SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING BETWEEN MEDIA ITEMS IN A PLURALITY OF SEQUENCES OF MEDIA ITEMS

• US 20150113407A1
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Original Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Inventors: HOFFERT, Eric, BERKLEY, Mike, SORMAZ, Dejan, SCHNEIDER, Tobias, CONWAY, Frank, FAABORG, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 9,063,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/720
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/743 a collection of video files or sequences
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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

Abstract

An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display obtains information about a first and second sequence of media items. The device plays an initially-displayed media item of the first sequence and while playing the initially-displayed media item in a respective region of the display, detects a media-change input. In response to the input, when the media-change input corresponds to movement in a first direction, the device ceases to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region and plays a first media item that is adjacent to the initially-displayed media item in the first sequence. When the media-change input corresponds to movement in a second, different, direction, the device ceases to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display and plays a second media item in the respective region, where the second media item is from the second sequence of media items.

Claims

1. A method of providing media content, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory;

obtaining information about a plurality of sequences of media items, including a first sequence of media items and a second sequence of media items that is different from the first sequence of media items;

playing an initially-displayed media item of the first sequence of media items on a display;

while playing the initially-displayed media item in a respective region of the display, detecting a media-change input;

in response to detecting the media-change input;

in accordance with a determination that the media-change input corresponds to movement in a first direction;

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display; and

playing a first media item in the respective region of the display, wherein the first media item is different from the initially-displayed media item and is sequentially adjacent to the initially-displayed media item in the first sequence of media items; and

in accordance with a determination that the media-change input corresponds to movement in a second direction that is different from the first direction;

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display; and

playing a second media item in the respective region of the display, wherein the second media item is different from the initially-displayed media item and the first media item and is from the second sequence of media items;

wherein;

the initially-displayed media item is adjacent to four media items, including the first media item, the second media item, a third media item, and a fourth media item,

the first media item is located to the right of the initially-displayed media item,

the second media item is located to the top of the initially-displayed media item

the third media item is located to the left of the initially-displayed media item, and

the fourth media item is located to the bottom of the initially-displayed media item, and

based on an available bandwidth, preloading at least a portion of the first media item, the second media item, the third media item, and/or the fourth media item, wherein preloading includes receiving the portion of the first media item, the second media item, the third media item, and/or the fourth media item from a remote device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

3. The method of claim 1, including, in response to detecting the media-change input, in accordance with a determination that the media-change input corresponds to movement in a third direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction, ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display and playing the third media item in the respective region of the display, wherein the third media item is different from the initially-displayed media item, the first media item and the second media item.

4. The method of claim 3, including, in response to detecting the media-change input, in accordance with a determination that the media-change input corresponds to movement in a fourth direction that is substantially opposite to the second direction:

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display; and

playing the fourth media item in the respective region of the display, wherein the fourth media item is different from the initially-displayed media item, the first media item, the second media item, and the third media item and is from a third sequence of media items that is different from the first sequence of media items and the second sequence of media items.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the device presents a user interface using a respective language;

when the respective language is a language that has a left-to-right primary reading direction, the first direction is along a left-to-right axis of the display; and

when the respective language is a language that has a top-to-bottom primary reading direction, the first direction is along a top-to-bottom axis of the display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the initially-displayed media item has a position in the first sequence of media items that is after a beginning of the first sequence of media items; and

the second media item has a position at a beginning of the second sequence of media items.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the initially-displayed media item has an ordinal position in the first sequence of media items; and

the second media item has the same ordinal position in the second sequence of media items.

8. The method of claim 1, including:

prior to detecting the media-change input, detecting a context-display input; and

in response to detecting the context-display input, displaying a media-context user interface that includes the initially-displayed media item and portions of one or more other media items that were not displayed immediately prior to detecting the context-display input.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the media-change input and the context-display input are part of a continuously detected gesture.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the initially-displayed media item is displayed without displaying representations of other media items; and

displaying the media-context user interface includes reducing a size of the initially-displayed media item and partially displaying representations of the one or more other media items in regions of the display that were previously occupied by the initially-displayed media item.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more of the representations of other media items include static images.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more of the representations of other media items include video content that is playing.

13. The method of claim 1, including:

while playing a currently playing media item, detecting a directory-view input; and

in response to detecting the directory-view input, displaying a media item directory that includes representations of a plurality of media items from the first sequence of media items and representations of a plurality of media items from the second sequence of media items.

14. The method of claim 13, including, while displaying the media item directory:

continuing to play the currently playing media item; and

displaying static representations of the other media items in the media item directory.

15. The method of claim 13, including, while displaying the media item directory:

continuing to play the currently playing media item; and

playing one or more other media items in the media item directory on the display.

16. The method of claim 1, including:

prior to playing the initially-displayed media item;

displaying a media item directory in a respective arrangement; and

detecting selection of a representation of the initially-displayed media item in the media item directory;

in response to detecting selection of the representation of the initially-displayed media item, ceasing to display the media item directory and playing the initially-displayed media item; and

after ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item and starting to play a different media item;

detecting a directory-view input; and

in response to detecting the directory-view input, displaying the media item directory in the respective arrangement.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the initially-displayed media item corresponds to on-demand content;

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item includes ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item at a stop point;

the method includes, after ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item;

detecting a predefined input that corresponds to a request to resume playing the initially-displayed media item; and

in response to detecting the predefined input, resuming playing the initially-displayed media item at a predefined point relative to the stop point.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the initially-displayed media item corresponds to live content;

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item includes ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item at a stop point;

the method includes, after ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item;

detecting a predefined input that corresponds to a request to resume playing the initially-displayed media item; and

in response to detecting the predefined input, resuming playing the initially-displayed media item at a current point in the initially-displayed media item that is different from the stop point.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein preloading at least a portion of the first media item, the second media item, the third media item, and/or the fourth media item includes preloading, based on an available bandwidth, either:

at least a portion of the first media item and at least a portion of the second media item, or

at least a portion of each of the first media item, the second media item, the third media item, and the fourth media item.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

preloading at least a portion of the first media item,

wherein playing the first media item in the respective region of the display includes playing the preloaded portion of the first media item.

24. The method of claim 4, wherein both the first direction and third direction are perpendicular to both the second direction and the fourth direction.

17. (canceled)

20. An electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

obtaining information about a plurality of sequences of media items, including a first sequence of media items and a second sequence of media items that is different from the first sequence of media items;

playing an initially-displayed media item of the first sequence of media items on a display;

while playing the initially-displayed media item in a respective region of the display, detecting a media-change input;

in response to detecting the media-change input;

in accordance with a determination that the media-change input corresponds to movement in a first direction;

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display; and

playing a first media item in the respective region of the display, wherein the first media item is different from the respective initially-displayed media item and is sequentially adjacent to the initially-displayed media item in the first sequence of media items; and

in accordance with a determination that the media-change input corresponds to movement in a second direction that is different from the first direction;

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display; and

playing a second media item in the respective region of the display, wherein the second media item is different from the initially-displayed media item and the first media item and is from the second sequence of media items;

wherein;

the initially-displayed media item is adjacent to four media items, including the first media item, the second media item, a third media item, and a fourth media item,

the first media item is located to the right of the initially-displayed media item,

the second media item is located to the top of the initially-displayed media item,

the third media item is located to the left of the initially-displayed media item, and

the fourth media item is located to the bottom of the initially-displayed media item, and

based on an available bandwidth, preloading at least a portion of the first media item, the second media item, the third media item, and/or the fourth media item, wherein preloading includes receiving the portion of the first media item, the second media item, the third media item, and/or the fourth media item from a remote device.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by an electronic device with one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

obtaining information about a plurality of sequences of media items, including a first sequence of media items and a second sequence of media items that is different from the first sequence of media items;

playing an initially-displayed media item of the first sequence of media items on a display;

while playing the initially-displayed media item in a respective region of the display, detecting a media-change input;

in response to detecting the media-change input;

in accordance with a determination that the media-change input corresponds to movement in a first direction;

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display; and

playing a first media item in the respective region of the display, wherein the first media item is different from the initially-displayed media item and is sequentially adjacent to the initially-displayed media item in the first sequence of media items; and

in accordance with a determination that the media-change input corresponds to movement in a second direction that is different from the first direction;

ceasing to play the initially-displayed media item in the respective region of the display; and

playing a second media item in the respective region of the display, wherein the second media item is different from the initially-displayed media item and the first media item and is from the second sequence of media items;

wherein;

the initially-displayed media item is adjacent to four media items, including the first media item, the second media item, a third media item, and a fourth media item,

the first media item is located to the right of the initially-displayed media item,

the second media item is located to the top of the initially-displayed media item,

the third media item is located to the left of the initially-displayed media item, and

the fourth media item is located to the bottom of the initially-displayed media item, and

based on an available bandwidth, preloading at least a portion of the first media item, the second media item, the third media item, and/or the fourth media item, wherein preloading includes receiving the portion of the first media item, the second media item, the third media item, and/or the fourth media item from a remote device.