Media container addition and playback within queue

• US 10,152,212 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2015
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Tripoli, Ben, Lambourne, Robert, Rashid, Yasser, Hoadley, Joni
• Primary Examiner(s): Casillas, Roland J
• Application Number:
  US14/683,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20160299665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a control device displaying a control interface that includes an indication of one or more playable media items. The example implementation may further involve detecting input data indicating a selection of a particular instance of the given media item from among the one or more playable media items. Upon detecting the input data, the control device may identify a container of two or more media items, the container including the particular instance of the given media item and indicating a sequence for the two or more media items. The example implementation may also involve inserting the two or more media items of the identified container into a queue such that the two or more media items follow the indicated sequence within the queue, and causing one or more playback devices to initiate playback of the queue beginning with the given media item.

Claims

1. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a control device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via a control interface that is displayed on a graphical display, input data representing a search query to a search control;

after performing a search corresponding to the search query, displaying, via the control interface, a list of search results to the search query the search results including multiple audio tracks that each represent the same particular song, wherein two or more audio tracks of the search results are members of respective pre-defined containers defining, prior to the search, (i) a set of audio tracks and (ii) a sequence to play back the set of audio tracks, and wherein each pre-defined container is one of (a) an album defining the set of audio tracks at release of the album or (b) a playlist defining the set of audio tracks after their respective releases;

in response to receiving, via the control interface, input data indicating a selection of a given audio track representing the particular song from among the search results;

(i) identifying the selected audio track as a member of a particular pre-defined container defining (a) a particular set of audio tracks and (b) a particular playback sequence to play back the set of audio tracks and (ii) displaying, via the graphical display, a selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container into a queue on a playback device; and

in response to receiving input data indicating a selection of the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined container into the queue on the playback device;

(i) causing, via a network interface over one or more networks, the playback device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container according to the particular playback sequence defined by the particular pre-defined container and (ii) causing, via the network interface over the one or more networks, the playback device to immediately initiate playback of the queue beginning with the selected audio track.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein identifying the selected audio track as a member of the particular pre-defined container comprises:

determining that the selected audio track representing the particular song is a member of a particular pre-defined playlist that defines a first set of audio tracks having a first playback sequence, wherein the selected audio track is also a member of an album that defines a second set of audio tracks having a second playback sequence; and

identifying, as the particular pre-defined container, the playlist that defines the first set of audio tracks having the first playback sequence.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein displaying the list of search results to the search query comprises:

displaying, within the list, an indication of a first audio track representing the particular song and an indication that the first audio track is a member of a first pre-defined playlist that defines a first set of audio tracks having a first playback sequence, wherein the first audio track is also a member of a first album; and

displaying, within the list, an indication of a second audio track representing the particular song and an indication that the second audio track is a member of a second pre-defined playlist that defines a second set of audio tracks having a second playback sequence, wherein the second audio track is also a member of (a) the first album or (b) a second album; and

wherein identifying the selected audio track as a member of the particular pre-defined container comprises;

determining that the input data indicates that the second audio track was selected; and

identifying the second pre-defined playlist as the particular pre-defined container based on determining that the input data indicates that the second audio track was selected.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein displaying the list of search results to the search query comprises:

displaying, within the list, an indication of a first audio track representing the particular song, an indication that the first audio track is part of a given album, the given album defining a first set of audio track having a given playback sequence and an indication that the given album is accessible from a first streaming audio service, wherein the playback device access the first set of audio tracks of the given album from one or more first servers of the first streaming audio service; and

displaying, within the list, an indication of a second audio track representing the particular song, an indication that the second audio track is part of the given album, and an indication that the given album is available from a second streaming audio service, wherein the first audio track and the second audio track are respective instances of the same audio track, and

wherein identifying the selected audio track as a member of the particular pre-defined container comprises;

determining that the input data indicates that the second audio track was selected; and

identifying, as the particular pre-defined container, the given album from the second streaming audio service.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the particular playback sequence defined by the particular pre-defined container orders the selected audio track representing the particular song after another audio track in the particular pre-defined container.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein performing the search comprises:

sending, via the network interface to respective servers of two or more streaming audio services, a request for search results corresponding to the search query; and

receiving, via the network interface from at least one server of a given streaming audio service, data representing search results corresponding to the search query from the given streaming audio service.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein, after receiving the input data indicating the selection of the given audio track representing the particular song from among the search results, the control device performs, independently of any additional user input, the function of displaying the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined container into a queue on a playback device.

8. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein, after receiving the input data indicating the selection of the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert two or more audio tracks of the identified container into the queue on the playback device, the control device performs, independently of any additional user input, the functions of (i) causing the playback device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container according to the particular playback sequence defined by the particular container into the queue and (ii) causing the playback device to immediately initiate playback of the queue beginning with the selected audio track.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a control device via a control interface that is displayed on a graphical display, input data representing a search query to a search control;

after performing a search corresponding to the search query, causing, by the control device via the control interface, the graphical display to display a list of search results to the search query the search results including multiple audio tracks that each represent the same particular song, wherein two or more audio tracks of the search results are members of respective pre-defined containers defining, prior to the search, (i) a set of audio tracks and (ii) a sequence to play back the set of audio tracks, and wherein each pre-defined container is one of (a) an album defining the set of audio tracks at release of the album or (b) a playlist defining the set of audio tracks after their respective releases;

in response to receiving, by the control device via the control interface, input data indicating a selection of a given audio track representing the particular song from among the search results;

(i) identifying, via the control device, the selected audio track as a member of a particular pre-defined container defining (a) a particular set of audio tracks and (b) a particular playback sequence to play back the set of audio tracks and (ii) causing, by the control device, the graphical display to display a selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container into a queue on a playback device; and

in response to receiving input data indicating a selection of the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined container into the queue on the playback device;

(i) causing, by the control device via a network interface over one or more networks, the playback device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container according to the particular playback sequence defined by the particular pre-defined container and (ii) causing, by the control device via the network interface over the one or more networks, the playback device to immediately initiate playback of the queue beginning with the selected audio track.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein identifying the container consisting of the pre-defined set of two or more audio tracks comprises:

determining that the selected audio track representing the particular song is a member of a particular pre-defined playlist that defines a first set of audio tracks having a first playback sequence, wherein the selected audio track is also a member of an album that defines a second set of audio tracks having a second playback sequence; and

identifying, as the particular pre-defined container, the playlist that defines the first set of audio tracks having the first playback sequence.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the list of search results to the search query comprises:

displaying, within the list, an indication of a first audio track representing the particular song and an indication that the first audio track is a member of a first pre-defined playlist that defines a first set of audio tracks having a first playback sequence, wherein the first audio track is also a member of a first album; and

displaying, within the list, an indication of a second audio track representing the particular song and an indication that the second audio track is a member of a second pre-defined playlist that defines a second set of audio tracks having a second playback sequence, wherein the second audio track is also a member of (a) the first album or (b) a second album; and

wherein identifying the selected audio track as a member of the particular pre-defined container comprises;

determining that the input data indicates that the second audio track was selected; and

identifying the second pre-defined playlist as the particular pre-defined container based on determining that the input data indicates that the second audio track was selected.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the list of search results to the search query comprises:

displaying, within the list, an indication of a first audio track representing the particular song, an indication that the first audio track is part of a given album, the given album defining a first set of audio track having a given playback sequence and an indication that the given album is accessible from a first streaming audio service, wherein the playback device access the first set of audio tracks of the given album from one or more first servers of the first streaming audio service; and

displaying, within the list, an indication of a second audio track representing the particular song, an indication that the second audio track is part of the given album, and an indication that the given album is available from a second streaming audio service, wherein the first audio track and the second audio track are respective instances of the same audio track, and

wherein identifying the selected audio track as a member of the particular pre-defined container comprises;

determining that the input data indicates that the second audio track was selected; and

identifying, as the particular pre-defined container, the given album from the second streaming audio service.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein, after receiving the input data indicating the selection of the given audio track representing the particular song from among the search results, the control device performs, independently of any additional user input, the function of displaying the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined container into a queue on a playback device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein, after receiving the input data indicating the selection of the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert two or more audio tracks of the identified container into the queue on the playback device, the control device performs, independently of any additional user input, the functions of (i) causing the playback device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container according to the particular playback sequence defined by the particular container into the queue and (ii) causing the playback device to immediately initiate playback of the queue beginning with the selected audio track.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein performing the search comprises:

sending, via the network interface to respective servers of two or more streaming audio services, a request for search results corresponding to the search query; and

receiving, via the network interface from at least one server of a given streaming audio service, data representing search results corresponding to the search query from the given streaming audio service.

16. A control device comprising:

a network interface;

a graphical display;

at least one processor;

a data storage; and

a program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the at least one processor to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via a control interface that is displayed on the graphical display, input data representing a search query to a search control;

after performing a search corresponding to the search query, displaying, via the graphical display, a list of search results to the search query the search results including multiple audio tracks that each represent the same particular song, wherein two or more audio tracks of the search results are members of respective pre-defined containers defining, prior to the search, (i) a set of audio tracks and (ii) a sequence to play back the set of audio tracks, and wherein each pre-defined container is one of (a) an album defining the set of audio tracks at release of the album or (b) a playlist defining the set of audio tracks after their respective releases;

in response to receiving, via the control interface, input data indicating a selection of a given audio track representing the particular song from among the search results;

(i) identifying the selected audio track as a member of a particular pre-defined container defining (a) a particular set of audio tracks and (b) a particular playback sequence to play back the set of audio tracks and (ii) displaying, via the graphical display, a selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container into a queue on a playback device; and

in response to receiving input data indicating a selection of the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined container into the queue on the playback device;

(i) causing, via a network interface over one or more networks, the playback device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container according to the particular playback sequence defined by the particular pre-defined container and (ii) causing, via the network interface over the one or more networks, the playback device to immediately initiate playback of the queue beginning with the selected audio track.

17. The control device of claim 16, wherein, after receiving the input data indicating the selection of the given audio track representing the particular song from among the search results, the control device performs, independently of any additional user input, the function of displaying the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert the particular pre-defined container into a queue on a playback device.

18. The control device of claim 16, wherein, after receiving the input data indicating the selection of the selectable control that, when selected, causes the control device to insert two or more audio tracks of the identified container into the queue on the playback device, the control device performs, independently of any additional user input, the functions of (i) causing the playback device to insert the particular pre-defined set of audio tracks defined by the particular pre-defined container according to the particular playback sequence defined by the particular container into the queue and (ii) causing the playback device to immediately initiate playback of the queue beginning The with the selected audio track.

19. control device of claim 16, wherein the particular playback sequence defined by the particular pre-defined container orders the selected audio track representing the particular song after another audio track in the particular pre-defined container.

20. The control device of claim 16, wherein performing the search comprises:

sending, via the network interface to respective servers of two or more streaming audio services, a request for search results corresponding to the search query; and

receiving, via the network interface from at least one server of a given streaming audio service, data representing search results corresponding to the search query from the given streaming audio service.