Field of the invention

The present invention relates to media player systems and particularly, but not exclusively, to audio player systems, media players, and media devices.

Background to the invention

Media player systems, such as audio book players, are often unsuitable for use by small children. For example, such known media players may be difficult to operate, may have a visual display (which may be damaged by a child), and may obtain the media files from the internet. In some circumstances, a parent may wish to prevent a child from having access to the internet, limit their screen time, and to avoid having to supervise them in order to mitigate damage occurring to the media player system.

It would be desirable to provide a media player system that can be operated by children, and that potentially mitigates some of the problems associated with known media players.

Statements of invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a media player system comprising: a media device for connecting to a media player, the media device comprising: a casing; a media player connecting portion for connecting to a media player, the media player connecting portion located on the casing; and a memory element operable to store one or more media files, the memory element located in the casing; and a media player comprising: a housing; a media device connecting portion for connecting to the media device, the media device connecting portion being located on the housing; a processor operable to play the one or more media files, the processor located in the housing; an output element located in or on the housing, the output element operable to output the one or more media files, and wherein the media device is configured to permit the one or more media files, when stored therein, to be accessed by the media player when the media device is connected to the media player; and wherein the media player is operable to access and play the one or more media files when the media device is connected to the media player.

The media player system may comprise a single media player, one or more media players, or a plurality of media players.

The media player may be an audio player. The audio player may be an MP3 player, or the like.

The one or more media files may be digital media files. The processor may be operable to play digital media files.

The one or more media files may include at least one audio file. The one or more media files may be audio files. The one or more media files may be audio book files. The, or each, audio file may be an MP3 file, or the like. The media player may be configured to access the one or more media files only when the media device is connected to the media player. The media player may be configured to play the one or more media files only when the media device is connected to the media player.

The media player may be configured to be unable to play the one or more media files when the media device is disconnected from the media player. The media player may be configured to be unable to play any media files when the media device is disconnected from the media player.

The media player may be configured not to store the one or more media files accessed from the media player.

The one or more media files may be encrypted files. The processor may be operable to decrypt and play the one or more encrypted media files. The one or more media files may be encrypted audio files. The processor may comprise a decryption unit configured to decrypt the one or more encrypted media files.

The one or more media files may be compressed files. The processor may be operable to extract and play the one or more compressed media files. The one or more media files may be compressed audio files. The processor may comprise a decompression unit configured to extract the one or more encrypted media files.

The one or more media files may be compressed and/or encrypted files.

The processor may be a media processor. The processor may be an audio processor operable to play the one or more audio files. The processor may be an MP3 processor operable to play one or more MP3 files.

The housing may be a cuboid shaped housing, a cube shaped housing, a rounded cuboid shaped housing, a rounded cube shaped housing, or the like.

The housing may comprise one or more rounded corner portions.

The housing may comprise one or more shield members configured to mitigate damage to the housing or the media player.

The media player may comprise a power supply. The power supply may be located in the housing. The power supply may be a battery, a rechargeable battery, or the like.

The media player may be a handheld media player. The media player may be a portable media player.

The output element may comprise one or more speakers. The output element may comprise one or more output ports for an output device, such as headphones, or the like. The output element may comprise one or more speakers and/or one or more output ports for an output device.

The output element may be configured to output audio. The output element may be configured to output audio only. The output element may be configured to be unable to output video.

The output element may be located at an upper region of the housing. The media player may comprise a user interface. The user interface may be located on the housing. The user interface may be located at a lower region of the housing. The user interface may be a manual user interface.

The user interface may include one or more user input elements, which may be manual user input elements. The user input elements may include one or more buttons, or the like. The user interface may be a physical user interface.

The user interface may include one or more media controls. The one or more media controls may include play, pause, skip, rewind, fast-forward, next chapter, previous chapter, volume up/down, or any suitable media control for controlling the playback of the one or more media files.

The user interface may be configured to only control functions associated with the playback of the one or more media files. In this arrangement, the user interface is dedicated to the playback of the one or more media files.

The media player may comprise one or more power controls. The power control may be an on/off control, such as an on/off switch, or the like.

The media device connecting portion may include a single connector, or one or more connectors, or a plurality of connectors. The media device connecting portion may include a single discrete connector, one or more discrete connectors, or a plurality of discrete connectors.

The media player connecting portion may include a single connector, or one or more connectors, or a plurality of connectors. The media player connecting portion may include a single discrete connector, one or more discrete connectors, or a plurality of discrete connectors. The media device connecting portion may be an electrical connecting portion. The media device connecting portion may include a wired connector. The media device connecting portion may include a wireless connector.

The media player connecting portion may be an electrical connecting portion. The media player connecting portion may include a wired connector. The media player connecting portion may include a wireless connector.

The media device connecting portion may include a media device accommodating portion configured to accommodate at least a portion of the media device. The media device accommodating portion may include one or more recesses, receptacles, slots, channels, grooves, or the like, for accommodating at least a portion of the media device therein.

The media device accommodating portion may be at least partially complementary in shape to the media device. The media device accommodating portion may be at least partially complementary in shape to the casing of the media device.

The media device accommodating portion may have a cuboidal shape, a cube shape, a rounded cuboidal shape, a rounded cube shape, or the like.

The housing of the media player may be configured to provide support to the media device when the media device is connected to the media player.

The housing may comprise a front region. The media device connecting portion may be located at the front region of the housing. The media device connecting portion may be located at a major portion of the housing of the media player. The media device connecting portion may be located on at least one major surface of the housing. The media device connecting portion may be located on a major portion of the front region of the housing.

The media device connecting portion may be configured to permit the media device to be connected to, and disconnected from, the media player.

The media device connecting portion may comprise one or more male connectors and/or one or more female connectors. The one or more connectors of the media device connecting portion may comprise one or more plug members, protruding members, pin members, or the like, and/or one or more socket members, hole members, or the like.

The media player connecting portion may comprise one or more male connectors and/or one or more female connectors. The one or more connectors of the media player connecting portion may comprise one or more plug members, protruding members, pin members or the like, and/or one or more socket members, hole members, or the like.

The media device connecting portion may include one or more universal serial bus (USB) connectors for connecting to the media device, or one or more modified USB connectors. The media player connecting portion may include one or more USB connectors for connecting to the media player, or one or more modified USB connectors.

The media device connecting portion may be configured to apply a biasing force to the media player connecting portion of the media device. The media device connecting portion may comprise a biasing member for applying the biasing force to the media player connecting portion. The biasing member may be one or more magnets, permanent magnets, or the like.

The media player connecting portion may be configured to apply a biasing force to the media device connecting portion of the media player. The media player connecting portion may comprise a biasing member for applying the biasing force to the media device connecting portion. The biasing member may be one or more magnets, permanent magnets, or the like.

The media device connecting portion may be configured to apply a biasing force to the media player connecting portion of the media device and/or the media player connecting portion may be configured to apply a biasing force to the media device connecting portion of the media player.

The biasing member of the media player connecting portion and the biasing member of the media device may be complementary.

The housing may be configured to guide the media device into connection with the media player. The housing may be configured to align the media device to the media player. The housing may comprise one or more guide members configured to guide the media device into connection with the media player. The one or more guide members may be configured to align the media device to the media player. The one or more guide members may be abutment members configured to abut at least a portion of the casing of the media device. The one or more guide members may be wall portions of the housing. The casing of the media device may comprise one or more engagement members for engaging with the one or more guide members of the housing of the media player. The one or more engagement members may be abutment members configured to abut the one or more guide members of the media player. The one or more abutment members may be configured to abut the one or more guide members of the media player when the media device is connected to the media player.

The one or more engagement members of the media device and the one or more guide members of the media player may be configured to guide the media device into connection with the media player.

The one or more engagement members of the media device and the one or more guide members of the media player may be configured to align the media device with the media player.

The one or more engagement members of the media device and the one or more guide members of the media player may be configured to align the media device with the media player and to guide the media device into connection with the media player.

The media device accommodating portion may comprise one or more wall portions. The one or more guide members of the media player may be located at the media device accommodating portion. The one or more guide members of the media player may be located at one or more wall portions of the media device accommodating portion.

The media player may comprise a single media device connecting portion, or one or more, or a plurality of, media device connecting portions. The media device may comprise a single media player connecting portion, or one or more, or a plurality of, media player connecting portions.

The media device connecting portion may be configured to directly connect with the media player connecting portion. The media player connecting portion may be configured to directly connect with the media device connecting portion. The connectors of the media device connecting portion and the media player connecting portion may be configured to directly connect to each other.

The connectors of the media device connecting portion and the media player connecting portion may be complementary.

The media player may be configured to only be connectable with the media device. The media player may be configured to be unable to connect with any other media devices. The media player may be configured to be unable to connect to any other electronic device. The media player may be configured to have no wireless communication capabilities. The media player may be configured to have no network communication capability. The media player may be configured to be unable to access a computing network, such as the internet. The media player may lack internet connectivity.

The media player may have no display. The media player may have no electronic display. The media player may have no visual display element. The media player may be configured to be unable to display data associated with the one or more media files. The media player may be configured to be unable to display the one or more media files. The media player may be configured to be unable to display any data or information on a display element or an electronic display element. The media player may be configured to be unable to output video or images or any visual information associated with the one or more media files.

The media player may be configured to be unable to transfer data to a further media player, a further device, a further electronic device, a computing device, and/or a network. The media player may be configured to be unable to receive data from a further media player, a further device, a further electronic device, a computing device, and/or a network.

The media player may be configured to be unable to store the one or more media files. The media player may be configured to be unable to store at least a portion of the one or more media files. The media player may have no memory element for storing at least a portion of the one or more media files. The media player may have no memory element configured to store at least a portion of the one or more media files.

The media player may have no telecommunications capability.

The media player may be configured to store a playback position of the, or each media file.

The media player may be configured to detect when the media device is connected therewith. The media player may be configured to detect when the media device is disconnected therefrom.

The media player may be configured to store the playback position when the media device is disconnected from the media player. The media player may be configured to store the playback position when the media device is moved from being connected to the media player to being disconnected from the media player. The media player may be configured to store the playback position as soon as the media device is disconnected from the media player, or with a time delay from being disconnected.

The stored playback position may correspond substantially to the last known playback position, or it may be allocated within a predetermined time of the actual last playback position, or it may be allocated as one or more bookmarks, chapters, or the like, of the, or each, media file.

The media player may be configured to recall the stored playback position. The media player may be configured to recall the stored playback position when the media device has been connected to the media player. The media player may be configured to recall the stored playback position when the media device has been connected to the media player, or after a time delay of being connected.

The media player may be configured to play the one or more media files from the stored playback position. The media player may be configured to play the one or more media files from an initial playback position if there is no playback position stored on the media player.

The media player may be configured to play the one or more media files from the stored playback position without requiring input from the user. The media player may be configured to play the one or more media files from an initial playback position if there is no playback position stored on the media player and without requiring input from the user.

The media player may comprise a memory for storing the playback position. The media player may be configured to only store the playback position once the media device is disconnected from the media player. The memory may be a flash memory, or the like.

The media player may be configured to store a plurality of playback positions, each playback position being associated with a different media file or a different media device. In this example, the media player can remember the playback position of each media file or media device.

The media player may be configured to recall the playback position associated with the media file or the media device once the media device has been connected to the media player.

The media player system may comprise one or more media devices, two or more media devices, three or more media devices, four or more media devices, five or more media devices, or six or more media devices, or a plurality of media devices. The, or each, media device may be substantially identical. The, or each, media device may be a media device for connecting to a media player, the media device comprising: a casing; a media player connecting portion for connecting to a media player, the media player connecting portion located on the casing; and a memory element operable to store one or more media files, the memory element located in the casing.

The, or each, media device may be stackable with at least one of the other media devices.

The one or more engagement members of the media device may be located at one or more wall portions of the casing. The media device may be separate to, and is connectable to, the media player.

The media device may be a media storage device. The media device may be an audio device, or an audio storage device. The audio device may be an MP3 device, or the like. The audio storage device may be an MP3 storage device, or the like. The media device may be an audio book device, or the like.

The casing of the media device may be a box, a block, a cartridge, or the like. The casing of the media device may be a cuboidal shaped casing, a rounded cuboidal shaped casing, a cube shaped casing, or a rounded cube shaped casing.

The media device may be a portable media device. The media device may be a handheld media device.

The casing may comprise one or more planar surfaces. The casing may comprise one or more wall portions. The casing may comprise one or more planar wall portions. The casing may comprise one or more major surfaces and one or more minor surfaces. The casing may comprise one or more major wall portions and one or more minor wall portions.

The casing may comprise a front region and a rear region. The casing may comprise one or more side regions. The casing may comprise one or more corner regions. The corner regions may be rounded corner regions. The front region may be a planar surface of the casing. The rear region may be a substantially planar surface of the casing. The majority of the rear region may be a substantially planar surface of the casing. The, or each, side region may be a substantially planar surface of the casing. The front region of the casing, or the majority of the front region, may be a continuous surface. The rear region of the casing, or the majority of the rear region may be a continuous surface. The, or each, side region of the casing, or the majority of the, or each side region, may be a continuous surface. The, or each, corner region of the casing may be a continuous surface.

The casing may be formed substantially of continuous surfaces.

The casing may have no user interface. The media device may have no user interface. The front region of the casing may have no user interface. The rear region of the casing may have no user interface. The, or each side region of the casing may have no user interface. The, or each, corner region of the casing may have no user interface.

The media device may have no display. The media device may have no electronic display. The media device may have no visual display element. The media device may be configured to be unable to display data associated with the one or more media files. The media device may be configured to be unable to display the one or more media files. The media device may be configured to be unable to display any data or information on a display element or an electronic display element.

The casing may comprise one or more indicator elements. An Indicator element may be located on the front region of the casing. An indicator element may be located on the front region, rear region, one or more side regions and/or one or more corner regions of the casing. The, or each indicator element may include information associated with a stored media file(s). the indicator element may include a visual indicator element, such as text, graphics, artwork, or the like.

At least a portion of the casing may be visible when the media device is connected to the media player. The media player and the media device may be configured such that the front region of the casing is visible when the media device is connected to the media player. The majority of the front region of the casing may be visible when the media device is connected to the media player. The entire front region of the casing may be visible when the media device is connected to the media player.

The media device may be a digital media device operable to store one or more digital media files.

The memory element of the media device may be a flash memory element, or the like.

The media device is an electronic media device.

The casing of the media device may be configured to be a robust casing. The casing of the media device may be configured to be a robust casing suitable for use by children.

The casing of the media device may be configured to be a robust casing suitable for use by children of about 3 years old and up, optionally about 4 years and up, optionally about 5 years and up, optionally between about 3 years and about 12 years, optionally between about 4 years and 11 years, optionally between about 5 years and 10 years. The housing of the media player may be configured to be a robust casing. The housing of the media player may be configured to be a robust casing suitable for use by children of about 3 years and up, optionally about 4 years and up, optionally about 5 years and up, optionally between about 3 years and about 12 years, optionally between about 4 years and 11 years, optionally between about 5 years and 10 years. The media player may be configured to be suitable for use by children.

The casing of the media device may be made substantially from an organic material, optionally a wood-based material, optionally a card or cardboard material. The casing of the media device may be made substantially from a recycled material, optionally a recycled wood-based material, optionally a recycled card or recycled cardboard material.

The casing of the media device may be a layered structure formed of two or more layers. Each layer may be attached to at least one other layer using an adhesive. The adhesive may be a glue, or the like.

The casing may comprise at least one cavity. The memory element may be located in the at least one cavity. The at least one cavity may be formed from one or more holes, cut-out portions, apertures or the like in the casing. The at least one cavity may be formed from one or more holes, cut-out portions, apertures or the like in at least one of the layers of the casing. The at least one cavity may be substantially entirely enclosed by the casing.

The media player connecting portion may be located at one or more wall portions of the casing. The media player connecting portion may be located at one or more major wall portions of the casing. The media player connecting portion may be located at one or more major surfaces of the casing. The media player connecting portion may be located at one or more planar surfaces of the casing. The media player connecting portion may be located at one or more major planar surfaces of the casing. The media player connecting portion may be located at a rear region of the casing.

The connector of the media player connecting portion may be coplanar with, or sunk into, the casing of the media device. The connector of the media player connecting portion may be located in a recess of the casing of the media device. The connector of the media player connecting portion may be configured not to protrude beyond the casing.

The media device may have no power supply. The media device may be powered by the media player when connected thereto.

The media device may comprise a communications element for communicating with a media apparatus.

The media apparatus may be different to the media player. The media apparatus may be separate to the media device.

The media apparatus may be a computing device, a tablet, a PC, a tablet PC, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or the like.

The communications element may be a wireless communications element. The wireless communications element may include a near-field communications (NFC) element. The NFC element may include one or more NFC transceivers for communicating with the media apparatus. The media apparatus may comprise a communications element for communicating with the media device. The communications element of the media apparatus may be a wireless communications element. The wireless communications element of the media apparatus may include a NFC element. The NFC element of the media apparatus may include one or more NFC transceivers for communicating with the media device.

The memory element of the media device may be operable to store one or more authentication elements associated with the one or more media files. The, or each, authentication element may be an encrypted authentication element.

The communications element of the media device may be operable to provide an authentication signal to the media apparatus for indicating that the one or more media files are authorised for use with the media apparatus.

The media device may comprise an authentication element associated with media device and an authentication element associated with the, or each media file stored in the media device. The media device may comprise an authentication element indicating that the one or media files are authorised to be played.

The authentication signal may include the, or each authentication element stored on the media device.

The media apparatus may be operable to verify the authentication signal received from the media device. The media apparatus may be operable to verify the authentication signal by accessing a verification element. The verification element may include a list of authentication elements associated with the, or each, media device and a list of corresponding authentication elements for the, or each media file, in order to verify that the one or more media files are authorised for that media device.

The verification element may include a list of authentication elements associated with the, or each media file, in order to verify that the one or more media files are authorised to be played.

The verification element may be stored on the media apparatus, or on a remote system, such as a server, or the like. The media apparatus may be operable to communicate with the remote system via a network, such as the internet.

The media apparatus may be operable to decrypt the authentication signal received from the media device. The media apparatus may be operable to decrypt the authentication signal, or the media apparatus may be operable to send the authentication signal to the remote system for decryption.

The media apparatus may be operable to verify the authentication signal by comparing it to the verification element. The media apparatus may be operable to carry out the verification on the media apparatus, or to send the authentication signal to the remote system for verification.

The media apparatus may be operable to obtain a copy of the one or more media files when the authentication signal has been received and verified. The media apparatus may be configured to obtain the copy of the one or more media files from the remote system. The copy of the one or more media files may be encrypted. The media apparatus may be configured to decrypt the copy of the one or more media files.

The media apparatus may be operable to store the copy of the one or more media files.

The media apparatus may be operable to play the copy of the one or more media files when the authentication signal has been received and verified.

The media apparatus may comprise application software configured to communicate with the media device, and configured to carry out one or more of the operations described above in relation to the media apparatus.

The casing of the media device may be between approximately 90 mm and approximately 130 mm long, approximately 50 mm and approximately 90 mm wide, and approximately 10 mm and approximately 22 mm thick.

The housing of the media player may be between approximately 170 mm and approximately 210 mm long, approximately 100 mm and approximately 140 mm wide, and between approximately 20 mm and approximately 30 mm thick.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a media player comprising: a housing; a media device connecting portion for connecting to a media device, the media device comprising one or more media files, the media device connecting portion being located on the housing; a processor operable to play the one or more media files, the processor located in the housing; an output element located in or on the housing, the output element operable to output the one or more media files, and wherein the media player is operable to access and play the one or more media files of the media device when the media device is connected to the media player.

Embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention may include one or more features of the first aspect of the present invention or its embodiments. Similarly, embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention may include one or more features of the second aspect of the present invention or its embodiments.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a media device for connecting to a media player, the media device comprising: a casing; a media player connecting portion for connecting to a media player, the media player connecting portion located on the casing; and a memory element operable to store one or more media files, the memory element located in the casing; and wherein the media device is configured to permit the one or more media files, when stored therein, to be accessed by the media player when the media device is connected to the media player.

Embodiments of the third aspect of the present invention may include one or more features of the first and/or second aspects of the present invention or their embodiments. Similarly, embodiments of the first and/or second aspects of the present invention may include one or more features of the third aspect of the present invention or its embodiments.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a media player system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the media player of the media player system of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows three media devices of the media player system of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 shows a rear view of a media device of the media player system of Fig. 1 ;

Figs. 5a and 5b shows the connectors of the media player and the media device in more detail;

Fig. 6 shows the media player system of Fig. 1 , including a media apparatus; and

Fig. 7 shows a flowchart of the operation of the media device and the media apparatus.

Description of preferred embodiments

With reference to Figs. 1 to 7, a media player system 1 comprising a media player 10 and a media device 100 is shown.

The media device 100 is for connecting to the media player 10. As best shown in Figs. 3 to 5b, the media device 100 comprises a casing 102 and a media player connecting portion 104 for connecting to the media player 10. The media player connecting portion 104 is located on the casing 102 The media device 100 comprises a memory element located in the casing 102 operable to store one or more media files. As shown in Fig. 2, the media player 10 comprises a housing 12 and a media device connecting portion 14 for connecting to the media device 100. The media device connecting portion 1 is located on the housing 12. The media player 10 comprises a processor 15 located in the housing 12 and operable to play the one or more media files.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the media player 10 comprises an output element 17 located on the housing 12. In this embodiment, the output element 17 includes a speaker 17a and a headphone port 17b, which are operable to output the one or more media files. In this embodiment, the output element 17 is configured to output audio only and is unable to output video. The output element 17 is located at an upper region 12c of the housing 12.

The media device 100 is configured to permit the one or more media files, when stored therein, to be accessed by the media player 10 when the media device 100 is connected to the media player 10.

The media player 10 is operable to access and play the one or more media files when the media device 100 is connected to the media player 10.

It will be appreciated that each media device 100 could have a single media file stored thereon, multiple parts of the same media (e.g. multiple chapters of a book), or different media stored thereon (e.g. multiple books).

In the embodiments illustrated and described here, the media player system 1 comprise a single media player 10. The media player 10 is an MP3 player (an example of an audio player). However, in other embodiments the media player 10 may be a different type of audio player, or another type of media player. In this embodiment, the one or more media files are MP3 files (which are example digital audio files). The processor 15 is an MP3 processor operable to play MP3 files.

In this embodiment the one or more media files are audio book files and the media devices 100 are designed to resemble books.

The media player 10 is configured to access and play the one or more media files only when the media device 100 is connected to the media player 10 (shown in Fig. 1 ). The media player 10 is configured to be unable to play the one or more media files when the media device 100 is disconnected from the media player 10 (shown in Fig. 2). The media player 10 is configured to be unable to play any media files when the media device 100 is disconnected from the media player 10.

The media player 10 is configured not to store the one or more media files accessed from the media player 10.

In this embodiment, the one or more media files are stored as compressed, encrypted MP3 files, and the processor 15 is operable to decrypt, extract and play the encrypted files. The processor 15 comprises a decryption unit configured to decrypt the encrypted files, and a decompression unit configured to extract the one or more encrypted media files.

As shown in Fig. 2, the housing 12 is a rounded cuboid shaped housing 12, including a plurality of rounded corner portions 12a and a shield member configured to mitigate damage to the housing 12 or the media player 10.

The media player 10 includes a rechargeable battery.

The media player 10 is a handheld and portable media player 10.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the media player 10 comprises a manual user interface 18 located on a lower region 12d of the housing 12. The user interface 18 includes a plurality of manual user input elements 18a, which in this embodiment are buttons. The user interface 18 is a physical user interface.

The manual user input elements 18a are media controls, including play/pause, chapter up/down, and volume up/down. It will be understood that any suitable media control for controlling the playback of the one or more media files could be included.

The user interface 18 is configured to only control functions associated with the playback of the one or more media files, which includes volume control and any suitable function associated with the playback. In this embodiment, the user interface 18 is dedicated to the playback of the one or more media files.

The media player 10 comprises an on/off switch 11 .

As best shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, in the embodiments illustrated and described here, the media device connecting portion 14 includes a single discrete connector 14a, and the media player connecting portion 104 includes a single discrete connector 104a. In this embodiment, both connectors 14a, 104a, are wired electrical connectors. It will be understood that in other embodiments, the connectors 14a, 104a could be wireless connectors configured to permit wireless communication between the media player 10 and the media device 100.

Turning again to Figs. 1 and 2, the media device connecting portion 14 includes a media device accommodating portion 14b configured to accommodate a portion of the media device 100 therein. The media device accommodating portion 14b is a recess in the housing 12. In other embodiments, any suitable accommodating portion 14b could be used, such as receptacles, slots, channels, grooves, or the like.

The media device accommodating portion 14b is complementary in shape to the media device 100.

The media device accommodating portion 14b has a rounded cuboid shape, which is complimentary to the shape of the casing 102 of the media device 100.

The housing 12 of the media player 10 is configured to provide support to the media device 100 when the media device 100 is connected to the media player 10.

As shown in Fig. 2, the media device connecting portion 14 is located at a front region 12e of the housing 12. The media device connecting portion 14 is located at a major portion 12f of the housing 12 of the media player 10. The media device connecting portion 14 is located on at least one major surface 12g of the housing 12. The connecting portions 14, 104 are configured to permit the media device 100 to be connected to, and disconnected from, the media player 10.

In this embodiment, and as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, the media device connecting portion 14 comprises a male connector 14a having five pin members 14a’, and the media player connecting portion 104 comprises a female connector 104a having five complementary socket members 104a’.

In this embodiment, the connection between the media device 100 and the media player 10 is a universal serial bus (USB) connection, although the connectors 14a, 104a, have been modified to have five connections rather than the conventional four. The fifth connection is used by the media player 10 to detect whether or not the media device 100 is connected or disconnected therefrom.

As shown in Figs. 5a and 5b the media device connecting portion 14 comprises a permanent magnet 14c (an example of a biasing member) for applying a biasing force to the media player connecting portion 104. The media player connecting portion 104 comprises a magnet 104c for applying a biasing force to the media device connecting portion 14. The magnets 14c, 104c are configured to be complementary, in order to provide attractive force between the connectors 14a and 104a.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the housing 12 is configured to guide the media device 100 into connection with the media player 10. The housing 12 is configured to align the media device 100 to the media player 10. The housing 12 comprises a plurality of guide members 12h configured to guide the media device 100 into connection with the media player 10. The guide members 12h are configured to align the media device 100 to the media player 10. The guide members 12h are abutment members configured to abut at least a portion of the casing 102 of the media device 100. The guide members 12h are wall portions of the housing 12.

As shown in Fig. 3, the casing 102 of the media device 100 comprises a plurality of engagement members 102h for engaging with the one or more guide members 12h of the housing 12 of the media player 10. The engagement members 102h are abutment members configured to abut the guide members 12h of the media player 10 when the media device 100 is connected to the media player 10.

The engagement members 102h of the media device 100 and the guide members 12h of the media player 10 are configured to guide and align the media device 100 into connection with the media player 10.

The guide members 12h of the media player 10 are located at one or more wall portions of the media device accommodating portion 14b.

In this embodiment, the media player 10 comprises a single media device connecting portion 14, and the media device 100 comprises a single media player connecting portion 104.

The connectors 14a, 104a, of the media device connecting portion 14 and the media player connecting portion 104 are complementary and are configured to directly connect to each other. There is therefore no requirement for a connecting cable or the like.

The media player 10 is configured to only be connectable with the media device 100. The media player 10 is configured to be unable to connect with any other media devices. The media player 10 has no wireless communication capabilities. The media player 10 is configured to have no network communication capability. The media player 10 is configured to be unable to access a computing network, such as the internet. The media player 10 lacks internet connectivity.

The media player 10 has no electronic display. The media player 10 has no visual display element. The media player 10 is configured to be unable to display data associated with the one or more media files. The media player 10 is configured to be unable to display the one or more media files. The media player 10 is configured to be unable to display any data or information on a display element or an electronic display element.

The media player 10 is configured to be unable to transfer data to a further media player, a further device, a further electronic device, a computing device, and/or a network. The media player 10 is configured to be unable to receive data from a further media player, a further device, a further electronic device, a computing device, and/or a network.

The media player 10 is configured to be unable to store the one or more media files. The media player 10 has no telecommunications capability.

The media player 10 is configured to store a playback position of the, or each media file.

The media player 10 is configured to detect when the media device 100 is connected therewith and when the media device 100 is disconnected therefrom.

The media player 10 is configured to store the playback position when the media device 100 is moved from being connected to the media player 10 to being disconnected from the media player 10. The media player 10 stores the playback position as soon as the media device 100 is disconnected from the media player 10, although it will be understood that a time delay could be applied before storing the playback position.

The stored playback position corresponds substantially to the last known playback position. In other embodiments, it may be allocated within a predetermined time of the actual last playback position, or it may be allocated as one or more bookmarks, chapters, or the like, of the, or each, media file.

The media player 10 is configured to recall the stored playback position when the media device 100 has been connected to the media player 10. In other embodiments, the media player 10 could recall the stored playback position after a time delay from the media device 100 being connected thereto.

The media player 10 is configured to play the one or more media files from the stored playback position, or from an initial playback position if there is no playback position stored on the media player. It will be understood that the initial playback position may be variable depending on the media file, or the settings of the media player 10 or media device 100.

The media player 10 comprises a flash memory for storing the playback position. The media player 10 is configured to only store the playback position once the media device 100 is disconnected from the media player. In this embodiment, the media player 10 does not attempt to repeatedly store the playback position, instead the media player 1 stores the playback position only once, when the media device 100 is disconnected. It will be appreciated that this occurs each time a media device 100 is disconnected from the media player 10. This avoids repeatedly writing to the flash memory.

In this embodiment, to play the media file at the playback position, the processor 15 counts the MP3 headers until it gets to the destination point in the file. As the media file is encrypted, this also involves decrypting the file first. It will be appreciated that for other media file types and embodiments, the method of storing and recalling the playback position may be different.

The media player 10 is configured to store a plurality of playback positions, each playback position being associated with a different media file or a different media device 100. In this embodiment, the media player 10 can remember the playback position of each media file or media device 100.

The media player 10 is configured to recall the playback position associated with the media file or the media device once the media device 100 has been connected to the media player 10. That is, once a particular media device 100, containing a certain media file or media files, is connected, the media player 10 recalls the appropriate playback position and plays the media file from that position, or as stated above, the file is played from an initial position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the media player system 1 comprises a plurality of identical media devices 100, and it will be appreciated that each media device 100 could store different media files. Each media device 100 is stackable with at least one of the other media devices 100. In this embodiment, the media devices 100 are stackable horizontally (Fig. 1 ) or vertically (not shown).

The engagement members 102h of the media device 100 are located at one or more wall portions of the casing 102.

Each media device 100 is separate to, and is connectable to, the media player 10.

Each media device 100 is a media storage device, which can store audio files, MP3 files, or the like.

The casing 102 of the media device 100 is a block designed to resemble a book, and is a rounded cuboidal shaped casing 102.

Each media device 100 is a portable, handheld media device 100.

As shown in Fig. 3, the casing 102 comprises one or more planar surfaces 102a, which define wall portions thereof. The casing 102 comprises a plurality of major surfaces 102b and a plurality of minor surfaces 102c, which define major wall portions and minor wall portions.

The casing 102 comprises a front region 102d, a rear region 102e, a plurality of side regions 102f , and a plurality of rounded corner regions 102g. The front region 102d is a planar surface 102a of the casing 102. The majority of the rear region 102e is a substantially planar surface 102a of the casing 102. Each side region 102f is a substantially planar surface of the casing 102. Each comer region 102g of the casing 102 is a continuous surface. The casing 102 is formed substantially of continuous surfaces.

The casing 102 does not have a user interface (neither does the media device 100 itself). The media device 100 has no display, no electronic display, and no visual display element. The media device 100 is configured to be unable to display data associated with the one or more media files. The media device 100 is configured to be unable to display the one or more media files.

The casing 102 comprises artwork (an example visual indicator element), which includes information associated with a stored media file(s).

The media player 10 and the media device 100 are configured such that the entire front region 102d of the casing 102 is visible when the media device 100 is connected to the media player 10.

The media device 100 is a digital media device operable to store one or more digital media files.

The memory element of the media device 100 is a flash memory element. In other embodiments, the memory element of the media device 100 could be any other suitable memory element, such as non-volatile memory, or solid-state drives (SSD). The flash memory element could be a NAND flash memory or any suitable type of flash memory.

The media device 100 is an electronic media device 100.

The casing 102 of the media device 100 is configured to be a robust casing suitable for use by children of about 3 years and up, and the media player 10 is configured to be suitable for use by children of about 3 years and up.

In the embodiments illustrated and described here, the casing 102 of the media device 100 is approximately 110 mm long, approximately 70 mm wide and approximately 16 mm thick, and the housing 12 of the media player 10 is approximately 190 mm long, approximately 120 mm wide, and approximately 25 mm thick. It will be understood that in other embodiments, the media device 100 and the media player 10 may have different sizes than those described here.

The casing 102 of the media device 100 is made substantially from multiple layers of recycled card attached together using glue.

The casing 102 comprises a cavity (not shown) for housing the memory element thereof. The cavity is formed from cut-out portions in some of the layers of recycled card. The cavity is substantially entirely enclosed by the casing 102.

The media player connecting portion 104 is located at a major surface 102b of the casing 102, specifically at the rear region 102e.

The connector 104a of the media player connecting portion 104 is coplanar with the casing 102 of the media device 10. The connector 104a of the media player connecting portion 104 is located in a recess 102i of the casing 102 of the media device 100. The connector 104a of the media player connecting portion 104 is configured not to protrude beyond the casing 102. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the connector 104a may be sunk into the casing 102. The media device 100 has no power supply and is instead powered by the media player 10 when connected thereto.

The media device 100 comprises a communications element 106 for communicating with a media apparatus 200.

The media apparatus 200 is different to the media player 10, and is separate to the media device 100.

The media apparatus 200 is a smartphone. However, in other embodiments the media apparatus 200 could be a computing device, a tablet, a PC, a tablet PC, a mobile phone, or the like.

The communications element 106 is a near-field communications (NFC) element (an example of a wireless communications element), including an NFC transceiver for communicating with an NFC element of the media apparatus 200.

The memory element of the media device 100 is operable to store one or more authentication elements associated with the one or more media files. The, or each, authentication element is an encrypted authentication element.

The communications element 106 of the media device 100 is operable to provide an authentication signal to the media apparatus 200 for indicating that the one or more media files are authorised for use with the media apparatus 200.

The media device 100 comprises an authentication element associated with the media device 100 and an authentication element associated with the, or each media file stored in the media device 100. The media device 100 comprises an authentication element indicating that the one or media files are authorised to be played.

The authentication signal includes each authentication element stored on the media device 100.

The media apparatus 200 is operable to verify the authentication signal received from the media device 100 by accessing a verification element. The verification element includes a list of authentication elements associated with the, or each, media device 100 and a list of corresponding authentication elements for the, or each media file, in order to verify that the one or more media files are authorised for that media device 100.

The verification element includes a list of authentication elements associated with the, or each media file, in order to verify that the one or more media files are authorised to be played.

The verification element is stored on a server (an example of a remote system) and the media apparatus 200 is operable to communicate with the server via the internet (an example of a network).

The media apparatus 200 is operable to send the authentication signal to the server for decryption. The media apparatus 200 is operable to send the authentication signal to the server for verification, which the server does by using the verification element.

The media apparatus 200 is operable to obtain a copy of the one or more media files from the server when the authentication signal has been received and verified. The copy of the one or more media files is encrypted, and the media apparatus 200 is configured to decrypt the copy of the one or more media files when this is received from the server.

The media apparatus 200 is operable to store the copy of the one or more media files. The media apparatus 200 is operable to play the copy of the one or more media files when the authentication signal has been received and verified.

The media apparatus 200 comprises application software configured to communicate with the media device 100, and configured to carry out one or more of the operations described above in relation to the media apparatus 200.

An example of how one or more media files can be played on the media apparatus 200 will now be provided, with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.

First, as shown in Fig. 6, the media apparatus 200 obtains a mediatoken (an example of an authentication element) and a publickey (another example of an authentication element) from the media device 100. To do this, the media apparatus 200 runs an application software “add media” 300, which checks if the media is present 302 by using data received from the communications element 106.

If the media is present, the mediatoken and the publickey are read from the media device 100 by the media apparatus 200 at step 304.

Next, the mediatoken, the publickey, an application software ID and a fileflag are sent over the internet at step 306 to a server 308. The server decrypts the mediatoken to obtain a media file ID and a media device ID at step 310. The server 308 then checks if the media file ID is valid for the media device ID at step 312 (an example of checking a verification element). If the media file ID is not valid for the media device ID, a reject request 314 is sent over the internet at step 316 to the media apparatus 200, which results in the process being stopped at step 318.

If the media file ID is valid for the media device ID, the server 308 then checks if the publickey is valid for the media file ID at step 320. If the publickey is not valid for the media file ID, step 314 is carried out as above. If the publickey is valid, the server 308 checks if the media device ID is registered against any application software ID at step 322, and either stores the application software ID against the media device ID (step 324) or deletes the other registered application software ID from the media device ID (step 326) before proceeding to step 324.

Next, at step 328 the server 308 checks if the media file is being requested by the media apparatus 200. If the file has not been requested, a play token is sent from the server 308 at step 330, and the play token is saved on the media apparatus 200 at step 332. If the media file is being requested, the server 308 sends an encrypted copy of the media file over the internet at step 334 to the media apparatus 200, which saves the copy of the encrypted media file on the media apparatus 200 at step 336.

Next, the application software “play media” is used at step 338 to play the media file. First, at step 340, the play media application software checks if a valid play token is present. If a valid play token is present, the encrypted media file is played using the publickey at step 342. If a valid play token is not present, the process returns to step 302. In this embodiment, the media player 10 is unable to obtain or play a copy of the media file(s) unless the media device 100 is connected therewith. It is only the media apparatus 200 that can obtain a copy of the media file(s) as described above.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.