User interface for media playback

• US 9,678,623 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Neuman, Michael, Bachman, William Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): DRAGOESCU, CLAUDIA B
• Application Number:
  US13/859,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20130232414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A graphical user interface made up of icons representing individual files and collectively forming the shape of a “v” is described along with methods of using and creating the graphical user interface. The v-shaped interface is useful to display detailed information about many of the items in a list and facilitates manipulation of list order and selection of the active file in the list. The interface further permits the use of a representative icon associated with the list as a whole. Manipulation of the representative icon can cause modification or replacement of the entire playlist represented by the icon.

Claims

1. A method of playlist manipulation comprising:

generating, using one or more processors, a first playlist comprising a plurality of media items;

providing, using one or more processors, a graphical user interface (GUI) including a collection of icons, each icon representing a media item in the first playlist, and including a playlist icon representing the first playlist;

automatically updating positions and sizes of the collection of icons in the GUI in response to playback of the first playlist advancing to a next media item, the updating positions and sizes shifting relative positions of individual icons within the collection of icons;

receiving, by the processor, an input of dragging a representation of a media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist; and

in response to the input dragging the representation of the media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist, generating, based on the dragged representation of the media item, a second playlist including a plurality of media items, the second playlist being based at least in part on the media item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second playlist is generated based at least in part on similarity data, wherein the similarity data identifies additional media items considered similar to the media item.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating a new collection of icons representing the second playlist.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

deriving at least some of the icons in the collection of icons from album art.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the representation of the media item dragged onto the playlist icon for generating new playlists represents the second playlist.

24. The method of claim 2, wherein the GUI includes display positions based on a patterned shape fi-if the collection of icons, wherein a portion of each icon is positioned along the patterned shape.

6. A method of manipulating a playlist, the method comprising:

generating, using one or more processors, a graphical representation of a first playlist comprising previously played items, queued items and a currently playing item, wherein previously played items automatically move towards a background of a display relative to the currently playing item and queued items automatically move towards a foreground of the display relative to the currently playing item when playback of the playlist advances to a next item;

providing, by the processor, a playlist icon representing the first playlist;

receiving, by the processor, an input of dragging a representation of a media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist; and

in response to the input dragging the representation of the media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist, generating, based on the dragged representation of the media item, a second playlist including a plurality of media items, the second playlist being based at least in part on the media item.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a new playlist when a media item is selected and relocated onto the playlist icon, the new playlist including a plurality of items and being generated based on the media item selected and relocated onto the playlist icon.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a second media item is removed from the first playlist by receiving inputs representative of a selection and movement of the second media item out of the graphical representation of the first playlist.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

emphasizing a specific item, by graphically altering a visual aspect of the specific item within the 3-D graphical representation, of the playlist in response to a cursor being positioned over the specific item.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the specific item is emphasized by bringing the item into the foreground.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the specific item is emphasized by enlarging the icon.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising instructions executable by, one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

mapping a plurality of graphical representations of items in a first play-list on to locations within a configuration on a virtual display;

causing the contents of the virtual display to be displayed on a display device;

causing a playlist icon representing the first playlist designated for generating new playlists to be displayed on the display device adjacent to the configuration;

automatically updating positions and sizes of the plurality of graphical representations of items in response to playback of the first playlist advancing to a next item, the updating positions and sizes shifting relative positions of individual graphical representations of items within the plurality of graphical representations of items;

detecting an input representative of selecting one of the graphical representations from the configuration, the selected graphical representation representing an item;

detecting an input of dragging a graphical representation of a media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist for generating new playlists;

generating a second playlist including a plurality of items based on the item; and

displaying a new configuration representing the second playlist.

13. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes;

generating a first playlist comprising a plurality of media items;

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) including a collection of icons, each icon representing a media item in the first playlist, and including a playlist icon representing the first playlist;

automatically updating positions and sizes of the collection of icons in the GUI in response to playback of the first playlist advancing to a next media item, the updating positions and sizes shifting relative positions of individual icons within the collection of icons;

receiving an input of dragging a representation of a media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist; and

in response to the input dragging the representation of the media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist, generating, based on the dragged representation of the media item, a second playlist including a plurality of media items, the second playlist being based at least in part on the media item.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second playlist is generated based at least in part on similarity data, wherein the similarity data identifies additional media items considered similar to the media item.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein a new collection of icons is generated representing the second playlist.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the icons in the collection of icons are derived from album art.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the representation of the media item dragged onto the playlist icon for generating new playlists represents the second playlist.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 13, wherein instructions for performing the operations of mapping graphical representations of items in the first playlist further include:

mapping graphical representations of items in the first playlist on to locations within the configuration based on a patterned shape, wherein a portion of each graphical representation is positioned along the patterned shape.

26. The system of claim 13, wherein the GUI includes display positions based on a patterned shape for the collection of icons, wherein a portion of each icon is positioned along the patterned shape.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising bearing instructions executable by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

generating, using one or more processors, a first playlist comprising a plurality of media items;

providing, using one or more processors, a graphical user interface (GUI) including a collection of icons, each icon representing a media item in the first playlist, and including a playlist icon representing the first playlist;

automatically updating positions and sizes of the collection of icons in the GUI in response to playback of the first playlist advancing to a next media item, the updating positions and sizes shifting relative positions of individual icons within the collection of icons;

receiving, by the processor, an input of dragging a representation of a media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist; and

in response to the input dragging the representation of the media item onto the playlist icon representing the first playlist, generating, based on the dragged representation of the media item, a second playlist including a plurality of media items, the second playlist being based at least in part on the media item.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the second playlist is generated based at least in part on similarity data, wherein the similarity data identifies additional media items considered similar to the media item.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein a new collection of icons is generated representing the second playlist.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the icons in the collection of icons are derived from album art.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the representation of the media item dragged onto the playlist icon for generating new playlists represents the second playlist.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the instructions executable by one or more processors further comprise instructions fi-if animating a change in the configuration when playback of the first playlist advances to the next media item.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the GUI includes display positions based on a patterned shape for the collection of icons, wherein a portion of each icon is positioned along the patterned shape.