Playback of media streams in dependence of a time of a day

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016334979-A1
Application number	US-201514839491-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2015
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure concerns the providing of media, and more particularly to the streaming of media. In accordance with an example embodiment, a portion of a day is determined; a first data message is sent to a computer server system. The first data message comprises instructions to the computer server system to return media content associated with the determined portion of the day. A second data message is received from the computer server system, the second data message comprising media content associated with the determined portion of the day. In response thereto is playback performed of the media content at the user interface of the electronic device in dependence of the determined portion of the day. While performing playback is a visual appearance parameter of the user interface adjusted according the determined portion of the day.

First claim

1 . A method of controlling playback of streamed media content at a user interface of an electronic device in dependence of a time of a day, the method comprises:
determining a portion of a day, by at least one of reference to a day portion time table or receipt, at a user interface of an electronic device, of a user input that is indicative of the portion of the day, sending a first data message to a computer server system, the first data message comprising instructions to the computer server system to return a stream of media content associated with the determined portion of the day, receiving a second data message from the computer server system, the second data message comprising the stream of media content associated with the determined portion of the day, and in response thereto
performing playback of the media content associated with the determined portion of the day, at the user interface of the electronic device, in dependence of the determined portion of the day, and
while performing playback of the media content associated with the determined portion of the day, at the user interface, adjusting a visual appearance parameter of the user interface according to the determined portion of the day.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the visual appearance parameter comprises performing, at a display of the user interface, at least one of:
displaying a symbol representing the determined portion of the day, and displaying a color representing the determined portion of the day.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the visual appearance parameter comprises adjusting a brightness level representing the determined portion of the day.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the second data message comprises receiving information related to the media content, the method further comprising:
displaying the received information related to the media content at a display of the user interface.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second data message comprises:
receiving image data of an image related to the media content; and receiving the media content as audio content, and wherein performing playback of the media content at the user interface comprises:
playing the audio content by a speaker of the user interface, and
processing the received image data into the image, and
displaying the image by a display of the user interface.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein displaying the image comprises displaying the image as at least one of:
a background image, and a part of the image at a pre-defined position of the display.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second data message comprises:
receiving the media content as video content and a corresponding audio content, and wherein performing playback of the media content at the user interface comprises:
displaying the video content by a display of the user interface, and
playing the audio content by a speaker of the user interface.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request for changing a portion of the day to an updated portion of the day, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, at the user interface, a user input indicative of switching between a current portion of the day, and an updated portion of the day, sending a third data message to a computer server system, the third data message comprising instructions to the computer server system to return a stream of media content related to the updated portion of the day, receiving a fourth data message from the computer server system, the fourth data message comprising the stream of media content associated with the updated portion of the day, and in response thereto
performing playback of the media content associated with the updated portion of the day at the user interface of the electronic device, and
while performing playback of the media content at the user interface, adjusting the visual appearance parameter of the user interface in dependence of the changed portion of the day.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the user interface comprises an input means, and wherein receiving the request for changing the portion of the day comprises detecting a first user input performed at the input means.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the input means comprises a touch-sensitive surface, and detecting the user input comprises detecting the first user input as any of:
a swipe gesture, a tap gesture, a press gesture, and a click gesture.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the portion of the day comprises determining a time, comparing the determined time with a day portion timetable comprising a plurality of time intervals corresponding to respective portions of the day, and determining the portion of the day for the time interval which comprises the determined time.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a control means at a display of the user interface, wherein the control means comprises an expansion control, receiving a request for displaying a media player at the display, and displaying the media player at the display.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein receiving the request for displaying the media player comprises detecting a user input at the control means.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the control means comprises a touch sensitive surface, and wherein detecting the user input comprises detecting user input as at least one of:
a swipe gesture, a tap gesture, a press gesture, and a click gesture.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request for changing media content items, wherein the request relates to changing media content items, from a currently playbacked first media content item of the media content to a second media content item of the media content, sending, to the computer server system, a request for the second media content item, receiving, from the computer server system, the second media content item, and performing playback of the second media content item at the user interface.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving the request for changing media content items comprises detecting a user input at the user interface.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving a request for adjusting the performed playback of the second media content item at the user interface, and adjusting the performed playback in accordance with the received request.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein performing playback of the second media content item comprises displaying an image content or a video content at the user interface, and receiving the request for adjusting the performed playback of the second media content item comprises detecting a user input in form of a tap gesture, a press gesture, or a click gesture on the image content or the video content.

19 . An electronic device for playback of a streamed media content in dependence of a time of a day at a user interface of the electronic device, the electronic device comprising:
a user interface; a processor; and a memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to: determine a portion of a day, by at least one of reference to a day portion time table or receipt, at the user interface of the electronic device, of a user input that is indicative of the portion of the day, send a first data message to a computer server system, the first data message comprising instructions to the

Assignees

• Spotify Ab

Inventors

• Persson Karl-Johan
• Everington Steven Paul
• Vinnå Fredric
• Söderström Stig Gustav Viktor
• Galfvensjö Daniel
• Liusaari Ari
• Sormaz Dejan
• Mancino Felice
• E Samwoo

Classifications

• G06F3/04847 Primary

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G09G2320/0613

  The adjustment depending on the type of the information to be displayed · CPC title

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title

• G09G2320/0626

  for control of overall brightness · CPC title

• G09G2320/10

  Special adaptations of display systems for operation with variable images · CPC title