Method and apparatus for managing a playlist by metadata
First Claim
1. A playback device comprising:
- one or more processors; and
tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory with instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform a method of facilitating playback of a play queue stored on the playback device, the method comprising;
adding one or more single metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each of the one or more single metadata items comprises a network address identifier that points to a single playable track stored at one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device;
adding one or more internet radio metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each of the one or more internet radio metadata items comprises a network address identifier that points to an internet radio audio information source separate from the playback device;
adding one or more container metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each container metadata item comprises;
(i) a content directory identifier that points to a plurality of single playable tracks of the container metadata item stored at the one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device and (ii) a set of expressions or logic operations that are parseable to indicate individual single metadata items of the plurality of single playable tracks of the container metadata item;
shuffling a playback order of the one or more single metadata items, one or more container metadata items, and one or more internet radio metadata items of the play queue; and
executing the play queue comprising the one or more single metadata items, one or more internet radio metadata items, and one or more container metadata items, wherein executing the play queue comprises (i) for a single metadata item, using the network address identifier of the single metadata item to stream a single playable track corresponding to the single metadata item from one of the one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device to the playback device, (ii) for an internet radio metadata item, using the network address identifier of the internet radio metadata item to stream internet radio content from one of the one or more internet radio audio information sources separate from the playback device to the playback device, and (iii) for a container metadata item, using the content directory identifier of the container metadata item to stream at least one single playable track of the container metadata item to the playback device.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for managing a playlist in a multimedia system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, the playlist is structured to be able to include as many items as desired. To facilitate the manageability of such playlist, the playlist is built with a plurality of items. Each of the items is associated with metadata that includes information related to, for example, artist, album, genre, composer, and track number. The metadata for each item may be parsed, updated or logically operated upon to facilitate the management of the playlist. In another embodiment, each of the items is either a single item or a group item. A single item contains metadata of a corresponding source. A group item contains metadata of accessing other constituent items, which again may be single items or group items. As a result, the playlist can accommodate as many items as desired in a limited memory space without compromising the manageability of the playlist. Each of the items can be removed from, added to, or moved around in the playlist without concerning that an item may further include many items therein.
78 Citations
45 Claims
-
1. A playback device comprising:
-
one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory with instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform a method of facilitating playback of a play queue stored on the playback device, the method comprising; adding one or more single metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each of the one or more single metadata items comprises a network address identifier that points to a single playable track stored at one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device; adding one or more internet radio metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each of the one or more internet radio metadata items comprises a network address identifier that points to an internet radio audio information source separate from the playback device; adding one or more container metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each container metadata item comprises;
(i) a content directory identifier that points to a plurality of single playable tracks of the container metadata item stored at the one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device and (ii) a set of expressions or logic operations that are parseable to indicate individual single metadata items of the plurality of single playable tracks of the container metadata item;shuffling a playback order of the one or more single metadata items, one or more container metadata items, and one or more internet radio metadata items of the play queue; and executing the play queue comprising the one or more single metadata items, one or more internet radio metadata items, and one or more container metadata items, wherein executing the play queue comprises (i) for a single metadata item, using the network address identifier of the single metadata item to stream a single playable track corresponding to the single metadata item from one of the one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device to the playback device, (ii) for an internet radio metadata item, using the network address identifier of the internet radio metadata item to stream internet radio content from one of the one or more internet radio audio information sources separate from the playback device to the playback device, and (iii) for a container metadata item, using the content directory identifier of the container metadata item to stream at least one single playable track of the container metadata item to the playback device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a computer program which, when executed by one or more processors of a playback device, causes the playback device to implement a method of facilitating playback of a play queue stored on the playback device, the method comprising:
-
adding one or more single metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each of the one or more single metadata items comprises a network address identifier that points to a single playable track stored at one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device; adding one or more internet radio metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each of the one or more internet radio metadata items comprises a network address identifier that points to an internet radio audio information source separate from the playback device; adding one or more container metadata items to the play queue on the playback device, wherein each container metadata item comprises;
(i) a content directory identifier that points to a plurality of single playable tracks of the container metadata item stored at the one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device and (ii) a set of expressions or logic operations that are parseable to indicate individual single metadata items of the plurality of single playable tracks of the container metadata item;shuffling a playback order of the one or more single metadata items, one or more container metadata items, and one or more internet radio metadata items of the play queue; and executing the play queue comprising the one or more single metadata items, one or more internet radio metadata items, and one or more container metadata items, wherein executing the play queue comprises (i) for a single metadata item, using the network address identifier of the single metadata item to stream a single playable track corresponding to the single metadata item from one of the one or more audio information sources separate from the playback device to the playback device, (ii) for an internet radio metadata item, using the network address identifier of the internet radio metadata item to stream internet radio content from one of the one or more internet radio audio information sources separate from the playback device to the playback device, and (iii) for a container metadata item, using the content directory identifier of the container metadata item to stream at least one single playable track of the container metadata item to the playback device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
Specification