Portable media device with audio prompt menu

1 . A method for using an audio prompt menu on a portable media device, comprising:

storing an audio prompt on a portable media device;

playing said audio prompt menu on said portable media device;

receiving in response to said audio prompt menu an input from a user of said portable media device; and

transmitting a command to a remote computer, where said command requests said remote computer to perform an action based on said input.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said storing, synthesizing a textual description of a menu into said audio prompt.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said synthesizing occurs on said portable media device.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said synthesizing occurs at said remote computer.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said storing:

receiving at a portable media device a command for adding an additional menu to a navigation database on said portable audio device; and

invoking said command to update said navigation database, where said audio prompt is an audio description of said additional menu.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising, before said receiving, requesting at said portable media device said additional menu from said remote computer.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising, after said receiving, synthesizing a textual description of said additional menu into said audio prompt.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said synthesizing comprises synthesizing said textual description into a compressed audio format.

9 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising, before said receiving:

playing another audio prompt on said portable media device;

receiving at said portable media device an input from a user requesting said an additional menu; and

transmitting a request for said additional menu to a remote server.

10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said additional menu contains instructions selected from a group consisting of: deleting a media file, instructing another remote computer to purchase a media file, instructing another remote computer to recommend media, instructing said remote computer to delete a media file, instructing said remote computer to add a media file, instructing said remote computer to modify a media file, instructing said remote computer to email a media file, and instructing said remote computer to delete an index of a media file from a playlist.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

playing another audio prompt on said portable media device;

receiving at said portable media device an input from said user; and

performing an action on said portable media device based on said input.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising, before said transmitting, synthesizing a textual description of said additional menu into said audio description at said remote computer.

13 . A method for updating an audio prompt menu structure on a portable media device, comprising:

receiving at a portable media device a command for adding an additional menu to a navigation database on said portable audio device;

invoking said command to update said navigation database; and

storing an audio description of said additional menu on said portable media device for later use in an audio prompt menu structure.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising, before said receiving, requesting at said portable media device said additional menu from said remote computer.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising, after said receiving, synthesizing a textual description of said additional menu into said audio description.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said synthesizing comprises synthesizing said textual description into a compressed audio format.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said compressed audio format is MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3).

18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising, before said receiving:

playing an audio prompt on said portable media device;

receiving at said portable media device an input from a user requesting said additional menu; and

transmitting a request for said additional menu to a remote server.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said additional menu contains instructions selected from a group consisting of: deleting a media file, instructing another remote computer to purchase a media file, instructing another remote computer to recommend media, instructing said remote computer to delete a media file, instructing said remote computer to add a media file, instructing said remote computer to modify a media file, instructing said remote computer to email a media file, and instructing said remote computer to delete an index of a media file from a playlist.

20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

playing said audio description on said portable media device;

receiving at said portable media device an input from said user; and

performing an action on said portable media device based on said input.

21 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising, before said receiving:

transmitting a request from said portable audio player for said additional menu to a remote computer;

receiving said request at said remote computer;

locating said action on said remote computer; and

transmitting said action to said portable audio player.

22 . A method for dynamically generating an audio prompt menu on a portable media device, comprising:

determining that a menu structure on a portable device requires presenting an description of a media file;

locating a textual description of said media file on said portable media device;

synthesizing said textual description into an audio description on said portable media device;

generating an audio prompt menu that at least partially incorporates said audio description; and

playing said audio prompt menu on said portable media device.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

receiving in response to said audio prompt menu an input from a user of said portable media device;

transmitting a command to a remote computer based on said input, where said command requests said remote computer to perform an action.

24 . A portable media device, comprising:

a portable media device housing containing:

a processor;

a power source;

a user interface device;

communications circuitry;

at least one input/output (i/o) port; and

a memory, comprising:

an operating system;

a media database;

communication procedures for communicating with a remote computer;

instructions for storing an audio prompt in said media database;

instructions for playing said audio prompt menu;

instructions for receiving in response to said audio prompt menu an input from a user of said portable media device via said user input interface; and

instructions for transmitting a command to a remote computer via said communications circuitry, where said command requests said remote computer to perform an action based on said input.

25 . The portable media device of claim 24 , wherein said memory further comprises a text to audio synthesizer.

26 . The portable media device of claim 24 , wherein said memory further comprises media stored in said media database.