System and method for playback of media content with support for audio touch caching

1. A system for playback of media content, including the use of media caching, comprising:

a media device, including a processor, wherein the media device is adapted to play media content provided by a computer system operating as a media server;

a user interface, provided at the media device, wherein the user interface is adapted to display a visual array of media options, and wherein each media option is associated with one or more media content items that can be provided by the media server and streamed to the media device, to be played at the media device;

a prebuffering logic that enables portions of the media content items to be pre-buffered at the media device, including that, while the media options are being prepared for display, portions of their associated one or more media content items can be pre-buffered at the same time as determined by a caching policy;

a playback logic, provided at the media device, which is adapted to play media content items associated with one or more media options that are proximate to a selected point or region within the visual array; and

a cache logic, provided at the media device, which is adapted to

determine one or more cache settings, user settings, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed on the user interface, for use in determining whether the media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the media device, and

determine, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the one or more media content items will be cached at the media device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on one or more current usage information or historical usage information, including the amount of media content data communicated to the media device within a previous temporal interval.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a current session information including information describing those media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with selection of media options, is used in determining the particular policy to be used.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options.

6. A method for playback of media content, including the use of media caching, comprising:

displaying, at a media device adapted to play media content provided by a computer system operating as a media server, and having a user interface, a visual array of media options, wherein each media option is associated with one or more media content items that can be provided by the media server and streamed to the media device, to be played at the media device;

pre-buffering portions of the media content items at the media device, including that, while the media options are being prepared for display, portions of their associated one or more media content items can be pre-buffered at the same time as determined by a caching policy;

while a selected point or region is moved within the visual array in response to user input, determining media content items associated with one or more media options proximate to the selected point or region, to be played;

determine one or more cache settings, user settings, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed on the user interface, for use in determining whether the media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the media device; and

determine, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the one or more media content items will be cached at the media device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on one or more current usage information or historical usage information, including the amount of media content data communicated to the media device within a previous temporal interval.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein a current session information including information describing those media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with selection of media options, is used in determining the particular policy to be used.

10. The method of claim 6 , further including providing support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by a computer or media device causes the computer or media device to perform the steps comprising:

displaying, at a user interface, a visual array of media options, wherein each media option is associated with one or more media content items that can be provided by a media server and streamed to the computer or media device, to be played at the computer or media device;

pre-buffering portions of the media content items at the computer or media device, including that, while the media options are being prepared for display, portions of their associated one or more media content items can be pre-buffered at the same time as determined by a caching policy;

determining, while a selected point or region is moved within the visual array in response to user input, media content items associated with one or more media options proximate to the selected point or region, to be played;

determine one or more cache settings, user settings, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed on the user interface, for use in determining whether the computer or media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the computer or media device; and

determine, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the one or more media content items will be cached at the computer or media device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on one or more current usage information or historical usage information, including the amount of media content data communicated to the computer or media device within a previous temporal interval.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein a current session information including information describing those media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with selection of media options, is used in determining the particular policy to be used.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further including providing support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options.