# US 12,003,659 B2 · Interfaces and devices for dynamically-available media playback > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,659 B2 - Document ID: US12003659B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/579,253 - Filed: 2022-01-19 - Published: 2022-10-27 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-15 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Taylor G. Carrigan; Corey Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003659B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - H04M 1/72415: for remote control of appliances - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 3/162: {Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs} - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces - H04M 1/72454: according to context-related or environment-related conditions - H04M 1/72463: to restrict the functionality of the device - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract The present disclosure generally relates to managing dynamically-available media playback and adapting visual outputs based on device capabilities and a state of the device. In some embodiments, a computer system manages whether an external electronic device is configurable to be available for a first media playback function. In some embodiments, a computer system selective causes an external electronic device to respond to a request to perform a media playback operation. In some embodiments, an electronic device adapts visual outputs based on device capabilities and a state of the device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer system configured to communicate with a plurality of external electronic devices, including a first external electronic device, the computer system comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: receiving a first request to perform a first media playback operation using one or more of the plurality of external electronic devices; and in response to the first request: in accordance with a determination that the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at a set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and a determination that the first request does not designate a specific device to perform the first media playback operation, wherein the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices includes the first external electronic device: in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device satisfies a first set of criteria, causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; and in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria, forgo causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; and in accordance with a determination that the first request designates at least the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation, causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria when the first external electronic device is associated with a first location that is also associated with a second external electronic device of a first type. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first set of criteria includes a first criterion that is not satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of a second type. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer system of claim 3, wherein the first criterion is a user-selectable criterion that can be disabled via user selection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices includes a third external electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for: in response to the first request and in accordance with the determination that the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and the determination that the first request does not designate the specific external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation, causing the third external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer system of claim 5, wherein: the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria; the first external electronic device is a device of a third type; and the third external electronic device is a device of a fourth type, different than the third type. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer system of claim 6, wherein a device of the third type and a device of the fourth type have different hardware configurations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein: the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and the first request does not designate the specific external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; the first external electronic device satisfies the first set of criteria; and the first external electronic device is caused to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first set of criteria is satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of a fifth type. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer system of claim 9, wherein: the first external electronic device is associated with a second location; and the first set of criteria is satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of the fifth type regardless of whether the second location is associated with one or more other external electronic devices of the plurality of external electronic devices. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system configured to communicate with a plurality of external electronic devices, including a first external electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for: receiving a first request to perform a first media playback operation using one or more of the plurality of external electronic devices; and in response to the first request: in accordance with a determination that the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at a set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and a determination that the first request does not designate a specific external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation, wherein the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices includes the first external electronic device: in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device satisfies a first set of criteria, causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; and in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria, forgo causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; and in accordance with a determination that the first request designates at least the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation, causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria when the first external electronic device is associated with a first location that is also associated with a second external electronic device of a first type. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first set of criteria includes a first criterion that is not satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of a second type. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the first criterion is a user-selectable criterion that can be disabled via user selection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices includes a third external electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for: in response to the first request and in accordance with the determination that the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and the determination that the first request does not designate a specific external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation, causing the third external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein: the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria; the first external electronic device is a device of a third type; and the third external electronic device is a device of a fourth type, different than the third type. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein a device of the third type and a device of the fourth type have different hardware configurations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein: the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and the first request does not designate the specific external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; the first external electronic device satisfies the first set of criteria; and the first external electronic device is caused to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first set of criteria is satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of a fifth type. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein: the first external electronic device is associated with a second location; and the first set of criteria is satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of the fifth type regardless of whether the second location is associated with one or more other external electronic devices of the plurality of external electronic devices. ### Claim 21 A method comprising: at a computer system configured to communicate with a plurality of external electronic devices, including a first external electronic device: receiving a first request to perform a first media playback operation using one or more of the plurality of external electronic devices; and in response to the first request: in accordance with a determination that the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at a set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and a determination that the first request does not designate a specific device to perform the first media playback operation, wherein the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices includes the first external electronic device: in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device satisfies a first set of criteria, causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; and in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria, forgo causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; and in accordance with a determination that the first request designates at least the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation, causing the first external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria when the first external electronic device is associated with a first location that is also associated with a second external electronic device of a first type. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first set of criteria includes a first criterion that is not satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of a second type. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first criterion is a user-selectable criterion that can be disabled via user selection. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices includes a third external electronic device, the method further comprising: in response to the first request and in accordance with the determination that the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and the determination that the first request does not designate the specific external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation, causing the third external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein: the first external electronic device does not satisfy the first set of criteria; the first external electronic device is a device of a third type; and the third external electronic device is a device of a fourth type, different than the third type. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein a device of the third type and a device of the fourth type have different hardware configurations. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein: the first request is a request to perform the first media playback operation at the set of two or more of the plurality of external electronic devices and the first request does not designate the specific external electronic device to perform the first media playback operation; the first external electronic device satisfies the first set of criteria; and the first external electronic device is caused to perform the first media playback operation. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first set of criteria is satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of a fifth type. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein: the first external electronic device is associated with a second location; and the first set of criteria is satisfied when the first external electronic device is a device of the fifth type regardless of whether the second location is associated with one or more other external electronic devices of the plurality of external electronic devices.