Abstract: A digital audio player and a method for processing encoded digital audio data, wherein the digital audio data is encoded using one of a plurality of encoding formats. The exemplary audio data player includes a hard disk or other data storage medium for storing data files, a microcontroller, buffer memory for anti-skip protection, and an audio decoder. The encoded audio data files and associated decoder files are downloaded from a personal computer or similar device to the audio data player hard drive. The player provides a menu-driven user interface for selection, sorting, and playback of stored audio data files. The audio decoder, generally a digital signal processor, provides various preset equalization modes. The preset modes are specific to audio genres such as jazz, pop, and rock.

Abstract: A digital audio player and a method for providing audio playlist files. The audio data player comprises a DSP coupled with data storage. Data storage is a high-volume storage device such a hard drive for storing audio data files. The method provides playlist records in a playlist file for use by audio data player by locating audio data files stored on data storage, reading content information for the audio data files, determining file pointers locating the audio data files, sorting the content information and file pointers by at least a portion of the content information, determining indexing information indicating the location and number of playlist records related by content information, and storing the content information, indexing information and file pointers in playlist records in a playlist. The method includes creating a number of playlist files, each sorted by different content information such as ID3 tag information stored in MP3 files, for example, artist, album, genre, and title.

Abstract: A digital audio player and a method for processing encoded digital audio data, wherein the digital audio data is encoded using one of a plurality of encoding formats. The exemplary audio data player includes a hard disk or other data storage medium for storing data files, a microcontroller, buffer memory for anti-skip protection, and an audio decoder. The encoded audio data files and associated decoder files are downloaded from a personal computer or similar device to the audio data player hard drive. The player provides a menu-driven user interface for selection, sorting, and playback of stored audio data files. The audio decoder, generally a digital signal processor, provides various preset equalization modes. The preset modes are specific to audio genres such as jazz, pop, and rock.

Abstract: A digital audio player and a data structure and method for providing an audio playlist. The data structure includes a playlist record for each audio data file, each playlist record including a file pointer segment and an information segment having a plurality of content information fields and at least one indexing information field. A method of browsing audio file content information in an audio data player having a user interface includes providing at least one playlist including records stored in a predetermined sequence and including an information segment including content information fields and indexing information fields, outputting the content information fields to the user interface, receiving a playlist navigation signal from the user interface, and in response to the playlist navigation signal, using the indexing information fields to locate and output the content information fields for another record, the records related by the predetermined sequence and the navigation signal.