IP Library Granted Patent US 12,244,754
Granted Patent B2
US 12,244,754 · App. 18/657,600 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Interfaces and devices for dynamically-available media playback

Inventors: Taylor G Carrigan (San Francisco, CA); Jeffrey D. Tanner (Walnut Creek, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H04M1/72415G06F3/0482H04M1/72412H04M1/72454H04M1/72463
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,244,754
App. No.
18/657,600
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
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 (55)

1. A computer system that is in communication with a first external electronic device that satisfies a set of media playback hardware criteria, the computer system comprising:

a display generation component;

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:

displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface for configuring the first external electronic device for use with a device management application; and

while displaying the user interface for configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application:

in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device satisfies a set of selection criteria, displaying, via the display generation component, a user-interactive graphical user interface object that, when selected, configures the first external electronic device to be available for a first media playback function; and

in accordance with a determination that the external electronic device does not satisfy the set of selection criteria, forgo displaying, during the configuring of the first external electronic device for use with the device management application, the user-interactive graphical user interface object.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the set of selection criteria includes a first criterion that is based on a device type of the first external electronic device.

3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first external electronic device is associated with a location; and

the set of selection criteria includes a second criterion that is based on a second external electronic device that is associated with the location.

4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application and while the first external electronic device is not configured to be available for the first media playback function, receiving a first set of one or more inputs; and

in response to the first set of one or more inputs, configuring the first external electronic device to be available for the first media playback function.

5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application includes configuring the first external electronic device to be available for a second media playback function, different from the first media playback function.

6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first media playback function is selected from the group consisting of: audio media playback, phone call handling, audibly reading out a message and/or a text, outputting an audio digital assistant response; and a combination thereof.

7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while displaying the user-interactive graphical user interface object, receiving a second set of one or more inputs that includes an input corresponding to the user-interactive graphical user interface object; and

in response to receiving the second set of one or more inputs, configuring the first external electronic device to be available for the first media playback function.

8. 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 that is in communication with a display generation component and a first external electronic device that satisfies a set of media playback hardware criteria, the one or more programs including instructions for:

displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface for configuring the first external electronic device for use with a device management application; and

while displaying the user interface for configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application:

in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device satisfies a set of selection criteria, displaying, via the display generation component, a user-interactive graphical user interface object that, when selected, configures the first external electronic device to be available for a first media playback function; and

in accordance with a determination that the external electronic device does not satisfy the set of selection criteria, forgo displaying, during the configuring of the first external electronic device for use with the device management application, the user-interactive graphical user interface object.

9. A method comprising:

at a computer system that is in communication with a display generation component and a first external electronic device that satisfies a set of media playback hardware criteria:

displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface for configuring the first external electronic device for use with a device management application; and

while displaying the user interface for configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application:

in accordance with a determination that the first external electronic device satisfies a set of selection criteria, displaying, via the display generation component, a user-interactive graphical user interface object that, when selected, configures the first external electronic device to be available for a first media playback function; and

in accordance with a determination that the external electronic device does not satisfy the set of selection criteria, forgo displaying, during the configuring of the first external electronic device for use with the device management application, the user-interactive graphical user interface object.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the set of selection criteria includes a first criterion that is based on a device type of the first external electronic device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein:

the first external electronic device is associated with a location; and

the set of selection criteria includes a second criterion that is based on a second external electronic device that is associated with the location.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application and while the first external electronic device is not configured to be available for the first media playback function, receiving a first set of one or more inputs; and

in response to the first set of one or more inputs, configuring the first external electronic device to be available for the first media playback function.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application includes configuring the first external electronic device to be available for a second media playback function, different from the first media playback function.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first media playback function is selected from the group consisting of: audio media playback, phone call handling, audibly reading out a message and/or a text, outputting an audio digital assistant response; and a combination thereof.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

while displaying the user-interactive graphical user interface object, receiving a second set of one or more inputs that includes an input corresponding to the user-interactive graphical user interface object; and

in response to receiving the second set of one or more inputs, configuring the first external electronic device to be available for the first media playback function.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the set of selection criteria includes a first criterion that is based on a device type of the first external electronic device.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the first external electronic device is associated with a location; and

the set of selection criteria includes a second criterion that is based on a second external electronic device that is associated with the location.

18. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

after configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application and while the first external electronic device is not configured to be available for the first media playback function, receiving a first set of one or more inputs; and

in response to the first set of one or more inputs, configuring the first external electronic device to be available for the first media playback function.

19. The method of claim 9 , wherein configuring the first external electronic device for use with the device management application includes configuring the first external electronic device to be available for a second media playback function, different from the first media playback function.

20. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first media playback function is selected from the group consisting of: audio media playback, phone call handling, audibly reading out a message and/or a text, outputting an audio digital assistant response; and a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

while displaying the user-interactive graphical user interface object, receiving a second set of one or more inputs that includes an input corresponding to the user-interactive graphical user interface object; and

in response to receiving the second set of one or more inputs, configuring the first external electronic device to be available for the first media playback function.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 17579253 · Jan 19, 2022
Provisional Application 63197423 · Jun 6, 2021
Provisional Application 63175312 · Apr 15, 2021
Related Publication 20240291916A1 · Aug 29, 2024
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