Method and apparatus for playing content

• US 10,181,830 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: An, Jinwan, Han, Yonggil
• Primary Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US14/266,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20140321671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 715716, 715762, 715808, 715863, 381109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems

Abstract

A method for operating a user device includes playing a media content on a screen, detecting a user input for lowering a volume of the media content, and decreasing the volume of the media content in response to the user input, determining whether a user input enters a play control zone after the detection of the user input for lowering the volume, and performing a pause of the media content in response to the user input entering the play control zone. A user device includes a touch screen configured to receive a user input for controlling a volume of the media content, and a controller configured to decrease the volume of the media content in response to a user input for decreasing a volume during playing of the media content, and perform a pause of the media content when the user input enters a play control zone.

Claims

1. A method for operating a user device, the method comprising:

playing a media content on a screen;

detecting a user input on the screen for lowering a volume of the media content, and decreasing the volume of the media content in response to the user input;

instantly performing a pause of the media content in response to the user input for lowering the volume of the media content reaching a play control zone;

setting the volume of the media content to zero in response to an entrance by the user input into a volume turn-off section; and

pausing the media content in response to the entrance by the user input of the volume turn-off section into the play control zone,

wherein the play control zone is included in at least one section which is lower than the volume turn-off section for setting the volume of the media content to be zero.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input for lowering volume comprises a drag of a volume control key or a touch-based user gesture.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the play control zone is a section for controlling a specific function for playing the media content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing a user input for increasing the volume in a pause state of the media content;

adjusting up the volume of the media content; and

controlling the play of the media content in response to the user input.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user input of raising the volume comprises a drag of a volume control key or a touch-based user gesture.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing a user input by a play/stop button in a pause state of the media content; and

playing the media content in a status in which volume turn-off setting of the media content is maintained in response to the user input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the pause comprises:

displaying a silent stop icon in a certain area of a screen when pausing the media content in response to the user input of the volume down.

8. A method of processing a function of a user device, the method comprising:

playing a media content on a screen;

adjusting a volume of the media content in response to a user input on the screen for adjusting the volume;

instantly controlling a preset play function of the media content in response to the user input for adjusting the volume of the media content reaching a play control zone;

setting the volume of the media content to zero in response to an entrance by the user input into a volume turn-off section; and

pausing the media content in response to the entrance by user input of the volume turn-off section into the play control zone,

wherein the play control zone is included in at least one section of which is lower than the volume turn-off section for setting the volume of the media content to be zero.

9. A user device comprising:

a touch screen configured to display a screen according to a play of a media content and receive a user input for controlling a volume of the media content;

a controller configured to decrease the volume of the media content in response to a user input for decreasing the volume during playing of the media content, and instantly perform a pause of the media content in response to the user input for decreasing the volume of the media content reaching a play control zone; and

; and

a function processor configured to, set the volume of the media content to zero in response to an entrance by the user input to a volume turn-off section and pause the media content in response to the entrance by the user input of the volume turn-off section into the play control zone,

wherein the play control zone is included in at least one section which is lower than the volume turn-off section for setting the volume of the media content to be zero.

10. The user device of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises:

a content player configured to play the media content in response to an execution of the media content, and display a screen of the played media content;

a volume controller configured to adjust output sound volume of the media content in response to the user input; and

a function processor configured to control a play function of the media content in response to the user input of adjusting the volume.

11. The user device of claim 10, wherein the content player is configured to play the media content in response to the user input for raising the volume in a status in which the media content is paused by the volume down.

12. The user device of claim 9, wherein the user device comprises a user input unit configured to receive a first user input for execution of the media content, and receive a second user input for volume control within a volume control zone during a play of the media content.

13. A user device comprising:

a computer-implemented content player configured to play a media content in response to execution of the media content and display a screen of the played media content;

a computer-implemented volume controller configured to adjust a volume of the media content in response to a user input on the screen; and

a computer-implemented function processor configured to control a play function of the media content instantly in response to the user input for adjusting the volume of the media content reaching a play control zone, and set the volume of the media content to zero in response to an entrance by the user input to a volume turn-off section and pause the media content in response to the entrance by the user input of the volume turn-off section into the play control zone,

wherein the play control zone is included in at least one section which is lower than the volume turn-off section for setting the volume of the media content to be zero.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded a program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

playing a media content in response to execution of a media content;

displaying the played media content over a screen;

adjusting a volume of the media content in response to a user input on the screen;

instantly performing a preset play function of the media content in response to the user input for adjusting the volume of the media content reaching a play control zone; and

setting the volume of the media content to zero in response to an entrance by the user input to a volume turn-off section, and pause the media content in response to the entrance by user input of the volume turn-off section into the play control zone,

wherein the play control zone is included in at least one section which is lower than the volume turn-off section for setting the volume of the media content to be zero.