Generating a playlist using metadata tags

• US 20090063976A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Policarpo, Bull, William, Hope, Eric James
• Granted Patent: US 8,819,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for on-the-fly playlist shuffling. There can be multiple ways to perform the shuffling. In one instance, the electronic device can organize a new playlist by sorting the media files based on a parameter. In another instance, the electronic device can organize a new playlist by shuffling the media files. In yet another instance, the electronic device can first sort the media files into groups of media files based on a parameter. The electronic device can then shuffle the media files within each group. In this manner, the media files can be randomized but only within each group. In all instances, the current media file can continue to play without any interruption. Finally, the electronic device can sort the media files based on the context of the media file that is currently playing.

Claims

1. A method of generating playlists using an electronic device, comprising:

retrieving one or more songs from a storage medium;

organizing the one or more songs as a first playlist;

playing a song included in the first playlist;

presenting to a user an option that is associated with a shuffle command; and

in response to the user selecting the option, executing the shuffle command, wherein executing the shuffle command comprises;

organizing the one or more songs as a second playlist, wherein the song that is currently playing is the first song in the second playlist.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein organizing comprises:

sorting the one or more songs into one or more groups of songs based on a parameter; and

shuffling songs within each group of the one or more groups of songs.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sorting comprises:

sorting the one or more songs based on the song that is currently playing so that the songs that immediately follow the song share at least one metadata tag with the song.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

playing in a random order songs included in the second playlist that have the same parameter before playing any song included in the second playlist that has a different parameter.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

shuffling the one or more groups of songs.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

shuffling the one or more songs.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the parameter comprises one or more metadata tags associated with titles, albums, artists, genre, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

ranking the one or more metadata tags based on decreasing priority; and

sorting the one or more songs using at least one of the ranked metadata tags.

9. A method of generating playlists using an electronic device, comprising:

retrieving one or more songs from a storage medium;

organizing the one or more songs as a first playlist;

playing a song included in the first playlist;

presenting to a user an option that is associated with a shuffle command; and

in response to the user selecting the option, executing the shuffle command, wherein executing the shuffle command comprises;

retrieving a second song from the storage medium; and

queuing the second song such that the second song will begin playing after the song ends.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein presenting comprises:

presenting to the user a first shuffle option, wherein the first shuffle option removes a parameter from parameters associated with the shuffle command.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein presenting further comprises:

presenting to the user a second shuffle option, wherein the second shuffle option keeps the parameters associated with the shuffle command.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein presenting further comprises:

presenting to the user a third shuffle option, wherein the third shuffle option adds an additional parameter to the parameters associated with the shuffle command, wherein the additional parameter is a metadata tag associated with albums of the one or more songs.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

organizing the one or more songs as a second playlist, wherein the song that is currently playing is the first song in the second playlist.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein organizing comprises:

in response to the user selecting the first shuffle option, unshuffling the one or more songs so that the second playlist is organized alphabetically by titles of the one or more songs.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein organizing further comprises:

in response to the user selecting the second shuffle option, shuffling the one or more songs.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein organizing further comprises:

in response to the user selecting the third shuffle option;

sorting the one or more songs by the albums; and

shuffling the sorted songs within each album.

17. An apparatus that generates playlists of songs, comprising:

a storage medium that stores songs;

a display screen;

a user input component that accepts user inputs; and

a processor configured to;

generate a display that is presented on the display screen, wherein the display includes an option;

in response to a user selecting the option, organize the songs as a first playlist;

play a song included in the first playlist; and

generate a display that is presented on the display screen while playing the song, wherein the display includes a shuffle option; and

in response to the user selecting the shuffle option;

organize the songs as a second playlist, wherein the song that is currently playing is the first song in the second playlist.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

sort the songs into one or more groups of songs based on a parameter; and

shuffle songs within each group of the one or more groups of songs.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

play in a random order songs included in the second playlist that have the same parameter before playing any song included in the second playlist that has a different parameter.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

shuffle the one or more groups of songs.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to:

shuffle the one or more songs.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the parameter comprises one or more metadata tags associated with titles, albums, artists, genre, or any combination thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to:

rank the one or more metadata tags based on decreasing priority; and

sort the one or more songs using at least one of the ranked metadata tags.