Creation and Control of Channels that Provide Access to Content from Various Audio-Provider Services

• US 20170351481A1
• Filed: 06/06/2016
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Raphael, Seth, Murdoch, Ben, Tait, Matthew David, Sumter, Cody
• Granted Patent: US 9,841,943 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• 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 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

Example implementations may relate to creation and control of channels. In particular, a computing device may receive a first channel-addition request indicating content from a first audio-provider service and may responsively send to a server an instruction to establish a first channel that provides access to content from the first audio-provider service via an application-program account. With this arrangement, a subsequent second channel-addition request may then similarly lead to establishment of a second channel that provides access to content from the second audio-provider service via the application-program account. After channel-additions, the device may determine a first selection of the added first channel and may responsively cause content from the first audio-provider service to be output by an audio output device. Then, the device may determine a second selection of the added second channel and responsively cause content from the second audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

at least one input device operable to receive input data associated with an application-program account corresponding to the computing device;

an audio output device;

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors to;

in response to determining that the input data comprises a first channel-addition request indicating content from a first audio-provider service, send to a first server an instruction to establish a first channel, wherein the first channel provides access to content from the first audio-provider service via the application-program account;

in response to determining that the input data comprises a second channel-addition request indicating content from a second audio-provider service, send to the first server an instruction to establish a second channel, wherein the second channel provides access to content from the second audio-provider service via the application-program account, wherein the second audio-provider service corresponds to a second server, and wherein the first server has stored thereon information that (i) has been obtained from the second server and (ii) specifies at least one type of content associated with content from the second audio-provider service;

determine a first selection of the added first channel and responsively cause content from the first audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device;

determine a second selection of the added second channel and responsively cause content from the second audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device;

while causing content from the second audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device, determine that an audible notification is to be outputted by the audio output device;

in response to determining that the audible notification is to be outputted by the audio output device, engage with the first server in a communication session to determine the at least one type of content associated with content from the second audio-provider service;

based on the determined at least one type of content associated with content from the second audio-provider service, make a further determination of whether (i) to cause the audio output device to stop outputting content from the second audio-provider service while the audible notification is being outputted by the audio output device or (ii) to cause the audio output device to continue outputting content from the second audio-provider service at a reduced volume while the audible notification is also being outputted by the audio output device; and

after making the further determination, cause the audio output device to output the audible notification in accordance with the further determination.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a screenless wearable device.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device comprises one or more of the following devices:

at least one microphone, at least one touch-based interface, and at least one mechanical interface.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the application-program account also corresponds to a different computing device, and wherein the added first and second channels are each accessible via a different selection on the different computing device.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the application-program account is stored at the first server, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

engage in a direct communication session with the application-program account stored at the first server, and

wherein the first and second selections each respectively occur during the direct communication session with the application-program account.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first audio-provider service is associated with a first audio-provider account that also corresponds to the computing device.

7. The computing device of claim 1,

wherein the first audio-provider service corresponds to a first audio-provider server that stores content to which the first channel provides access, and

wherein the second audio-provider service corresponding to a second server comprises the second audio-provider service corresponding to a second audio-provider server that stores content to which the second channel provides access.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

subsequently determine that the input data comprises a third channel-addition request indicating content from the non-transitory computer readable medium; and

in response to the third channel-addition request, send to the first server an instruction to establish a third channel that provides access to content from the non-transitory computer readable medium via the application-program account.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the program instructions being executable to determine the first selection comprises the program instructions being executable to determine that the input data corresponds to a gesture indicative of the first selection.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one mechanical interface, and wherein the gesture comprises a particular mechanical input that is provided via the at least one mechanical interface and is indicative of the first selection.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the program instructions being executable to determine the second selection comprises the program instructions being executable to determine that the input data corresponds to a gesture indicative of the second selection.

12. The computing device of claim 11,

wherein the gesture being indicative of the second selection comprises the gesture being indicative of a transition from (i) the added first channel to (ii) the added second channel, and

wherein the program instructions being executable to responsively cause content from the second audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device comprises the program instructions being executable to carry out the transition by causing the audio output device to output content from the second audio-provider service instead of outputting content from the first audio-provider service.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one mechanical interface, and wherein the gesture indicative of the transition comprises a mechanical movement of the at least one mechanical interface.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the mechanical movement comprises a movement of the at least one mechanical interface from a first location to a second location followed by maintenance of the at least one mechanical interface at the second location for at least a threshold duration.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the second audio-provider service corresponding to a second server comprises the second audio-provider service corresponding to a second audio-provider server that stores content to which the second channel provides access, wherein the first server has stored thereon information that is related to content to which the second channel provides access and that has been obtained from the second audio-provider server, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

in response to determining that the input data corresponds to the gesture indicative of the transition, engage with the first server in a communication session to receive the information related to content to which the second channel provides access; and

cause the audio output device to output a notification representative of the received information that is related to content to which the second channel provides access.

16. The computing device of claim 1, wherein content from the second audio-provider service comprises at least first and second audio tracks, wherein the program instructions being executable to responsively cause content from the second audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device comprises the program instructions being executable to responsively cause the first audio track to be output by the audio output device, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

subsequently determine that the input data corresponds to a gesture indicative of a transition from (i) the first audio track to (ii) the second audio track; and

in response to subsequently determining that the input data corresponds to the gesture, carry out the transition by causing the audio output device to output the second audio track instead of outputting the first audio track.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one mechanical interface, and wherein the gesture indicative of the transition comprises a mechanical movement of the at least one mechanical interface from a first particular location to a second particular location.

18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the second audio-provider service corresponding to a second server comprises the second audio-provider service corresponding to a second audio-provider server that stores content to which the second channel provides access, wherein the first server has stored thereon information that (i) has been obtained from the second audio-provider server and (ii) is respectively related to the first and second audio tracks, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

in response to subsequently determining that the input data corresponds to the gesture indicative of the transition, engage with the first server in a communication session to receive the information related to the second audio track; and

cause the audio output device to output a notification representative of the received information that is related to the second audio track.

19. A computing device comprising:

an audio output device;

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors to;

cause content from an audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device;

while causing content from the audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device, determine that an audible notification is to be outputted by the audio output device;

in response to determining that the audible notification is to be outputted by the audio output device, determine at least one type of content associated with content from the audio-provider service;

based on the determined at least one type of content associated with content from the audio-provider service, make a further determination of whether (i) to cause the audio output device to stop outputting content from the audio-provider service while the audible notification is being outputted by the audio output device or (ii) to cause the audio output device to continue outputting content from the audio-provider service at a reduced volume while the audible notification is also being outputted by the audio output device; and

after making the further determination, cause the audio output device to output the audible notification in accordance with the further determination.

20. A server comprising:

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors to;

receive a first channel-addition request indicating content from a first audio-provider service;

in response to receiving the first channel-addition request, establish a first channel that provides access to content from the first audio-provider service via an application-program account corresponding to a computing device;

receive a second channel-addition request indicating content from a second audio-provider service;

in response to receiving the second channel-addition request, establish a second channel that provides access to content from the second audio-provider service via the application-program account;

determine a first selection of the added first channel and responsively send to the computing device a first instruction to output content from the first audio-provider service;

determine a second selection of the added second channel and responsively send to the computing device a second instruction to output content from the second audio-provider service, wherein the second instruction instructs the computing device to output content from the second audio-provider service via an audio output device of the computing device;

receive, from a second audio-provider server that stores content from the second audio-provider service, information that specifies at least one type of content associated with content from the second audio-provider service;

receive, from the computing device, an indication that an audible notification is to be outputted via the audio output device of the computing device;

in response to receiving the indication and based on the at least one type of content, make a further determination of whether (i) to instruct the computing device to stop outputting content from the second audio-provider service via the audio output device while the audible notification is being outputted via the audio output device or (ii) to instruct the computing device to continue outputting content from the second audio-provider service via the audio output device at a reduced volume while the audible notification is also being outputted via the audio output device; and

after making the further determination, transmit, to the computing device, a further instruction in accordance with the further determination.

21. The server of claim 20, wherein the computing device is a screenless wearable device.

22. The server of claim 20, wherein the first and second selections are each respectively in association with the computing device, wherein the application-program account also corresponds to a different computing device, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine, in association with the different computing device, a first different selection of the added first channel and responsively send to the different computing device a first different instruction to output content from the first audio-provider service; and

determine, in association with the different computing device, a second different selection of the added second channel and responsively send to the different computing device a second different instruction to output content from the second audio-provider service.

23. The server of claim 20, wherein the application-program account is stored at the server, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

engage with the computing device in a direct communication session associated with the application-program account stored at the server, and

wherein the first and second selections each respectively occur during the direct communication session associated with the application-program account stored at the server.

24. The server of claim 20, wherein the first audio-provider service is associated with a first audio-provider account that also corresponds to the computing device.

25. The server of claim 20,

wherein the first audio-provider service corresponds to a first audio-provider server that stores content to which the first channel provides access, and

wherein the second audio-provider server stores content to which the second channel provides access.

26. The server of claim 25,

wherein the first instruction to output content from the first audio-provider service comprises an instruction to stream content from the first audio-provider server and to output, by an audio output device of the computing device, content being streamed from the first audio-provider server;

and

wherein the second instruction to output content from the second audio-provider service comprises an instruction to stream content from the second audio-provider server and to output, by the audio output device of the computing device, content being streamed from the second audio-provider server.

27. The server of claim 20, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

receive a third channel-addition request indicating content stored at the computing device; and

in response to receiving the third channel-addition request, establish a third channel that provides access via the application-program account to content stored at the computing device.

28. The server of claim 20, wherein the program instructions being executable to determine a first selection of the added first channel and responsively send to the computing device a first instruction to output content from the first audio-provider service comprises the program instructions being executable to:

receive, from the computing device, input data provided via at least one input device of the computing device;

determine that the received input data corresponds to a gesture indicative of the first selection; and

in response to determining that the received input data corresponds to the gesture indicative of the first selection, send the first instruction to the computing device.

29. The server of claim 20, wherein the program instructions being executable to determine a second selection of the added second channel and responsively send to the computing device a second instruction to output content from the second audio-provider service comprises the program instructions being executable to:

receive, from the computing device, input data provided via at least one input device of the computing device;

determine that the received input data corresponds to a gesture indicative of the second selection; and

in response to determining that the received input data corresponds to the gesture indicative of the second selection, send the second instruction to the computing device.

30. A server comprising:

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the one or more processors to;

send, to a computing device, an instruction to output content from an audio-provider service via an audio output device of the computing device;

receive, from an audio-provider server that stores content from the audio-provider service, information that specifies at least one type of content associated with content from the audio-provider service;

receive, from the computing device, an indication that an audible notification is to be outputted via the audio output device of the computing device;

in response to receiving the indication and based on the at least one type of content, make a determination of whether (i) to instruct the computing device to stop outputting content from the audio-provider service via the audio output device while the audible notification is being outputted via the audio output device or (ii) to instruct the computing device to continue outputting content from the audio-provider service via the audio output device at a reduced volume while the audible notification is also being outputted via the audio output device; and

after making the determination, transmit, to the computing device, a further instruction in accordance with the determination.

31. A method comprising:

determining, by a computing device comprising at least one input device operable to receive input data associated with an application-program account corresponding to the computing device, that the input data comprises a first channel-addition request indicating content from a first audio-provider service, wherein the computing device further comprises an audio output device;

in response to the first channel-addition request, the computing device sending to a first server an instruction to establish a first channel, wherein the first channel provides access to content from the first audio-provider service via the application-program account;

subsequently determining, by the computing device, that the input data comprises a second channel-addition request indicating content from a second audio-provider service, wherein the second audio-provider service corresponds to a second server, wherein the first server has stored thereon information that (i) has been obtained from the second server and (ii) specifies at least one type of content associated with content from the second audio-provider service;

in response to the second channel-addition request, the computing device sending to the first server an instruction to establish a second channel, wherein the second channel provides access to content from the second audio-provider service via the application-program account;

determining, by the computing device, a first selection of the added first channel and responsively causing content from the first audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device;

determining, by the computing device, a second selection of the added second channel and responsively causing content from the second audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device;

while causing content from the second audio-provider service to be output by the audio output device, determining, by the computing device, that an audible notification is to be outputted by the audio output device;

in response to determining that the audible notification is to be outputted by the audio output device, engaging, by the computing device, with the first server in a communication session to determine the at least one type of content associated with content from the second audio-provider service;

based on the determined at least one type of content associated with content from the second audio-provider service, making a further determination, by the computing device, of whether (i) to cause the audio output device to stop outputting content from the second audio-provider service while the audible notification is being outputted by the audio output device or (ii) to cause the audio output device to continue outputting content from the second audio-provider service at a reduced volume while the audible notification is also being outputted by the audio output device; and

after making the further determination, causing, by the computing device, the audio output device to output the audible notification in accordance with the further determination.

32. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first server, a first channel-addition request indicating content from a first audio-provider service;

in response to receiving the first channel-addition request, the first server establishing a first channel that provides access to content from the first audio-provider service via an application-program account corresponding to a computing device;

receiving, by the first server, a second channel-addition request indicating content from a second audio-provider service;

in response to receiving the second channel-addition request, the first server establishing a second channel that provides access to content from the second audio-provider service via the application-program account;

determining, by the first server, a first selection of the added first channel and responsively sending to the computing device a first instruction to output content from the first audio-provider service;

determining, by the first server, a second selection of the added second channel and responsively sending to the computing device a second instruction to output content from the second audio-provider service via an audio output device of the computing device;

receiving, by the first server from a second server that stores content from the second audio-provider service, information that specifies at least one type of content associated with content from the second audio-provider service;

receiving, by the first server from the computing device, an indication that an audible notification is to be outputted via the audio output device of the computing device;

in response to receiving the indication and based on the at least one type of content, making a determination, by the first server, of whether (i) to instruct the computing device to stop outputting content from the second audio-provider service via the audio output device while the audible notification is being outputted via the audio output device or (ii) to instruct the computing device to continue outputting content from the second audio-provider service via the audio output device at a reduced volume while the audible notification is also being outputted via the audio output device; and

after making the further determination, transmitting, by the first server to the computing device, a further instruction in accordance with the further determination.