Playlist override queue

• US 20080189318A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mehrabi, Sultan, Bourke, David, Pless, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for determining files to play is provided. The method includes determining an override file. For example, files may be designated and put into an override queue. A point in the playlist of files currently being played on a device is determined. This is a point in which the override file should be played. The playing of the playlist of files is then interrupted at the determined point and the override file is played. After the override file is played, the playing of the playlist of files is automatically resumed. The play may be resumed substantially at a point where playing of the playlist would have continued had it not been stopped. Accordingly, a playlist may be overridden without completely exiting out of the playlist or changing the playlist.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an override file designated as an override queue file;

determining a point in a playlist of files currently being played on a device to play the override file;

interrupting playing of the playlist of files at the determined point;

playing the override file; and

automatically resuming playing of the playlist of files.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the override file is not added to the playlist.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection of the override file from a user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the override file to an override queue, wherein determining the override file designated as the override queue file comprises determining the override from one or more files found in the override queue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined point is between an end of a first file being played from the playlist and a beginning of a second file in the playlist.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically resuming playing of the playlist comprises automatically resuming the playing of the playlist substantially at a point where the playing of the playlist would have continued had the playing of the playlist not been interrupted.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining preferences for the override file, wherein the determined point is determined based on the preferences.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the override file comprises a song.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein media in the playlist is being received in a stream from a server, wherein the playing of the override file interrupts the streaming of the media in the playlist.

10. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;

determine an override file designated as an override queue file;

determine a point in a playlist of files currently being played to play the override file;

interrupt playing of the playlist of files at the determined point;

play the override file; and

automatically resume playing of the playlist of files.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the override file is not added to the playlist.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to receive a selection of the override file from a user.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to add the override file to an override queue, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to determine the override from one or more files found in the override queue.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the determined point is between an end of a first file being played from the playlist and a beginning of a second file in the playlist.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to automatically resume the playing of the playlist substantially at a point where the playing of the playlist would have continued had the playing of the playlist not been interrupted.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to determine preferences for the override file, wherein the determined point is determined based on the preferences.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the override file comprises a song.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein media in the playlist is being received in a stream from a server, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to interrupt the playing of the media in the playlist to play the override file.

19. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining an override file designated as an override queue file;

means for determining a point in a playlist of files currently being played on a device to play the override file;

means for interrupting playing of the playlist of files at the determined point;

means for playing the override file; and

means for automatically resuming playing of the playlist of files.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the override file is not added to the playlist.