Media playback queuing for playback management

• US 10,402,440 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2016
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Filson, John Benjamin, Yeates, Kyle H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US15/165,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20160266748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 84604, 84615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a playback device, a selection of a media item for playback;

placing the media item in a media playback queue including additional media items for playback on the playback device;

receiving, by the playback device from one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue, feedback relating to how to position the media item relative to the additional media items within the media playback queue;

ordering, by the playback device, a position of the media item relative to the additional media items in the media playback queue according to the feedback received from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to positioning media items in the media playback queue;

receiving, by the playback device from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue, a selection of an audio characteristic of media playback; and

adjusting the audio characteristic of media playback according to the selection.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the media item for playback is received from a client device in communication with the playback device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the selection of the media item for playback comprises a selection of a media item stored on the client device, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the client device, a transmission of the media item stored on the client device for the playback device to playback.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, by the playback device, that the client device is connected to a same network as the playback device; and

based on the determination that the client device is connected to the same network as the playback device, permitting the client device to add a selection to the media playback queue and to provide feedback relating to how to position the media item relative to the additional media items within the media playback queue.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving the selection of the media item selected for playback on the playback device, initiating playback of the media item;

receiving a selection of an additional media item for playback on the playback device; and

placing the additional media item in the media playback queue without interrupting the playback of the media item.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the audio characteristic of media playback according to the selection comprises adjusting volume of media playback.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the feedback in a form of a vote; and

ordering the position of the media item relative to the additional media items in the media playback queue according to a calculation of votes received from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to positioning media items in the media playback queue.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors of a playback device, cause the playback device to:

receive a selection of a media item for playback;

place the media item in a media playback queue including additional media items for playback on the playback device;

receive, from one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue, feedback relating to how to position the media item relative to the additional media items within the media playback queue;

order the position of the media item relative to the additional media items in the media playback queue according to the feedback received from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to positioning media items in the media playback queue;

receive, from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue, a selection of an audio characteristic of media playback; and

adjust the audio characteristic of media playback according to the selection.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the selection is received from a client device in communication with the playback device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the selection comprises a selection of a media item stored on the client device, and wherein the instructions further cause the playback device to receive, from the client device, a transmission of the media item stored on the client device for the playback device to playback.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the playback device to determine that the client device is connected to a same network as the playback device, and, based on the determination, permit the client device add a selection to the media playback queue and to provide feedback relating to how to position the media item relative to the additional media items within the media playback queue.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the playback device to:

after receiving the selection of a media item selected for playback on the playback device, initiate playback of the media item;

receive a selection of an additional media item for playback on the playback device; and

place the additional media item in the media playback queue without interrupting the playback of the media item.

13. A media playback device comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a selection of a media item for playback via a transmission from a client device in communication with the media playback device;

a memory storage location; and

a processor configured to place the media item in a media playback queue stored in the memory storage location;

wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive a selection of an additional media item for playback on the media playback device via an additional transmission from an additional client device in communication with the media playback device, and

receive, from one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue, feedback;

wherein the processor is further configured to order a position of the media item relative to the additional media item in the media playback queue according to the feedback received from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to positioning media items in the media playback queue;

wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive, from a client device in a group of the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue, a selection of an audio characteristic of media playback; and

wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the audio characteristic of media playback according to the selection.

14. The media playback device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the client device is connected to a same network as the media playback device; and

permit the client device add a selection to the media playback queue and to provide feedback relating to how to position the media item relative to the additional media item within the media playback queue.

15. The media playback device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

initiate playback of the media item after receiving the selection of a media item; and

after receiving the selection of the additional media item for playback on the media playback device, place the additional media item in the media playback queue without interrupting the playback of the media item.

16. The media playback device of claim 13, wherein the audio characteristic of media playback is a volume characteristic.

17. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a playback device, a selection of a media item for playback;

placing the media item in a media playback queue including additional media items for playback on the playback device;

receiving, by the playback device from one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue, feedback relating to how to position the media item relative to the additional media items within the media playback queue;

ordering, by the playback device, a position of the media item relative to the additional media items in the media playback queue according to the feedback received from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to positioning media items in the media playback queue;

receiving, from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue, a selection of an audio characteristic of media playback; and

adjusting audio output of the playback device based on the selection of the audio characteristic of media playback.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the selection is received from a client device in communication with the playback device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the selection comprises a selection of a media item stored on the client device, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the client device, a transmission of the media item stored on the client device for the playback device to playback.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining, by the playback device, that the client device is connected to a same network as the playback device; and

based on the determination that the client device is connected to the same network as the playback device, permitting the client device to add a selection to the media playback queue and to provide feedback relating to how to position the media item relative to the additional media items within the media playback queue.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising:

after receiving the selection of a media item selected for playback on the playback device, initiating playback of the media item;

receiving a selection of an additional media item for playback on the playback device; and

placing the additional media item in the media playback queue without interrupting the playback of the media item.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving the feedback in a form of a vote; and

ordering the position of the media item relative to the additional media items in the media playback queue according to a calculation of votes received from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to positioning media items in the media playback queue.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein receiving from the one or more client devices authorized to contribute to the media playback queue a selection of an audio characteristic of media playback comprises receiving a selection of a volume of media playback.