user selectable items; receiving a user selection of one of the user selectable items; and automatically transitioning to and displaying a second order user interface based upon the user selection.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second order user interface includes a second list of user selectable items associated with the selected item.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second order user interface is a proper subset of the first order user interface.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first list of user selectable items includes at least a playlists item, an artists item, and a songs item.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein when the selected item is the playlists item, then the second list of user selectable items includes a list of configurable playlists.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein when the selected item is the artists item, then the second list of user selectable items includes a list of all artists and a list of particular artists.

7. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein when the selected item is the songs item, then the second list includes a list of all songs.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transitioning is pathwise bidirectional.

9. In a portable media asset player, a method of selecting and playing a media asset from a group of media assets stored therein, comprising: displaying at a first user interface displayed on the portable media asset player a first number of items each of which is associated with a particular grouping of the stored media assets; receiving a selection of one of the first number of items; automatically transitioning to a second user interface displayed on the portable media asset player based upon the selected one of the first number of items wherein the second user interface includes a second number of items each of which is associated with the selected item.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising: selecting one of the second number of items; automatically transitioning to a third user interface displayed on the portable media asset player based upon the selected one of the second number of items wherein the third user interface includes a third number of items each of which is associated with the selected one of the second number of items.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein when each of the second number of items corresponds to a particular media asset, then the second interface includes selected media asset information.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein when the selected media asset is an MP3 file, then the selected media asset information includes a song title, a song artist, a song album, a song length, and a stack position indicator indicative of the relative position of the selected MP3 file with regards to other stored MP3 files in the media asset player.

13. In a portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a method of selecting and playing an multi media asset from a group of multimedia assets stored therein, comprising: displaying at a home interface, a playlist list item corresponding to a number of playlists stored in the multimedia asset player, wherein each playlist is a user customizable group of multimedia assets, an artists item corresponding to all of a number of artists each of which is associated with at least one of the stored multimedia assets, and a songs list item associated with each of the stored multimedia assets; highlighting a desired one of the playlist list item, the artists item, or the songs list item; receiving a selection of the highlighted item; and automatically transitioning to a second interface based upon the selected item.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein when the selected item is the playlist list item, then the second interface is a playlist interface that includes at least one selectable playlist item associated with at least one playlist, wherein the playlist points to a group of songs or a group of artists or a group of albums or any combination thereof.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising: receiving a selection of the playlist item; automatically transitioning to a third interface that includes a selectable list of songs corresponding to the song playlist when the selected playlist item corresponds to a song playlist that points to the group of songs; automatically transitioning to a third interface that includes a selectable list of artists corresponding to the artists playlist when the selected playlist item corresponds to an artists playlist that points to the group of artists; and automatically transitioning to a third interface that includes a selectable list of albums corresponding to the selected playlist when the selected playlist item corresponds to an albums playlist that points to the group of albums.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising: at the third interface, when the songs playlist is displayed, selecting one of the songs from the songs playlist; and playing the selected song by the multimedia player.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising: when the artists playlist is displayed, selecting one of the artists from the artists playlist; automatically transitioning to a fourth interface that includes a list of artist songs; selecting one of the songs from the list of artist songs; and playing the selected song by the multimedia asset player.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising: when the albums playlist is displayed, selecting one of the albums from the albums playlist; automatically transitioning to a fourth interface that includes a list of albums; selecting one of the albums; automatically transitioning to a fourth interface that includes a list of album songs; selecting one song from the list of album songs; and playing the selected song by the multimedia asset player.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein when the selected item is the artists item, then the second interface is an artists interface that includes an all item corresponding to all songs stored in the multimedia asset player and a list of named artists each of which has at least one associated song stored in the multimedia asset player.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising: selecting the all item; and automatically transitioning to an albums interface that includes the all item and a list of albums associated with each of the named artists.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising: selecting the all item; and automatically transitioning to an all songs interface that includes a list of all songs stored in the multimedia asset player.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising: selecting a particular album from the list of albums; automatically transitioning to an all songs interface that includes a list of all songs of the selected album.

23. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising: selecting a particular artist from the list of artists; and automatically transitioning to a third interface corresponding to the selected artist that includes a list of artist albums that are stored in the multimedia player and an all item associated with all songs of the selected artist stored in the multimedia asset player.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, further comprising: selecting a particular album from the list of artist albums; and automatically transitioning to a fourth interface having a list of all songs of the selected artist.

25. A method as recited in claim 23, further comprising: selecting the all item; and automatically transitioning to a fourth interface having a list of all songs of the selected artist.

26. In a portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface accessible to a user suitable for receiving user supplied inputs that facilitate selecting a multimedia asset stored therein, comprising: a first order interface having a first number of user selectable items; a user activated first selection tool suitable for selecting at least one of the first number of user selectable items; a second order interface having a second number of user selectable items based upon the selected at least one of the first number of user selectable items; and a user activated second selection tool suitable for selecting at least one of the second number of user selectable items, wherein when the first selection tool selects the at least one of the first number of user selectable items, the first order interface automatically transitions to the second order interface.

27. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 26 further comprising: a third order interface having a third number of user selectable items based upon the selected at least one of the second number of user selectable items; and a user activated third selection tool suitable for selecting at least one of the third number of user selectable items, wherein when the second selection tool selects the at least one of the second number of user selectable items, the second order interface automatically transitions to the third order interface.

28. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 26 further comprising: a fourth order interface having a fourth number of user selectable items based upon the selected at least one of the third number of user selectable items; and a user activated fourth selection tool suitable for selecting at least one of the fourth number of user selectable items, wherein when the third selection tool selects the at least one of the third number of user selectable items, the third order interface automatically transitions to the fourth order interface.

29. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 26, wherein the first order interface includes at least, a user selectable playlist list item corresponding to a number of playlists stored in the multimedia asset player, wherein each playlist is a user customizable group of multimedia assets; a user selectable artists list item corresponding to a number of artists each of which is associated with at least one of the stored multimedia assets; and a user selectable songs list item associated with at least some of the stored multimedia assets that are songs.

30. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 26, wherein the first, the second, the third, and the fourth user activated selection tools are each formed by highlighting portion of the display.

31. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 26, wherein when the selected item is the playlist list item, then the second interface is a playlist interface that includes at least one selectable playlist item associated with at least one playlist.

32. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 31, wherein the playlist is associated with a group of songs or a group of artists or a group of albums or any combination thereof.

33. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 26, wherein when the selected item is the artists list item, then the second interface is an artists interface that includes an all item corresponding to all songs stored in the multimedia asset player and a list of specific artists item each of which has at least one associated song stored in the multimedia asset player.

34. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 33, wherein when the selected item is the all item, then the third interface is an albums interface that includes an all songs item corresponding to all songs stored in the multimedia asset player and a list of albums for all artists each member being selectable and associated with at least one album stored in the multimedia asset player.

35. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 34, wherein when the selected item is the all songs item, then the fourth interface is a songs interface that includes a list of all songs each member being selectable and associated with at least one song stored in the multimedia asset player.

36. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 35, wherein when the selected item is at least one of the list of all songs corresponding to a selected song, further comprising: a fifth order interface having a song information list corresponding to the selected song that includes, a song title of the selected song, a song artist of the selected song, and a song album title corresponding to a song album in which the selected song is included, if any.

37. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 36, wherein based upon a received interface backward jump event, the fifth order interface automatically transitions to the first order interface, and wherein based upon a received forward jump event, the first order interface automatically transitions to the fifth order interface.

38. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 34, wherein when the selected item is one of the list of albums for all artists, then the fourth interface is a songs interface that includes a list of all songs of the selected album each member being selectable and associated with at least one song included in the selected album.

39. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 38, wherein when the selected item is at least one of the list of all songs of the selected album corresponding to a selected song, further comprising: a fifth order interface having a song information list corresponding to the selected song that includes, a song title of the selected song, a song artist of the selected song, and a song album title corresponding to the selected album.

40. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 33, wherein when the selected item is one of the list of specific artists, then the third interface is a selected artist interface that includes an all songs item corresponding to all songs stored in the multimedia asset player associated with the selected artist and a list of albums for the selected artist each member being selectable and associated with at least one album stored in the multimedia asset player.

41. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 40, wherein when the selected item is the all songs item, then the fourth interface is a songs interface that includes a list of all songs of the selected artist each member being selectable and associated with at least one song stored in the multimedia asset player associated with the selected artist.

42. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 41, wherein when the selected item is at least one of the list of all songs of the selected artist corresponding to a selected song, further comprising: a fifth order interface having a song information list corresponding to the selected song that includes, a song title of the selected song, a song artist label of the selected song, and a song album title corresponding to a song album in which the selected song is included, if any.

43. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 40, wherein when the selected item is one of the list of albums of the selected artist, then the fourth interface is an all songs interface that includes a list of all songs of the selected album each member being selectable and associated with at least one song stored in the multimedia asset player associated with the selected album.

44. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 42, wherein when the selected item is at least one of the list of all songs of the selected album corresponding to a selected song, further comprising: a fifth order interface having a song information list corresponding to the selected song that includes, a song title of the selected song, a song artist label of the selected song, and a song album title corresponding to the selected album.

45. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 26, wherein the multimedia asset is a MP3 type multimedia asset.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e).to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/399,806, entitled GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF IN A MULTIMEDIA PLAYER, which was filed on Jul. 30, 2002, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to multimedia devices. More specifically, the invention describes a graphical user interface for use in a multimedia asset player suitable for providing any number and kind of user supplied inputs.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Recent developments in consumer electronics have included the introduction of portable multimedia asset player devices such as MP3 players, minidisk players, and the like. For example, in the case of an MP3 player, a number of digitized audio files in the form of MP3 files are stored in a storage medium included in or coupled to the player in a fashion deemed most suitable to that user. In the case of MP3 files, for example, a user of the MP3 player must be able to peruse and select a particular file, or files, based upon such characteristics as music genre, author, album, or whatever grouping of MP3 files is present in the MP3 player.

[0006] What is required is a user interface that provides for a user friendly and efficient retrieval of stored multimedia asset files in a portable multimedia asset player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention described herein pertains to a user interface that provides for a user friendly and efficient retrieval of stored multimedia asset files. In one embodiment, a method of assisting user interaction with a multimedia asset player by way of a hierarchically ordered user interface is described. A first order user interface having a first list of user selectable items is displayed and a user selection of one of the user selectable items is received. Based upon the user selection, automatically transitioning to and displaying a second order user interface.

[0008] In a portable media asset player, a method of selecting and playing a media asset from a group of media assets stored therein is described. A first user interface is displayed on the portable media asset player having a first number of items each of which is associated with a particular grouping of the stored media assets. A selection of one of the first number of items is received and based upon the selected one of the first number of items, automatically transitioning to a second user interface displayed on the portable media asset player that includes a second number of items each of which is associated with the selected item.

[0009] In a portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a method of selecting and playing a multimedia asset from a group of multimedia assets stored therein is described. At a home interface, displaying a playlist list item which points to a number of playlists stored in the multimedia asset player, wherein each playlist is a user customizable group of multimedia asset files, an artists item corresponding to all of a number of artists each of which is associated with at least one of the stored multimedia asset, and a songs list item associated with each of the stored multimedia assets. Highlighting a desired one of the playlist list item, the artists item, or the songs list item, selecting the highlighted item, and automatically transitioning to a second interface based upon the selected item.

[0010] In a portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface accessible to a user suitable for receiving user supplied inputs that facilitate selecting a multimedia asset stored therein. A first order interface having a first number of user selectable items, a user activated first selection tool suitable for selecting at least one of the first number of user selectable items, a second order interface having a second number of user selectable items based upon the selected at least one of the first number of user selectable items, and a user activated second selection tool suitable for selecting at least one of the second number of user selectable items, wherein when the first selection tool selects the at least one of the first number of user selectable items, the first order interface automatically transitions to the second order interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary portable multimedia device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a hierarchically ordered menu corresponding to stored media assets in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a particular process for selecting a particular one of a group of stored media assets in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 4 shows a state diagram of a user interface suitable for providing user provided input for an exemplary MP3 player (along the lines of the player 100 ) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIGS. 5 A- 5 F illustrate various exemplary user interfaces consistent with selection and play of a media asset in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention. An example of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0018] With the rapid advancement in the ability to store data, multimedia asset players, such as MP3 players, can accommodate hundreds or even thousands of such assets, such as MP3 files, making the task of selecting, grouping, or retrieving a particular file, or files, a daunting task indeed. Therefore the invention described herein is well suited for providing a user friendly and efficient user interface for retrieving media assets for use in a portable multimedia asset player. In the described embodiment, the multimedia asset player takes the form of a pocket sized, portable MP3 player. Accordingly, a method and apparatus for providing user supplied inputs to the MP3 player are described. Such user supplied inputs can include user supplied commands directed at retrieving specific files, such as digitized audio files in the form of, for example, MP3 files.

[0019] In one embodiment, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface are provided that facilitates a user file selection procedure. In this particular embodiment, a first order (sometimes referred to as a home interface) provides a highest order of user selectable items each of which, when selected, results in an automatic transition to a lower order user interface associated with the selected item. In one of the described embodiments, the lower order interface includes other user selectable items associated with the previously selected item from the higher order user interface. In this way, a user can automatically transition from a higher order interface to a lower order interface (and vice versa) by, in some cases, a direct transition. In other cases, the user can transition from the higher order user interface to the lower order user interface (and vice versa) in a step wise fashion whereby each intervening interface is displayed having any number of user selectable input items each directly associated with the previously selected input item.

[0020] In a particular embodiment, the portable multimedia device is a pocket sized, multimedia device (personal digital assistants, personal MP3 player/recorders, and the like) having a display screen arranged to display the various user interfaces and a corresponding user input device. The user input device is typically a manually operated switch, button, wheels, or other such contrivances. Accordingly, the invention will now be described in terms a portable multimedia asset player capable of storing a number of multimedia assets. For example, in the case of the multimedia asset player being an MP3 player (such as the IPOD™ player manufactured by the Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), the multimedia assets can include MP3 files as well as any other appropriately formatted data files.

[0021] Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary portable multimedia device, or media player, 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The media player 100 includes a processor 102 that pertains to a microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation of the media player 100 . The media player 100 stores media data pertaining to media assets in a file system 104 and a cache 106 . The file system 104 is, typically, a storage disk or a plurality of disks. The file system 104 typically provides high capacity storage capability for the media player 100 . However, since the access time to the file system 104 is relatively slow, the media player 100 can also include a cache 106 . The cache 106 is, for example, Random-Access Memory (RAM) provided by semiconductor memory. The relative access time to the cache 106 is substantially shorter than for the file system 104 . However, the cache 106 does not have the large storage capacity of the file system 104 . Further, the file system 104 , when active, consumes more power than does the cache 106 . The power consumption is particularly important when the media player 100 is a portable media player that is powered by a battery (not shown). The media player 100 also includes a RAM 120 and a Read-Only Memory (ROM) 122 . The ROM 122 can store programs, utilities or processes to be executed in a non-volatile manner. The RAM 120 provides volatile data storage, such as for the cache 106 .

[0022] The media player 100 also includes a user input device 108 that allows a user of the media player 100 to interact with the media player 100 . For example, the user input device 108 can take a variety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial, etc. Still further, the media player 100 includes a display 110 (screen display) that can be controlled by the processor 102 to display information to the user. A data bus 311 can facilitate data transfer between at least the file system 104 , the cache 106 , the processor 102 , and the CODEC 110 . The media player 100 also includes a bus interface 116 that couples to a data link 118 . The data link 118 allows the media player 100 to couple to a host computer.

[0023] In one embodiment, the media player 100 serves to store a plurality of media assets (e.g., songs) in the file system 104 . When a user desires to have the media player play a particular media item, a list of available media assets is displayed on the display 110 . Then, using the user input device 108 , a user can select one of the available media assets. The processor 102 , upon receiving a selection of a particular media item, supplies the media data (e.g., audio file) for the particular media item to a coder/decoder (CODEC) 110 . The CODEC 110 then produces analog output signals for a speaker 114 . The speaker 114 can be a speaker internal to the media player 100 or external to the media player 100 . For example, headphones or earphones that connect to the media player 100 would be considered an external speaker.

[0024] For example, in a particular embodiment, the available media assets are arranged in a hierarchical manner based upon a selected number and type of groupings appropriate to the available media assets. For example, in the case where the media player 100 is an MP3 type media player, the available media assets take the form of MP3 files (each of which corresponds to a digitally encoded song or other audio rendition) stored at least in part in the file system 104 . The available media assets (or in this case, songs) can be grouped in any manner deemed appropriate. In one arrangement, the songs can be arranged hierarchically as a list of music genres at a first level, a list of artists associated with each genre at a second level, a list of albums for each artist listed in the second level at a third level, while at a fourth level a list of songs for each album listed in the third level, and so on.

[0025] Accordingly, FIG. 2 illustrates an hierarchically ordered menu 200 used to navigate through those stored media assets of interest to a user in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that in the described embodiment, the menu 200 is navigated by the user scrolling vertically within a particular level in order to peruse and eventually select a particular item located within that level. Once selected, the menu 200 is automatically transitioned in a horizontal manner to a lower order interface associated with the selected item. For example, at a first level, a list of music genres 202 (ROCK, JAZZ, HIP HOP) corresponding to the available MP3 files is displayed. In order to select a particular music genre, a user scrolls “vertically down” the list 202 (usually accompanied by a pointer such as an arrow or by highlighting the adjacent item) until a desired input item is reached. Upon selecting a particular music genre (ROCK, for example), an automatic horizontal traversal 203 to a lower order interface 204 that includes a display of a list of ROCK artists 204 a corresponding to the selected ROCK genre. Again after scrolling in a vertical direction in the ROCK artists list 204 a, a user selects a particular one of the listed ROCK artists included in the list 204 a resulting in another automatic horizontal traversal 205 to a lower order interface 206 denoting an album 206 a (from a list of albums 206 , if appropriate) associated with the selected artist. This procedure is continued until a particular song 208 a from a list of songs 208 (included in the selected album) is selected. Once selected, the song 208 a is then ready for play as described at a play song interface 210 that can in some cases include information related to the selected song 208 a.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart 300 illustrating a particular process 300 for selecting a particular one of a group of stored media assets in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, at 302 , a first order user interface is displayed having a list of first order user selectable items. In the example of FIG. 2 , the first order user interface is the list of genres 202 whereas the first order user selectable items correspond to the various genres listed. Next, at 304 , at least one of the user selectable items are selected and subsequently, at 306 , an automatic transition to and substantially simultaneous display of a lower order user interface corresponding to the selected item. At 308 , a determination is made whether or not there are additional order user interfaces based upon the latest selected item. For example, from FIG. 2 above, selection of the Rock genre from the list 202 initiates the automatic transition to the lower order user interface and substantially simultaneous display of the list of ROCK artists 204 a. This process continues until a lowest order interface (i.e., the Play Song display 210 ) is reached at which point the selection process ends and the selected multimedia asset is played.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a state diagram 400 of a user interface suitable for providing user provided input for an exemplary MP3 player (along the lines of the player 100 ) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that for sake of simplicity, only a single selection path is shown corresponding to a single selection item (i.e., Artists). Accordingly, a home interface 402 provides a list that includes a PLAYLIST item 404 , an ARTISTS item 406 , and a SONGS item 408 each of which is selectable by a user. It should be noted that each item is associated with a particular grouping of the multi-media assets (which in this example are MP3 files) stored at least in the file system 104 . For example, the PLAYLIST item 404 is associated with a number of customizable playlists (i.e., a compendium of artists, songs, albums, etc. in any order and grouping as deemed appropriate) whereas the ARTISTS item 406 is associated with particular artists whose songs are stored in the file system 104 and so on.

[0028] Therefore, once a user selects either the PLAYLIST item 404 , the ARTISTS item 406 , or the SONGS item 408 , an automatic transition to a lower order user interface occurs corresponding to the selected item. For example, if the user selects the ARTISTS item 406 , an automatic transition 410 to the ARTISTS user interface 412 occurs that concurrently displays an ALL item 414 (associated with all artists) and a list of specific artists 416 . It should be noted that, although not shown, if the user had selected a particular song from the list of songs associated with the SONGS item 408 , then the display would automatically transition directly to a now playing interface (not shown) indicating that the selected song is playing (or is prepared to be played) along with any other data or information deemed appropriate.

[0029] Once in the ARTISTS user interface 412 , the user has the option of selecting a particular artist by selecting a desired artist from the list of specific artists 416 or selecting all artists by invoking the ALL item 414 . For example, if the user selects all artists by invoking the ALL item 414 , an automatic transition to a lower order ALBUMS interface 418 occurs that concurrently displays an ALL item 420 corresponding to all songs of all artists and a list of specific albums for all artists 422 . If, for example, the user selected a specific album from the list of specific albums 422 , then an automatic-transition to a still lower order interface ALL SONGS 424 occurs that displays a list of all songs of the selected album 426 . At this point, when the user selects a particular song, an automatic transition to a now playing interface 428 occurs having a song information display 430 consistent with the selected song.

[0030] If, on the other hand, had the user had invoked the ALL item 420 in the ALBUMS interface 418 , then songs interface 424 would display a list of all songs 432 of all the artists. At this point, the user could select a particular song from the list of all songs 432 resulting in an automatic transition to the now playing interface 428 having a song information display 430 consistent with the selected song.

[0031] A similar procedure can be followed in the case where instead of invoking the ALL item 414 , the user had selected a particular artist from the list of artists 416 . In this case, the act of selecting a particular artist initiates an automatic transition to a selected artist interface 436 that includes an ALL item 438 that points to all songs of the selected artist stored in the MP3 player and a list of all albums of the selected artist 440 that are stored in the MP3 player. Selecting one of the albums from the list of albums 440 results in an automatic transition to the songs interface 424 that includes a list of all songs associated with the selected album 442 . On the other hand, invoking the ALL item 438 results in an automatic transition to the songs interface 424 having a list of all songs of the selected artist 444 . Once in the songs interface 424 , the user is free to select any song listed for play at the now playing interface 428 . For example, selecting one of the songs listed in list of all songs of selected artist 444 or from the list of all songs of selected album 442 results in an automatic transition to the now playing interface 428 simultaneously with the display of song information displays 446 and 448 , respectively.

[0032] It should be noted that the procedure described above is pathwise bi-directional in that the user can go in either direction along a selected path. It should be further noted, that in some embodiments, it is desirable to directly transition from the now playing interface 428 to the home interface 402 (and vice-versa) without displaying any of the intervening interfaces.

[0033] FIGS. 5 A- 5 E illustrate various exemplary user interfaces consistent with selection and play of a media asset in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. One should note that the various user interfaces illustrated in FIGS. 5 A- 5 F correspond to particular embodiments of the HOME interface 402 , the ARTISTS interface 412 , the ALBUMS interface 418 , the SONGS interface 424 , and the NOW PLAYING interface 428 described above. Accordingly, it should be further noted that each of the interfaces described are incorporated into a representative media player 500 having a display 502 and a user input device 504 that includes a central button 506 , a selector wheel 508 , and selectors 510 - 516 . It is well to note that in this particular embodiment, the selectors 510 - 516 are a back up one level 510 , a rewind 512 , a play/pause 514 , and a fast forward 516 . Accordingly, FIG. 5A shows a particular implementation of the HOME interface 402 displayed on the display 502 . In order to select the ARTISTS item 406 , the user rotates selector wheel 508 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction (or any appropriate combination thereof) until the ARTISTS item 406 is rendered selectable (as noted by a semi-transparent highlight bar 518 ). Once the desired item is highlighted, the user selects the highlighted item by invoking a selection protocol by, for example, pressing the central button 506 . Once selected, the HOME interface 402 immediately transitions to the ARTISTS interface 412 as shown in FIG. 5B . As with the selection in the HOME interface 402 of the ARTISTS item 406 , a particular artist (or all artists) is selected by manipulating any of the user input devices 504 (such as the selector wheel 508 ) in combination with an appropriate selection event which can include pressing the central button 506 . In this way, the user is provided the capability of navigating the user input menu in any manner that the user deems to be most convenient and efficient. It should be noted that a stack indicator bar 520 indicates the relative position of the selected item in relation to the stack of items associated with the particular selected group. For example, if the. Accordingly, FIGS. 5 C- 5 E show various exemplary user interfaces consistent with the described embodiment of the invention.

[0034] While this invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents that fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing both the process and apparatus of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.