# US 2014/0195909 A1 · Media Playback Queuing for Playback Management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195909 A1 - Document ID: US20140195909A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/147,423 - Filed: 2014-01-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-01 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf; John Benjamin Filson; Kyle H. Yeates - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195909A1 ## CPC - G06F 16/4387: {by the use of playlists} - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G11B 27/105: {of operating discs} - H04N 21/4325: {by playing back content from the storage medium (reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79)} - H04N 21/47: End-user applications - H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection - H04N 21/4825: {using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists} - H04N 21/8113: {comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format} - 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) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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 media item: receiving a user selection of a second media asset item for playback and a location indicating where the second media item is to be placed within the queue, and placing the second media item in the queue without interrupting the playback of the first media item. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as recited in 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as recited in 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as recited in 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method as recited in 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a second selectable item to request that the second media item be played now. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A method as recited in claim 5, wherein receiving the user selection is based on a selection from the graphical user interface. ### Claim 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, 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A 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: 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A 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: 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a second selectable item to request that the second media item be played now. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein receiving the user selection is based on a selection from the graphical user interface. ### Claim 15 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 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An electronic device as recited in claim 15, 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) An electronic device as recited in claim 15, 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. ### Claim 18 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 for inclusion in the master playlist; 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 the master playlist. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the playback preference comprises at least one of a playback order or a playback ranking, the method further comprising providing the master playlist to the plurality of devices for presentation at the plurality of devices via respective graphical displays. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the media assets selected form the master playlist comprises a playlist of media assets, and wherein initiating playback of the media asset selected from the master playlist comprises initiating playback of a media asset within the playlist of media assets.