Intelligent media queue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016291817-A1
Application number	US-201615182902-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 15, 2016
Priority date	Sep 10, 2012
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for intelligently managing a playlist of digital media provide an intelligent dynamic queue that is configured to manage the playback of digital media. The queue can transition between passive playback mode, active playback mode, and mixed playback mode. The queue can handle the playback of the songs in the queue according to the playback mode and/or a queue status field that is associated with each song in the queue.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions causing a processor to:
present, on a graphical user interface, a queue including a plurality of entries configured to represent a playback sequence for a plurality of media items, wherein each entry is associated with a media item and includes a queue status field, the queue status field indicating whether the media item is queued automatically or manually; receive a triggering event; purge the queue after receiving the triggering event, whereby a first entry associated with a first media item is deleted from the queue when the queue status field of the first entry indicates that the first media item is queued automatically; and output content from the queue by playing one of the plurality of media items in the queue on an output device in accordance with the playback sequence.

2 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the queue is a persistent data structure stored in a memory associated with said processor.

3 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is a change in a media source.

4 . The computer-readable medium of claim 3 , wherein the media source is one of a personal music library, a remote streaming service, another user's music library, and cloud storage.

5 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is adding a collection of media items to the queue.

6 . The computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the queue is dynamically updated when one or more media items are added to the queue.

7 . The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the queue status field of an entry is set to manual entry when the one or more media items are added in the queue following the entry.

8 . The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the queue status field of the one or more media items in the queue are set to automatic entry when the one or more media items belong to a playlist.

9 . A method, comprising:
presenting, on a graphical user interface, a queue including a plurality of entries being configured to represent a playback sequence for a plurality of media items, wherein each entry includes a queue status field, the queue status field indicating whether the media item was entered into said queue automatically or manually; receiving a triggering event; and purging the queue after receiving the triggering event, whereby a first entry associated with a first media item is deleted from the queue when the queue status field of the first entry indicates that the first media item is queued automatically; and outputting content from the queue by playing one of the plurality of media items in the queue on an output device in accordance with the playback sequence.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the queue is a persistent data structure stored in a memory associated with said processor.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the triggering event is a change in a media source.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the media source is one of a personal music library, a remote streaming service, another user's music library, and cloud storage.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the triggering event is adding a collection of media items to the queue.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the queue is dynamically updated when one or more media items are added to the queue.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the queue status field of an entry is set to manual entry when the one or more media items are added in the queue following the entry.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the queue status field of the one or more media items in the queue are set to automatic entry when the one or more media items belong to a playlist.

17 . A method, comprising:
receiving a request to modify a queue containing a plurality of entries representing a playback sequence for a plurality of media items, wherein each entry is associated with a media item and includes a queue status field; and updating the queue status field of an entry in the queue when the modification alters the playback sequence.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the modification is reorganizing the playback sequence.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the modification is adding another entry associated with a new media item to the playback sequence.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the queue status field of the entry is updated according to the another entry's position in the queue.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Sanders Christopher John
• Jones Anne
• Robbin Jeffrey L
• Bachman William Martin
• Martin Timothy B

Classifications

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · 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

• G06F17/30772

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F3/0482 Primary

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G11B27/105

  of operating discs · CPC title