KR20070018915A - System and method for music synchronization in a mobile device - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium of a mobile station (MS) may include instructions for displaying a first identifier, such as a song title associated with a first medium (music or video) file, and a second identifier, identified as a second medium file. Include. The first identifier indicates that the first media file is stored in the MS and the second identifier indicates that the file is not stored in the MS. Five such identifiers are disclosed and their functions are to upload / download one or more media files from a PC or a networked server at a time. Playlists and albums are similarly represented by their identifiers. The user can create and edit playlists on the MS regardless of what media files are stored on the MS. The MS may store file identifiers for a database maintained on a PC, a large database maintained on a media services server, or a portion thereof. Mobile station or described.

Description

System and method for music synchronization in a mobile device}

The present invention relates to synchronizing and managing files stored in one or both of a memory-limited device such as a mobile station and a large memory device such as a personal computer. The present invention is particularly directed at software for managing music files between portable and non-portable devices.

The owners of popular music have only recently adopted downloading digital copies of their copyrighted works via electronic networks such as the Internet. One popular website that does so is http://www.apple.com/itunes/, where users visit the music service's website via a personal computer (PC), manually select song names, Download the digital version of the selected song to the PC they used to visit the website. The user then plays the songs on a PC or transfers or uploads them to a portable device such as the Rio® or iPod® or to another device such as dedicated portable digital music play.

Currently dedicated portable digital music players have the capacity to store more than 10,000 digital song files and index information about such songs. While users can continue to use their players to carry their entire digital song collection and create and edit playlists, the resulting playlists are limited to those songs stored on dedicated portable devices, and such dedicated devices. They do not have the ability to download songs directly from music services. Its function belongs to a PC or similar device with a network connection. Portable devices with such network download capabilities, such as mobile stations (MSs) with internet browsing capabilities, are not allowed to use its limited memory exclusively for storing and indexing thousands of songs (though technology will soon overcome the limitations). There can't be enough now.

Moreover, the synchronization software for at least some dedicated portable music devices (such as iPod® and Nomad®) is one device (eg, dedicated portable) that is synchronized with a companion device (eg, a Mac PC) from which the song file has been deleted. Delete song files). In other words, even if the user has already purchased a song, deleting the song file from either device causes all remaining copies of the song on one device to be deleted during the next synchronization. In that situation, the PC cannot serve as a viable library for uploading songs back to the portable device. To the inventors' knowledge, the synchronization software does not prompt that the only remaining copy of a particular song file is about to be deleted, and therefore shrinks the user library of song files without the user's knowledge. Each of these aspects additionally leads the user to maintain a full library of his / her digital music files on a portable device, allowing the PC to be used only for downloading songs and possibly for creating and editing playlists. But not used as a music file repository.

When a mobile station is used to store and play music, the user benefits from constantly downloading new songs, but loses his / her full music collection. In that situation, the user must devote more effort to managing the songs uploaded and stored on the MS. Specifically, the user must select the music he wants to listen to via MS, create and / or edit playlists, delete unwanted songs from the MS, and have not previously stored in the MS from PC to MS. You have to upload the songs in the playlists (and the new lists themselves). In general, when a user wants to upload songs to MS, he / she creates new playlists or selects new songs on the PC, all songs on the PC are automatically deleted and the newly selected songs and playlists are Uploaded when started by This allows the songs most recently selected (by the PC) by the user to be stored on memory in the PC which remains available for music files. Synchronization software as described above requires keeping the song on the playlist once the song has been uploaded to Microsoft, otherwise all copies of the song are lost.

One alternative is for users to use two completely different devices: MS for mobile phones and constantly downloading songs from music services, and dedicated to storing and playing back many more and more songs than would be available alone. It is to carry a portable music player. This is considered to be primarily preferred by consumers in a given current state of available hardware and software.

The inventors speculate that none of the above options is optimal for users who want to constantly use both personalized music and mobile phone capabilities. The present invention therefore provides a user's ability to manage the songs and playlists stored in and played by the MS, while still retaining the advantages that the MS provides when downloading new songs directly from a music service connected to the network. We aim to make it efficient.

The invention is in one embodiment a computer program implemented on a computer readable medium in a host device, preferably a mobile station (MS). The computer program includes a first set of computer instructions for displaying a plurality of identifiers each associated with a digital media file. The identifiers may be song titles, artists, or the like. The first identifier indicates that the first media file associated with the first identifier is stored in the host device. The second identifier indicates that the second media file associated with the second identifier is stored at a location other than the host device. Preferably, there are five identifiers, one indicating that the media file is stored in the host device; One indicates that the media file is stored in a separate device temporarily coupled to the host device via a local link; One indicates that the media file is marked for deletion in the separate device; One indicates that the media file is stored in both the host device and the separate device; One indicates that the media file was not stored on any device separate from the host device but was previously purchased by the user; And the last one indicates that the media file is not purchased by the user but is available through wide area, non-local networks. Preferably, the host device is a mobile station (MS) and the separate device is a personal computer (PC).

In another embodiment, the invention is a computer program implemented on a computer readable medium in a host device such as an MS or a PC. The computer program includes, within a host device, a first set of computer instructions for storing a first media file and a first identifier associated with the first media file. It also includes a second set of computer instructions for storing, in the host device, a second identifier associated with a second media file not stored in the host device. In addition, it includes a third set of computer instructions for displaying both the first and second identifiers regardless of whether the host device is coupled to the network. In this manner, the computer program can display the media file title or other identifier whether the host device is storing or not storing the media file associated with each displayed identifier therein.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is a mobile station having an internal storage medium, a processor, and a display interface. The internal storage medium stores the first plurality of media files and the second plurality of file names. All media files of any audio / visual type stored in the mobile station are in the first plurality, for example, all music files, all still picture files, all video files. Media files are digital files that allow a human perceptual audio and / or video signal to be reconstructed. The processor maps each of the first plurality of media files to a file name in the second plurality of media files. For each filename displayed in the second plurality (and any of them may be individually or in combination), those mapped to the media file are displayed with the first characteristic and those mapped to the media file are different from the first characteristic. Is displayed along with anything else. Preferably, some of the media files that are displayed with a different characteristic than the first characteristic are mapped to separate storage locations away from the mobile station, and they are displayed in font, color, shade or background, or adjacent to the file name. The icon is displayed with a second characteristic different from the first characteristic.

The mobile station may further comprise means for linking to separate storage locations via one of a wireless telephone link, a cable link, a wireless piconet link and a wireless optical link. These means are known in the art. In this situation, the processor sends a request for an additional media file that does not fall within the first plurality. This additional media file corresponds to the file name displayed with the second property and is selected by the user. The file name selected by the user may be stored on an internal storage medium, and the processor may, based on user command inputs occurring later, such as based only on user input or on establishing the next link between the mobile station and a separate storage location (as above). Send a request for an additional media file accordingly. The separate storage location can be a PC or a server on the Internet or other network. Some file names can be mapped to a PC and others can be mapped to a server. In that case, file names mapped to either the server or the PC are displayed with the second characteristic, and those mapped to the other of the PC or the server are displayed with the third characteristic. When a mobile station receives a new file name such as via email or a new media file such as by synchronizing with a PC, or downloads a new media file from a server, the processor updates the mapping and the display interface reflects the update.

As for the file names, the internal storage medium may store a third plurality of file names associated with the playlist name, and the display interface displays the playlist name according to the mapping of the processor. The third plurality of file names may or may not have file names in common with the second plurality of file names. If each file name of the playlist corresponds to a media file stored on an internal storage medium, the playlist name is displayed with a third characteristic that may or may not be the same as the first characteristic used to display the file names. If some but not all correspond so, the playlist name is displayed with the fourth characteristic, and if nothing so corresponds, the playlist name is displayed with the fifth characteristic. Either of the fourth characteristic or the fifth characteristic used for the playlist name, preferably the fourth characteristic may be the same as the second characteristic used for the file name. The user can select a playlist name and receive each media file from a separate storage location (which can be on a PC or a server) that caused the processor to map file names associated with the playlist to a separate storage location. Preferably, this is done in response to a command input that may be spaced apart from the user selecting a playlist as above.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying two aspects. However, it should be understood that the drawings are designed for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention.

1 is a communication system in which the present invention is most advantageously operated.

2 is a mobile station in which a computer program of the present invention is stored.

3 is an exemplary display at the MS of a playlist of music file titles identifying where the basic music files are stored.

4 is an exemplary display at the MS of a list of playlists where each playlist identifies where music files are stored under the titles in that playlist.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary display by one band in the MS of a list of CDs where each CD is identified by where music files within that CD are stored.

6 is an exemplary display at the MS of one CD and a list of its tracks where each track is identified by where the base file is stored.

The following terms are used to describe the invention and its embodiments. A mobile station (MS) is a handheld portable device that enables wireless access to a non-local network, such as the Internet, through a mobile telephone network of base stations coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Cellular phones, PCS phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) with Internet capabilities are examples of Microsoft. Personal computers (PCs) are computing devices larger than handhelds and can access networks. This access can be via a hardwired connection or over a wireless local area network (WLAN). In some situations, a PC has wireless mobile telephone capability through a web phone using WLAN and voiceover Internet protocols, but since the base stations are traditionally understood in terms of mobile phones, the PC can be accessed by its size and access to the wide area network. It is distinguished from the MS by not using a base station. Desktop PCs, laptop or palmtop PCs, or web-TVs are examples of PCs. In almost all situations, the PC is distinguished by a QWERTY keyboard that does not exist in the MS. Digital music files are audio works that have been reduced to digital form, such as popular music songs downloaded on a CD or from a network. The identifier associated with the digital media file is any means by which the file is indexed and classified, such as song name, artist, album / CD, genre, and the like. Built-in International Standard Recording Code (ISRC), Universal Product Code (UPC) or European Product Number (EAN) may be used to uniquely identify a particular recording or digital music or media file. Media files are digital files that allow human perceptible audio and / or video signals to be reconstructed. Digital versions of popular music songs (such as can be played on iPod® or Rio® devices) or music videos are examples of media files.

1 depicts a communication system 20 in which the present invention demonstrates its immense versatility. A mobile station (MS) 22 defines a user interface display 24 and a series of buttons 26 or other input means for input to the mobile station. The user inputs described herein as being input by buttons or the like may also be input via voice commands that enable the MS 22. The MS 22 has a radiotelephone capability that allows for making or receiving a radiotelephone call via the base station 28 via the radiotelephone link 30. Base station 30 is preferably coupled to non-local network 32 via a hardwired connection (not shown) to communication server 34, as known in the art, through which MS 22 provides music. A commercial provider of digital music files, such as a server of service 36, is accessible. If the network 32 is the Internet and the MS has a compatible browser program, the MS 22 can download digital music files directly from the music service 36 via the mobile link 30.

Within the system is an input keyboard 40, such as a QWERTY keyboard, and a personal computer (PC) 38 having a display screen 42. The MS 22 and the PC 38 communicate from time to time via a local link 44, which may be a wireless Bluetooth® link, a hardwired cable connection that may be coupled to the MS 22 via a male / male plug, and the like. Local link 44 is short and generally limited to about 50 feet. The mobile telephone link 30 is alive at a much longer distance and differs from the local link 44 in both type and range. The PC 38 contacts the non-local network 32 via an Internet service provider server 46 such as a hardwired connection (not shown), or a WLAN connection with a WLAN having an access point to the network 32. have.

Overall, the present invention allows a user to manage identifiers for digital music files on the MS, regardless of whether the associated music file under the identifier is stored in the MS 22. The underlying file may be stored on the PC 38 or only on the music service server 35. In this way, the user can immediately see on the display 24 of the MS 22 what music files are stored in the MS 22, what is stored in the PC 38, and what is stored only in the music service server 38. By looking at the MS 22 it is possible to constantly and dynamically manage a library of his / her music files. The user can create and edit playlists of song names in the MS 22, and link any PC or all music files not yet stored listed in the new playlist to the MS 22 from the PC 38. Can be uploaded via 44). When the MS 22 stores lists of digital music titles stored on the music service server 36, the user can select any or not yet stored on the MS 22 or PC 38 listed in the new playlist. All music files can be downloaded from the music service server 36 via the mobile telephone link 30. In this manner, the display 24 of the MS 22 allows the PC 38 to serve as a database of digital music files already purchased by the user, and allows the music files that have not yet been purchased by the user. The music service server 36 can serve as another database. Titles or other identifiers of the basic music files are displayed differently on the display 24 of the MS 22 based on the location of the basic music file, such as by coding the displayed title or by displaying a particular icon adjacent to the title. The names of the playlists (e.g. Playlist 1; Playlist 2; Female Vocalists; Ski Music) indicate whether all basic music files are in MS 22, some are in PC 38, and some are in music service. It may be displayed differently to indicate whether it is in the server 36 or nothing in the MS 22. Although the following detailed description refers to the display 24 on the MS 22, the present invention applies equally to the display screen 42 of the PC 38.

FIG. 2 shows the MS 22 of FIG. 1 in block diagram form. These blocks are functional and the functions described below may or may not be performed by a single physical entity such as depicted in FIG. 2. The display 24 and the user input means (input UI) 26 have been described above. The MS further includes a power source 48, such as a self-contained battery, that provides power to the processor 50 that controls the functions within the MS 22. Voice inputs are received at microphone 52, which may be coupled to processor 50 via buffer memory 54. Computer programs, such as display drivers, modulation algorithms, encoding and decoding algorithms, and the like, may be electronic, optical, or magnetic memory storage media, as known in the art, for storing computer readable instructions and programs. Stored at 56. The MS 22 communicates via the mobile telephone link 30 via a first antenna 58 which is selectively coupled to the main transmitter 62 and the main receiver 64 via a first T / R switch 60. do. The MS 22 communicates via the local link 44 via a second antenna 66 which is selectively coupled to the Bluetooth® transmitter 70 and the Bluetooth® receiver 72 via a second T / R switch. The primary antenna 58 may be more than one for multichannel communication and may serve as functions for the second antenna 66. The Bluetooth® transmitter 70 and receiver 72 are preferably separated from the main transmitter 62 and receiver 64 but are not required to be so. The audible output from the MS 22 is converted at the speaker 74.

Implemented on computer readable storage medium 56 is a computer program according to the present invention having one or more sets of computer instructions. The first set of computer instructions displays a plurality of digital music file identifiers each associated with the basic digital music file. 3 depicts a display 324 of the MS 22 that can be directed by this first set of computer instructions, the playlist name 310 and each of the song titles and song artists along a common horizontal line. A list of enumerating music file identifiers 311 to 315 is depicted. The identifier (s) for the file "SONG ABC" is displayed to indicate that the music file associated with that identifier is stored in the MS 22. The identifier (s) for the file "SONG DEF" is displayed to indicate that the music file associated with that identifier is stored in the PC 38.

Preferably, computer instructions provide five different indicators to show which file identifier belongs to which of the five categories. The indicators can be different colors for the identifier text, different fonts for the text, icons adjacent to the text file identifiers, different backgrounds, and the like. The first category or indicator indicates that the basic music file is stored in the MS 22 and is represented by lines 311 and 315 of FIG. The second category or indicator indicates that the basic music file is stored in the PC 38 but not in the MS 22 and is represented by line 314 of FIG. The button 326A is preferably flagged by the soft function identifier 316 so that the selected song of the second category, or all the displayed songs of the second category, can be retrieved from the PC 38 by the user. 22) to upload. Pressing button 326A causes MS 22 to initiate a local connection 44 with PC 38 to automatically upload the basic music files associated with the category 2 identifier (s). If an immediate local connection 44 cannot be established (eg, out of range), the associated music file will be uploaded under the next synchronization or connection with the PC 38. The third category or indicator indicates that the basic music file is stored in both the MS 22 and the PC 38. In this category, the music file can be deleted at the MS 22, in which case its identifier at the MS 22 indicates that the music file of the PC 38 is immediately established as the category 2's identifiers and files. 44) or to be deleted according to the next synchronization. The fourth category or indicator is the music service server on which the basic music file was previously purchased by the user but is no longer stored in the PC 38 or M (e.g., deleted, lost data, damaged files) and stored therein. It will be downloaded again from 36. The fifth category or indicator indicates that the basic music file is stored in the music service server 36 but has not yet been purchased by the user. Pressing another button 326C flagged by the soft function indicator 317 causes the radiotelephone link 30 to access the music service server 36 and begin downloading the music file associated with the selected category 4 or 5 identifier. Or to start downloading multiple music files under multiple selected identifiers.

Indicators for any of these five categories can be displayed in other components regardless of the presence of the link 30 because the music file identifiers are stored in the MS 22. The user knows at a glance what music files reside on MS 22, what resides on PC 38, and what he / she has previously purchased and downloaded another copy within that original license. Can be. The file identifier is the basis for what music file copy is purchased and can be automatically transferred from category 4 to category 5 upon expiration of the license, which is generally limited in the time or number of downloads when presented. If lines 311 and 315 in FIG. 3 represent category 1 identifiers, only those music files will be played when the user selects " PLAYLIST 1 "

MS 22 displays file identifiers for music files that are not stored in MS 22 by enabling and storing the identifiers separately from the music files with which they are associated. For example, based on synchronization with the PC 38, all identifiers for the database of music files in the PC 38 are coupled to the MS 22. A simple comparison between the uploaded identifier database and the database of music files in the MS 22 describes category 1 and 2 files. Category 3 files are self-explanatory and the user may mark for deletion of the music file associated with the identifier at the MS 22, whether or not the user has ever had a copy of the same music file stored on the MS 22. have. Category 4 files have been previously deleted so that the associated music file does not exist in MS 22 or PC 38, but this deletion does not require removing the associated identifier, leaving Category 4 files. Category 5 files are stored in the music service server 36. Similar to uploading identifiers for music files stored there from the PC 38, the MS 22 generates a database of music file identifiers from the music service server 36 for storing the music file with which the server 36 is associated. Will download. This database downloaded from the server 36 may include all music files stored on the server 36, which is the user's preference when he / she explicitly selects a particular subset of the music files for which the user wants identifiers. Server 36 may infer user preferences based on music files downloaded by the user, or the identifiers are from the same artist or album / CD that the user has already browsed or downloaded. It can be only identifiers. Even a file carrying identifiers for about 500,000 music files will only occupy approximately the same storage medium 56 capacity as some music files themselves, so this option is enforceable for currently available MSs 22. . In any case, the database of basic music files as well as the identifier database is updated each time the MS 22 and the PC 38 are synchronized and each time the MS 22 and the PC 38 communicate. As mentioned above, where the computer program described above resides on the PC 38, the same displays and categories may be displayed on the display screen 42 of the PC 38 in an obvious variant to the above description.

The concept described above may be extended to the display itself 424 showing the list of playlists in the playlist itself as illustrated in FIG. 4 in the present invention. Five playlist names are shown: "Playlist 1" on line 411, "Drive Music" on line 412, "Sky Music" on line 413, "Romantic" on line 414, and "Playlist 2" on line 415. "Playlist 1" includes music file identifiers for both category 1 and category 2, for example, as shown in FIG. Such playlist name may be indicated by orange color, for example. The particular shade of orange may further indicate the capacity of the primary files on the MS 22 for the PC 38 and / or the server 36. Instead "Drive Music" and "Romantic" contain only music identifiers whose basic music files reside on MS 22, so the playlist names may be displayed in green. &Quot; Skimusic ", for example, includes only identifiers whose basic music files reside only in the PC 38, so it can be displayed in yellow. "Playlist 2" will contain only file identifiers whose basic music files are stored only on server 36 and not on PC 38 or MS 22 and will be indicated by red. If more playlists can be shown at the same time on display 424, scrollbar 418 can be added as known in the art.

Some file identifiers in which the associated music file resides in the MS 22, some file identifiers in which the associated music file resides in the PC 38 but does not reside in the MS 22, and the associated music file resides in the server 36. Assume that "Playlist 1" has some file identifiers that reside but do not reside on PC 38 or MS 22. The user can select a playlist name, as indicated by the shaded background behind the playlist name in FIG. 4. Pressing a single button 426A as identified by the soft function indicator 416 initiates a local connection 44 to the PC 38 and loads all music files associated with the identifiers in the list. Allows MS 22 to upload from PC 38 (otherwise, it will upload all such files, overwriting those already stored in MS 22) except those previously stored in do. If no connection 44 is available immediately, the music files will be displayed for upload according to the next synchronization. Pressing another single button 426C, as identified by another soft function indicator 417, initiates a mobile telephone connection 30 to the music service server 36 and sends it to the PC 38 or MS 22. The MS 22 will be able to download all the music files associated with the identifiers on the playlist that are marked as not stored from the server 36. User billing data may be stored on server 36 from a previous transaction (transaction) to allow transactions with keystrokes of the user several times.

Similar functionality may be used for a particular artist as shown in FIG. 5. The artist name is displayed along with album / CD names or other identifiers at the top of display 524. These identifiers may be stored in the MS 22 as described above even if no music file from that album / CD is stored in the MS 22. The album / CD name is displayed similar to the playlist names in FIG. 4, so that the red indicates that all music files or tracks from that album / CD are available on the server 36, although the MS 22 or PC 38 Not stored in; Shades of orange indicate that varying percentages of music files for that album / CD are stored in any mix of MS 22, PC 38, and server 36; Yellow indicates that all music files of the album / CD are stored in the PC 38 but not in the MS 22; And green indicates that all music files of the album / CD are stored in the MS 22. The user can highlight a particular album / CD as shown in line 513 for the album / CD identifier “Live in Oulu”. Pressing a single button 526A as indicated by the soft function indicator 516 initiates a local connection 44 to the PC 38 and loads all music files associated with the selected album / CD name to the MS 22. Allows MS 22 to upload from PC 38 except for those already stored (otherwise, it will upload all such files and overwrite those already stored in MS 22). do. If no connection 44 is available immediately, the music files will be displayed for upload according to the next synchronization. Pressing another single button 526C, as identified by another soft function indicator 517, initiates a mobile phone connection 30 to the music service server 36 and sends it to the PC 38 or MS 22. The MS 22 will be able to download all the music files associated with the selected album / CD identifiers marked as not stored from the server 36.

However, the user may not always upload or download all remaining tracks of the album / CD as described in FIG. 5. According to FIG. 6, display 624 will not yet enumerate music files associated with only one album / CD. Continuing with the "Live in Oulu" album / CD identifier of "The Girl Band" of FIG. 5, FIG. 6 uses scroll bars 618 (if necessary) to retrieve all music files 611-615 from that album / CD. Enumerated). These music identifiers carry an indication of the category to which the basic music file belongs, as described with respect to the music files of the playlist of FIG. If only one of the file identifiers is selected in accordance with the user input via buttons 616 and 617, upload via local link 44 or download via radiotelephone link 30 of the associated music file is optionally performed.

The sets of computer instructions described above may reside on the PC 38 as particularly described or on the PC 38 in a slight obvious variation. If the local link 44 cannot be established the first time it is attempted, the computer program is preferably intended for the intended action (e.g., uploading, based on the next synchronization with another device (PC 38 or MS 22). File identifier). If the mobile phone link 30 cannot be established when first attempted, the computer program is preferably after synchronization with the current device via the current device 22, 38, or other device 38, 22 but with a server ( The file identifier is indicated to perform the intended action (eg, download) based on the next user server 36 access (next time the user accesses the server 36) prior to the next access of 36).

In addition to allowing the user to have good access to his music library on both the MS 22 and the PC 38 just by glance at the displays 24 and 42 a few times, the present invention provides the user with his / her It is possible to create, edit, and delete playlists from the MS 22 so that the playlists are dynamically updated via links 34 and 44 based on the changes entered while the usage is constantly active. For example, a friend can email or SMS the title of a new song the friend recommends. The user can paste the emailed song title into a playlist and immediately see if he / she has a copy of the music file for the song on MS 22 or PC 38.

Similar functionality can be achieved if a friend emails the entire playlist. Each title in the playlist is properly mapped to a basic music file stored in MS 22 and / or PC 38. However, in a situation where there is no data connection between the MS 22 and the PC 38, some titles in the playlist may be displayed on the PC 38 when the underlying corresponding file is emailed to another device (e.g., when the playlist is emailed to the MS 22). It will not indicate exactly what is stored in)). The inaccuracy will be corrected based on the next synchronization of the MS 22 and the PC 38. In general, the improved user environment of the present invention side-by-side with a mobile station (MS) using the programs of the present invention so that users do not carry a dedicated portable music player and MS.

The foregoing description, by way of example and non-limiting examples, provides a complete and informative description of the best methods and apparatus currently envisioned by the inventors of the invention. However, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims, various modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. For example, when an MS and a PC have an active link between them, such as a Bluetooth or cable link, the MS may request a download from the network-based server through the PC. If the MS has options for two different links to the database, the selected song can be downloaded over the best available link (e.g. exerting a high data rate) so that the broadband cable-to-PC links to the MS It may be selected to download the media file via the mobile telephone link. Additionally, the MS will not establish a link until any predetermined data rate is measured and unless such a measurement is made to download a song for which the user has selected a title, so that only poor or low throughput links may be available. At that time, the user's request is not automatically met. All such and similar variations of the teachings of the invention will still fall within the scope of the invention. Moreover, some of the features of the present invention may be beneficially utilized without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description should be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof.

Claims (36)

A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium in a mobile station (MS), A first set of computer instructions for displaying a plurality of identifiers, each associated with a digital media file, The first identifier indicates that the first media file associated with the first identifier is stored in the mobile station, And the second identifier indicates that the second media file associated with the second identifier is stored at a location outside the mobile station. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a media file title and wherein the first and second identifiers are at least one of a different font of the title, a different color of the title, a different shade of the title, and other icons displayed adjacent to the title. Computer program distinguished by one. 2. The computer program of claim 1, further comprising a second set of computer instructions for establishing a connection to a database in response to user input and for copying a second media file to a mobile station. 4. The computer program of claim 3, wherein the database comprises a server on a network, and wherein the connection from the mobile station to the server is via a personal computer to which the mobile station is electrically coupled. The method of claim 3, wherein the second identifier indicates that the second media file associated with the second identifier is stored in the PC and not in the mobile station, The first set of computer instructions further displays a third identifier indicating that the third media file associated with the third identifier is not stored in the mobile station or the PC. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second set of computer instructions initiates a connection to the PC to upload a second media file when the corresponding user input selects the second identifier and establishes a data communication network when the user input selects the third identifier. A computer program that initiates a mobile phone connection to a media service server to download a third media file via a CD. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising a third set of computer instructions for displaying a playlist name associated with the plurality of digital medium identifiers, The playlist name is displayed in a first manner when all the digital media files associated with the digital media identifiers associated with the first playlist name are stored in the mobile station; The playlist name is displayed in a second manner when at least one, but not all, of the digital media files associated with the digital media identifiers associated with the first playlist name are stored in the mobile station; And The playlist name is displayed in a third manner when none of the digital media files associated with the digital media identifiers associated with the first playlist name are stored in the mobile station. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third set of computer instructions displays at least two playlist names simultaneously in one of the first, second and third ways, respectively, and in either of the at least two playlists. A computer program that does not display associated digital media identifiers at the same time. 9. The digital medium identifier of claim 8, wherein the user initiates the connection to the database and selects a playlist to be displayed in the second or third manner and in response to the user requesting that a new file be stored in the mobile station. And a fourth set of computer instructions for copying music files from a database associated with the data, but not stored in the mobile station. The computer program of claim 9 wherein the database is stored in a PC and the connection comprises a local connection to the PC. 10. The computer program of claim 9, wherein the database is stored in a media service server and the connection comprises a mobile telephone connection via the Internet. The computer program of claim 1 wherein the second identifier indicates that a second media file associated with the second identifier is stored in a PC previously synchronized with the mobile station. 13. The computer program of claim 12, wherein the plurality of identifiers comprises a third identifier indicating that a third media file associated with the third identifier is stored in the MS and in a PC coupled to the mobile station via a local link. 15. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the plurality of identifiers are linked to the mobile station via a mobile phone link without the fourth media file associated with the fourth identifier being stored in the mobile station or in a device separate from the mobile station via a local link to the mobile station. A computer program comprising a fourth identifier indicating that the stored server is to be stored. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium in a host device, the computer program comprising: A first set of computer instructions for storing, in a host device, a first media file and a first identifier associated with the first media file; A second set of computer instructions for storing, in the host device, a second identifier associated with a second media file not stored in the host device; And a third set of computer instructions for displaying both the first and second identifiers regardless of whether the host device is coupled to the network. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a fourth set of computer instructions that enable a user to create and edit playlists of media identifiers stored in the host device regardless of whether media files associated with the particular music identifier are stored in the host device. Computer program. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a fifth set of computer instructions for synchronizing music files and playlists between the host device and the personal computer, wherein the media file deleted from the host device is selective to the host device via a local link. A computer program that is not automatically deleted from separate devices combined into a computer. 16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the second set of computer instructions is for uploading and storing, via a local connection from a separate device, a database of identifiers each associated with a media file stored on a separate device. 19. The computer program of claim 18, wherein the separate device is a PC. 16. The computer of claim 15, wherein the second set of computer instructions is for downloading and storing a database of identifiers, each associated with a media file stored at the media service server, over a mobile telephone connection from the media service server and over the Internet. program. 21. The computer program of claim 20, wherein the database of identifiers is a subset of all identifiers stored on the server, wherein the subset is determined by at least one user preference. The computer program according to claim 15, wherein the host device is a mobile station. An internal storage medium storing the first plurality of media files and the second plurality of file names; A processor coupled to the internal storage medium to map each of the first plurality of media files to a file name; And Coupled to the processor to display a series of file names such that each file name mapped to the media file of the first plurality of media files is displayed with a first characteristic and each file name not mapped to the media file of the first plurality of media files is different from the first characteristic. A mobile station comprising a display interface for displaying with characteristics. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor further maps at least one file name that is not mapped to one of the first plurality of media files to a separate storage location away from the mobile station, And the display interface further displays each file name mapped to a separate storage location along with a second characteristic. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for linking to a separate storage location via one of a wireless telephone link, a cable link, a wireless piconet link, a wireless LAN, and a wireless optical link, wherein the processor is further configured to be within a first plurality. Sends a request for an additional media file, wherein the additional media file corresponds to the file name displayed with the second characteristic and is selected by the user. 26. The mobile station of claim 25, wherein the file name selected by the user is stored on an internal storage medium, and the processor transmits a request for an additional media file based on a user command input. 26. The mobile station of claim 25, in response to a user command input, the processor transmits a request based on a subsequent subsequent establishment of the communication link when the communication link is not established based on the user command input. 28. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein a subsequent subsequent establishment of the communication link is automatically established when the mobile station determines that the prospective link meets the minimum data exchange rate. 26. The mobile station of claim 25, wherein the mobile station further comprises means for linking over at least two of the links, and the processor is further configured to establish one of the links based on a comparison of data throughput over the links. Mobile station to choose. 26. The mobile station of claim 25, wherein the display interface further displays with a third characteristic for each file name that is not mapped to either an internal storage medium or a separate storage location. 25. The mobile station of claim 24, wherein the first and second characteristics are different in at least one of a font, shade, background, and icon displayed adjacent to a file name. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a receiver to receive one of the additional file names over a wireless link, wherein the processor further updates the mapping to reflect the additional file name and the display interface removes the additional file name. A mobile station for displaying with one matching the processor mapping of one characteristic and one other than the first characteristic. 33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the additional file name is in a playlist of additional file names received via a wireless link, the processor updates for each file name in the playlist and the display interface updates the first file name in the playlist. A mobile station for displaying with one matching the processor mapping of a characteristic other than the characteristic and the first characteristic. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the internal storage medium further stores a playlist name associated with a third plurality of file names, and wherein the display interface further comprises the playlist name. A third characteristic when each file name in the third plurality is mapped by the processor to the media file in the first plurality; A fourth characteristic when file names which are part but not all of the third plurality are mapped by the processor to the media file of the first plurality; And A fifth characteristic when none of the third plurality of file names are mapped by the processor to the first plurality of media files Display with, The first and third characteristics may be the same, and one of the fourth and fifth characteristics may be the same as the second characteristic. 35. The mobile terminal of claim 34, wherein the display interface includes file names that are part of, but not all of, a third plurality of media files that are mapped by the processor to media files of the first plurality and that some but not all of the third plurality of file names are transmitted from the mobile station by the processor. A mobile station displaying the playlist name with a fourth characteristic when mapped to a storage location. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for linking to a separate storage location via one of a wireless telephone link, a cable link, a wireless piconet link, a wireless LAN, and a wireless optical link, The processor, in response to the user input of the command input and the playlist name, transmits a request for each media file to the processor for mapping a file name of the third plurality to a separate storage location. Lee Dong-guk.

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