Tagging of broadcast content using a portable media device controlled by an accessory

摘要

Track-identifying information can be collected from a broadcast using a portable media device capable of receiving broadcast content in combination with an accessory capable of communicating user input to the portable media player. In some embodiments, the portable media player can detect the presence of track-identifying metadata (a “tag”) within a received broadcast and can alert the accessory when a tag is available for a currently-playing track. If the accessory instructs the portable media player to store the tag, the portable media player can do so and can alert the accessory when a tag for a track has been stored. In some embodiments, the accessory can also remotely control other broadcast-receiving functions of the portable media device, such as entering or exiting a broadcast-receiving mode of operation.

主权项

1. An accessory comprising:
a media device interface configured to exchange a plurality of commands with a portable media device; a user interface configured to receive user input; and a controller coupled to the media device interface and the user interface, the controller being configured to interpret the received user input as instructions for invoking a functionality of a broadcast receiver of the portable media device and to instruct the media device interface to send a corresponding command from the plurality of commands to the portable media device, the controller being further configured to process commands received from the portable media device by the media device interface, wherein the plurality of commands includes:
a registration request command sendable by the accessory, the registration request command requesting the portable media device to register the accessory to receive notifications associated with one or more notification classes including a tagging class of notifications;a button status command sendable by the accessory, the button status command including a button status bitmask, wherein different bits of the button status bitmask correspond to different functions of the broadcast receiver of the portable media device, the bits of the button status bitmask including a tag bit corresponding to an instruction to store track identifying metadata;a notification command receivable by the accessory, the notification command including one of a plurality of event identifiers, wherein the plurality of event identifiers includes a first event identifier indicating detection of track identifying metadata for a current track being received by the broadcast receiver of the portable media device and a second event identifier indicating successful storing of the track identifying metadata at the portable media device;a broadcast-receiving mode entry command sendable by the accessory to instruct the portable media device to enter a broadcast-receiving mode of operation; anda broadcast-receiving mode exit command sendable by the accessory to instruct the portable media device to exit the broadcast-receiving mode of operation.