IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,386,881
Granted Patent B2
US 12,386,881 · App. 18/608,122 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Synchronized shared playlists

Inventors: Arvind S. Shenoy (San Jose, CA); Thomas M. Alsina (Saratoga, CA); Paul C. Irvine (Mill Valley, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F16/4387G06F16/40H04N21/4305H04N21/4307H04N21/43076H04N21/43079H04N21/6587H04N21/8106H04N21/8113
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,386,881
App. No.
18/608,122
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to synchronized sharing of playlists from a source client device to a listening client device. To facilitate synchronized sharing, a current playlist of one or more tracks of digital content is obtained from the source client device. A current playback location within the currently playing playlist is also obtained from the source client device. A shared queue accessible by the listener client device is generated. Further, a shared queue context for the listener client device is identified based in part upon the current playback location. This enables the listener client device to start playback synchronized with the source client device.

Claims (35)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

causing, via a content presentation service, playback of a digital content stream via a playback device, in response to a command from a first electronic device coupled to the content presentation service;

receiving a second command to alter the playback of the digital content stream from a second electronic device different than the first electronic device; and

altering the playback of the digital content stream in accordance with the second command, wherein the playback device performs the playback of the digital content stream for both a first user of the first electronic device and a second user of the second electronic device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining whether the second electronic device is authorized to edit the playback of the digital content stream; and

altering the playback of the digital content stream in accordance with the second command only when the second electronic device is authorized to edit the playback of the digital content stream.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content presentation service comprises an application executing on the first electronic device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content presentation service comprises a service remote from the first electronic device that is configured to provide at least a portion of the digital content stream.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second command to alter the playback of the digital content stream comprises a command to add new content to the digital content stream.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the new content is added in a first-come-first serve manner where the new content is caused to be played back at a time later than digital content submitted for playback in the digital content stream prior to the new content.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the command to add new content to the digital content stream comprises a location indication where the new content should be played back; and

the computer-implemented method comprises causing playback of the new content in the digital content stream at the location.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second command to alter the playback of the digital content stream comprises a command to remove, duplicate, or both content from the digital content stream.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second command to alter the playback of the digital content stream comprises a command to pause, skip, seek, or any combination within the playback of the digital content stream.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the playback of the digital content stream is performed via a head unit.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the head unit provides output to both the first user of the first electronic device and the second user of the second electronic device.

12. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising computer-readable instructions, that when executed by one or more processors of one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to:

cause, via a content presentation service, playback of a digital content stream via a playback device, in response to a command from a first electronic device coupled to the content presentation service;

receive a second command to alter the playback of the digital content stream from a second electronic device different than the first electronic device; and

alter the playback of the digital content stream in accordance with the second command, wherein the playback device performs the playback of the digital content stream for both a first user of the first electronic device and a second user of the second electronic device.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , comprising computer-readable instructions, that when executed by the one or more processors of the one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to:

determine whether the second electronic device is authorized to edit the playback of the digital content stream; and

alter the playback of the digital content stream in accordance with the second command only when the second electronic device is authorized to edit the playback of the digital content stream.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the content presentation service comprises an application executing on the first electronic device, an application executing on a head unit that provides the playback, a service remote from the first electronic device that is configured to provide at least a portion of the digital content stream, or any combination thereof.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the second command to alter the playback of the digital content stream comprises a command to add new content to the digital content stream.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the new content is added in a first-come-first serve manner where the new content is caused to be played back at a time later than digital content submitted for playback in the digital content stream prior to the new content.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the command to add new content to the digital content stream comprises a location indication where the new content should be played back; and

the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises computer-readable instructions, that when executed by the one or more processors of the one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to cause playback of the new content in the digital content stream at the location.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the second command to alter the playback of the digital content stream comprises:

a command to remove, duplicate, or both content from the digital content stream;

a command to pause, skip, seek, or any combination within the playback of the digital content stream; or

any combination thereof.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the playback of the digital content stream is performed via a head unit.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the head unit provides output to both the first user of the first electronic device and the second user of the second electronic device.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 17706110 · Mar 28, 2022
Continuation 16426775 · May 30, 2019
Provisional Application 62679821 · Jun 3, 2018
Related Publication 20240346063A1 · Oct 17, 2024
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