Method and Apparatus to Store Content and a Query on a Device
When playing back content identified on the playlist, it is determined if each of the content items is available. For a given content item that is not available, an additional content item (relevant content item) that is available and that corresponds to selection criteria is determined. The relevant content item and/or a new playlist is presented to a user for approval. The selection criteria is expanded to include a content item not previously identified if an additional content item is not available or is not approved.
1 . A method for playing content items on an electronic media player, the content items being identified on a playlist, the method comprising the acts of:
identifying each of the content items contained in the playlist;
determining whether each of the content items is available; and
identifying for a given content item that is not available, an additional content item that is available that corresponds to selection criteria.
2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising the act of presenting the additional content item to a user for approval to be added to the playlist.
3 . The method of claim 2 , comprising the act of presenting a further additional content item to a user if the additional content item is not approved.
4 . The method of claim 2 , comprising the act of expanding the selection criteria to include a content item not previously identified if an additional content item is not available that is approved.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the playlist is a first playlist, the method comprising the act of creating a second playlist containing identifiers for available content items and identified additional content items.
6 . The method of claim 5 , comprising the act of presenting the second playlist to a user.
7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising the act of expanding the selection criteria to include a content item not previously identified if an additional content item is not available that corresponds to the selection criteria.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the playlist is a first playlist, the method comprising the acts of:
creating a second playlist containing identifiers for available content items and identified additional content items;
presenting the second playlist to a user for approval; and
repeating the expanding of the selection criteria to include a content item not previously identified if an additional content item is not available that corresponds to the expanded selection criteria.
9 . A playback device, comprising:
a memory ( 14 ) configured to store a list of content items and a list of selection criteria; and
a processor ( 10 ) operationally coupled to the memory ( 14 ) and configured to determine if each of the listed content items is available to the playback device and configured to identify for a given content item that is not available, an additional content item that is available that corresponds to the selection criteria.
10 . The playback device of claim 9 , comprising an output ( 13 ) operationally coupled to the processor ( 10 ), wherein the processor ( 10 ) is configured to provide identifying output information for the additional content to a user.
11 . The playback device of claim 10 , wherein the processor ( 10 ) is further configured to receive from the user a determination whether the additional content item is approved.
12 . The playback device of claim 11 , wherein the processor ( 10 ) is configured to identify a further additional content item if the approval is not received.
13 . The playback device of claim 9 , wherein the processor ( 10 ) is configured to expand the selection criteria to include a content item not previously identified if an additional content item is not available that corresponds to the selection criteria.
14 . The playback device of claim 9 , wherein the device ( 150 ) comprises a data input ( 12 ) and wherein the memory ( 14 ) is operationally coupled to the data input ( 12 ).
15 . The playback device of claim 9 , wherein the device ( 150 ) comprises a data input ( 160 ) operationally coupled to the memory ( 14 ), wherein the memory ( 14 ) is configured to receive the list of content items and the list of selection criteria from the data input ( 160 ).
16 . A program portion stored on a machine readable medium, the program segment comprising:
a program segment for storing a list of content items and a list of selection criteria; and
a program segment for determining if each of the listed content items is available and for identifying for a given content item that is not available, an additional content item that is available that corresponds to the selection criteria.
17 . The program portion of claim 16 , comprising a program segment for providing identifying output information for the additional content to a user and for receiving from the user a determination whether the additional content item is approved.
18 . The program portion of claim 16 , comprising a program segment for expanding the selection criteria to include a content item not previously identified if an additional content item is not available that corresponds to the selection criteria and that is approved by a user.
19 . The program portion of claim 16 , comprising a program segment for expanding the selection criteria to include a content item not previously identified if an additional content item is not available that corresponds to the selection criteria.