SONG FLOW METHODOLOGY IN RANDOM PLAYBACK

• US 20120290932A1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 9,396,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]

Abstract

An electronic device can play back media items using a random playback mode. To ensure that related media items are played back in a proper order (e.g., live music is played back in concert order), the electronic device can define metadata or other data coupling related media items in a predefined or preset sequence. For example, related media items can include metadata tags identifying the previous and next media items to play back in the sequence. As another example, the electronic device can store a listing of media items of a sequence and the order in which to play them back. When the electronic device reaches a media item that is part of a preset sequence during random playback, the electronic device can identify at least the subsequent media items in the sequence, and insert the subsequent media items in the playback queue.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method for managing media items with an electronic device, the method comprising:

arbitrarily ordering with the electronic device a first plurality of media items into a first order in a playback queue;

determining with the electronic device that a first media item of the first plurality of media items is associated with a first preset playback sequence;

in response to the determining, accessing with the electronic device a second media item that is associated with the first preset playback sequence; and

in response to the accessing, revising the first order with the electronic device by inserting the second media item sequentially with the first media item in the playback queue.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second media item is not a media item of the first plurality of media items.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the second media item is a media item of the first plurality of media items.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising playing back the ordered media items in the playback queue with the electronic device, wherein the determining occurs before the playing back of the first media item.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising playing back the ordered media items in the playback queue with the electronic device, wherein the determining occurs before the playing back of any of the media items in the playback queue.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the first preset playback sequence defines a particular order for the first media item and the second media item, and wherein the inserting comprises inserting the second media item sequentially with the first media item in the playback queue according to the particular order of the first preset playback sequence.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the revising comprises replacing the first media item in the first order with at least a portion of the first preset playback sequence, and wherein the at least a portion of the first preset playback sequence comprises the first media item and the second media item ordered according to a particular order of the first preset playback sequence.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least a portion of the first preset playback sequence comprises every media item associated with the first preset playback sequence.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least a portion of the first preset playback sequence comprises the first media item and each media item associated with the first preset playback sequence that follows the first media item according to the particular order of the first preset playback sequence.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the second media item is ordered before the first media item according to the particular order of the first preset playback sequence.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the determining comprises analyzing metadata of the first media item.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the determining comprises detecting that title metadata of the first media item comprises at least one particular character.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one particular character comprises the “

>

”

character.

35. An electronic device comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

arbitrarily order first plurality of media items into a first order in a playback queue;

determine that a first media item of the first plurality of media items is associated with a first preset playback sequence;

in response to determining that the first media item is associated with the first preset playback sequence, access a second media item that is associated with the first preset playback sequence; and

in response to accessing the second media item, revise the first order by inserting the second media item sequentially with the first media item in the playback queue.

36. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the second media item is not a media item of the first plurality of media items.

37. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the second media item is a media item of the first plurality of media items.

38. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to playback the ordered media items in the playback queue, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine that the first media item is associated with the first preset playback sequence before playing back the first media item.

39. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the first preset playback sequence defines a particular order for the first media item and the second media item, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to revise the first order by inserting the second media item sequentially with the first media item in the playback queue according to the particular order of the first preset playback sequence.

40. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the control circuitry is configured to revise the first order by replacing the first media item in the first order with at least a portion of the first preset playback sequence, and wherein the at least a portion of the first preset playback sequence comprises the first media item and the second media item ordered according to a particular order of the first preset playback sequence.

41. Non-transitory computer readable media comprising computer readable instructions recorded thereon for:

arbitrarily ordering a first plurality of media items into a first order in a playback queue;

determining that a first media item of the first plurality of media items is associated with a first preset playback sequence;

in response to the determining, accessing a second media item that is associated with the first preset playback sequence; and

in response to the accessing, revising the first order by inserting the second media item sequentially with the first media item in the playback queue.