Media playback system controller having multiple graphical interfaces

• US 9,727,219 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Diane, Kumar, Abhishek, Bates, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Shih, Haoshian
• Application Number:
  US14/216,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20140201635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 715716, 715764, 715853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• 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 21/4325 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Embodiments are described herein that provide a media playback system controller with multiple graphical interfaces. In one aspect, a method is provided that involves (a) causing a graphical display to provide a first graphical interface including at least (i) a first input region and (ii) a first representation of a media item, (b) receiving a first input data indicating a selection within the first input region, (c) based on the received first input data, causing the graphical display to provide a second graphical interface including at least (i) an active region, (ii) an inactive region, and (iii) a second representation of the media item, (d) receiving a second input data indicating a selection within the active region, and (e) based on the received second input data, causing the graphical display to provide one or more media playback controls.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing, via a computing device, a graphical display to provide a first graphical interface within a display region of the graphical display, wherein the first graphical interface comprises (i) a first input region and (ii) a first representation of a media item;

receiving a first input data indicating a selection within the first input region;

based on the received first input data, causing the graphical display to provide a second graphical interface within the display region of the graphical display at the same time as the first graphical interface, wherein the second graphical interface comprises (i) an active region, and (ii) a second representation of the media item, and wherein the second graphical interface within the display region is distinct from the first graphical interface within the display region;

receiving a second input data indicating a selection within the active region; and

based on the received second input data, causing the second graphical interface to display one or more media playback controls to control playback of the media item on one or more playback devices that are distinct from the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second input data indicating the selection within the active region comprises receiving a representation of a hover over within the active region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second input data indicating the selection within the active region comprises receiving an indication of an input movement to the active region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the active region comprises a first size, the method further comprising, based on the received second input data, adjusting the active region to have a second size different from the first size.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second size is larger than the first size.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more media playback controls comprise at least one of a volume control, a skip to previous control, a skip to next control, a play control, a pause control, or an information control.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a third input data indicating a selection of the information control; and

based on the received third input data, causing the graphical display to provide one or more media-item options within the display region of the graphical display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the graphical display is providing the second graphical interface within the display region of the graphical display at the same time as the first graphical interface, receiving data indicating a command to minimize the first graphical interface; and

based on receiving the data indicating the command to minimize the first graphical interface, causing the graphical display to provide the second graphical interface while the first graphical interface is minimized.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after causing the graphical display to provide the second graphical interface, receiving a third input data indicating a second selection within the second graphical interface; and

based on the received third input data, causing the graphical display to remove the second graphical interface from the display region of the graphical display.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third input data indicating a selection of one of the one or more media playback controls, wherein the one or more media playback controls are each associated with a respective playback command; and

based on the received third input data, transmitting to a playback device the respective playback command associated with the selected one of the one or more media playback controls.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

causing the graphical display to provide a representation of a playback zone within the display region of the graphical display, and wherein the playback zone comprises the playback device.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more media-item options comprise at least one of an add media-item to favorites list option, an add media-item to playlist option, or a display media-item information option.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the display media-item information options comprises at least one of a display artist information option or a display album information option.

14. Tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing device to perform a method comprising:

causing a graphical display to provide a first graphical interface within a display region of the graphical display, wherein the first graphical interface comprises (i) a first input region and (ii) a first representation of a media item;

receiving a first input data indicating a selection within the first input region;

based on the received first input data, causing the graphical display to provide a second graphical interface within the display region of the graphical display at the same time as the first graphical interface, wherein the second graphical interface comprises (i) an active region, and (ii) a second representation of the media item, and wherein the second graphical interface within the display region is distinct from the first graphical interface within the display region;

receiving a second input data indicating a selection within the active region; and

based on the received second input data, causing the second graphical interface to display one or more media playback controls to control playback of the media item on one or more playback devices that are distinct from the computing device.

15. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein receiving the second input data indicating the selection within the active region comprises receiving an indication of an input movement to the active region.

16. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the active region comprises a first size, the method further comprising:

based on the received second input data, adjusting the active region to have a second size different from the first size.

17. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein the second size is larger than the first size.

18. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 14, the instructions further comprising:

after causing the graphical display to provide the second graphical interface, receiving a third input data indicating a second selection within the second graphical interface; and

based on the received third input data, causing the graphical display to remove the second graphical interface from the display region of the graphical display.

19. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the first graphical interface further comprises an indication that the media item is currently playing.

21. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

while the graphical display is providing the second graphical interface within the display region of the graphical display at the same time as the first graphical interface, receiving data indicating a command to minimize the first graphical interface; and

based on receiving the data indicating the command to minimize the first graphical interface, causing the graphical display to provide the second graphical interface while the first graphical interface is minimized.

20. A computing device comprising:

a network interface;

a display;

one or more processors; and

computer-readable media having instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising;

causing the display to provide a first graphical interface within a display region of the display, wherein the first graphical interface comprises (i) a first input region and (ii) a first representation of a media item;

receiving a first input data indicating a selection within the first input region;

based on the received first input data, causing the display to provide a second graphical interface within the display region of the display at the same time as the first graphical interface, wherein the second graphical interface comprises (i) an active region, and (ii) a second representation of the media item, and wherein the second graphical interface within the display region is distinct from the first graphical interface within the display region;

receiving a second input data indicating a selection within the active region; and

based on the received second input data, causing the second graphical interface to provide one or more media playback controls to control playback of the media item on one or more playback devices that are distinct from the computing device.

22. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the functions further comprise:

while the graphical display is providing the second graphical interface within the display region of the graphical display at the same time as the first graphical interface, receiving data indicating a command to minimize the first graphical interface; and

based on receiving the data indicating the command to minimize the first graphical interface, causing the graphical display to provide the second graphical interface while the first graphical interface is minimized.