Media playback queuing for playback management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9507780-B2
Application number	US-201414147423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2009
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
obtaining a queue of media items selected for playback at a device;
initiating playback of a first media item in the queue; and
during playback of the first media item:
receiving, from an additional device, a user selection of a second media item for playback;
determining that the additional device is authorized to add the second media item the queue when the device and the additional device are connected to a same wireless network; and
placing the second media item in the queue without interrupting the playback of the first media item.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second media item comprises a playlist, and wherein placing the second media item in the queue comprises interposing playback of a plurality of digital media assets associated with the playlist to be played after playback of the first media item has completed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is a hand-held computing device that includes a storage device for storing the first media item and the second media item.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that a storage associated with the device does not have the second media item; and
transmitting the second media item to the device for playback.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
presenting a graphical user interface on a display screen associated with the device, the graphical user interface comprising at least a first selectable item to request that the second media item be played next.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a second selectable item to request that the second media item be played now.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving the user selection is based on a selection from the graphical user interface.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
obtaining a queue of media items selected for playback at a device;
initiating playback of a first media item in the queue;
receiving, during playback of the first media item and from an additional device, a user selection of a second media item for playback;
determining that the additional device is authorized to add the second media item to the queue when the device and the additional device are connected to a same wireless network; and
during playback of the first media item placing the second media item in the queue without interrupting the playback of the first media item.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the second media item comprises a playlist, and wherein placing the second media item in the queue comprises interposing playback of a plurality of digital media assets associated with the playlist to be played after playback of the first media item has completed.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the device is a hand-held computing device that includes a storage device for storing the first media item and the second media item.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in operations further comprising:
determining that a storage associated with the device does not have the second media item; and
transmitting the second media item to the device for playback.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in operations further comprising:
presenting a graphical user interface on a display screen associated with the device, the graphical user interface comprising at least a first selectable item to request that the second media item be played next.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a second selectable item to request that the second media item be played now.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein receiving the user selection is based on a selection from the graphical user interface.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, along with the user selection of the second media item from the additional device, a location indicating where the second media item is to be placed within the queue.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from a group of additional devices, a plurality of votes for determining a location for the second media item to be placed within the queue.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 , storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in operations further comprising:
receiving, along with the user selection of the second media item from the additional device, a location indicating where the second media item is to be placed within the queue.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 , storing additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in operations further comprising:
receiving, from a group of additional devices, a plurality of votes for determining a location for the second media item to be placed within the queue.

19. An electronic device, comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
obtaining a queue of media items selected for playback at a device;
initiating playback of a first media item in the queue;
receiving, during playback of the first media item, a user selection of a second media item for playback and a location indicating where the second media item is to be placed within the queue; and
during playback of the first media item, placing the second media item in the queue without interrupting the playback of the first media item.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in an operation further comprising subsequently playing the second media item that has been placed in the queue after the playback of the first media item has completed.

21. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the electronic device is a hand-held electronic device, and wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, result in operations further comprising:
determining that a storage associated with the device does not have the second media item; and
transmitting the second media item to the device for playback.

22. A method comprising:
generating a master playlist of media assets for playback at a plurality of devices, wherein the media assets in the master playlist comprise media assets selected by a plurality of users that are authorized to add media assets for inclusion in the master playlist, wherein a user in the plurality of users is authorized to add media assets for inclusion in the master playlist when the plurality of devices are connected to the same wireless network;
based on a playback preference, selecting a media asset from the master playlist for playback at a device from the plurality of devices; and
initiating playback of the media asset selected from th

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Rothkopf Fletcher R
• Filson John Benjamin
• Yeates Kyle H

Classifications

• G11B27/105 Primary

  of operating discs · CPC title

• H04N21/4825

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

• G06F3/0482

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

• H04N21/47

  End-user applications · CPC title

• G06F3/165

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