Customizable database-driven menu structure for a portable computing device

摘要

A portable media playing device incorporating a menu structure. The device includes a display mechanism, a navigation database, including a navigation record with a navigation description, and an action database, including an action record with an action description. The action database is customizable. A display driver displays the navigation description. When the navigation description is selected, the display driver displays the action description. When the action description is selected, a digital synchronization system generates an extra action request (EAR) record that includes an action identifier and action data for storage in an EAR database. When the device is synchronized with a computer, a synchronization manager accesses the EAR database and updates the action database with any new action records.

主权项

1. A method of operating a portable device comprising:
displaying on the portable device a navigation menu with navigation descriptions of navigation records populated from a navigation database on said portable device; obtaining on said portable device a navigation selection of one of the navigation descriptions, wherein said navigation selection is inputted into said portable device; determining on said portable device that the navigation selection is associated with a media file; constructing on said portable device an action menu with action descriptions of action records stored on the portable device, wherein at least one action record is customizable by downloading data to said portable device from an external device; accepting on said portable device an action selection of one of the action descriptions; initiating on said portable device an action associated with the action selection; and downloading onto said portable device the media file, wherein the media file is stored remotely before being downloaded onto said portable device.