SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING MEDIA CONTENT PLAYBACK BASED ON LIMITED INPUT

• US 20070291404A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: MOSHER, Steven Mark, Morse, Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/81
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

A method for navigating among tracks uses limited input commands. A plurality of tracks is associated with a currently playing queue. One of the tracks in the queue is identified for a current focus. A voice command is received that includes a directional aspect and a metadata filtering aspect. In response, the focus moves to a second track having a different value for the selected metadata filtering category.

Claims

1. A method of navigating from a first track to a second track in an ordered listing of tracks having at least one metadata category associated with each of the tracks, the method comprising:

generating a command signal that identifies a navigation operation and a metadata qualifier; and

selecting from the ordered listing a second track based on

     1) a comparison of a first value for a metadata category derived from the metadata qualifier with the second track'"'"'s value for the metadata category and

     2) the navigation operation identified in the command signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first value for the metadata category is a specific genre type identified in the command signal'"'"'s metadata qualifier and the comparison comprises matching the specific genre type with the second track'"'"'s value for the metadata category.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the navigation operation is one of shuffle and repeat.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first value for the metadata category is determined by examining the first track'"'"'s metadata category corresponding to the metadata qualifier.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the comparison comprises a determination that the second track'"'"'s value for the metadata category does not match the first value and the navigation operation is one of next, previous, and shuffle.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the track is an audio track and the metadata qualifier in the command signal corresponds to one of artist, album, and genre.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising navigating to a third track after selecting the second track by:

generating a second command signal that identifies a second navigation operation and a second metadata qualifier; and

selecting from the ordered listing a third track based on

     1) a comparison of a third value for a metadata category derived from the metadata qualifier with the third track'"'"'s value for the metadata category and

     2) the second navigation operation identified in the second command signal.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the ordered listing is arranged in the order that tracks are placed in the listing by a user.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metadata qualifier identifies a grouping of tracks.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the command signal is generated using a voice input.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the command signal is generated using at least in part at least one of a touch screen on the device, a switch, and a sensor responsive to a gesture of the user.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the ordered listing is a currently playing queue.

13. A method of navigating to a track within a plurality of tracks, the method comprising:

associating a plurality of tracks with a queue accessible for immediate playback of the tracks associated with the queue;

identifying a first track in the queue;

receiving a voice command to move from a first track to a second track in the queue, wherein the command includes a navigation operation aspect and a metadata qualifier aspect; and

selecting the second track as based on the navigation operation aspect of the command and an evaluation of the metadata qualifier aspect, wherein the evaluation comprises determining a metadata category corresponding to the metadata qualifier aspect and a comparison of the first track'"'"'s value for the metadata category with the second track'"'"'s value for the metadata category.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the navigation operation comprises one of next and previous, wherein next refers to a next track in the ordered arrangement of tracks, previous refers to a previous track in the ordered arrangement of tracks, and wherein the comparison comprises a determination that the first value does not match the second value.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the navigation operation comprises a repeat command referring to a grouping having at least one track currently accessed and wherein the comparison comprises a determination that the first value matches the second value.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the navigation operation comprises a shuffle command for playing selected tracks in the queue in a randomized order, the metadata qualifier identifies a specific genre type and the comparison comprises a determination that the first value matches the second value.

17. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising, before the voice command is received, receiving an initiation signal for placing a device in a ready state for receiving the voice command.

18. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the voice command further includes a greeting command advising of an impending navigation operation aspect or metadata qualifier aspect of the command signal.

19. A device for rendering of tracks, the device comprising:

memory for storage of tracks;

a voice recognition module; and

a user interface having a selection mechanism and a presentation mechanism, wherein the selection mechanism is operable in at least two modes, a first mode wherein the navigation position in a navigational hierarchy is displayed to the user on the presentation mechanism and a second mode wherein the next track is identified for playback by a processor configured to;

receive from the voice recognition module a command signal that identifies a navigation operation and a metadata qualifier; and

select from the ordered listing a second track based on

     1) a comparison of a first value for a metadata category derived from the metadata qualifier with the second track'"'"'s value for the metadata category and

     2) the navigation operation identified in the command signal.

20. The device as recited in claim 19 wherein the user interface is further configured to respond to a control signal to activate the device from a sleep state for reception of a voice command and to reenter a sleep state after a predetermined period elapses without detection of a voice command.