Method and an electronic device for playback of video

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9973806-B2
Application number	US-201715412792-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2017
Priority date	Oct 29, 2014
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to streaming of media content. In one example embodiment, an electronic device for playing video content may comprise a user interface, a processor and a memory. The memory may comprise computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to receive a first request to play first video content associated with a first video stream at the user interface, and in response to receiving the first request, pre-buffer data related to the first video stream; while pre-buffering this data and before playing the first video content at the user interface; display (at the user interface) a still image corresponding to a portion of the first video content in a first video tile at a first size; and re-size the first size to a second size such that a zooming-out effect of the displayed still image is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for use by an electronic device for playback of video content, comprising:
displaying, at a user interface of an electronic device, an array of video options as video tiles,
wherein the electronic device includes a media playback application that controls playback of video content received from a media server, for playback at the electronic device, and
wherein each video option is associated with a respective video stream of video content receivable from the media server, for playback at the electronic device, and
wherein selection of a video option causes a request to be communicated to the media server to return a corresponding video stream of video content;

receiving, at the user interface, a request to play a video stream of video content associated with a particular video option;
pre-buffering, at the electronic device, video content data received from the media server of the video stream associated with the particular video option, including setting a timer for pre-buffering the video content data;
while the video content data associated with the particular video option is being pre-buffered by the electronic device, and before the video content is played at the electronic device, displaying, at the user interface, within an area of a video tile for the particular video option, a still image that corresponds to a portion of the video content associated with the particular video option;
adjusting a displayed size of the still image, from a first size to a second size, within the video tile;
displaying the still image, as adjusted in size from the first size to the second size, during a time period determined by the timer; and
upon expiration of the timer, transitioning from displaying the still image, to playing the video stream of video content associated with the particular video option.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
setting the timer to a pre-buffering time; and
displaying the still image until the pre-buffering time set by the timer expires.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pre-buffering time is pre-determined.

4. The method of claim 2 , comprising, in response to the pre-buffering time set by the timer expiring:
ceasing to display the still image; and
beginning to play the video stream associated with the particular video option.

5. The method of claim 3 , comprising, in response to the pre-buffering time set by the timer expiring:
ceasing to display the still image; and
beginning to play the video stream associated with the particular video option.

6. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein a first video stream corresponds to a first channel of a plurality of channels;
in response to receiving a first request, playing a first video stream of first video content;
while playing the first video stream, receiving a second request to play a second video stream of second video content, wherein the second video stream corresponds to a second channel of the plurality of channels; and
pre-buffering, at the electronic device, video content data received from the media server of the second video stream, including
displaying, at the user interface, a second video tile including, within an area of the second video tile, a still image that corresponds to a portion of the second video content; and
adjusting a displayed size of the still image that corresponds to the portion of the second video content, from a first size to a second size, including one of padding or cropping the still image to fill the area of the second video tile.

7. An electronic device for playback of video content, the electronic device comprising:
a user interface;
a processor; and
a memory storing computer program code, which, when executed by the processor causes the electronic device to:
display, at a user interface of an electronic device, an array of video options as video tiles,
wherein the electronic device includes a media playback application that controls playback of video content received from a media server, for playback at the electronic device, and
wherein each video option is associated with a respective video stream of video content receivable from the media server, for playback at the electronic device, and
wherein selection of a video option causes a request to be communicated to the media server to return a corresponding video stream of video content;

receive, at the user interface, a request to play a video stream of video content associated with a particular video option;
pre-buffer, at the electronic device, video content data received from the media server of the video stream associated with the particular video option, including setting a timer for pre-buffering the video content data;
while the video content data associated with the particular video option is being pre-buffered by the electronic device, and before the video content is played at the electronic device,
display, at the user interface, within an area of a video tile for the particular video option, a still image that corresponds to a portion of the video content associated with the particular video option;
adjust a displayed size of the still image, from a first size to a second size, within the video tile;

display the still image, as adjusted in size from the first size to the second size, during a time period determined by the timer; and
upon expiration of the timer, transitioning from displaying the still image, to playing the video stream of video content associated with the particular video option.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
setting the timer to a pre-buffering time; and
displaying the still image until the pre-buffering time set by the timer expires.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the pre-buffering time is pre-determined.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , comprising, in response to the pre-buffering time set by the timer expiring:
ceasing to display the still image; and
beginning to play the video stream associated with the particular video option.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , comprising, in response to the pre-buffering time set by the timer expiring:
ceasing to display the still image; and
beginning to play the video stream associated with the particular video option.

12. The electronic device of claim 7 ,
wherein a first video stream corresponds to a first channel of a plurality of channels;
in response to receiving a first request, playing a first video stream of first video content;
while playing the first video stream, receiving a second request to play a second video stream of second video content, wherein the second video stream corresponds to a second channel of the plurality of channels; and
pre-buffering, at the electronic device, video content data received from the media server of the second video stream, including
displaying, at the user interface, a second video tile including, within an area of the second video tile, a still image that corresponds to a portion of the second video content; and
adjusting a displayed size of the still image that corresponds to the portion of the second video content, from a first size to a second size, including one of padding or cropping the still image to fill the area of the second video tile.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or more processors perform a method comprising:
displaying, at a user interface of an electronic device, an array of video options as video tiles,
wherein the electronic device includes a media playback application that controls playback of video

Assignees

• Spotify Ab

Inventors

• Tsiridis Theodoros
• Fleming Daniel
• Van Schneider Tobias

Classifications

• H04N21/8153

  comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image · CPC title

• H04N21/472

  End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content {(end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612)} · CPC title

• H04N21/433

  Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations · CPC title

• H04N21/4312 Primary

  involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title