# US 11,442,595 B2 · Method and device for controlling the selection of media files for playback > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,595 B2 - Document ID: US11442595B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/123,607 - Filed: 2014-03-04 - Published: 2017-03-23 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-04 - Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Volkswagen AG - Inventors: Robert Schulz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442595B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G11B 19/025: {'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract In a method for controlling the selection of media files for playback, graphical objects are displayed, and each media file is assigned to one graphical object in each case. In addition, first probabilities, by which the media files are selected for playback, are indicated in the method via a feature of the graphical objects. An operating action by a user, by which the feature of at least one graphical object is modified, is detected. Moreover, second probabilities are assigned to the graphical objects as a function of the modification of the feature of the at least one graphical object. The media files are selected for replay as a function of the second probabilities. In addition, a device is arranged for controlling the selection of media files for replay purposes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling selection of media files for playback comprising: displaying graphical objects, a single media file being assigned to each of the graphical objects; indicating first probabilities by a feature of the graphical objects; detecting an operating action of a user, by which the feature of at least one graphical object is modified; assigning second probabilities to the graphical objects as a function of the modification of the feature of the at least one graphical object; wherein the feature of the at least one graphical object correlates linearly with the second probabilities; and selecting the media files for playback as a function of the second probabilities during a shuffle functionality; wherein the first and second probabilities are the probabilities that the media files assigned to the graphical objects are played during a shuffle functionality. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the feature of the graphical objects is the same for all graphical objects prior to the operating action, so that each media file is selected for playback based on the same first probability, the feature of the at least one graphical object is modified by the operating action, and following the operating action, the media file to which the one graphical object is assigned has a higher/lower second probability as a function of the operating action, whereas other media files have a correspondingly lower/greater second probability. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the feature includes a size of the graphical objects, and the first probability of the media file assigned to the at least one graphical object is increased or decreased by enlarging or reducing the at least one graphical object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating action includes a gesture of the user on a display area having a touch-sensitive surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one graphical object is selected while other graphical objects are not selected, and the touch-sensitive surface is touched in at least two points, and the selected graphical object is enlarged or reduced in that a distance between the two points is enlarged or reduced. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the selected at least one graphical object has a boundary, and the at least two points lie within the boundary of the selected at least one graphical object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein a size of the non-selected graphical objects are reduced or enlarged in accordance with the enlargement or reduction of a size of the selected at least one graphical object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the media files and the first and/or second probabilities are displayed in a list, and the media file having a greatest first and/or second probability is displayed in first place on the list. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the media files include music titles, and the graphical objects includes representations of album covers of the music titles. ### Claim 10 A device for controlling selection of media files for playback, comprising: a display device adapted to display graphical objects, a single media file being assignable to each of the graphical objects; a control unit coupled to the display device and adapted to actuate the display device such that first probabilities are displayable by a feature of the graphical objects; a detection device adapted to detect an operating action of a user, the feature of at least one graphical object being modifiable by the operating action; a computing unit integrated into the control unit and adapted to assign second probabilities to the media files as a function of the modification of the feature of the at least one graphical object, the media files being selectable with the aid of the control unit as a function of the second probabilities; wherein the feature of the at least one graphical object correlates linearly with the second probabilities; and a playback device adapted to play back selected media files of one of the first or second probabilities during a shuffle functionality; wherein the first and second probabilities are the probabilities that the media files assigned to the graphical objects are played during a shuffle functionality. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein the detection device includes a touch-sensitive area on a display surface of the display device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein the device includes a media system adapted to store the media files. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein the device is arranged in an interior space of a vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A vehicle, comprising the device as recited in claim 10.