Playback device queue access levels

• US 10,339,331 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Coburn, IV, Arthur L., Schulert, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Loc
• Application Number:
  US15/263,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20160379008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Based on a credential, an access level of a playback queue for a first control interface and a first subset and second subset of media items in the playback queue may be determined. Media items in the playback queue that were added via a second control interface may be included in the first subset. Media items that were added via a control interface different from the second control interface may be included in a second subset. Information may be provided which identifies the first subset of the media items in the playback queue and the second subset of the media items in the playback queue.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, via a playback device from a first control interface, a request for information identifying all media items in a playback queue, the request comprising a credential associated with the first control interface, wherein the first control interface is associated with a first playlist, wherein the media items comprise one or more media items added from a second playlist associated with a second control interface, and wherein the playback device is configured to play back media according to the playback queue;

determining an access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential;

determining, via the playback device, a first subset of the media items in the playback queue and a second subset of the media items in the playback queue based on the credential, wherein the determining the first subset and the second subset comprises;

identifying, as included in the first subset, media items in the playback queue that were added via the second control interface; and

identifying, as included in the second subset, media items in the playback queue that were added via a control interface different from the second control interface; and

providing, via the playback device to the first control interface, first information identifying the first subset of the media items in the playback queue based on the access level and second information identifying the second subset of the media items in the playback queue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

comparing the credential to at least one access criteria;

based on the comparing, determining that the access level (i) restricts the first control interface from displaying information of the first subset of the media items and (ii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

determining that the access level (i) enables displaying of information by the first control interface of the first subset of media items, (ii) restricts the first control interface from modifying the first subset of media items, and (iii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

determining that the access level (i) enables displaying only a next media item from the first subset that is queued for playback and (ii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

determining that the access level (i) enables displaying a currently playing media item from the first subset, (ii) restricts the first control interface from displaying and modifying remaining media items of the first subset, and (iii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the credential comprises a first music service identifier, wherein the first subset of media items is associated with a second music service identifier;

and wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises;

determining that the first music service identifier is the same as the second music service identifier; and

based on determining that the first music service identifier is the same as the second music service identifier, determining that the access level enables the first control interface to display and modify the first subset of media items.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first information identifying the first subset of the media items in the playback queue based on the access level comprises:

providing metadata information of the first subset of the media items in the playback queue and a pointer for each of the media items in the first subset.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the credential comprises a first user identifier, wherein the first subset of media items is associated with a second user identifier;

and wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises;

determining that the first user identifier is the same as the second user identifier; and

based on determining that the first user identifier is the same as the second user identifier, determining that the access level enables to the first control interface to display and modify the first subset of media items.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the playback device from the second control interface, a playlist identifying one or more media items that are available for playback by the first control interface; and

adding, via the playback device, the one or more media items identified in the playlist to the playback queue, wherein the playback queue contains information identifying queued media items to be played.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the playback device from the first control interface, an instruction to modify the first subset of media items;

determining that the access level enables the first control interface to modify the first subset of media items; and

based on determining that the access level enables the first control interface to modify the first subset of media items, modifying the first subset of media items in the playback queue according to the instruction.

11. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, from a first control interface, a request for information identifying all media items in a playback queue, the request comprising a credential associated with the first control interface, wherein the first control interface is associated with a first playlist, wherein the media items comprise one or more media items added from a second playlist associated with a second control interface, and wherein the playback device is configured to play back media according to the playback queue;

determining an access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential;

determining a first subset of the media items in the playback queue and a second subset of the media items in the playback queue based on the credential, wherein the determining the first subset and the second subset comprises;

identifying, as included in the first subset, media items in the playback queue that were added via the second control interface; and

identifying, as included in the second subset, media items in the playback queue that were added via a control interface different from the second control interface; and

providing, to the first control interface, first information identifying the first subset of the media items in the playback queue based on the access level and second information identifying the second subset of the media items in the playback queue.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11,

wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

comparing the credential to at least one access criteria;

based on the comparing, determining that the access level (i) restricts the first control interface from displaying information of the first subset of the media items and (ii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

determining that the access level (i) enables displaying of information by the first control interface of the first subset of media items, (ii) restricts the first control interface from modifying the first subset of media items, and (iii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

determining that the access level (i) enables displaying only a next media item from the first subset that is queued for playback and (ii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

determining that the access level (i) enables displaying a currently playing media item from the first subset, (ii) restricts the first control interface from displaying and modifying remaining media items of the first subset, and (iii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

16. A playback device, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

receiving, from a first control interface, a request for information identifying all media items in a playback queue, the request comprising a credential associated with the first control interface, wherein the first control interface is associated with a first playlist, wherein the media items comprise one or more media items added from a second playlist associated with a second control interface, and wherein the playback device is configured to play back media according to the playback queue;

determining an access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential;

determining a first subset of the media items in the playback queue and a second subset of the media items in the playback queue based on the credential, wherein the determining the first subset and the second subset comprises;

identifying, as included in the first subset, media items in the playback queue that were added via the second control interface; and

identifying, as included in the second subset, media items in the playback queue that were added via a control interface different from the second control interface; and

providing, to the first control interface, first information identifying the first subset of the media items in the playback queue based on the access level and second information identifying the second subset of the media items in the playback queue.

17. The playback device of claim 16, wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises:

determining that the access level (i) enables displaying of information by the first control interface of the first subset of media items, (ii) restricts the first control interface from modifying the first subset of media items, and (iii) enables displaying information for the second subset of the media items and modification of the second subset of the media items.

18. The playback device of claim 16, wherein the credential comprises a first user identifier, wherein the first subset of media items is associated with a second user identifier;

and wherein determining the access level of the playback queue for the first control interface based on the credential comprises;

determining that the first user identifier is the same as the second user identifier; and

based on determining that the first user identifier is the same as the second user identifier, determining that the access level enables to the first control interface to display and modify the first subset of media items.

19. The playback device of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, via the playback device from the second control interface, a playlist identifying one or more media items that are available for playback by the first control interface; and

adding, via the playback device, the one or more media items identified in the playlist to the playback queue, wherein the playback queue contains information identifying queued media items to be played.

20. The playback device of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from the first control interface, an instruction to modify the first subset of media items;

determining that the access level enables the first control interface to modify the first subset of media items; and

based on determining that the access level enables the first control interface to modify the first subset of media items, modifying the first subset of media items in the playback queue according to the instruction.