System for presenting media content

• US 9,436,366 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Davis
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Dragoescu, Claudia
• Application Number:
  US14/484,064
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• 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 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for presenting media content. A user device (such as a personal computer, tablet, or smart phone) receives media elements from a media repository. The media repository may be remote. The device displays references associated with the media elements in a display area. The device outputs media content (e.g., music or video) associated with each of the media elements for a limited duration (e.g., 30 seconds). While outputting, the references displayed in the display area are scrolled. The display area may be provided as a 3D drum.

Claims

1. A system for presenting media content comprising:

a processor;

a memory device operably coupled to the processor, the memory device being configured for storing program code which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of;

displaying one or more references in a playlist-display area, wherein the one or more references are associated with one or more media elements;

wherein the displaying comprises displaying alphanumeric information and an image associated with the first media element;

wherein the references are displayed on a 3D graphical representation of a rotating cylinder;

outputting media content associated with a first media element of the one or more media elements for a predetermined play duration;

displaying a play-indicator for indicating the reference associated with the first media element;

scrolling the references at a scroll-rate while audio is being output;

the scroll-rate being related to an image size of the references and the predetermined play duration; and

outputting media content associated with a second media element of the one or more media elements for the predetermined play duration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of:

displaying a first preview-speed-control button, wherein the first preview-speed-control button is selectable by a user; and

decreasing the play-duration when the first preview-speed-control button is selected.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of:

displaying a second preview-speed-control button, wherein the second preview-speed-control button is selectable by a user; and

increasing the play-duration when the second preview-speed control button is selected.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of:

displaying a preview-speed-control bar, wherein the preview-speed-control bar is configurable by a user; and

wherein the play-duration is configured based on configuration of the preview-speed-control bar.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the scroll-rate is determined in accordance with the following equation:

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the play-indicator is a horizontal line.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the media content is audio data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the media content is audio-visual data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the play-duration is within the range of 10 seconds to 60 seconds.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving alphanumeric information from a remote media repository; and

storing the alphanumeric information in a reference list.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving media content from a remote media repository; and

storing the media content in a media content list.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of:

fading out the output of an ending portion of the media content associated with the first media element; and

fading in the output of a beginning portion of the media content associated with the second media element.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the step of:

starting the step of fading in the output of the beginning portion of the media content associated with the second media element following a predetermined period of silence after completion of the step of fading out the output of the ending portion of the media content associated with the first media element.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the step of:

starting the step of fading in the output of the beginning portion of the media content associated with the second media element immediately after the completion of the step of fading out the output of the ending portion of the media content associated with the first media element.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the step of:

starting the step of fading in the output of the beginning portion of the media content associated with the second media element prior to the completion of the step of fading out the output of the ending portion of the media content associated with the first media element.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the step of:

accessing a lookup table to perform the step of fading out or the step of fading in.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the step of fading in is performed in accordance with the following equation:

f_in(t)=Volume*[1.0−

e<sup>−

At2</sup>], where t=[T−

T₀]/[T_in−

T₀] and A=4.7.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the step of fading out is performed in accordance with the following equation:

f_out(t)=Volume*e<sup>−

Bt2</sup>, where t=[T−

T_out]/[T_end−

T_out] and B=4.7.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein either the step of fading in or the step of fading out is performed in accordance with a linear function.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of:

displaying a play-order-control button, wherein the play-order control button is selectable by a user;

reversing the order in which media content associated with the one or more media elements is output when the play-order control button is selected; and

scrolling the references in the reverse direction while audio is being output when the play-order control button is selected.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform the step of:

shifting the references with respect to the play-indicator when the play-order control button is selected, thereby the play-indicator indicates the same remaining play-duration as before the play-order control button was selected.