Media Playback Queuing for Playback Management

• US 20140195909A1
• Filed: 01/03/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Filson, John Benjamin, Yeates, Kyle H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,507,780 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: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a queue of media items selected for playback at a device;

initiating playback of a first media item in the queue; and

during playback of the media item;

receiving a user selection of a second media asset item for playback and a location indicating where the second media item is to be placed within the queue, and

placing the second media item in the queue without interrupting the playback of the first media item.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second media item comprises a playlist, and wherein placing the second media item in the queue comprises interposing playback of a plurality of digital media assets associated with the playlist to be played after playback of the first media item has completed.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is a hand-held computing device that includes a storage device for storing the first media item and the second media item.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a storage associated with the device does not have the second media item; and

transmitting the second media item to the device for playback.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface on a display screen associated with the device, the graphical user interface comprising at least a first selectable item to request that the second media item be played next.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a second selectable item to request that the second media item be played now.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein receiving the user selection is based on a selection from the graphical user interface.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a queue of media items selected for playback at a device;

initiating playback of a first media item in the queue;

receiving, during playback of the first media item, a user selection of a second media item for playback and a location indicating where the second media item is to be placed within the queue; and

during playback of the first media item, placing the second media item in the queue without interrupting the playback of the first media item.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the second media item comprises a playlist, and wherein placing the second media item in the queue comprises interposing playback of a plurality of digital media assets associated with the playlist to be played after playback of the first media item has completed.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the device is a hand-held computing device that includes a storage device for storing the first media item and the second media item.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in operations further comprising:

determining that a storage associated with the device does not have the second media item; and

transmitting the second media item to the device for playback.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in operations further comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface on a display screen associated with the device, the graphical user interface comprising at least a first selectable item to request that the second media item be played next.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a second selectable item to request that the second media item be played now.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein receiving the user selection is based on a selection from the graphical user interface.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

obtaining a queue of media items selected for playback at a device;

initiating playback of a first media item in the queue;

receiving, during playback of the media item, a user selection of a second media item for playback and a location indicating where the second media item is to be placed within the queue; and

during playback of the first media item, placing the second media item in the queue without interrupting the playback of the first media item.

16. An electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in an operation further comprising subsequently playing the second media item that has been placed in the queue after the playback of the first media item has completed.

17. An electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein the electronic device is a hand-held electronic device, and wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in operations further comprising:

determining that a storage associated with the device does not have the second media item; and

transmitting the second media item to the device for playback.

18. A method comprising:

generating a master playlist of media assets for playback at a plurality of devices, wherein the media assets in the master playlist comprise media assets selected by a plurality of users for inclusion in the master playlist;

based on a playback preference, selecting a media asset from the master playlist for playback at a device from the plurality of devices; and

initiating playback of the media asset selected from the master playlist.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the playback preference comprises at least one of a playback order or a playback ranking, the method further comprising providing the master playlist to the plurality of devices for presentation at the plurality of devices via respective graphical displays.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the media assets selected form the master playlist comprises a playlist of media assets, and wherein initiating playback of the media asset selected from the master playlist comprises initiating playback of a media asset within the playlist of media assets.