Fast seek between multiple selections in a multimedia player

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said media player includes a seek-up push button and a seek-down push button, and wherein said control action indicating either a seek-up or a seek-down command is comprised of prressing said seek-up push button or said seek-down push button, respectively.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said control action to establish said fast seek interval is comprised of continuing to press said seek-up push button or said seek-down push button throughout said fast seek interval.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said control action to terminate said fast seek interval is comprised of releasing said seek-up push button or said seek-down push button.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined modulo value is comprised of zero with a modulus of ten.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said jump step indexes said selection number by ten.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein said sequence includes at least a predetermined minimum number of single steps before using said jump step.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein said predetermined modulo value is comprised of zero with a modulus of ten, wherein said jump step indexes said selection number by ten, and wherein said predetermined minimum number is equal to four.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein, after incrementing said interim selection number by said jump step, said sequence reverts to said single step when said interim selection number is within a predetermined range of said first selection number or said last selection number and then wraps between said first selection number and said last selection number.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 wherein, after wrapping between said first selection number and said last selection number, said sequence indexes said interim selection number in said single steps until said interim selection number reaches said predetermined modulo value and then resumes indexing with said jump step.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein said media player reproduces said selections from a predetermined media, wherein said media has a plurality of directories, and wherein said playlist is comprised of selections within one of said directories.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 wherein said current selection continues to be reproduced during said fast seek interval.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined display time has a first duration while said sequence is indexing at said single steps and has a second duration while said sequence is indexing at said jump steps, said second duration being shorter than said first duration.

Claim 15

The method of claim 13 wherein said first duration is equal to about 500 milliseconds and said second duration is equal to about 333 milliseconds.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 wherein indexing by said jump step is disabled and said interim selection number is indexed only in single steps of a total number of selections in said playlist is less than a predetermined number.

Claim 17

A media player for reproducing selections from a media containing an ordered playlist of selections, each selection in said ordered playlist having a corresponding selection number between a first selection number and a last selection number, said media player performing a fast seek from a current selection to a desired selection within said playlist, said media player comprising: a display showing selection identifying data; a user control interface for indicating either a seek-up or a seek-down command, for establishing a fast seek interval, and for terminating said fast seek interval; and a controller responsive to said user control interface for controlling said fast seek to display selection identifying data for interim selections on said display according to a predetermined sequence of said selection numbers wherein said interim selection is indexed to successive selections in said sequence in an increasing order in response to said seek-up command and is indexed to successive selections in said sequence in a decreasing order in response to said seek-down command, wherein said sequence indexes said interim selection number in single steps until said interim selection number has a predetermined modulo value and then indexes said interim selection number by a jump step, and wherein each selection identifying data for each interim selection in said sequence is displayed for a predetermined display time, said controller switching to reproduction of a chosen selection comprised of the interim selection with its selection identifying data being displayed when said fast seek interval is terminated.

Claim 18

A media player for reproducing selections from a media containing an ordered playlist of selections, each selection in said ordered playlist having a corresponding selection number between a first selection number and a last selection number, said media player performing a fast seek from a current selection to a desired selection within said playlist, said media player comprising: a display showing selection identifying data; a user control interface for indicating either a seek-up or a seek-down command, for establishing a fast seek interval, and for terminating said fast seek interval; and a controller responsive to said user control interface for controlling said fast seek to display selection identifying data for interim selections on said display according to a predetermined sequence of said selection numbers wherein said interim selection is indexed to successive selections in said sequence in an increasing order in response to said seek-up command and is indexed to successive selections in said sequence in a decreasing order in response to said seek-down command, wherein said sequence indexes said interim selection number in single steps until said interim selection number has a predetermined modulo value and then indexes said interim selection number by a jump step, and wherein each selection identifying data for each interim selection in said sequence is displayed for a predetermined display time, said controller switching to reproduction of a chosen selection comprised of the interim selection with its selection identifying data being displayed when said fast seek interval is terminated.

Claim 19

The media player of claim 16 wherein said user control interface is comprised of a seek-up push button and a seek-down push button.

Claim 20

The media player of claim 17 wherein said fast seek interval is established by pressing and holding said seek-up push button or said seek-down push button throughout said fast seek interval and releasing said seek-up button or said seek-down button to terminate said fast seek interval.

Claim 21

The media player of claim 16 wherein said predetermined modulo value is comprised of zero with a modulus of ten and wherein said jump step indexes said selection number by ten.

Claim 22

The media player of claim 16 wherein said sequence includes at least a predetermined minimum number of single steps before using said jump step.

Claim 23

The media player of claim 16 wherein, after incrementing said interim selection number by said jump step, said sequence reverts to said single step when said interim selection number is within a predetermined range of said first selection number or said last selection number and then wraps between said first selection number and said last selection number.

Claim 24

The media player of claim 21 wherein, after wrapping between said first selection number and said last selection number, said sequence indexes said interim selection number in said single steps until said interim selection number reaches said predetermined modulo value and then resumes indexing with said jump step.

Claim 25

The media player of claim 16 wherein said media has a plurality of directories and wherein said playlist is comprised of selections within one of said directories.

Claim 26

The media player of claim 16 wherein said predetermined display time has a first duration while said sequence is indexing at said single steps and has a second duration while said sequence is indexing at said jump steps, said second duration being shorter than said first duration.

Claim 27

The media player of claim 16 wherein said selections are comprised of compressed audio files stored on said media.

Claim 28

The media player of claim 25 wherein said compressed audio files are comprised of mp3 files.

Claim 29

The media player of claim 25 wherein said media is comprised of a compact disc.