User interfaces for content streaming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12549661-B2
Application number	US-202318306202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2023
Priority date	Jan 4, 2019
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

In some embodiments, an electronic device operates in a streaming mode to automatically stream content from the electronic device to a playback destination. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents selectable options to control playback of content on a streaming destination while the electronic device streams content to the streaming destination. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents visual indications that the electronic device is operating in a streaming mode to stream content to a playback destination. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents a user interface for controlling electronic devices that automatically reconfigures to support different user inputs and issues different commands based on the type of electronic device being controlled. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents a user interface for controlling electronic devices that automatically provides context-specific selectable options based on the content being displayed on the electronic device being controlled.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
at a first electronic device in communication with a display and one or more input devices:
receiving, via the one or more input devices, an input corresponding to a request to display a user interface for controlling content playback via the first electronic device; and
in response to receiving the input, displaying, on the display, the user interface including a first playback control element with a first selectable option for controlling content playback at a first playback destination, wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the first playback destination is configured to be controlled with a remote control device, the first playback control element further includes a second selectable option, in addition to the first selectable option, that is selectable to display, on the display, a remote control user interface, corresponding to the remote control device, for controlling the first playback destination; and
in accordance with a determination that the first playback destination is not configured to be controlled with the remote control device, the first playback control element does not include the second selectable option that is selectable to display, on the display, the remote control user interface.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the one or more input devices, an input selecting the second selectable option in the first playback control element; and in response to receiving the input selecting the second selectable option in the first playback control element, displaying, on the display, the remote control user interface, wherein the remote control user interface includes:
a touch input region configured to control the first playback destination in response to touch input detected in the touch input region, and
one or more controls configured to control the first playback destination in response to selection of the one or more controls.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
while displaying the remote control user interface, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a respective input; and in response to receiving the respective input,
ceasing to display the remote control user interface, and
displaying the user interface for controlling content playback via the first electronic device, wherein the first electronic device is configured to display a home screen of an operating system of the first electronic device in response to detecting the respective input when the respective input is detected while the first electronic device is displaying a user interface other than the remote control user interface.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the first playback destination provides absolute volume information to the first electronic device, the first playback control element includes an absolute volume control element for controlling a volume level at the first playback destination, wherein the absolute volume control element indicates a current volume level of the first playback destination, and in accordance with a determination that the first playback destination does not provide absolute volume information to the first electronic device, the first playback control element includes a relative volume control element for controlling the volume level at the first playback destination, wherein the relative volume control element does not indicate the current volume level of the first playback destination.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the first playback destination comprises a display device, the first playback control element includes a third selectable option that, when selected, causes the first electronic device to display, on the display, language and subtitle options for the first playback destination, and in accordance with a determination that the first playback destination does not comprise a display device, the first playback control element does not include the third selectable option that, when selected, causes the first electronic device to display, on the display, the language and subtitle options for the first playback destination.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
while displaying, on the display, the first playback control element:
while a content item is being played at the first playback destination via the first electronic device, displaying the first playback control element including one or more playback controls for controlling the first playback destination, including the second selectable option that is selectable to display, on the display, the remote control user interface;
while displaying the first playback control element with the one or more playback controls, detecting an end of playback of the content item; and
in response to detecting the end of the playback of the content item, replacing the one or more playback controls in the first playback control element with one or more representations of recommended content items.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first playback control element has an expanded state and a collapsed state, in the expanded state, the first playback control element includes the second selectable option that is selectable to display the remote control user interface independent of whether a content item is being played at the first playback destination, and in the collapsed state:
in accordance with a determination that a content item is being played at the first playback destination, the first playback control element does not include the second selectable option that is selectable to display the remote control user interface, and
in accordance with a determination that a content item is not being played at the first playback destination, the first playback control element does include the second selectable option that is selectable to display the remote control user interface.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first playback destination is currently playing a content item, and the first playback control element includes the second selectable option that is selectable to display the remote control user interface, and a third selectable option that is selectable to display, on the display, language and subtitle options corresponding to the currently-playing content item for the first playback destination.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface including the first playback control element is a wake screen user interface of the first electronic device.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface including the first playback control element is a voice input user interface of the first electronic device, and wherein the first playback control element is displayed by the first electronic device in the voice input user interface in response to a voice input provided to the voice input user interface.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface including the first playback control element is displayed in response to detection of selection of a streaming mode status indicator displayed on the display, the streaming mode status indicator indicating that the first electronic device is operating in a streaming mode in which the first electronic device is configured to stream content from the first electronic device to a second electronic device.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface including the first playback control element is displayed in response to detection of selection of a representation of the first playback destination in a smart home application on the first electronic device, the smart hom

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Carrigan Taylor G
• Coffman Patrick L
• Foss Christopher Patrick
• Von Hagen Eliza J
• Wood Policarpo B

Classifications

• H04N21/42204

  User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205) · CPC title

• H04N21/4222

  Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy (remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415) · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• H04N21/47217

  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 title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title