Displaying a buy/download button based on purchase history

• US 9,244,586 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bachman, William, Chaudhri, Imran, Robbin, Jeffrey L., Wood, Policarpo B., Chen, Elbert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOHARIKAR, ANAND R
• Application Number:
  US13/843,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20140114808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced user interfaces and functionalities for internet radio applications are presented. In some embodiments, a computer system may provide a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of an internet radio station. The computer system then may determine, based on music purchase history associated with a user account, whether a selected song associated with the internet radio station has been previously purchased. In response to determining that the selected song has not been previously purchased, the computer system may display a user-selectable control that enables the selected song to be purchased. On the other hand, in response to determining that the selected song has been previously purchased, the computer system may display a user-selectable control that enables the selected song to be downloaded.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for allowing access to media content on an internet radio station, the method comprising:

generating, by a processor, a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station;

displaying, by the processor, the user interface on a display device;

determining, by the processor, whether a selected media content associated with the internet radio station has been previously purchased based on a music purchase history associated with a user account;

displaying, by the processor, a user-selectable control on the user interface, the user-selectable control to enable a purchase or download of the selected media content;

in response to determining that the selected media content has not been previously purchased;

assigning, by the processor, a first functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be purchased;

modifying, by the processor in accordance with the assigned first functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be purchased responsive to its selection; and

modifying, by the processor, an appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to a purchasing symbol of the selected media content; and

in response to determining that the selected media content has been previously purchased;

assigning, by the processor, a second functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be downloaded;

modifying, by the processor in accordance with the assigned second functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be downloaded responsive to its selection; and

modifying, by the processor, the appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to an image associated with downloading the selected media content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a selection of the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be purchased;

charging the user account for purchasing the selected media content; and

initiating the downloading of the selected media content to a content library accessible via the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a selection of the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be downloaded, initiating downloading of the selected media content to a content library accessible via the user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes one or more regions configured to control playback of content items included in a content library associated with the user account.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the content library is locally stored, at least in part, on a device providing the user interface.

6. A system for allowing access to media content on an internet radio station, the system comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

generate a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station;

display the user interface on a display device;

determine whether a selected media content associated with the internet radio station has been previously purchased based on a music purchase history associated with a user account;

display a user-selectable control on the user interface, the user-selectable control to enable a purchase or download of the selected media content;

in response to determining that the selected media content has not been previously purchased;

assign, by the processor, a first functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be purchased;

modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned first functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be purchased responsive to its selection; and

modify, by the processor, an appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to a purchasing symbol of the selected media content; and

in response to determining that the selected media content has been previously purchased;

assign, by the processor, a second functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be downloaded;

modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned second functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be downloaded responsive to its selection; and

modify, by the processor, the appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to an image associated with downloading the selected media content.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface further includes one or more regions configured to control playback of content items included in a content library associated with the user account.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the content library is locally stored, at least in part, by the system.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to register the system as being linked to the user account.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage memory storing a plurality of instructions for controlling one or more processors, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to generate a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station;

instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to display the user interface on a display device;

instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to determine, whether a selected media content associated with the internet radio station has been previously purchased based on a music purchase history associated with a user account;

instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to display a user-selectable control on the user interface, the user-selectable control to enable a purchase or download of the selected media content;

in response to determining that the selected media content has not been previously purchased, instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to;

assign, by the processor, a first functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be purchased;

modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned first functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be purchased responsive to its selection; and

modify, by the processor, an appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to a purchasing symbol of the selected media content; and

in response to determining that the selected media content has been previously purchased, instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to;

assign, by the processor, a second functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be downloaded;

modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned second functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be downloaded responsive to its selection; and

modify, by the processor, the appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to an image associated with downloading the selected media content.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to provide, in the user interface, one or more regions configured to control sharing of the internet radio station with one or more other user accounts.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to provide, in the user interface, one or more regions configured to control creation of a new internet radio station based on the selected media content.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to provide, in the user interface, one or more regions configured to control displaying of the selected media content in an online music store.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage memory of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to provide, in the user interface, one or more regions configured to control displaying of an internet radio playback history associated with the user account.

15. A computer-implemented method for allowing access to media content on an internet radio station, the method comprising:

generating, by a processor, at a computing device linked to a user account, a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station;

displaying, by the processor, the user interface on a display device;

receiving, by the processor, a selection of a content item provided through the internet radio station;

accessing a purchase history associated with the user account;

determining, by the processor, whether the user account has a right to download the content item based on the purchase history associated with the user account;

displaying, by the processor, a selectable button on the user interface, the selectable button to enable a purchase or download of the selected content item;

in response to determining that the user account has the right to download the content item;

assigning, by the processor, a first functional state to the selectable button in the user interface that enables the selected content item to be downloaded;

modifying, by the processor in accordance with the assigned first functional state, the function of the selectable button in the user interface such that, when selected, the selectable button is configured to cause the content item to be downloaded to a content library accessible to the computing device;

modifying, by the processor, an appearance of the selectable button to correspond to an image associated with downloading the content item; and

in response to determining that the user account does not have the right to download the content item;

assigning, by the processor, a second functional state to the selectable button in the user interface that enables the selected content item to be purchased;

modifying, by the processor in accordance with the assigned second functional state, the function of the selectable button in the user interface such that, when selected, the selectable button is configured to initiate a purchase process for the content item;

modifying, by the processor, an appearance of the selectable button to correspond to a purchase price for the content item.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the purchase process includes:

authenticating a user of the computing device;

charging the user account for purchasing the content item; and

causing the content item to be downloaded to the content library.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the content library is stored, at least in part, on the computing device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface further includes one or more regions configured to control playback of one or more content items included in the content library.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interface further includes one or more regions configured to rate the content item.

20. A system linked to a user account, comprising:

a video display;

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

generate a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station;

display the user interface on the video display;

receive a selection of a content item provided through the internet radio station;

access a purchase history associated with the user account;

determine, based on the purchase history associated with the user account, whether the user account has a right to download the content item;

display a selectable button on the user interface, the selectable button to enable a purchase or download of the selected content item;

in response to determining that the user account has the right to download the content item;

assign, by the processor, a first functional state to the selectable button in the user interface that enables the selected content item to be downloaded;

modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned first functional state, the function of the selectable button in the user interface such that, when selected, the selectable button is configured to cause the content item to be downloaded to a content library accessible to the computing device;

modify, by the processor, an appearance of the selectable button to correspond to an image associated with downloading the content item; and

in response to determining that the user account does not have the right to download the content item;

assign, by the processor, a second functional state to the selectable button in the user interface that enables the selected content item to be purchased;

modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned second functional state, the function of the selectable button in the user interface such that, when selected, the selectable button is configured to initiate a purchase process for the content item;

modify, by the processor, an appearance of the selectable button to correspond to a purchase price for the content item.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station include at least one region that enables a content seed to be added to the internet radio station.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station include at least one region that enables a content item to be added to a list of content items that are not to be played on the internet radio station.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station include at least one region that enables a popularity mix to be specified for the internet radio station.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station include at least one region that enables the content item to be accessed in an online music store.