System and method for color beat display in a media content environment

• US 9,798,514 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Original Assignee: Spotify AB (Spotify Technology SA)
• Inventors: Silva, Ivo, Phillips, Joe, Wood, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Amy M
• Application Number:
  US15/065,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20170262253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/373 for modifying the size of the graphic pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• 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 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for color beat display in a media content environment. A media device, operating as a client device, can receive and play media content provided by a media server, or another system or peer device. A user interface enables a user to select from a plurality of displayed media options to be played at the device, wherein each media option corresponds to a media content item, e.g., a song. During the playing of a selected media content, a visual display logic or component determines an audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, and uses this information to modify the visual display at the user interface, to match the audio beat, volume, or other characteristic, for example by synchronizing a variation in color, brightness, scale, transparency, or intensity of a particular region of the visual display.

Claims

1. A method for color beat display in a media content environment, for use by a device that includes a processor and that receives and plays media content provided by a media server or by another system or peer device, the method comprising:

providing a user interface comprising a visual display, that displays a plurality of displayed media options and is configured to receive a selection of a first displayed media option from within the plurality of displayed media options,

wherein each of the displayed media options is associated with one or more media content items to be played at the media device, and a particular color, and

in response to receiving a user selection indicative of selecting the first displayed media option,

determining one or more media content items and a particular color associated with the first displayed media option,

while playing the one or more media content items associated with the first displayed media option, determining an audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, and

modifying, as a modified region, a particular region of the visual display associated with the selected media option, in accordance with the particular color associated with the first displayed media option, to match the audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, including

synchronizing a variation in color, brightness, scale, transparency, or intensity of the modified region with a particular color associated with the selected media option,

in response to receiving a user selection indicative of moving between the first displayed media option and a second displayed media option within the plurality of displayed media options,

determining one or more media content items and a particular color associated with the second displayed media option,

adjusting playback from the one or more media content items associated with the first displayed media option, to the one or more media content items associated with the second displayed media option,

while playing the one or more media content items associated with the second displayed media option, determining an audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, and

modifying the modified region in accordance with the particular color associated with the second displayed media option, to match the audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, including

synchronizing a variation in color, brightness, scale, transparency, or intensity of the modified region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the media options is associated with a media content item that is one of a song, music, video, or other type of media content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected media option is associated with an image, and a particular color of the modified region is taken from or otherwise based on the image.

4. A system for color beat display in a media content environment, comprising:

a media device, that operates as a client device and includes a processor, and that can receive and play media content provided by a media server, or another system or peer device; and

a user interface comprising a visual display provided at the media device, that displays a plurality of displayed media options and is configured to receive a selection of a first displayed media option from within the plurality of displayed media options,

wherein each of the displayed options is associated with one or more media content items to be played at the media device, and a particular color, and

wherein the media device is configured to;

in response to receiving a user selection indicative of selecting the first displayed media option,

determine one or more media content items and a particular color associated with the first displayed media option,

while playing the one or more media content items associated with the first displayed media option, determine an audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, and

modify, as a modified region, a particular region of the visual display associated with the first displayed media option, in accordance with the particular color associated with the first displayed media option, to match the audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, including

synchronizing a variation in color, brightness, scale, transparency, or intensity of the modified region,

in response to receiving a user selection indicative of moving between the first displayed media option and a second displayed media option within the plurality of displayed media options,

determine one or more media content items and a particular color associated with the second displayed media option,

adjust playback from the one or more media content items associated with the first displayed media option, to the one or more media content items associated with the second displayed media option,

while playing the one or more media content items associated with the second displayed media option, determine an audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, and

modify the modified region in accordance with the particular color associated with the second displayed media option, to match the audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, including

synchronizing a variation in color, brightness, scale, transparency, or intensity of the modified region.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the media options is associated with a media content item that is one of a song, music, video, or other type of media content.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the selected media option is associated with an image, and a particular color of the modified region is taken from or otherwise based on the image.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the modified region is in form of a circular shape of varying color, brightness, or intensity.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the modified region is associated with the selected media option by having its center at or in proximity to the selected media option.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein as a point of user selection is moved within the plurality of displayed media options, to select different media options, the center of the modified region is moved in accordance therewith.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the modified region is displayed behind a selected media option.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein one or more neighboring unselected media options are partially obscured by the modified region.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the modified region is displayed behind the selected media option and one or more neighboring unselected media options.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein the adjusting playback comprises crossfading or otherwise combining audio of the one or more media content items associated with the first displayed media option, with audio of the one or more media content items associated with the second displayed media option.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by a device that includes a processor and that receives and plays media content provided by a media server or by another system or peer device, causes the device to perform a method comprising:

providing a user interface comprising a visual display, that displays a plurality of displayed media options and is configured to receive a selection of a first displayed media option from within the plurality of displayed media options,

wherein each of the displayed media options is associated with one or more media content items to be played at the media device, and a particular color, and

in response to receiving a user selection indicative of selecting the first displayed media option,

determining one or more media content items and a particular color associated with the first displayed media option,

while playing the one or more media content items associated with the first displayed media option, determining an audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, and

modifying, as a modified region, a particular region of the visual display associated with the selected media option, in accordance with the particular color associated with the first displayed media option, to match the audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, including

synchronizing a variation in color, brightness, scale, transparency, or intensity of the modified region with a particular color associated with the selected media option,

in response to receiving a user selection indicative of moving between the first displayed media option and a second displayed media option within the plurality of displayed media options,

determining one or more media content items and a particular color associated with the second displayed media option,

adjusting playback from the one or more media content items associated with the first displayed media option, to the one or more media content items associated with the second displayed media option,

while playing the one or more media content items associated with the second displayed media option, determining an audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, and

modifying the modified region in accordance with the particular color associated with the second displayed media option, to match the audio beat, volume, or other characteristic of the playing media content, including

synchronizing a variation in color, brightness, scale, transparency, or intensity of the modified region.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein each of the media options is associated with a media content item that is one of a song, music, video, or other type of media content.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the selected media option is associated with an image, and a particular color of the modified region is taken from or otherwise based on the image.