Context-Based User Music Menu Systems and Methods

• US 20130246916A1
• Filed: 03/19/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Reimann, Robert, Kumar, Abhishek, Bates, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,469,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• 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 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide content to a playback network are disclosed. An example method includes displaying an indicator of multimedia content to a user via a graphical user interface. The example method includes enabling a multiselect state to allow the user to select multiple items from a browseable list of indicators associated with multimedia content. The example method includes providing a context-sensitive menu including a plurality of options associated with playback of selected items based on enablement of the multiselect state. The example method includes applying an option to each of the selected items based on user selection. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to user selection of the option.

Claims

1. A method to provide content to a playback network, the method comprising:

displaying an indicator of multimedia content to a user via a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface facilitating arrangement and selection of the multimedia content by the user;

enabling a multiselect state to allow the user to select multiple items from a browseable list of indicators associated with multimedia content;

providing a context-sensitive menu for user selection via the graphical user interface, the context-sensitive menu including a plurality of options associated with playback of selected items based on enablement of the multiselect state;

applying an option to each of the selected items based on user selection;

passing information regarding the multimedia content to a playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to user selection of the option; and

facilitating play of the multimedia content via a playback network associated with the playback system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content is streamed to one or more playback devices of the playback system based on a trigger in an application providing the streaming multimedia content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more multimedia playback devices add timing information to the streaming multimedia content to enable synchronous playback of the multimedia content via the playback system on the playback network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger includes a selection of a link in an application associated with the content provider and wherein selection of the link launches a controller local to the playback network to stream the multimedia content to the playback system via a resource locator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger includes a selection of a link in an application associated with the content provider and wherein selection of the link provides information to a server to begin multimedia content playback via the playback network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the multimedia content enables at least one of the multimedia playback devices to access a source of the multimedia content and play the multimedia content via the playback network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one multimedia playback device communicates with the source via a proxy server and cloud.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the source and the playback system engage in two-way communication to synchronize a playback queue.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying one or more playback options for user selection via the graphical user interface based on positioning of a cursor over a displayed indicator of multimedia content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a first set of options is made available to a user in a non-multiselect state and a second set of options is made available to a user in the multiselect state.

11. A computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method to provide content to a playback network, the method comprising:

displaying an indicator of multimedia content to a user via a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface facilitating arrangement and selection of the multimedia content by the user;

enabling a multiselect state to allow the user to select multiple items from a browseable list of indicators associated with multimedia content, the multiselect state to allow the user to both navigate into a container and select a plurality of containers in a list;

providing a context-sensitive menu for user selection via the graphical user interface, the context-sensitive menu including a plurality of options associated with playback of selected items based on enablement of the multiselect state;

applying an option to each of the selected items based on user selection;

passing information regarding the multimedia content to a playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to user selection of the option; and

facilitating play of the multimedia content via a playback network associated with the playback system.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the multimedia content is streamed to one or more playback devices of the playback system based on a trigger in an application providing the streaming multimedia content.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more multimedia playback devices add timing information to the streaming multimedia content to enable synchronous playback of the multimedia content via the playback system on the playback network.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the trigger includes a selection of a link in an application associated with the content provider and wherein selection of the link launches a controller local to the playback network to stream the multimedia content to the playback system via a resource locator.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the trigger includes a selection of a link in an application associated with the content provider and wherein selection of the link provides information to a server to begin multimedia content playback via the playback network.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the information regarding the multimedia content enables at least one of the multimedia playback devices to access a source of the multimedia content and play the multimedia content via the playback network.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein one or more playback options are made available for user selection via the graphical user interface based on positioning of a cursor over a displayed indicator of multimedia content.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein a first set of options is made available to a user in a non-multiselect state and a second set of options is made available to a user in the multiselect state.

19. A multimedia playback device comprising:

a wireless communication interface to communicate with a playback network and a multimedia content source;

a processor to;

display an indicator of multimedia content to a user via a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface facilitating arrangement and selection of the multimedia content by the user;

enable a multiselect state to allow the user to select multiple items from a browseable list of indicators associated with multimedia content, the multiselect state to allow the user to navigate into a container and to select a plurality of containers in a list of the multimedia content;

provide a context-sensitive menu for user selection via the graphical user interface, the context-sensitive menu including a plurality of options associated with playback of selected items based on enablement of the multiselect state;

apply an option to each of the selected items based on user selection;

pass information regarding the multimedia content to a playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to user selection of the option; and

facilitate play of the multimedia content via a playback network associated with the playback system.

20. The multimedia playback device of claim 19, wherein a first set of options is made available to a user in a non-multiselect state and a second set of options is made available to a user in the multiselect state.