System and method for playback of media content with support for audio touch caching

• US 9,483,166 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Original Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Inventors: Dziuk, Dariusz, Zafar, Babar, Gustavsson, Niklas, Kiland, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US14/879,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10657 Cache memories for random data access, e.g. buffers wherein the data output is controlled by a priority parameter other than retention time
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612

Abstract

A system and method for playback of media content, for example music, video, or other media content. A media device having a media playback application and including a touch-sensitive user interface can be adapted to display a visual array of media options, for example as a grid or list of card elements. Each media option can be associated with one or more media content items that can be streamed to and/or played on the device. The system can determine a selected card element, or media options that are proximate to a selected point or region of the visual array, and play or crossfade media content as appropriate. In accordance with various embodiments, additional features can be provided that improve user interaction, for example the use of audible notifications, media caching, or touch menus.

Claims

1. A system for playback of media content, including the use of media caching, comprising:

a media device, including a processor, wherein the media device is adapted to play media content provided by a computer system operating as a media server;

a user interface, provided at the media device, wherein the user interface is adapted to display a visual array of media options, and wherein each media option is associated with one or more media content items that can be provided by the media server and streamed to the media device, to be played at the media device;

a prebuffering logic that enables portions of the media content items to be pre-buffered at the media device, including that, while the media options are being prepared for display, portions of their associated one or more media content items can be pre-buffered at the same time as determined by a caching policy;

a playback logic, provided at the media device, which is adapted to play media content items associated with one or more media options that are proximate to a selected point or region within the visual array; and

a cache logic, provided at the media device, which is adapted to

determine one or more cache settings, user settings, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed on the user interface, for use in determining whether the media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the media device, and

determine, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the one or more media content items will be cached at the media device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on one or more current usage information or historical usage information, including the amount of media content data communicated to the media device within a previous temporal interval.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a current session information including information describing those media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with selection of media options, is used in determining the particular policy to be used.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options.

6. A method for playback of media content, including the use of media caching, comprising:

displaying, at a media device adapted to play media content provided by a computer system operating as a media server, and having a user interface, a visual array of media options, wherein each media option is associated with one or more media content items that can be provided by the media server and streamed to the media device, to be played at the media device;

pre-buffering portions of the media content items at the media device, including that, while the media options are being prepared for display, portions of their associated one or more media content items can be pre-buffered at the same time as determined by a caching policy;

while a selected point or region is moved within the visual array in response to user input, determining media content items associated with one or more media options proximate to the selected point or region, to be played;

determine one or more cache settings, user settings, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed on the user interface, for use in determining whether the media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the media device; and

determine, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the one or more media content items will be cached at the media device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on one or more current usage information or historical usage information, including the amount of media content data communicated to the media device within a previous temporal interval.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein a current session information including information describing those media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with selection of media options, is used in determining the particular policy to be used.

10. The method of claim 6, further including providing support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by a computer or media device causes the computer or media device to perform the steps comprising:

displaying, at a user interface, a visual array of media options, wherein each media option is associated with one or more media content items that can be provided by a media server and streamed to the computer or media device, to be played at the computer or media device;

pre-buffering portions of the media content items at the computer or media device, including that, while the media options are being prepared for display, portions of their associated one or more media content items can be pre-buffered at the same time as determined by a caching policy;

determining, while a selected point or region is moved within the visual array in response to user input, media content items associated with one or more media options proximate to the selected point or region, to be played;

determine one or more cache settings, user settings, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed on the user interface, for use in determining whether the computer or media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the computer or media device; and

determine, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the one or more media content items will be cached at the computer or media device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on one or more current usage information or historical usage information, including the amount of media content data communicated to the computer or media device within a previous temporal interval.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein a current session information including information describing those media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with selection of media options, is used in determining the particular policy to be used.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further including providing support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options.