US Patent 7822318 Smart random media object playback

An electronic equipment is provided that includes a playlist with a plurality of media objects, each associated with a ranking from a hierarchy of rankings, ranging from a highest ranking to a lowest ranking. The electronic equipment includes a media player section configured to play the plurality of media objects. The media player section has a random play function, which is operable to randomly access media objects associated with the highest ranking for play by the media player section. The media player section also includes a tracking function to lower the ranking associated with the randomly accessed media objects from the highest ranking to a lower ranking. If there are no media objects associated with the highest ranking, the tracking function is operable to raise the ranking associated with each of the plurality of the media objects until at least one media object is associated with the highest ranking.