Apparatus, systems and methods for song play using a media device having a buffer

1. A system for presentation control of media content, the system comprising:

a tuner configured to receive a media content stream containing the media content;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

communicate the media content to a media presentation device;

analyze the currently presenting media content to identify whether the media content is audio/visual content or audio-only content;

receive a command from a remote control;

in response to receiving the command, perform a skip track forward operation that skips presentation from a currently presenting song to the beginning of a next song when the media content is identified as audio-only content; and

in response to receiving the command, perform a fast forward operation that presents the media content at a faster than normal speed when the media content is identified as audio/visual content.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to store the received media content in a program buffer and communicate the media content stored in the program buffer to the media presentation device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the currently presenting media content to identify whether the media content is audio/visual content or audio-only content comprises analyzing at least one of the currently presenting media content and electronic program guide (EPG) information to identify one of a first characteristic and a second characteristic of the currently presenting media content, wherein the first characteristic is associated with audio/visual content and the second characteristic is associated with audio-only content, and determining, based on the identified one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic, whether the currently presenting media content provides audio/visual content or provides audio-only content, wherein the audio-only content comprises a series of a plurality of songs and limited visual content in the received media content.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein determining whether the currently presenting media content provides audio/visual content or provides audio-only content comprises:

accessing electronic program guide information that has been stored on a memory of the media device,

wherein the EPG information includes a list of channels that are accessible by the media device, and

wherein for each one of the channels listed in the EPG information, each channel includes a descriptor that describes the media content that is currently in the stream of media content of that particular channel; and

analyzing the descriptor of a currently presenting channel listed in the EPG information to determine whether the currently received channel provides audio/visual content or provides audio-only content,

wherein the audio/visual content is determined when the descriptor corresponds to the first characteristic that is associated with audio/visual type media content, and

wherein the audio-only content is determined when the descriptor corresponds to the second characteristic that is associated with audio-only type media content.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to determine at least one of a beginning and an end for each of a plurality of songs based on metadata provided with the songs when the media device has determined that the currently presenting media content provides audio-only content.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the metadata provided with each song includes at least one of an artist's name, a song title, an album name, a song label, and a recording date, and wherein determining at least one of a beginning and an end for each of the plurality of songs comprises monitoring the metadata for changes to the at least one of an artist's name, a song title, an album name, a song label, and a recording date.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to:

receive a second command from the remote control;

in response to receiving the second command, perform a skip track backward operation that skips presentation from a currently presenting song to the beginning of a previously received song when the media content is identified as audio-only content; and

in response to receiving the second command, perform a fast rewind operation that presents the media content in reverse at a faster than normal speed when the media content is identified as audio/visual content.

8. A method for presentation control of media content, the method comprising:

receiving a media content stream containing the media content;

communicating the media content to a media presentation device;

analyzing the currently presenting media content to identify whether the media content is audio/visual content or audio-only content;

receiving a command from a remote control;

in response to receiving the command, performing a skip track forward operation that skips presentation from a currently presenting song to the beginning of a next song when the media content is identified as audio-only content; and

in response to receiving the command, performing a fast forward operation that presents the media content at a faster than normal speed when the media content is identified as audio/visual content.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising storing the received media content in a program buffer and communicating the media content stored in the program buffer to the media presentation device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the currently presenting media content to identify whether the media content is audio/visual content or audio-only content comprises analyzing at least one of the currently presenting media content and electronic program guide (EPG) information to identify one of a first characteristic and a second characteristic of the currently presenting media content, wherein the first characteristic is associated with audio/visual content and the second characteristic is associated with audio-only content, and determining, based on the identified one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic, whether the currently presenting media content provides audio/visual content or provides audio-only content, wherein the audio-only content comprises a series of a plurality of songs and limited visual content in the received media content.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the currently presenting media content provides audio/visual content or provides audio-only content comprises:

accessing electronic program guide information that has been stored on a memory of the media device,

wherein the EPG information includes a list of channels that are accessible by the media device, and

wherein for each one of the channels listed in the EPG information, each channel includes a descriptor that describes the media content that is currently in the stream of media content of that particular channel; and

analyzing the descriptor of a currently presenting channel listed in the EPG information to determine whether the currently received channel provides audio/visual content or provides audio-only content,

wherein the audio/visual content is determined when the descriptor corresponds to the first characteristic that is associated with audio/visual type media content, and

wherein the audio-only content is determined when the descriptor corresponds to the second characteristic that is associated with audio-only type media content.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining at least one of a beginning and an end for each of a plurality of songs based on metadata provided with the songs when the media device has determined that the currently presenting media content provides audio-only content.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the metadata provided with each song includes at least one of an artist's name, a song title, an album name, a song label, and a recording date, and wherein determining at least one of a beginning and an end for each of the plurality of songs comprises monitoring the metadata for changes to the at least one of an artist's name, a song title, an album name, a song label, and a recording date.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a second command from the remote control;

in response to receiving the second command, performing a skip track backward operation that skips presentation from a currently presenting song to the beginning of a previously received song when the media content is identified as audio-only content; and

in response to receiving the second command, performing a fast rewind operation that presents the media content in reverse at a faster than normal speed when the media content is identified as audio/visual content.