System and methods for adjusting graphical representations of media files based on previous usage

• US 8,527,876 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Policarpo, Rottler, Benjamin Andrew, Hicks, Kourtny Minh, Hope, Eric James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US12/157,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/789, 715/811, 715/745, 715/866
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

Systems and methods for adjusting playback and graphical representations of media files are provided. The systems and methods can monitor playback and access of media files to create usage metadata. The usage metadata can then be used to adjust the playback of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user skips, on average, the first 22 seconds of a particular song so the next time that song is played, the first 22 seconds will automatically be skipped. The usage metadata can additionally or alternatively be used to adjust a graphical representation of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user rarely accesses a particular song so the graphical representation of that song will be small and faded. This change in graphical representation can help a user find more commonly used media files.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, on a computing device, one or more media files, wherein a media file includes usage metadata corresponding to one or more playback characteristics of the media file;

monitoring the one or more playback characteristics of the media file;

determining changes to the one or more playback characteristics of the media file, wherein determining includes averaging the changes, and wherein the changes to the one or more playback characteristics of the media file includes skipping a section of the media file during the playback, adjusting a volume setting during the playback of the media file, or adjusting an equalizer setting during the playback of the media file;

updating the usage metadata based upon the determined changes;

adjusting the media file using the updated usage metadata, wherein adjusting includes changing the playback of the media file; and

displaying a notification indicating that the playback of the media file has been adjusted according to the updated usage metadata.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjustments to the media files are pre-determined.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the playback characteristics affect the playback of the media file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage metadata further corresponds to an access history of the media file, and wherein the media file is associated with a graphical representation.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring the access history of the media file, wherein monitoring includes determining a number of times the media file has been accessed for a threshold period of time;

determining changes to the access history of the media file, wherein accessing the media file for a threshold period of time is a change to the usage metadata; and

adjusting the media file, wherein adjusting includes changing the graphical representation of the media file.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the graphical representation is a listing, and wherein adjusting the graphical representation includes changing the font size of the listing, changing the font intensity of the listing, or changing the font color of the listing.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the graphical representation is an image, and wherein adjusting the graphical representation includes changing a three-dimensional rendering of the image, or changing a simulated depth of the image.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the number of times the media file has been accessed affects the graphical representation.

9. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

one or more data processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

receiving one or more media files, wherein a media file includes usage metadata corresponding to one or more playback characteristics of the media file;

monitoring the one or more playback characteristics of the media file;

determining changes to the one or more playback characteristics of the media file, wherein determining includes averaging the changes, and wherein the changes to the one or more playback characteristics of the media file includes skipping a section of the media file during the playback, adjusting a volume setting during the playback of the media file, or adjusting an equalizer setting during the playback of the media file;

updating the usage metadata based upon the determined changes;

adjusting the media file using the updated usage metadata, wherein adjusting includes changing the playback of the media file; and

displaying a notification indicating that the playback of the media file has been adjusted according to the updated usage metadata.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein adjustments to the media files are pre-determined.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the playback characteristics affect the playback of the media file.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the usage metadata further corresponds to an access history of the media file, and wherein the media file is associated with a graphical representation.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

monitoring the access history of the media file, wherein monitoring includes determining a number of times the media file has been accessed for a threshold period of time;

determining changes to the access history of the media file, wherein accessing the media file for a threshold period of time is a change to the usage metadata; and

adjusting the media file, wherein adjusting includes changing the graphical representation of the media file.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical representation is a listing, and wherein adjusting the graphical representation includes changing the font size of the listing, changing the font intensity of the listing, or changing the font color of the listing.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical representation is an image, and wherein adjusting the graphical representation includes changing a three-dimensional rendering of the image, or changing a simulated depth of the image.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the number of times the media file has been accessed affects the graphical representation.

17. A computer-program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

receive one or more media files, wherein a media file includes usage metadata corresponding to one or more playback characteristics of the media file;

monitor the one or more playback characteristics of the media file;

determine changes to the one or more playback characteristics of the media file, wherein determining includes averaging the changes, and wherein the changes to the one or more playback characteristics of the media file includes skipping a section of the media file during the playback, adjusting a volume setting during the playback of the media file, or adjusting an equalizer setting during the playback of the media file;

update the usage metadata based upon the determined changes;

adjust the media file using the updated usage metadata, wherein adjusting includes changing the playback of the media file; and

display a notification indicating that the playback of the media file has been adjusted according to the updated usage metadata.

18. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein adjustments to the media files are pre-determined.

19. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein the playback characteristics affect the playback of the media file.

20. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein the usage metadata further corresponds to an access history of the media file, and wherein the media file is associated with a graphical representation.

21. The computer-program product of claim 20, further comprising instructions configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:

monitor the access history of the media file, wherein monitoring includes determining a number of times the media file has been accessed for a threshold period of time;

determine changes to the access history of the media file, wherein accessing the media file for a threshold period of time is a change to the usage metadata; and

adjust the media file, wherein adjusting includes changing the graphical representation of the media file.

22. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein the graphical representation is a listing, and wherein adjusting the graphical representation includes changing the font size of the listing, changing the font intensity of the listing, or changing the font color of the listing.

23. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein the graphical representation is an image, and wherein adjusting the graphical representation includes changing a three-dimensional rendering of the image, or changing a simulated depth of the image.

24. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein the number of times the media file has been accessed affects the graphical representation.