Displaying a buy/download button based on purchase history

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9244586-B2
Application number	US-201313843407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Oct 16, 2012
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced user interfaces and functionalities for internet radio applications are presented. In some embodiments, a computer system may provide a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of an internet radio station. The computer system then may determine, based on music purchase history associated with a user account, whether a selected song associated with the internet radio station has been previously purchased. In response to determining that the selected song has not been previously purchased, the computer system may display a user-selectable control that enables the selected song to be purchased. On the other hand, in response to determining that the selected song has been previously purchased, the computer system may display a user-selectable control that enables the selected song to be downloaded.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for allowing access to media content on an internet radio station, the method comprising:
generating, by a processor, a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station;
displaying, by the processor, the user interface on a display device;
determining, by the processor, whether a selected media content associated with the internet radio station has been previously purchased based on a music purchase history associated with a user account;
displaying, by the processor, a user-selectable control on the user interface, the user-selectable control to enable a purchase or download of the selected media content;
in response to determining that the selected media content has not been previously purchased;
assigning, by the processor, a first functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be purchased;
modifying, by the processor in accordance with the assigned first functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be purchased responsive to its selection; and
modifying, by the processor, an appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to a purchasing symbol of the selected media content; and

in response to determining that the selected media content has been previously purchased;
assigning, by the processor, a second functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be downloaded;
modifying, by the processor in accordance with the assigned second functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be downloaded responsive to its selection; and
modifying, by the processor, the appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to an image associated with downloading the selected media content.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to receiving a selection of the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be purchased:
charging the user account for purchasing the selected media content; and
initiating the downloading of the selected media content to a content library accessible via the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to receiving a selection of the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be downloaded, initiating downloading of the selected media content to a content library accessible via the user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface further includes one or more regions configured to control playback of content items included in a content library associated with the user account.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the content library is locally stored, at least in part, on a device providing the user interface.

6. A system for allowing access to media content on an internet radio station, the system comprising:
a memory; and
one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to:
generate a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station;
display the user interface on a display device;
determine whether a selected media content associated with the internet radio station has been previously purchased based on a music purchase history associated with a user account;
display a user-selectable control on the user interface, the user-selectable control to enable a purchase or download of the selected media content;
in response to determining that the selected media content has not been previously purchased;
assign, by the processor, a first functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be purchased;
modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned first functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be purchased responsive to its selection; and
modify, by the processor, an appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to a purchasing symbol of the selected media content; and

in response to determining that the selected media content has been previously purchased;
assign, by the processor, a second functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be downloaded;
modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned second functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be downloaded responsive to its selection; and
modify, by the processor, the appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to an image associated with downloading the selected media content.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the user interface further includes one or more regions configured to control playback of content items included in a content library associated with the user account.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the content library is locally stored, at least in part, by the system.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to register the system as being linked to the user account.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage memory storing a plurality of instructions for controlling one or more processors, the plurality of instructions comprising:
instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to generate a user interface that includes one or more regions configured to control playback of the internet radio station;
instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to display the user interface on a display device;
instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to determine, whether a selected media content associated with the internet radio station has been previously purchased based on a music purchase history associated with a user account;
instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to display a user-selectable control on the user interface, the user-selectable control to enable a purchase or download of the selected media content;
in response to determining that the selected media content has not been previously purchased, instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to:
assign, by the processor, a first functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be purchased;
modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned first functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be purchased responsive to its selection; and
modify, by the processor, an appearance of the user-selectable control to correspond to a purchasing symbol of the selected media content; and

in response to determining that the selected media content has been previously purchased, instructions that cause at least one processor of the one or more processors to:
assign, by the processor, a second functional state to the user-selectable control that enables the selected media content to be downloaded;
modify, by the processor in accordance with the assigned second functional state, the function of the user-selectable control such that the user-selectable control is configured to cause the selected media content to be downlo

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Bachman William
• Chaudhri Imran
• Robbin Jeffrey L
• Wood Policarpo B
• Chen Elbert D

Classifications

• G06F16/686

  using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings · CPC title

• G06Q30/0623 Primary

  by investigating goods or services · CPC title

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• H04L67/306

  User profiles · CPC title

• G06F17/30752

  Physics · mapped topic