Systems and methods for multi-context media control and playback

• US 10,620,797 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Original Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Inventors: Garmark, Sten, Roos, Karl Magnus, Oman, Andreas, Bengtsson, Per Gunnar Joachim, Vesterlund, Marcus Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Alcon, Fernando
• Application Number:
  US13/928,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20140006947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,484 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities

Abstract

A method for controlling media presentation is disclosed. In some implementations, the method is performed at a first electronic device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The first electronic device displays a webpage including a control element, such as a “play” button. The webpage originates from a webpage server. The first electronic device receives a user input, such as a mouse click, selecting the control element. In response to the user input, the first electronic device sends a media control request to a media server. The media control request is configured to cause the media server to control presentation of first media content at a second electronic device associated with the user, wherein the second electronic device is different from the first electronic device, and wherein the media server is different from the webpage server.

Claims

1. A method for controlling media presentation, performed at a first electronic device associated with a user and having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the method comprising:

displaying a webpage including a first control element associated with an identifier of first media content provided by a media server, the webpage originating from a webpage server distinct from the media server;

receiving a first user input selecting the first control element; and

in response to the user input;

sending a first media control request to the media server, the first media control request configured to cause the media server to perform a media control operation to control presentation of the first media content from the media server at a second electronic device associated with the user, wherein;

the first media control request includes an instruction that is modified by the media server before the instruction is forwarded to the second electronic device;

the second electronic device is different from the first electronic device;

the media server is connected to the webpage server through the Internet;

the webpage server is associated with a first service provider; and

the media server is associated with a second service provider distinct from the first service provider; and

sending, to the second electronic device, a local media control request via a local network, wherein the local media control request is configured to perform the media control operation of the first media control request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling presentation of first media content includes initiating presentation of the first media content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first media content is selected from the group consisting of:

an audio track;

a video;

an audio playlist; and

a video playlist.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the first user input while the media server is streaming second media content to a third electronic device associated with the user.

5. The method of claim 1, the displaying including displaying the webpage in a web browser application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the webpage is received from the webpage server via the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is a computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device is selected from the group consisting of:

a computer;

a mobile phone;

a remote control device;

a portable media player;

a television;

a home media receiver;

a home audio/visual system; and

a speaker.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling presentation of the first media content includes adding the first media content to a media content queue being presented at the second electronic device.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein initiating presentation of the first media content includes causing the first media content to be streamed to the second electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first media content is streamed to the second device from the media server.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first media content is streamed to the second device from a client device remote from the first electronic device.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the second electronic device is presenting third media content when the first user input is received, the initiating presentation of the first media content including ceasing presentation of the third media content at the second electronic device.

14. The method of claim 1, displaying the webpage further comprising:

displaying a device selection element on the webpage, wherein the device selection element includes a list of identifiers of one or more available electronic devices that are associated with the user;

wherein;

the first user input selects one of the electronic device identifiers from the list; and

the first media control request identifies the selected electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected electronic device is the second electronic device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the media server is associated with a media content provider, and the webpage server is associated with a social network provider.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device is one of a plurality of electronic devices associated with the user, and wherein the second electronic device is a default device at which media content is to be presented.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control element is downloaded from the media server.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the webpage includes a second control element, the method further comprising:

receiving a second user input selecting the second control element; and

in response to the second user input, sending a second media control request to the media server, wherein the second media control request includes an instruction that is not to be forwarded to the second electronic device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the instruction, included in the second media control request, that is not to be forwarded to the second electronic device comprises an instruction to initiate presentation of the first media content at the second electronic device.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction, included in the first media control request, that is modified by the media server before the instruction is forwarded to the second electronic device comprises an instruction to control a volume at the second electronic device.

18. A method for controlling media presentation, performed at a media server having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the method comprising:

receiving a first media control request from a first electronic device remote from the media server, wherein;

the first media control request was sent to the media server in response to a first user selection of a first control element in a webpage displayed at the first electronic device,

the first control element is associated with an identifier of first media content provided by the media server,

the first media control request is configured to cause the media server to perform a media control operation to control presentation of the first media content at a second electronic device, and the first media control request includes an instruction that is modified by the media server before the instruction is forwarded to the second electronic device, and

a local media control request was sent, via a local network, to the second electronic device, wherein the local media control request is configured to perform the media control operation of the first media control request;

the webpage originated from a webpage server different from the media server;

the media server is connected to the webpage server through the Internet;

the webpage server is associated with a first service provider; and

the media server is associated with a second service provider distinct from the first service provider; and

in response to receiving the first media control request, controlling presentation of the first media content from the media server at the second electronic device different from the first electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling presentation of first media content includes performing at least one of sending a second media control request or streaming the first media content to the second electronic device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling presentation of first media content includes adding the first media content to a media content queue being presented at the second electronic device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein adding the first media content to the media content queue includes adding the first media content to the end of the media content queue.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein adding the first media content to the media content queue includes adding the first media content as a next media content item in the media content queue.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

prior to receiving the first media control request from the first electronic device, streaming second media content to a third electronic device separate from the first and the second electronic devices; and

in response to receiving the first media control request;

ceasing streaming the second media content to the third electronic device; and

streaming the first media content to the second electronic device.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

prior to receiving the first media control request from the first electronic device, streaming second media content to the second electronic device; and

in response to receiving the first media control request;

ceasing streaming the second media content to the second electronic device; and

streaming the first media content to the second electronic device.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising, in response to receiving the first media control request, selecting a default electronic device from a list of available electronic devices associated with the user, wherein the second electronic device is the default electronic device.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the webpage is associated with a social network account of the user.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

prior to receiving the first media control request from the first electronic device, providing a list of available devices associated with the user to the webpage server.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

prior to receiving the first media control request from the first electronic device, providing a list of available devices associated with the user to the first electronic device.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the first media content is selected from the group consisting of:

an audio track;

a video;

an audio playlist; and

a video playlist.