Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for encoding video data are provided. For example, an electronic device for obtaining and encoding video may include image capture circuitry, motion-sensing circuitry, and data processing circuitry. The image capture circuitry may capture an uncompressed video frame, and the motion-sensing circuitry may detect physical motion of the electronic device. The data processing circuitry may encode the uncompressed video frame based at least in part on a quantization parameter, which the data processing circuitry may determine based at least in part on whether the motion-sensing circuitry has detected physical motion of the electronic device.

Abstract: Various techniques for adaptively encoding and compressing audio broadcast data to create a digital representation of the broadcast for storage on an electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, the audio broadcast data may be encoded and stored onto the electronic device using a particular codec and/or compression rate, the selection of which may be based upon one or more characteristics of the audio broadcast data signal, such as a genre parameter or a quality parameter. Particularly, the audio broadcast data may be encoded using either a music codec or a speech codec depending upon the genre parameter. Further, some embodiments may also provide for an adjustable compression bit-rate based at least partially upon the quality parameter of the audio broadcast.

Abstract: Various techniques relating to the buffering of a live audio broadcast on an electronic device and the subsequently playback the buffered data are provided. In one embodiment, the playback speed of the buffered data may be increased relative to the actual speed at which the data was originally broadcasted. If the buffered playback (using the increased playback speed) synchronizes or catches up to the live broadcast, the electronic device may disable buffering and output the live stream instead. This decreases processing demands by lowering processing cycles required for buffering (encoding, etc.) and playback of the buffered data (decoding, etc.), thereby reducing power consumption.

Abstract: Various techniques relating to the alteration of image data are provided herein. In generally, disclosed embodiments may provide techniques for applying on or more image alteration effects to image data that is displayed on an electronic device. In certain disclosed embodiments, the application of such image alteration effects may be triggered based upon various detected device operation events, which may include audio-related events, motion-related events, location-related events, and/or events relating the imaging properties. The selection of a triggering device event and a corresponding image alteration affect may be defined by a user through a set of user preference settings on the electronic device.

Abstract: Various techniques that relate to prolonging the battery life on a portable electronic device during the buffering and playback of audio broadcast data are provided. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, upon detecting a low power state, the device may implement one or more low power actions, including starting, continuing, or stopping one or more audio broadcast functions, such as buffering or playing back audio broadcast data, to reduce overall power consumption, and thus prolong battery life. In one embodiment, a user may specify one or more low power actions that are to be implemented during a low power state by configuring user settings stored on the device. In another embodiment, the device, upon detecting a low power state, may prompt the user to make a selection from a listing of selectable low power action options and perform the selected low power action.

Abstract: An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed.

Abstract: An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods are providing for selecting one or more of several images captured in sequence and stored in a buffer in response to receiving a user instruction to store a captured image. An electronic device can capture information describing the movement of the device at the time each of the several images was captured, such that each image can be associated with specific device movement information. The electronic device can then select the one of the captured and buffered images for which the movement information of the device satisfies particular criteria. This can ensure that the particular image stored is not blurry due to device movement at the time the image was captured.

Abstract: Various techniques for controlling the playback of secondary audio data on an electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, a secondary audio clip mixing profile is selected based upon the type of audio output device, such as a speaker or a headset, coupled to the electronic device. The selected mixing profile may define respective digital gain values to be applied to a secondary audio stream at each digital audio level of the electronic device, and may be customized based upon one or more characteristics of the audio output device to substantially optimize audibility and user-perceived comfort. In this manner, the overall user listening experience may be improved.

Abstract: Improved approaches to flexibly implementing graphic equalizers on media players are disclosed. These approaches provide dynamic order reduction of a multi-band graphic equalizer so that equalizer effects can be timely performed with only limited computational resources. In one embodiment, a media player receives a media item and associated equalizer settings for a multi-band graphic equalizer. The media player can then automatically (i.e., without user action) approximate the multi-band graphic equalizer with the equalizer settings for the media item using a fewer number of filters. Fewer filters means order reduction, and thus reduction in computational requirements. After the multi-band graphic equalizer is approximated, the media player can present the media item to its user in accordance with the reduced complexity, approximated equalizer.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed to implement crossfading of audio tracks. In one embodiment, the function describing the fade out of the ending audio track and/or the slope describing the fade in of the beginning audio track may be altered to increase the perceptible overlap of the two tracks. In another embodiment, the duration of the fade out and/or of the fade in may be altered to increase the perceptible overlap of the two tracks. In other embodiments, one or both of the function and/or duration of the fade out and/or fade in effect may be altered to improve the perceptibility of the overlap or the audio tracks.

Abstract: Improved approaches to flexibly implementing graphic equalizers on media players are disclosed. These approaches provide dynamic order reduction of a multi-band graphic equalizer so that equalizer effects can be timely performed with only limited computational resources. In one embodiment, a media player receives a media item and associated equalizer settings for a multi-band graphic equalizer. The media player can then automatically (i.e., without user action) approximate the multi-band graphic equalizer with the equalizer settings for the media item using a fewer number of filters. Fewer filters means order reduction, and thus reduction in computational requirements. After the multi-band graphic equalizer is approximated, the media player can present the media item to its user in accordance with the reduced complexity, approximated equalizer.

Abstract: Improved techniques for modifying a playback rate of an audio item (e.g., an audio stream) are disclosed. As a result, the audio item can be played back faster or slower than normal. The improved techniques are resource efficient and well suited for audio items containing speech. The resource efficiency of the improved techniques make them well suited for use with portable media devices, such as portable media players.

Abstract: Techniques for ensuring that media playback proceeds sequentially through media content of a digital media asset are disclosed. In one embodiment, distinct portions (e.g., segments) of a digital media asset can be separately encrypted such that on playback decoded data being output from at least one prior portion can be used to derive a cryptographic key that is used in decrypting a subsequent portion of the digital media asset.

Abstract: A technique for managing memory allocation in an electronic device is provided. In one embodiment, a method includes loading a memory allocation strategy for an application executed by a processor of a device, and requesting memory for the application from various memory locations in accordance with the memory allocation strategy. In one embodiment, the device includes multiple sets of contiguous memory blocks and a memory heap, memory may be requested from at least one of these memory locations, and memory may then be allocated to the application in response to the request. In some embodiments, the memory allocation strategy may be stored in the device prior to execution of the application. Various other methods, devices, and manufactures are also provided.

Abstract: A technique is provided for displaying pixels of an image at arbitrary subpixel positions. In accordance with aspects of this technique, interpolated intensity values for the pixels of the image are derived based on the arbitrary subpixel location and an intensity distribution or profile. Reference to the intensity distribution provides appropriate multipliers for the source image. Based on these multipliers, the image may be rendered at respective physical pixel locations such that the pixel intensities are summed with each rendering, resulting in a destination image having suitable interpolated pixel intensities for the arbitrary subpixel position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the management of memory used in a crossfading operation in an electronic device. In one embodiment, a processor is used to alternately decode two audio streams, one which is being faded out and one which is being faded in to implement a crossfade. The two audio streams may be encoded in the same or different formats and may be alternately decoded such that resource usage is reduced. The amount of decoded data of both audio streams and other parameters may determine which audio stream is to be actively decoded. In certain embodiments, the decoded data may be stored in a circular buffer, and a delta is determined between the decoded data and the empty space of the buffer.

Abstract: Improved techniques for performing accelerated video presentation on a media device are disclosed. The improved techniques enable smooth, uniform accelerated video presentation by displaying key frames from a video file in a periodic fashion. The rate and direction of accelerated video presentation can be controlled. The improved techniques are well suited for use with portable media devices.

Abstract: Improved techniques for modifying a playback rate of an audio item (e.g., an audio stream) are disclosed. As a result, the audio item can be played back faster or slower than normal. The improved techniques are resource efficient and well suited for audio items containing speech. The resource efficiency of the improved techniques make them well suited for use with portable media devices, such as portable media players.