IP Library Granted Patent US 12,003,659
Granted Patent B2
US 12,003,659 · App. 17/579,253 · Granted Jun 4, 2024

Interfaces and devices for dynamically-available media playback

Inventors: Taylor G. Carrigan (San Francisco, CA); Corey Peterson (Saratoga, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H04M1/72415G06F3/0482H04M1/72412H04M1/72454H04M1/72463
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,003,659
App. No.
17/579,253
Granted
Jun 4, 2024
Kind
B2
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 (78)

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein the first criterion is a user-selectable criterion that can be disabled via user selection.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein a device of the third type and a device of the fourth type have different hardware configurations.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the first criterion is a user-selectable criterion that can be disabled via user selection.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein a device of the third type and a device of the fourth type have different hardware configurations.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: CARRIGAN, TAYLOR G.; PETERSON, COREY
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 059229/0592 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63197423 · Jun 6, 2021
Provisional Application 63175312 · Apr 15, 2021
Related Publication 20220345565A1 · Oct 27, 2022