US 8,819,553 B2Granted

Generating a playlist using metadata tags

AssigneeApple Inc.

InventorsPolicarpo Wood, Eric James Hope, William Bull

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Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for on-the-fly playlist shuffling. There can be multiple ways to perform the shuffling. In one instance, the electronic device can organize a new playlist by sorting the media files based on a parameter. In another instance, the electronic device can organize a new playlist by shuffling the media files. In yet another instance, the electronic device can first sort the media files into groups of media files based on a parameter. The electronic device can then shuffle the media files within each group. In this manner, the media files can be randomized but only within each group. In all instances, the current media file can continue to play without any interruption. Finally, the electronic device can sort the media files based on the context of the media file that is currently playing.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of generating playlists using an electronic device, comprising:

retrieving a plurality of songs from a storage medium;
organizing the plurality of songs as a first playlist;
playing a song included in the first play list;
examining metadata tags associated with the songs in the plurality of songs;
presenting to a user a plurality of ranking options to specify a ranking order for what metadata tags are to be used to sort the plurality of songs;
in response to the user selecting a first ranking option of the plurality of ranking options, re-organizing the plurality of songs as a second playlist while keeping the song playing, and wherein the song that is currently playing is the first song in the second playlist, and wherein the re-organizing comprises:
sorting the plurality of songs into at least two groups of songs based on a highest ranking metadata tag such that the songs of each group of the at least two groups has a same parameter value for the first parameter;
sorting the songs in the at least two groups of songs based on a next-highest ranking metadata tag;
iteratively sorting the plurality of songs within each group and sub-group into further sub-groups based on a sequentially ranked metadata tags;
and
executing a shuffle command re-organizing the plurality of songs within each group while keeping the currently playing song playing.

8 more elements

An apparatus that generates playlists of songs, comprising:

a storage medium that stores songs;
a display screen;
a user input component that accepts user inputs;
and
a processor configured to:
examine metadata tags associated with the songs;
generate a display that is presented on the display screen, wherein the display includes an option;
in response to a user selecting the option, organize the songs as a first playlist;
play a song included in the first playlist;
generate a display comprising a plurality of playlist organization options that are presented on the display screen while playing the song, wherein the song continues to play in response to selection of one of the plurality of playlist organization options, and wherein the plurality of playlist organization options comprise a first option, a second option, and a plurality of ranking options to specify a ranking order for what metadata tags are to be used to sort the plurality of songs;
in response to the user selecting the first option, re-organize the songs as a second playlist by randomly re-ordering the songs of the first playlist;
and
in response to the user selecting the second option, re-organize the songs as the second playlist by:
sorting the plurality of songs into at least two groups of songs based on a highest ranking metadata tag such that the songs of each group of the at least two groups has a same parameter value for the first parameter;
sorting the songs in the at least two groups of songs based on a next-highest ranking metadata tag;
and
iteratively sorting the plurality of songs within each group and sub-group into further sub-groups based on a sequentially ranked metadata tags.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/215,091Filed 24 Jun 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 4 Sep 2007
Published: US 2009/0063976 A15 Mar 2009
Granted: 26 Aug 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G11B 27/34
Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel: indicating arrangements
G06F 16/4387
Presentation of query results: by the use of playlists
G11B 27/034
Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals: on discs
G11B 27/105
Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers: of operating discs