Apparatus, systems and methods for audio content shuffling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016188286-A1
Application number	US-201414586397-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Song shuffling system plays a series of songs selected from a shuffled plurality of predefined audio content sources. An exemplary embodiment concurrently receives, during a shuffle operation, a stream of audio content from each of the predefined audio content sources, wherein each of the streams of audio content comprises a plurality of serially received songs. Each song is stored by the media device as the song is received. A first predefined audio content source is selected from the predefined audio content sources. Then, a first song is selected having a beginning portion that is stored in the memory medium and that was provided by the selected first predefined audio content source. A second predefined audio content source is selected from the predefined audio content sources that is to provide a second song that is to be presented to the user upon conclusion of the presentation of the first song.

First claim

1 . A media device, comprising:
an interface configured to receive at least an audio content stream from one of a plurality of predefined audio content sources,
wherein the audio content stream comprises a plurality of songs that are serially received at the interface,
wherein each one of the plurality of predefined audio content sources provide at least one different audio content stream to the media device concurrently with the audio content stream received at the interface,
wherein the plurality of predefined audio content sources have been predefined by a user to provide songs that are to be presented during a shuffle operation, and
wherein identifiers of each of the plurality of predefined audio content sources is stored at the media device;
a memory medium communicatively coupled to the interface and configured to store each of the serially received songs as each song is being received at the interface, and configured to store each of the songs as they are received from the other ones of the predefined audio content sources; a pointer table that has storage location information for each of the songs stored in the memory medium, wherein the storage location information for each song defines at least:
a beginning location information that indicates a location where a beginning of each song is stored in the memory medium; and
an identifier that uniquely identifies each song and the predefined audio content source that provided the song; and
a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory medium and the interface, wherein during a shuffle operation that presents a shuffled series of songs received from the plurality of predefined audio content sources, the processor system is configured to:
select a first predefined audio content source from the plurality of predefined audio content sources;
select a first song having at least a beginning portion that is stored in the memory medium and that was provided by the selected first predefined audio content source;
retrieve from the pointer table, based on the identifier of the selected first song, the beginning location information that indicates where the beginning of the first song is stored in the memory medium;
in response to completing presentation of a current song to the user, retrieve the beginning portion of the first song from the memory medium such that the first song is then presented to the user in its entirety; and
select a second predefined audio content source from the plurality of predefined audio content sources that is to provide a second song that is to be presented to the user upon conclusion of the presentation of the first song.

2 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a plurality of tuners, wherein the processor system is further configured to:
operate each one of the tuners to receive an audio content stream provided by one of the plurality of predefined audio content sources; store each song as it is received at each of the plurality of tuners in the memory medium; and for each stored song, save into the pointer table the beginning location information and the identifier of the predefined audio content source that provided the song.

3 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the memory medium is a first memory medium, and wherein the media device further comprises:
a second memory medium communicatively coupled to the processor system that stores the pointer table.

4 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the processor system is configured to:
generate an audio content shuffle graphical user interface (GUI) based on the identifier that uniquely identifies each of the plurality of predefined audio content sources stored in the pointer table, wherein the audio content shuffle GUI, when presented on a display, presents information that identifies each of the predefined audio content sources, and wherein the audio content shuffle GUI is configured to receive input from the user to change the identified plurality of predefined audio content sources that will be used in a subsequent shuffle operation.

5 . The media device of claim 4 , further comprising:
electronic program guide (EPG) information that is stored at the media device, wherein the processor system is further configured to:
generate an EPG that is presented to the user;
receive an add selection of an audio content source made by the user via the presented EPG;
add the selected audio content source as a new member of the plurality of predefined audio content sources that will be used in the subsequent shuffle operation;
receive an remove selection of an audio content source made by the user via the presented EPG; and
remove the selected audio content source as a member of the plurality of predefined audio content sources that will be used in the subsequent shuffle operation.

6 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the memory medium is a content buffer that is configured to output a stream of audio information, and a stream of video information if present, to components of a media presentation system that includes a display and at least one speaker.

7 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the memory medium is a digital video recorder (DVR) that is configured to store media content received by the media device.

8 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the interface is a first interface that comprises a tuner that is tuned to receive a broadcast of the first audio content stream from the first predefined audio content source, wherein the second predefined content source is a record player that provides the second song from a playing record, the media device further comprising:
a second interface configured communicatively coupled to the record player to receive a second audio content stream from the record player, wherein each song received from the record player is stored into the memory medium as it is received from the record player.

9 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the interface is a first interface that comprises a tuner that is tuned to receive a broadcast of a first audio content stream from the first predefined audio content source, wherein the second predefined content source is a compact disc (CD) player that provides the second song from a playing CD, the media device further comprising:
a second interface communicatively coupled to the CD player and configured to receive a second audio content stream from the CD player, wherein each song received from the CD player is stored into the memory medium as it is received from the CD player.

10 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the interface is a first interface that comprises a tuner that is tuned to receive a broadcast of a first audio content stream from the first predefined audio content source, wherein the second predefined content source is a remote media content device that provides the second song, the media device further comprising:
a second interface configured to establish a link to the remote media content device via an intervening communication system, wherein each song received from the remote media content device is stored into the memory medium as it is received via the communication system.

11 . The media device of claim 1 , wherein the interface is a first interface that comprises a tuner that is tuned to receive a broadcast of a first audio content stream from the first predefined audio content source, wherein the second predefined content source is a radio station that provides the second song, the media device further comprising:
a second interface is a radio frequency (RF) tuner that is configured to detect an over-the-air wireless signal broadcasted by the radio station, wherein each son

Assignees

• Echostar Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Greene Gregory

Classifications

• H04N21/439 Primary

  Processing of audio elementary streams · CPC title

• H04N21/4825

  using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists · CPC title

• G11B27/102

  Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers (access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816) · CPC title

• G11B27/00

  Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel · CPC title

• G06F3/162

  Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs · CPC title