# US 12,118,271 B2 · Playlist configuration and preview

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,118,271 B2
- Document ID: US12118271B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/929,657
- Filed: 2022-09-02
- Published: 2022-12-29
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-22
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Sharon E. Friesen; Jorge S. Fino; Jason A. Skinder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12118271B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback}
- G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34)
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 16/639: {using playlists}
- G11B 27/105: {of operating discs}
- G11B 27/329: {on a disc [VTOC]}
- G10H 2220/106: using icons, e.g. selecting, moving or linking icons, on-screen symbols, screen regions or segments representing musical elements or parameters
- G10H 2240/081: Genre classification, i.e. descriptive metadata for classification or selection of musical pieces according to style
- G10H 2240/085: Mood, i.e. generation, detection or selection of a particular emotional content or atmosphere in a musical piece
- G10H 2240/131: Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
- G10H 2240/251: Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analogue or digital, e.g. DECT, GSM, UMTS
- 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)
- G10H: ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE

## Abstract

In some implementations, a user can play a music track from a dynamically generated playlist. The user can provide input indicating that the user likes or dislikes the music track and the playlist can be adjusted based on the user input. In some implementations, information can be presented to the user so that the user can preview changes to the playlist before the changes are made to the playlist. In some implementations, a user can adjust playlist criteria (configuration) by adjusting specific music characteristics. In some implementations, a user can adjust playlist criteria by manipulating a list of representative music tracks. In some implementations, a user can compare the user's playlist to playlists of other users.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
at an electronic device in communication with a display and a touch-sensitive surface:
displaying, via the display, a first playlist user interface having at least one representation of a generated playlist associated with a user, with tracks for the generated playlist being selected based on one or more playlist criteria specified by the user;
while displaying the first playlist user interface, receiving a touch input on the touch-sensitive surface; and
in response to receiving the touch input, displaying, via the display, a second playlist user interface, comprising concurrently displaying in the second playlist user interface:
a plurality of visual representations of a first set of a plurality of tracks associated with the generated playlist associated with the user;
a plurality of visual representations of a second set of a plurality of tracks associated with an other playlist associated with an other user; and
a plurality of visual representations of one or more playlist criteria, including:
a first visual representation indicating a value of a first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user, wherein the value of the first playlist criterion corresponds to a first measure of a musical characteristic associated with one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
a second visual representation indicating a value of a second playlist criterion from one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user, wherein the value of the second playlist criterion corresponds to a second measure of the musical characteristic associated with one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks, and the second set of the plurality of tracks are selected based on the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user comprises a first user, the generated playlist associated with the user comprises a first generated playlist, wherein the other user comprises a second user, the other playlist associated with the other user comprises a second generated playlist, and wherein the second playlist user interface comprises:
a plurality of visual representations of a third set of a plurality of tracks associated with a third playlist associated with a different user than the user and the other user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the first set of the plurality of tracks comprise representative tracks associated with the generated playlist associated with the user, and represent the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user; and
the second set of the plurality of tracks comprise representative tracks associated with a generated playlist associated with the other user, and represent the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the first set of tracks comprise upcoming tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user; and
the second set of tracks comprise upcoming tracks of the other playlist associated with the other user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user is different from the value of the second playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual representations of the one or more playlist criteria include at least two representations of two playlist criteria specified by the user, and at least two representations of two playlist criteria specified by the other user and corresponding to the at least two playlist criteria used for selecting the tracks for the generated playlist associated with the user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
while displaying the second playlist user interface, receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface corresponding to movement of the first visual representation of the first playlist criterion or a movement of a third visual representation of a third playlist criterion of the two playlist criteria specified by the user; and
in response to receiving the second touch input:
in accordance with a determination that the second touch input corresponds to the movement of the first visual representation of the first playlist criterion, displaying the first visual representation at a first updated position on the display, and adjusting the value of the first playlist criterion based on the movement of the first visual representation; and
in accordance with a determination that the second touch input corresponds to the movement of the second visual representation of the first playlist criterion, displaying the second visual representation at a second updated position on the display, and adjusting the value of the second playlist criterion based on the movement of the first visual representation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the first visual representation comprises:
displaying a color over an area of the display, where an intensity of the color or a magnitude of the area is adjustable, and is based on the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the first visual representation comprises:
displaying a geometric shape on the display, where sizes or dimensions of the geometric shape are adjustable, and are based on the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving additional touch input from the user, the additional touch input comprising dragging a first visual representation of a particular track from the plurality of visual representations of the second set of tracks into the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks; and
in response to receiving the additional touch input:
updating the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks, including adding the particular track to the generated playlist associated with the user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein updating the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks comprises:
including a visual representation of the particular track from the other playlist associated with the other user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks, and removing a visual representation of a first track of the first set of tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks, while maintaining a visual representation of a second track of the first set of tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising in response to receiving the additional touch input:
adjusting the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user to account for removal of the first track of the first set of tracks from the generated playlist in response to receiving the additional touch input.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising in response to receiving the additional touch input:
adjusting the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user to account for addition of the particular track to the first set of tracks from the generated playlist in response to receiving the additional touch input.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the touch input comprises a first touch input, and displaying the second playlist user interface includes:
selecting, based on the one or more playlist criteria, one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including comparing the one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user; and
displaying, via the display, the second playlist user interface, comprising:
the plurality of visual representations of the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
the plurality of visual representations of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks as selected by comparing the one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the touch input comprises a first touch input, and displaying the second playlist user interface includes:
selecting, based on one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks, one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including comparing the one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks; and
displaying, via the display, the second playlist user interface, comprising:
the plurality of visual representations of the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
the plurality of visual representations of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks as selected by comparing the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks.

### Claim 16

An electronic device comprising:
one or more processors;
a display;
a touch-sensitive surface;
one or more input devices; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
displaying, via the display, a first playlist user interface having at least one representation of a generated playlist associated with a user, with tracks for the generated playlist being selected based on one or more playlist criteria specified by the user;
while displaying the first playlist user interface, receiving a touch input on the touch-sensitive surface; and
in response to receiving the touch input, displaying, via the display, a second playlist user interface, comprising concurrently displaying in the second playlist user interface:
a plurality of visual representations of a first set of a plurality of tracks associated with the generated playlist associated with the user;
a plurality of visual representations of a second set of a plurality of tracks associated with an other playlist associated with an other user; and
a plurality of visual representations of one or more playlist criteria, including:
a first visual representation indicating a value of a first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user, wherein the value of the first playlist criterion corresponds to a first measure of a musical characteristic associated with one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
a second visual representation indicating a value of a second playlist criterion from one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user, wherein the value of the second playlist criterion corresponds to a second measure of the musical characteristic associated with one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks, and the second set of the plurality of tracks are selected based on the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the user comprises a first user, the generated playlist associated with the user comprises a first generated playlist, wherein the other user comprises a second user, the other playlist associated with the other user comprises a second generated playlist, and wherein the second playlist user interface comprises:
a plurality of visual representations of a third set of a plurality of tracks associated with a third playlist associated with a different user than the user and the other user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, wherein:
the first set of the plurality of tracks comprise representative tracks associated with the generated playlist associated with the user, and represent the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user; and
the second set of the plurality of tracks comprise representative tracks associated with a generated playlist associated with the other user, and represent the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, wherein:
the first set of tracks comprise upcoming tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user; and
the second set of tracks comprise upcoming tracks of the other playlist associated with the other user.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user is different from the value of the second playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of visual representations of the one or more playlist criteria include at least two representations of two playlist criteria specified by the user, and at least two representations of two playlist criteria specified by the other user and corresponding to the at least two playlist criteria used for selecting the tracks for the generated playlist associated with the user.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The electronic device of claim 21, the method further comprising:
while displaying the second playlist user interface, receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface corresponding to movement of the first visual representation of the first playlist criterion or a movement of a third visual representation of a third playlist criterion of the two playlist criteria specified by the user; and
in response to receiving the second touch input:
in accordance with a determination that the second touch input corresponds to the movement of the first visual representation of the first playlist criterion, displaying the first visual representation at a first updated position on the display, and adjusting the value of the first playlist criterion based on the movement of the first visual representation; and
in accordance with a determination that the second touch input corresponds to the movement of the second visual representation of the first playlist criterion, displaying the second visual representation at a second updated position on the display, and adjusting the value of the second playlist criterion based on the movement of the first visual representation.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The electronic device of claim 22, wherein displaying the first visual representation comprises:
displaying a color over an area of the display, where an intensity of the color or a magnitude of the area is adjustable, and is based on the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The electronic device of claim 22, wherein displaying the first visual representation comprises:
displaying a geometric shape on the display, where sizes or dimensions of the geometric shape are adjustable, and are based on the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, the method further comprising:
receiving additional touch input from the user, the additional touch input comprising dragging a first visual representation of a particular track from the plurality of visual representations of the second set of tracks into the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks; and
in response to receiving the additional touch input:
updating the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks, including adding the particular track to the generated playlist associated with the user.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The electronic device of claim 25, wherein updating the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks comprises:
including a visual representation of the particular track from the other playlist associated with the other user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks, and removing a visual representation of a first track of the first set of tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks, while maintaining a visual representation of a second track of the first set of tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The electronic device of claim 26, the method further comprising in response to receiving the additional touch input:
adjusting the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user to account for removal of the first track of the first set of tracks from the generated playlist in response to receiving the additional touch input.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The electronic device of claim 25, the method further comprising in response to receiving the additional touch input:
adjusting the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user to account for addition of the particular track to the first set of tracks from the generated playlist in response to receiving the additional touch input.

### Claim 29 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the touch input comprises a first touch input, and displaying the second playlist user interface includes:
selecting, based on the one or more playlist criteria, one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including comparing the one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user; and
displaying, via the display, the second playlist user interface, comprising:
the plurality of visual representations of the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
the plurality of visual representations of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks as selected by comparing the one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 30 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the touch input comprises a first touch input, and displaying the second playlist user interface includes:
selecting, based on one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks, one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including comparing the one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks; and
displaying, via the display, the second playlist user interface, comprising:
the plurality of visual representations of the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
the plurality of visual representations of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks as selected by comparing the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks.

### Claim 31

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display and one or more input devices, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
displaying, via the display, a first playlist user interface having at least one representation of a generated playlist associated with a user, with tracks for the generated playlist being selected based on one or more playlist criteria specified by the user;
while displaying the first playlist user interface, receiving a touch input on a touch-sensitive surface; and
in response to receiving the touch input, displaying, via the display, a second playlist user interface, comprising concurrently displaying in the second playlist user interface:
a plurality of visual representations of a first set of a plurality of tracks associated with the generated playlist associated with the user;
a plurality of visual representations of a second set of a plurality of tracks associated with an other playlist associated with an other user; and
a plurality of visual representations of one or more playlist criteria, including:
a first visual representation indicating a value of a first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user, wherein the value of the first playlist criterion corresponds to a first measure of a musical characteristic associated with one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
a second visual representation indicating a value of a second playlist criterion from one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user, wherein the value of the second playlist criterion corresponds to a second measure of the musical characteristic associated with one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks, and the second set of the plurality of tracks are selected based on the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the user comprises a first user, the generated playlist associated with the user comprises a first generated playlist, wherein the other user comprises a second user, the other playlist associated with the other user comprises a second generated playlist, and wherein the second playlist user interface comprises:
a plurality of visual representations of a third set of a plurality of tracks associated with a third playlist associated with a different user than the user and the other user.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein:
the first set of the plurality of tracks comprise representative tracks associated with the generated playlist associated with the user, and represent the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user; and
the second set of the plurality of tracks comprise representative tracks associated with a generated playlist associated with the other user, and represent the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein:
the first set of tracks comprise upcoming tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user; and
the second set of tracks comprise upcoming tracks of the other playlist associated with the other user.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user is different from the value of the second playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the other user.

### Claim 36 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the plurality of visual representations of the one or more playlist criteria include at least two representations of two playlist criteria specified by the user, and at least two representations of two playlist criteria specified by the other user and corresponding to the at least two playlist criteria used for selecting the tracks for the generated playlist associated with the user.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, the method further comprising:
while displaying the second playlist user interface, receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface corresponding to movement of the first visual representation of the first playlist criterion or a movement of a third visual representation of a third playlist criterion of the two playlist criteria specified by the user; and
in response to receiving the second touch input:
in accordance with a determination that the second touch input corresponds to the movement of the first visual representation of the first playlist criterion, displaying the first visual representation at a first updated position on the display, and adjusting the value of the first playlist criterion based on the movement of the first visual representation; and
in accordance with a determination that the second touch input corresponds to the movement of the second visual representation of the first playlist criterion, displaying the second visual representation at a second updated position on the display, and adjusting the value of the second playlist criterion based on the movement of the first visual representation.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein displaying the first visual representation comprises:
displaying a color over an area of the display, where an intensity of the color or a magnitude of the area is adjustable, and is based on the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein displaying the first visual representation comprises:
displaying a geometric shape on the display, where sizes or dimensions of the geometric shape are adjustable, and are based on the value of the first playlist criterion from the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 40 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, the method further comprising:
receiving additional touch input from the user, the additional touch input comprising dragging a first visual representation of a particular track from the plurality of visual representations of the second set of tracks into the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks; and
in response to receiving the additional touch input:
updating the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks, including adding the particular track to the generated playlist associated with the user.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein updating the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks comprises:
including a visual representation of the particular track from the other playlist associated with the other user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks. and removing a visual representation of a first track of the first set of tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks, while maintaining a visual representation of a second track of the first set of tracks of the generated playlist associated with the user in the plurality of visual representations of the first set of tracks.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 41, the method further comprising in response to receiving the additional touch input:
adjusting the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user to account for removal of the first track of the first set of tracks from the generated playlist in response to receiving the additional touch input.

### Claim 43 (depends on 40)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 40, the method further comprising in response to receiving the additional touch input:
adjusting the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user to account for addition of the particular track to the first set of tracks from the generated playlist in response to receiving the additional touch input.

### Claim 44 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the touch input comprises a first touch input, and displaying the second playlist user interface includes:
selecting, based on the one or more playlist criteria, one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including comparing the one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user; and
displaying, via the display, the second playlist user interface, comprising:
the plurality of visual representations of the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
the plurality of visual representations of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks as selected by comparing the one or more tracks from the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more playlist criteria specified by the user.

### Claim 45 (depends on 31)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the touch input comprises a first touch input, and displaying the second playlist user interface includes:
selecting, based on one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks, one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including comparing the one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks; and
displaying, via the display, the second playlist user interface, comprising:
the plurality of visual representations of the first set of the plurality of tracks; and
the plurality of visual representations of the second set of the plurality of tracks, including the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks as selected by comparing the one or more tracks of the second set of the plurality of tracks with the one or more tracks from the first set of the plurality of tracks.