U.S. patent application number 14/839440 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-17 for methods and devices for adjustment of the energy level of a played audio stream.
The applicant listed for this patent is SPOTIFY AB. Invention is credited to KIERAN DEL PASQUA, MILES LENNON, SOUHEIL MEDAGHRI ALAOUI.
Application Number | 20160335047 14/839440 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57277089 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160335047 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MEDAGHRI ALAOUI; SOUHEIL ;
et al. |
November 17, 2016 |
METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE ENERGY LEVEL OF A PLAYED
AUDIO STREAM
Abstract
This disclosure concerns the playback of audio, e.g. in the form
of music. More particularly, the disclosure concerns the playback
of streamed audio. In one example embodiment, there is a method of
operating an electronic device for playback of an audio stream.
While an audio stream is being played, for example at a user
interface of the electronic device, a first request to adjust an
energy level (e.g., a tempo) of the played audio stream is
received. In response to receiving the first request, the energy
level (e.g., the tempo) of the played audio stream is adjusted.
Inventors: |
MEDAGHRI ALAOUI; SOUHEIL;
(New York City, NY) ; LENNON; MILES; (New York
City, NY) ; DEL PASQUA; KIERAN; (New York City,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SPOTIFY AB |
Stockholm |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
57277089 |
Appl. No.: |
14/839440 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14714148 |
May 15, 2015 |
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14839440 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 65/60 20130101;
H04N 21/8113 20130101; H04N 21/47217 20130101; G06F 3/165 20130101;
H04N 21/6587 20130101; H04N 21/233 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/16 20060101
G06F003/16 |
Claims
1. A method of operating an electronic device for playback of an
audio stream, the method comprising: while an audio stream is being
played at an electronic device, as a played audio stream,
displaying a visual array of selectable user preference options at
a user interface of the electronic device, wherein each of the
selectable user preference options is associated with a predefined
energy level indicative of at least one of an intensity or tempo of
an audio stream to be played; receiving, as a selected user
preference option, a first request to adjust an energy level of the
played audio stream in accordance with a user preference; and in
response to receiving the first request, adjusting the energy level
including the at least one of an intensity or tempo of the played
audio stream in dependence of the user preference, while the audio
stream is being provided to the electronic device, including
sending a data message to a computer server system, the data
message comprising information about the selected user preference
option and energy level associated with the selected user
preference option, which information is used by the computer server
to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream being provided
to the electronic device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the energy level of the
played audio stream in dependence of the user preference comprises:
sending the data message including an instruction to the computer
server system to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream
that is being played; in response thereto receiving the audio
stream with a manipulated energy level.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: playing the audio
stream with the manipulated energy level.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising: displaying the visual array
of selectable user preference options at the user interface,
wherein each selectable user preference option is associated with a
respective mood and wherein each selectable user preference option
is further associated with a predefined energy level; and receiving
an instruction to select one of the selectable user preference
options; wherein adjusting the energy level of the played audio
stream is performed in response to receiving the instruction to
select one of the selectable user preference options.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the energy level of the
audio stream comprises: sending the data message to the computer
server system, the data message comprising a) information about a
selected user preference option, b) information about the energy
level associated with the selected user preference option, and c)
an instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream
that is being played in accordance with the energy level associated
with the selected user preference option; and in response thereto
receiving the audio stream with the manipulated energy level.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: playing the audio
stream with the manipulated energy level.
7. A method of adjusting an energy level of an audio stream, the
method being performed by a computer server system including one or
several computer servers and the method comprising: while an audio
stream is being provided to an electronic device, as a played audio
stream, receiving, as a selected user preference option, a data
message including an instruction from an electronic device to
manipulate the energy level of an audio stream that is being played
indicative of at least one of an intensity or tempo of the audio
stream, the data message comprising information about the selected
user preference option and energy level associated with the
selected user preference option; manipulating the energy level, in
response to the information received, of the at least one of an
intensity or tempo of said audio stream while the audio stream is
being provided to the electronic device; and in response thereto,
streaming said audio stream with the manipulated energy level to
the electronic device.
8. The method of claim 7, comprising: receiving the data message
from the electronic device, the data message comprising a)
information about a selected user preference option, b) information
about the energy level associated with the selected user preference
option, and c) an instruction to manipulate the energy level of the
audio stream that is being played in accordance with the energy
level associated with the selected user preference option; wherein
manipulating the energy level of said audio stream comprises
manipulating the energy level to correspond to said energy level
associated with the selected user preference option.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein manipulating the energy level of
said audio stream comprises: performing an acoustic analysis of the
audio stream being played to determine an energy level parameter
associated with the audio stream being played; manipulating the
determined energy level parameter to give the audio stream being
played a different energy level parameter associated with a
different energy level.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein performing an acoustic analysis
of the audio stream being played further comprises: sensing, or
otherwise determining, one or several acoustical parameters
associated with the audio stream being played; determining the
energy level parameter on the basis of said sensed, or otherwise
determined, acoustical parameters.
11. An electronic device for playback of an audio stream, the
electronic device comprising: a user interface; a processor; and a
memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the
processor causes the electronic device to, while an audio stream is
being played at an electronic device, as a played audio stream:
display a visual array of selectable user preference options at a
user interface of the electronic device, wherein each of the
selectable user preference options is associated with a predefined
energy level indicative of at least one of an intensity or tempo of
an audio stream to be played; receive, as a selected user
preference option, a first request to adjust an energy level of the
played audio stream in accordance with a user preference; and in
response to receiving the first request, adjust the energy level
including the at least one of an intensity or tempo of the played
audio stream in dependence of the user preference, while the audio
stream is being provided to the electronic device, including
sending a data message to a computer server system, the data
message comprising information about the selected user preference
option and energy level associated with the selected user
preference option, which information is used by the computer server
to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream currently being
provided to the electronic device.
12. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising: a
transmitter, and a receiver, and wherein the memory stores computer
program code, which, when run in the processor causes the
electronic device to: send, by means of the transmitter, the data
message including an instruction to the computer server system to
manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that is being
played; and receive, by means of the receiver, the audio stream
with a manipulated energy level.
13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the memory stores
computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the
electronic device to: play the audio stream with the manipulated
energy level.
14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the memory stores
computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the
electronic device to: display, at the user interface, a visual
array of selectable user preference options, wherein each
selectable user preference option is associated with a respective
mood and wherein each selectable user preference option is further
associated with a predefined energy level; and receive an
instruction to select one of the selectable user preference
options; wherein adjusting the energy level of the played audio
stream is performed in response to receiving the instruction to
select one of the selectable user preference options.
15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the memory stores
computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the
electronic device to: send, by means of the transmitter, the data
message to the computer server system, the data message comprising
a) information about a selected user preference option, b)
information about the energy level associated with the selected
user preference option, and c) an instruction to manipulate the
energy level of the audio stream that is being played in accordance
with the energy level associated with the selected user preference
option; and receive, by means of the receiver, the audio stream
with the manipulated energy level.
16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the memory stores
computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the
electronic device to: play the audio stream with the manipulated
energy level.
17. A computer server system including one or several computer
servers for adjusting an energy level of an audio stream, the
computer server system comprising: at least one communications
interface including a transmitter and a receiver; at least one
processor; and at least one memory storing computer program code,
which, when run in the at least one processor causes the computer
server system to: while an audio stream is being provided to an
electronic device, as a played audio stream, receive, by means of
the communications interface, as a selected user preference option,
a data message including an instruction from an electronic device
to manipulate the energy level of an audio stream that is being
played indicative of at least one of an intensity or tempo of the
audio stream, the data message comprising information about the
selected user preference option and energy level associated with
the selected user preference option; manipulate the energy level,
in response to the information received, of the at least one of an
intensity or tempo of said audio stream while the audio stream is
being provided to the electronic device; and in response thereto,
stream, by means of the communications interface, said audio stream
with the manipulated energy level to the electronic device.
18. The computer server system of claim 17, wherein the at least
one memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the at
least one processor causes the computer server system to: receive,
by means of the communications interface, the data message from the
electronic device, the data message comprising a) information about
a selected user preference option, b) information about the energy
level associated with the selected user preference option, and c)
an instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream
that is being played in accordance with the energy level associated
with the selected user preference option; wherein manipulating the
energy level of said audio stream comprises manipulating the energy
level to correspond to said energy level associated with the
selected user preference option.
19. The computer server system of claim 17, wherein the at least
one memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the at
least one processor causes the computer server system to: perform
an acoustic analysis of the audio stream being played to determine
an energy level parameter associated with the audio stream being
played; manipulate the determined energy level parameter to give
the audio stream being played a different energy level parameter
associated with a different energy level.
20. The computer server system of claim 19, wherein the at least
one memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the at
least one processor causes the computer server system to: sense, or
otherwise determine, one or several acoustical parameters
associated with the audio stream being played; determine the energy
level parameter on the basis of said sensed, or otherwise
determined, acoustical parameters.
21. (canceled)
22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including
instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by one or
more electronic devices cause the one or more electronic devices to
perform a method comprising: while an audio stream is being played
at an electronic device, as a played audio stream, displaying a
visual array of selectable user preference options at a user
interface of the electronic device, wherein each of the selectable
user preference options is associated with a predefined energy
level indicative of at least one of an intensity or tempo of an
audio stream to be played; receiving, as a selected user preference
option, a first request to adjust an energy level of the played
audio stream in accordance with a user preference; and in response
to receiving the first request, adjusting the energy level
including the at least one of an intensity or tempo of the played
audio stream in dependence of the user preference, while the audio
stream is being provided to the electronic device, including
sending a data message to a computer server system, the data
message comprising information about the selected user preference
option and energy level associated with the selected user
preference option, which information is used by the computer server
to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream being provided
to the electronic device.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/714,148, titled "METHODS AND
DEVICES FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE ENERGY LEVEL OF A PLAYED AUDIO
STREAM", filed May 15, 2015, which application is herein
incorporated by reference.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to the providing of
media, and more particularly to the streaming of media. In
particular, the embodiments described herein relate to methods and
electronic devices for playback of an audio stream, e.g. in the
form of music.
BACKGROUND
[0004] As computer technology has improved, the digital media
industry has evolved greatly in recent years. Users are able to use
electronic devices such as mobile communication devices (e.g.,
cellular telephones, smart phones, tab let computers, etc.) to
consume music, video and other forms of media content. For
instance, users can listen to audio content (e.g., music) and/or
watch video content (e.g., movies, television (TV) broadcasts,
etc.) on a variety of electronic devices.
[0005] At the same time, advances in network technology have
increased the speed and reliability with which information can be
transmitted over computer networks. It is therefore possible for
users to stream media content over computer networks as needed, or
on demand, rather than receiving a complete file in physical media
(such as a CD or a DVD, or downloading the entire file) before
consuming the media content.
[0006] At social gatherings, users often wish to share media
content with friends, relatives, and new acquaintances. For
example, a party host may access media content on a portable
electronic device, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer, and
present media content through a media presentation system (e.g.,
play music on one or several speakers or stream video on a
screen).
SUMMARY
[0007] It is in view of the above considerations and others that
the various embodiments disclosed herein have been made.
[0008] It is a general object of the embodiments described herein
to allow for an improved way of controlling playback of media, such
as music, e.g. at social gatherings.
[0009] This general object has been addressed by the appended
independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the
appended dependent claims.
[0010] In a first of its aspects, this disclosure concerns a method
of operating an electronic device for playback of an audio stream.
While an audio stream is being played (e.g., at a user interface of
the electronic device, or alternatively through loudspeaker(s) that
is/are remotely controlled by the electronic device), a first
request to adjust an energy level of the played audio stream in
accordance with a user preference is received. In response to
receiving this first request, the energy level of the played audio
stream is adjusted in dependence of the user preference.
[0011] In some embodiments, the energy level of the played audio
stream is indicative of an intensity of the played audio stream. In
one advantageous embodiment, the energy level of the played audio
stream is indicative of a tempo of the played audio stream. The
tempo of the played audio stream may be defined as the speed, or
pace, at which the audio stream is being played. For example, the
tempo may be measured in Beats Per Minute (BPM).
[0012] According to some embodiments, adjusting the energy level of
the played audio stream in dependence of the user preference may
comprise sending a data message including an instruction to a
computer server system to manipulate the energy level of the audio
stream that is being played; and in response thereto receiving the
audio stream with a manipulated energy level. Furthermore, the
method may comprise playing the audio stream with the manipulated
energy level.
[0013] In some advantageous embodiments, the method additionally
comprises displaying a visual array of selectable user preference
options at the user interface, wherein each selectable user
preference option is associated with a respective mood and wherein
each selectable user preference option is further associated with a
predefined energy level. The method may comprise receiving an
instruction to select one of the selectable user preference
options. Adjusting the energy level of the played audio stream may
hence be performed, or carried out, in response to receiving the
instruction to select one of the selectable user preference
options.
[0014] For example, adjusting the energy level of the audio stream
may include: sending a data message to a computer server system,
the data message comprising a) information about a selected user
preference option, b) information about the energy level associated
with the selected user preference option, and c) an instruction to
manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that is being
played in accordance with the energy level associated with the
selected user preference option; and in response thereto receiving
the audio stream with the manipulated energy level.
[0015] In a second of its aspects, this disclosure concerns a
method of adjusting an energy level of an audio stream. The method
is performed by a computer server system including one or several
computer servers. The method comprises: receiving, from an
electronic device, a data message including an instruction to
manipulate the energy level of an audio stream that is being
played; manipulating the energy level of said audio stream; and in
response thereto streaming, or otherwise communicating, said audio
stream with the manipulated energy level to the electronic
device.
[0016] In some embodiments, the energy level of the audio stream
that is being played is indicative of an intensity of the audio
stream. In one advantageous embodiment, the energy level of the
audio stream that is being played is indicative of a tempo of the
audio stream. The tempo of the audio stream that is being played
may be defined as the speed, or pace, at which the audio stream is
being played. For example, the tempo may be measured in Beats Per
Minute (BPM).
[0017] In one embodiment, the method may also comprise receiving a
data message from the electronic device, wherein the data message
comprises a) information about a selected user preference option,
b) information about the energy level associated with the selected
user preference option, and c) an instruction to manipulate the
energy level of the audio stream that is being played in accordance
with the energy level associated with the selected user preference
option. Manipulating the energy level of said audio stream may
hence comprise manipulating the energy level to correspond to said
energy level associated with the selected user preference
option.
[0018] In some embodiments, manipulating the energy level of said
audio stream may comprise performing an acoustic analysis of the
audio stream being played to determine an energy level parameter
associated with the audio stream being played; and manipulating the
determined energy level parameter to give the audio stream being
played a different energy level parameter associated with a
different energy level. For example, performing the acoustic
analysis of the audio stream being played may further comprise
sensing, or otherwise determining, one or several acoustical
parameters associated with the audio stream being played; and
determining the energy level parameter on the basis of said sensed,
or otherwise determined, acoustical parameters.
[0019] In a third of its aspects, this disclosure concerns an
electronic device for playback of an audio stream. The electronic
device comprises a user interface, a processor and a memory. The
electronic device may also comprise a transmitter and a receiver,
or alternatively a transceiver.
[0020] In one embodiment, the memory stores computer program code,
which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to,
while an audio stream is being played: receive a first request to
adjust an energy level of the played audio stream in accordance
with a user preference, and in response to receiving the first
request, adjust the energy level of the played audio stream in
dependence of the user preference.
[0021] In some embodiments, the energy level of the played audio
stream is indicative of an intensity of the played audio stream. In
one advantageous embodiment, the energy level of the played audio
stream is indicative of a tempo of the played audio stream. The
tempo of the played audio stream may be defined as the speed, or
pace, at which the audio stream is being played. For example, the
tempo may be measured in Beats Per Minute (BPM).
[0022] In some embodiments, the memory stores computer program
code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device
to: send, by means of the transmitter, a data message including an
instruction to a computer server system to manipulate the energy
level of the audio stream that is being played; and receive, by
means of the receiver, the audio stream with a manipulated energy
level.
[0023] For instance, the memory may also store computer program
code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device
to play the audio stream with the manipulated energy level at the
user interface.
[0024] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the memory stores computer
program code, which, when run in the processor causes the
electronic device to: display, at the user interface, a visual
array of selectable user preference options, wherein each
selectable user preference option is associated with a respective
mood and wherein each selectable user preference option is further
associated with a predefined energy level; and receive an
instruction to select one of the selectable user preference
options; wherein adjusting the energy level of the played audio
stream is performed in response to receiving the instruction to
select one of the selectable user preference options. For example,
in one embodiment, the memory may also store computer program code,
which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
send, by means of the transmitter, a data message to a computer
server system, the data message comprising a) information about a
selected user preference option, b) information about the energy
level associated with the selected user preference option, and c)
an instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream
that is being played in accordance with the energy level associated
with the selected user preference option; and receive, by means of
the receiver, the audio stream with the manipulated energy
level.
[0025] In a fourth of its aspects, this disclosure concerns a
computer server system including one or several computer servers
for adjusting an energy level of an audio stream. The computer
server system may comprise at least one communications interface
including a transmitter and a receiver (or, alternatively, a
transceiver), at least one processor, and at least one memory.
[0026] In one embodiment, the at least one memory stores computer
program code, which, when run in the at least one processor causes
the computer server system to: receive, by means of the
communications interface, a data message including an instruction
from an electronic device to manipulate the energy level of an
audio stream that is being played; manipulate the energy level of
said audio stream; an in response thereto stream, by means of the
communications interface, said audio stream with the manipulated
energy level to the electronic device.
[0027] In one embodiment, the at least one memory stores computer
program code, which, when run in the at least one processor causes
the computer server system to: receive, by means of the
communications interface, a data message from the electronic
device, the data message comprising a) information about a selected
user preference option, b) information about the energy level
associated with the selected user preference option, and c) an
instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that
is being played in accordance with the energy level associated with
the selected user preference option; wherein manipulating the
energy level of said audio stream comprises manipulating the energy
level to correspond to said energy level associated with the
selected user preference option.
[0028] For example, in accordance with one embodiment, the at least
one memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the at
least one processor causes the computer server system to: perform
an acoustic analysis of the audio stream being played to determine
an energy level parameter associated with the audio stream being
played; and manipulate the determined energy level parameter to
give the audio stream being played a different energy level
parameter associated with a different energy level. In one
embodiment, the at least one memory may further store computer
program code, which, when run in the at least one processor causes
the computer server system to: sense, or otherwise determine, one
or several acoustical parameters of the audio stream being played;
and determine the energy level parameter on the basis of said
sensed, or otherwise determined, acoustical parameters.
[0029] In a fifth of its aspects, this disclosure concerns a
computer program, comprising instructions which, when executed on
at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry
out the method according to first aspect. A carrier comprising the
computer program according to the fifth aspect may also be
provided. The carrier may for example be one of an electronic
signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable
storage medium.
[0030] In a sixth of its aspects, this disclosure concerns a
computer program, comprising instructions which, when executed on
at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry
out the method according to second aspect. A carrier comprising the
computer program according to the sixth aspect may also be
provided. The carrier may for example be one of an electronic
signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable
storage medium.
[0031] Various embodiments described herein allow a user of an
electronic device to dynamically control the energy level (e.g.,
the tempo) of a played audio stream (e.g., a song) on the basis of
a user preference. In some advantageous embodiments, the user
preference includes a mood. Thus, in one example scenario, a party
host (i.e., a user) may dynamically control the tempo of currently
played songs on the basis of the current mood of the people at a
social gathering such as at a party. This may improve the
experience of social gatherings such as parties. According to some
embodiments, it may also be possible to influence the mood of
people at a social gathering. For example, if a party host wishes
to change the mood of the people at a social gathering, he or she
may in some embodiments select a mood option to adjust the energy
level of the played songs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] These and other aspects, features and advantages will be
apparent and elucidated from the following description of various
embodiments, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an
exemplary media content delivery system in accordance with some
embodiments;
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of a system for
playback of audio streams, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0035] FIGS. 3A-3C schematically illustrates an example embodiment
of a user interface of an electronic device, e.g. in the form of a
smart phone, which supports playback of an audio stream and
simultaneous dynamic control of an energy level of the audio
stream;
[0036] FIGS. 4A-4F schematically illustrates an example embodiment
of a user interface of an electronic device, e.g. in the form of a
smart phone, which supports playback of an audio stream and
simultaneous dynamic control of an energy level of the audio
stream;
[0037] FIGS. 5A-5B schematically illustrate flowcharts of a method
in accordance with an embodiment;
[0038] FIGS. 6A-6B schematically illustrate flowcharts of a method
in accordance with an embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 7A-7C schematically illustrate flowcharts of a method
in accordance with an embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates a carrier comprising a computer program,
in accordance with an embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 9 illustrates a carrier comprising a computer program,
in accordance with an embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 10 illustrates an example implementation of an
embodiment of an electronic device as illustrated in any one of
FIGS. 1-4; and
[0043] FIG. 11 illustrates an example implementation of an
embodiment of an electronic device as illustrated in any one of
FIGS. 1-2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] The present invention will now be described more fully
hereinafter. The invention may, however, be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are
provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough
and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to
those persons skilled in the art. Like reference numbers refer to
like elements or method steps throughout the description.
[0045] As described earlier, some existing solutions for playback
of audio streams, e.g. songs, may be inadequate. It is therefore a
general object of the embodiments described herein to allow for an
improved playback of audio streams.
[0046] To address this, in accordance with an embodiment, described
herein are a method and an electronic device for playback of an
audio stream. While an audio stream is being played, a first
request to adjust an energy level of the played audio stream in
accordance with a user preference (e.g., a mood) is received.
Furthermore, in response to receiving this first request, the
energy level of the played audio stream is adjusted, or otherwise
changed, in dependence of the user preference.
[0047] This way, it is made possible to enable a user of an
electronic device to dynamically control the energy level (e.g., a
tempo) of the played audio streams (e.g., songs) in real time and
on the basis of a user preference. Thus, in one example scenario, a
party host may dynamically control the tempo (e.g., in terms of the
BPM) of played songs on the basis of the current mood of the people
at a social gathering such as a party. This may improve the
experience of social gatherings, such as parties.
[0048] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary media
content delivery system 100 in accordance with some embodiments.
The media content delivery 100 may comprise one or several
electronic devices 200 (e.g., electronic device 200-1 and
electronic device 200-2), one or more computer servers 300 (e.g.,
media content servers also known as media servers), and one or more
media presentation systems (e.g., media presentation systems 500
including speaker(s) 500-1, television (TV) 500-2, Digital
Versatile Disk (DVD) 500-3, and/or other media presentation system
500-n).
[0049] In some embodiments, the electronic device 200 may be a
mobile telephone, such as a smart phone. Alternatively, the
electronic device 200 may be a tablet computer. In yet other
embodiments, the electronic device 200 may be any other electronic
device capable of playback of media content such as, for example,
one of the electronic devices of the following group: a personal
computer, a laptop, and a mobile electronic device (e.g. a handheld
entertainment device, a digital media player, or other media
device).
[0050] One or several networks (e.g., network(s) 400) may
communicatively connect each component of the media content
delivery system 100 with other components of the media content
delivery system 100. The network(s) 400 may include public
communications networks, private communication networks or a
combination of both public and private communication networks. For
example, the networks(s) may include any network(s) such as the
Internet, other wide area networks (WAN), local area networks
(LAN), virtual private networks (VPN), metropolitan area networks
(MAN), peer-to-peer networks, and/or ad-hoc networks.
[0051] In some embodiments, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, the
electronic device 200 (e.g., the electronic device 200-1) is
capable of remotely controlling one or more of the media
presentation systems 500. To this end, the electronic device 200
may for example implement, or otherwise utilize, any of the
techniques described in the international patent application
PCT/IB2013/001938 (published under WO 2014/001913 A2) or in U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0006483 A1, each of which
are herein incorporated by reference. For example, it is possible
for a user of the electronic device 200 (e.g., the electronic
device 200-1 in this example) to remotely control the presentation
of media at any one or a combination of the media presentation
systems 500. In order to give context to the embodiments described
throughout this disclosure, the international patent application
PCT/IB2013/001938 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2014/0006483 A1 is are incorporated herein by reference. More
specifically, the electronic device 200-1 may receive a media
control command for a media presentation system 500 (e.g.
speaker(s) 500-1). In response to receiving this media control
command, the electronic device 200-1 may send a server media
control request to the computer server 300 and a local media
control request to the media presentation system 500, which may
located be within the same local network, e.g. a LAN, as the
electronic device 200-1 (i.e., a local network to which both the
electronic device 200-1 and the media presentation system 500 are
connected). The server media control request may e.g. be sent to
the computer server 300 over the Internet. Typically, but not
necessarily, the computer server 300 may be associated with an
Internet Protocol (IP) address outside the space of the local
network to which both the electronic device 200-1 and the media
presentation system 500 are connected. As will be appreciated, the
electronic device 200-1 and the media presentation system 500 are
thus associated with IP addresses within the same sub network. The
electronic device 200-1 can thus provide a user interface 230 (see
e.g. FIG. 2) that allows a user 600 to select media content for
presentation by the electronic device 200-1 itself and, also, to
generate media control request(s) to cause the media content to be
presented, or played, by the media presentation system 500.
Furthermore, the server media request and the local media request
are both configured to cause a media control operation, performed
at the electronic device 200-1, to be implemented at the media
presentation system 500.
[0052] In an example scenario related to a social gathering, a host
(i.e., a user) may thus interact with his or her electronic device
200-1 to remotely control the playback of media content at the
media presentation system 500, e.g. the playback of audio streams
(e.g., songs) through loudspeakers(s) 500-1. This way, it is for
example possible for a party host (i.e., the user) to control the
playback of music that is being played at a social gathering, such
as a party.
[0053] Turning now to FIG. 2, an example environment where
embodiments of this disclosure may be applied will be described. An
electronic device 200, e.g. electronic device 200-1 of FIG. 1, may
be communicatively connectable to the computer server 300 via the
network 400, e.g. the Internet, as described hereinabove. As can be
seen in FIG. 2, only a single electronic device 200 and a single
computer server 300 are shown. However, the computer server 300 may
support the simultaneous use of multiple electronic devices, and/or
the electronic device 200 can simultaneously access media content
at multiple computer servers 300. Although FIG. 2 illustrates the
computer server 300 in accordance with one example embodiment, FIG.
2 is intended more as a functional description of the various
features, or components, which may be present in one or more
computer servers, rather than a structural schematic of the various
implementations described throughout this disclosure. In practice,
and as recognized by persons skilled in the art, components shown
separately could be combined and some components could be
separated.
[0054] In the following description and in order not to obscure the
detailed description with unnecessary detail, the media content
will in general be exemplified to be audio content, e.g. in form of
music. This should, however, not be interpreted as limiting the
scope of the various embodiments of the disclosed embodiments.
[0055] As is schematically shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device
200 may be used for the playback of media content (e.g., audio
content such as music), which is provided by the computer server
300. The electronic device 200 may include one or several physical
computer resources, or hardware resources 210. The hardware
resources 210 may e.g. include one or several processors (or,
processing circuitry), a communications interface (or,
communication circuitry) and one or several memories. Likewise, the
computer server 300 operating as a media server may include one or
several physical computer resources, or hardware resources 316. The
hardware resources 316 may likewise include one or several
processors (or, processing circuitry), a communications interface
(or, communication circuitry) and one or several memories.
[0056] The computer server 300 may include an operating system or
other processing system which supports execution of a software
application 310, including a media server application 312 which may
be used, for example, to stream media content. A media stream
service 320 may be used to buffer media content, for streaming to
one or more media streams 322, 324, 326. A media application
interface 314 may receive requests from electronic devices 200 or
other systems, to retrieve media content 331 from the computer
server 300.
[0057] Media content 331, or media items, may be provided, for
example, within a first storage such as a memory (e.g., including a
database), or may be received by the computer server 300 from
another source (not shown). This another source (not shown) could
be external to the computer server 300, i.e. it may be located
remotely from the computer server 300.
[0058] A media streaming logic 330 may be used to retrieve or
otherwise access the media content 331 in response to requests from
electronic devices 200 or other systems, and populate the media
stream service with streams 322, 324, 326 of corresponding media
content data 323, 325, 327 that may be returned, i.e. streamed, to
the requesting electronic device 200.
[0059] The electronic device 200 comprises a user interface 230,
which is adapted to display or otherwise provide a visual array of
media options 232, for example as a two-dimensional grid, a list,
or other visual array format, and determine a user input. Each
media option in the visual array of media options 232 correspond to
a respective media stream 322, 324, 326.
[0060] Selecting a particular media option within the visual array
232 may in some embodiments be used, or otherwise interpreted, as a
request or instruction to the media server application 312 to
stream or otherwise return a corresponding particular media content
item. For example, in accordance with some embodiments, the
software application 310 at the computer server 300 may be used to
stream or otherwise communicate media content to the electronic
device 200, wherein the user interface 230 at the electronic device
200 is adapted to display a plurality of media options that
correspond to respective media streams.
[0061] In accordance with some embodiments, the electronic device
200 may also include a media playback application 220, together
with a playback logic 222, pre-buffering logic 145, and a volume
function 146, which may be used to control the playback of media
content that is received from the media server application 312, for
playback by the electronic device 200, as described in further
detail below
[0062] A user 600 may interact 11 with the user interface 230 and
issue requests, for example the playing of a selected media option
at the electronic device 200. The user's selection of a particular
media option may be communicated 12 to the media server application
312, via the media application interface 314. The media server
application 312 may then be instructed 13 to stream corresponding
media content 13, including one or more streams of media content
data 323, 325, 327, and subsequently stream 14 or otherwise
communicate the selected media to the user's electronic device 200.
In accordance with some embodiments, pre-buffering requests from
the electronic device 200 may also be communicated 12 to the media
server application 312 via the media application interface 314. At
the electronic device 200, in response to the user's interaction
with the user interface 230, the media playback application 220,
including the playback logic 222, may play 10 the requested media
content to the user 600.
[0063] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate an electronic device 200 which
supports playback of audio streams. The electronic device 200
typically comprises a user interface 230 as described earlier with
reference to FIG. 2. The user interface 230 typically includes
output device(s) and input device(s), as is known and conventional
in the art. In some implementations, the input devices may include
a keyboard, a mouse or a track pad. Alternatively, or in addition,
in some implementations, the user interface 230 includes a display
that includes a touch-sensitive surface, in which case the display
is a touch-sensitive display. In electronic devices 200 that have a
touch-sensitive display, a soft keyboard may be displayed when
keyboard entry is needed. A soft keyboard is a keyboard that
replaces the physical keyboard on electronic devices 200 having
touch-sensitive displays. Hence, in electronic devices 200 that
have a touch-sensitive display a physical keyboard is optional. The
output devices may for example include one or more speakers and/or
one or more audio output connections for connection to external
speaker(s), headphones or earphones. Optionally, the input devices
may further include an audio input device (e.g., a microphone) to
capture audio (e.g., speech). Still further, the input devices may
also optionally comprise audio recognition device(s) to recognize
audio (e.g., speech), which in combination with a microphone, may
for example supplement or replace the keyboard.
[0064] In an embodiment, such as in the example embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 3A, the user interface 230 includes a display
that comprises a touch-sensitive surface. An exemplary user
interface 230 of the electronic device 200 is hence schematically
illustrated in FIG. 3A. Certain information 234 may be displayed at
the user interface 230. In this example embodiment, this
information 234 serves the sole purpose of guiding the user 600
when operating the electronic device 200, e.g., to make a
subsequent user selection. For example, the user 600 may be
presented with information 234 telling the user 600 that it is
Saturday and that it is 8 pm. Furthermore, the textual information
"Tell us your situation. We'll make it a music moment" indicates to
the user 600 that he or she is expected to make a selection from
the list of selectable user preference options A (701), B (702), C
(703), D (704) and E (705).
[0065] To this end, a visual array of one or several selectable
user preference options A (701), B (702), C (703), D (704) and E
(705) is displayed at the user interface 230. Each selectable user
preference option A (701), B (702), C (703), D (704) and E (705) is
associated with a respective mood, i.e. an emotional state. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the different moods are exemplified by
the following mood examples: "I'm having a party", "Hanging out
with friends", "Road trip", "Party". It should be appreciated that
other mood examples are also conceivable, and thus, displayable.
For example, other mood examples include but are not limited to:
"Happy", "Calm", "Energetic", and "Depressed", etc. Furthermore,
each selectable user preference option A (701), B (702), C (703), D
(704) and E (705) is further associated with a predefined energy
level. Typically, but not necessarily, positive moods may be
associated with higher energy levels as compared with negative
moods. Or said differently, negative moods may be associated with
lower energy levels as compared with positive moods.
[0066] In the following, it should be assumed that an audio stream
is being played. For example, a user 600 may listen to the thus
played audio stream through one or more loudspeakers of the user
interface 230 of the electronic device 200. Alternatively, or in
addition to, the user 600 may operate the electronic device 200 to
remotely control external loudspeaker(s) 500-1 as described earlier
such that the user and others may listen to the played audio stream
through loudspeaker(s) 500-1, e.g. at a social gathering.
[0067] Turning now to FIG. 3B, a user 600 may e.g. perform a first
control gesture. The first control gesture may for example be a
hovering gesture (e.g., by the user's finger or by means of a
stylus) over the display area of the display of the user interface
230 to approach, and eventually reach, the display area of a
desired selectable user preference option (in this example user
preference option D (704), i.e. "Party").
[0068] As can be seen in FIGS. 3B and 3C, upon reaching the display
area corresponding to the desired user preference option, i.e. user
preference option D (704) in this example, the user 600 may further
perform another, i.e. second, control gesture. For example, the
second control gesture may be a press gesture or tap gesture within
the display area corresponding to the desired user preference
option. This press gesture or tap gesture within the display area
corresponding to the desired user preference option may be
interpreted by the electronic device 200 to be a request, or
instruction, to select the thus pressed, or tapped, user preference
option (i.e., user preference option D (704) "Party" in this
example). In this embodiment, the above-mentioned press gesture or
tap gesture may be interpreted by the electronic device 200 to be a
request, or instruction, to adjust an energy level of a currently
played audio stream in accordance with the selected user preference
option. In response to receiving this request, the electronic
device 200 can adjust the energy level of a currently played audio
stream in dependence of the selected user preference option. In
other words, the electronic device 200 receives a request, or
instruction, to select one of the selectable user preference
options (i.e., user preference option D (704), i.e. "Party" in this
example). The energy level of the played audio stream is then
adjusted in response to receiving this request, or instruction.
[0069] In some embodiments, adjusting the energy level of the
currently played audio stream comprises the electronic device 200
sending a data message to the computer server system 300 (see FIG.
2). This data message may comprise i) information about the
selected user preference option (i.e., user preference option D
(704), i.e. "Party" in this example), ii) information about the
energy level associated with the selected user preference option,
and iii) an instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio
stream that is being played in accordance with the energy level
associated with the selected user preference option. Accordingly,
the computer server system 300 may be configured to receive a data
message including an instruction from an electronic device 200 to
manipulate the energy level of an audio stream that is being
played, e.g. by the electronic device 200. Furthermore, the
computer server system 300 may be configured to manipulate the
energy level of said audio stream, and in response thereto stream,
or otherwise communicate, said audio stream with the manipulated
energy level to the electronic device 200. Accordingly, the
electronic device 200 is configured to receive the audio stream
with the thus manipulated energy level. In some embodiments, the
above-mentioned received data message comprises i) information
about a selected user preference option (i.e., user preference
option D (704), i.e. "Party" in this example), ii) information
about the energy level associated with the selected user preference
option, and iii) an instruction to manipulate the energy level of
the audio stream that is being played in accordance with the energy
level associated with the selected user preference option. Thus,
the step, or action, of manipulating the energy level of said audio
stream may comprise manipulating the energy level to correspond to
the energy level, which is associated with the selected user
preference option. In some embodiments, upon receiving the data
message including the instruction from the electronic device 200 to
manipulate the energy level of an audio stream that is being played
200, the computer server system 300 may perform an acoustic
analysis of the audio stream being played to determine an energy
level parameter associated with the audio stream being played and
manipulate the determined energy level parameter to give the audio
stream being played a different energy level parameter associated
with a different energy level. For example, in one embodiment,
performing this acoustic analysis of the audio stream being played
may further comprise sensing, or otherwise determining, one or
several acoustical parameters associated with the audio stream
being played and determining the energy level parameter on the
basis of said sensed, or otherwise determined, acoustical
parameters.
[0070] In the embodiments described with reference to FIG. 3A-3C,
the energy level of the played audio stream is indicative of an
intensity of the played audio stream. For example, the energy level
of the played audio stream may be indicative of a tempo of the
played audio stream. The tempo of the played audio stream may be
defined as the speed, or pace, at which the audio stream is being
played. For example, the tempo may be measured in Beats Per Minute
(BPM). Hence, the embodiments described with reference to FIG.
3A-3C may allow for adjustments of the tempo of currently played
songs.
[0071] The embodiments described with reference to FIG. 3A-3C may
allow for an improved playback of streamed audio, e.g. at social
gatherings such as parties. The embodiments described with
reference to FIGS. 3A-3C may for example allow for a user of the
electronic device 200 to dynamically control the energy level
(e.g., a tempo) of streamed audio (e.g., a song) that is being
played based on a user preference such as a mood, i.e. an emotional
state. Thus, in one example scenario, a party host (i.e., the user)
may dynamically control the tempo of currently played songs on the
basis of the current mood of the people at the party. This may
improve the experience of the people at social gatherings such as
parties.
[0072] With further reference to FIGS. 4A-4F, another example
embodiment will now be described. This embodiment is similar to the
embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 3A-3C. Similar to the
embodiment in FIGS. 3A-3C, certain information 234 may be displayed
at the user interface 230. This information 234 may for example
serve the sole purpose of guiding the user 600 when operating the
electronic device 200, e.g., to make a user selection.
[0073] For example, as can be seen in FIG. 4A, the user may be
presented with information 234 that it is Friday night.
Furthermore, the textual information "Tell us your situation. We'll
make it a music moment" indicates to the user 600 that he or she is
expected to make a selection from the list of selectable user
preference options A (701), B (702), C (703), D (704) and E (705).
Similar to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3A-3C, a
visual array of one or several selectable user preference options A
(701), B (702), C (703), D (704) and E (705) is hence displayed. In
this embodiment, each selectable user preference option A (701), B
(702), C (703), D (704) and E (705) is associated with a respective
genre. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the different genres are
exemplified by the following examples: "I'm having a party",
"Hanging out with friends", "Road trip", "Party". It should be
appreciated that other genres are also conceivable, and thus,
displayable. For example, other genres include but are not limited
to music genres such as RnB, Hip hop, Soul, Pop, Classical music,
to name a few music genre examples.
[0074] Turning now to FIG. 4B, a user 600 may e.g. perform a first
control gesture. The first control gesture may for example be a
hovering gesture (e.g., by the user's finger or by means of a
stylus) over the display area of the display of the user interface
230 to approach, and eventually reach, the display area of a
desired selectable user preference option (in this example user
preference option D (704), i.e. "Party"). As can be seen in FIGS.
4B and 4C, upon reaching the display area corresponding to the
desired user preference option, i.e. user preference option D (704)
in this example, the user 600 may further perform another, i.e.
second, control gesture. For example, the second control gesture
may be a press gesture or tap gesture within the display area
corresponding to the desired user preference option. This press
gesture or tap gesture within the display area corresponding to the
desired user preference option may be interpreted by the electronic
device 200 to be a request, or instruction, to select the thus
pressed, or tapped, user preference option (i.e., user preference
option D (704), i.e. "Party", in this example). In this embodiment,
the above-mentioned press gesture or tap gesture may be interpreted
by the electronic device 200 to be a request, or instruction, to
select the genre associated with the thus pressed, or tapped, user
preference option, i.e. user preference option D (704), i.e.
"Party" in this example. Still further, in some embodiments, the
above-mentioned press gesture or tap gesture may be interpreted by
the electronic device 200 to be a request, or instruction, to begin
playback of one or more audio streams associated with the selected
genre. For example, each selectable user preference option may be
associated with an automatically generated playlist that is
generated by the computer server system 300 and which is,
furthermore, corresponding to the selected genre. There exist
various techniques for generating suggested playlists on the basis
of different factors, which are known in the art. For example, the
US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0280181 A1 describes
some techniques for generating playlists that could be used. The
generation of playlists is not a main focus of this disclosure and
will therefore not be described in further detail herein.
[0075] Turning now to FIG. 4D, upon a user selection 12 of the user
preference option D (704), i.e. "Party", a new visual array of one
or several selectable user preference sub-options 704a, 704b, 704c,
704d, 704e and 704f can be displayed at the user interface 230.
Each one of the selectable user preference options 704a, 704b,
704c, 704d, 704e and 704f is further associated with a predefined
energy level. The energy level of the played audio stream is
typically, but not necessarily, indicative of an intensity of a
played audio stream. For example, the energy level of a played
audio stream may be indicative of a tempo of the played audio
stream. The tempo of the played audio stream may for instance be
defined as the speed, or pace, at which the audio stream is being
played. For example, the tempo may be measured in BPM, as described
earlier. In some embodiments, positive moods may be associated with
higher energy levels as compared to negative moods. Or said
differently, negative moods may be associated with lower energy
levels as compared to positive moods. Furthermore, some moods (such
as the user preference option 704c, i.e. `Cosy time`) may have a
comparatively lower energy level than other moods (such as the user
preference option 704e, i.e. `Get people dancing`). That is, a
lower tempo (e.g. in terms of BPM) may be suitable for some moods
(such as `Cosy time`) whereas comparatively higher tempos may be
suitable in other moods (such as `Get people dancing`). The exact
energy level (e.g. tempo) for the various mood options should
preferably be tested and evaluated in each specific case e.g. in
dependence of system requirements and/or user demands.
[0076] With further reference to FIG. 4E, a user 600 may continue
operating the electronic device 200 by performing still another,
i.e. a third, control gesture. The third control gesture may for
example be a hovering gesture (e.g., by the user's finger or by
means of a stylus) over the display area of the display of the user
interface 230 to approach, and eventually reach, the display area
of a desired user preference option (in this example user
preference sub-option #5 (704e), i.e. "Get people dancing").
[0077] As can be seen in FIGS. 4E and 4F, upon reaching the display
area corresponding to the desired user preference option, i.e. user
preference sub-option #5 (704e) in this example, the user 600 may
further perform another, i.e. fourth, control gesture. For example,
the fourth control gesture may be a press gesture or tap gesture
within the display area corresponding to the desired user
preference option. This press gesture or tap gesture within the
display area corresponding to the desired user preference option
may be interpreted by the electronic device 200 to be a request, or
instruction, to select the thus pressed, or tapped, user preference
option (user preference sub-option #5 (704e), "Get people dancing",
in this example). In this embodiment, the above-mentioned fourth
control gesture, i.e. the press gesture or tap gesture, may be
interpreted by the electronic device 200 to be a request, or
instruction, to adjust an energy level of the currently played
audio stream in accordance with the selected user preference
option, i.e. user preference sub-option #5 (704e), "Get people
dancing", in this example. In response to receiving this request,
the electronic device 200 can adjust the energy level of a
currently played audio stream in dependence of the selected user
preference option. In other words, the electronic device 200
receives a request, or instruction, to select one of the selectable
user preference options (i.e. user preference sub-option #5 (704e)
in this example). The energy level of the played audio stream is
then adjusted in response to receiving this request, or
instruction.
[0078] In some embodiments, adjusting the energy level of the
currently played audio stream comprises the electronic device 200
sending a data message to the computer server system 300. This data
message may comprise i) information about the selected user
preference option (i.e., user preference sub-option #5 (704e) in
this example), ii) information about the energy level associated
with the selected user preference option, and iii) an instruction
to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that is being
played in accordance with the energy level associated with the
selected user preference option.
[0079] Accordingly, the computer server system 300 may be
configured to receive a data message including an instruction from
an electronic device 200 to manipulate the energy level of an audio
stream that is being played by the electronic device 200.
Furthermore, the computer server system 300 may be configured to
manipulate the energy level of said audio stream, and in response
thereto stream, or otherwise communicate, said audio stream with
the manipulated energy level to the electronic device 200.
Accordingly, the electronic device 200 is configured to receive the
audio stream with the thus manipulated energy level.
[0080] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned received data
message comprises i) information about a selected user preference
option (i.e., user preference sub-option #5 (704e) in this
example), ii) information about the energy level associated with
the selected user preference option, and iii) an instruction to
manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that is being
played in accordance with the energy level associated with the
selected user preference option. Thus, the step, or action, of
manipulating the energy level of said audio stream may comprise
manipulating the energy level to correspond to said energy level
associated with the selected user preference option. In some
embodiments, upon receiving the data message including the
instruction from the electronic device 200 to manipulate the energy
level of an audio stream that is being played 200, the computer
server system 300 may perform an acoustic analysis of the audio
stream being played to determine an energy level parameter
associated with the audio stream being played and manipulate the
determined energy level parameter to give the audio stream being
played a different energy level parameter associated with a
different energy level. For example, in one embodiment, performing
this acoustic analysis of the audio stream being played may further
comprise sensing, or otherwise determining, one or several
acoustical parameters associated with the audio stream being played
and determining the energy level parameter on the basis of said
sensed, or otherwise determined, acoustical parameters.
[0081] The embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 4A-4F may
allow for an improved playback of streamed audio, e.g. at social
gatherings such as parties. The embodiment described with reference
to FIGS. 4A-4F may for example allow a user of the electronic
device 200 to dynamically control the energy level (e.g., a tempo
measured in BPM) of streamed audio (e.g., a song) that is being
played based on a user preference such as a mood. Thus, in one
example scenario, a party host (i.e., the user) may dynamically
control the tempo of currently played songs on the basis of the
current mood of the people at the party. This may improve the
experience of the people at social gatherings such as parties.
[0082] With reference to FIGS. 5A-5B, an embodiment of a method
1000 of operating an electronic device for playback of audio
streams will now be described. While an audio stream is being
played (e.g., at a user interface the electronic device or,
alternatively, through an external loudspeaker(s) 500-1 that is
remotely controlled by the electronic device (see FIG. 1)), a first
request to adjust an energy level of the played audio stream in
accordance with a user preference is received 1010. Furthermore, in
response to receiving this first request, the energy level of the
played audio stream is adjusted 1020, or otherwise changed, in
dependence of the user preference.
[0083] FIG. 5B illustrates an example embodiment of the adjustment
1020 of the energy level of the played audio stream. For example, a
data message may be sent 1021, i.e. transmitted, to a computer
server system, wherein said data message includes an instruction to
manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that is being
played. Furthermore, the audio stream with a manipulated energy
level is received 1022, e.g. from the computer server system 300.
Also, the audio stream with the manipulated energy level may be
played 1023, e.g. at the user interface or, alternatively, through
an external loudspeaker(s) 500-1 (see FIG. 1) that is remotely
controlled by the electronic device.
[0084] With reference to FIGS. 6A-6B, another embodiment of a
method 1100 of operating an electronic device for playback of audio
streams will now be described. While an audio stream is being
played (e.g., at a user interface the electronic device or,
alternatively, through an external loudspeaker that is remotely
controlled by the electronic device), a visual array of selectable
user preference options is displayed 1110 at the user interface.
Each selectable user preference option is typically associated with
a respective mood (i.e., an emotional state). Furthermore, each
selectable user preference option is associated with a predefined
energy level. Thus, each predefined energy level corresponds to a
specific user preference option. Furthermore, an instruction (or,
request) to select one of the selectable user preference options is
received 1120. Still further, the energy level of the played audio
stream is adjusted 1130 in response to receiving this instruction
to select one of the selectable user preference options. More
particularly, the energy level of the played audio stream is
adjusted 1130 in accordance with the thus selected mood option.
[0085] FIG. 6B illustrates an example embodiment of the adjustment
1130 of the energy level of the played audio stream. For example, a
data message may be sent 1131 to a computer server system. This
data message may for example comprise: information about a selected
user preference option, information about the energy level
associated with the selected user preference option, and an
instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that
is being played in accordance with the energy level associated with
the selected user preference option.
[0086] Furthermore, the audio stream with a manipulated energy
level may be received 1132, e.g. from the computer server system
300. Also, the audio stream with the manipulated energy level may
be played 1133, e.g. at the user interface of the electronic device
or, alternatively, through an external loudspeaker(s) 500-1 (see
FIG. 1) that is remotely controlled by the electronic device.
[0087] Turning now to FIG. 7, an example embodiment of a method
1200 for adjusting an energy level of audio streams will be
described. The method 1200 may be performed by a computer server
system including one or several computer servers. That is, the
method may be performed by, or otherwise executed in, one single
computer server or a plurality of servers in a distributed manner.
A distributed computer server system solution with two or more
computer servers may have the advantage of task sharing among the
different computer servers that are involved such that the
different computer servers perform different actions, or method
steps, of the method 1200.
[0088] A data message is received 1210, wherein said data message
includes an instruction from an electronic device to manipulate the
energy level of an audio stream that is being played. In response
thereto, the energy level of said audio stream is manipulated 1220.
Also, the audio stream with the manipulated energy level is
streamed 1230, or otherwise communicated, to the electronic
device.
[0089] In some embodiments, the above-mentioned data message may
comprise: information about a selected user preference option,
information about the energy level associated with the selected
user preference option, and an instruction to manipulate the energy
level of the audio stream that is being played in accordance with
the energy level associated with the selected user preference
option.
[0090] In such embodiments, manipulating 1230 the energy level of
said audio stream comprises manipulating the energy level to
correspond to said energy level associated with the selected user
preference option.
[0091] FIG. 7B schematically illustrates an example embodiment of
manipulating 1220 the energy level of the earlier-mentioned audio
stream. An acoustic analysis of the audio stream that is being
played is performed 1221. The acoustic analysis may be carried out
in order to determine an energy level parameter associated with the
audio stream that is being played. Furthermore, the thus determined
energy level parameter may be manipulated 1222, or otherwise
adjusted, to give the audio stream being played a different energy
level parameter associated with a different energy level. In other
words, a different energy level parameter may be applied to the
currently played audio stream. In one embodiment, which is
schematically illustrated in FIG. 7C, performing the acoustic
analysis of the audio stream being played further comprises sensing
1221a, or otherwise determining, one or several acoustical
parameters associated with the audio stream being played; and
determining 1221b the energy level parameter on the basis of the
thus sensed, or otherwise determined, acoustical parameters.
[0092] Turning now to FIG. 8, still another embodiment will be
briefly discussed. FIG. 8 shows an example of a computer-readable
medium, in this example in the form of a data disc 1300. In one
embodiment the data disc 1300 is a magnetic data storage disc. The
data disc 1300 is configured to carry instructions 1301 that can be
loaded into a memory 210B of an electronic device 200. Upon
execution of said instructions by a processor 210A of the
electronic device 200, the electronic device 200 is caused to
execute a method or procedure according to any one of the
embodiments described in conjunction with FIGS. 5 and 6,
respectively. The data disc 1300 is arranged to be connected to or
within and read by a reading device (not shown), for loading the
instructions into the processor. One such example of a reading
device in combination with one (or several) data disc(s) 1300 is a
hard drive. It should be noted that the computer-readable medium
can also be other mediums such as compact discs, digital video
discs, flash memories or other memory technologies commonly used.
In such an embodiment the data disc 1300 is one type of a tangible
computer-readable medium. The instructions may alternatively be
downloaded to a computer data reading device, such as an electronic
device 200 capable of reading computer coded data on a
computer-readable medium, by comprising the instructions in a
computer-readable signal (not shown) which is transmitted via a
wireless (or wired) interface (for example via the Internet) to the
computer data reading device for loading the instructions into a
processor 210A of the electronic device 200. In such an embodiment,
the computer-readable signal is one type of a non-tangible
computer-readable medium.
[0093] Turning now to FIG. 9, yet another embodiment will be
briefly discussed. FIG. 9 shows an example of a computer-readable
medium, in this example in the form of a data disc 1400. In one
embodiment the data disc 1400 is a magnetic data storage disc. The
data disc 1400 is configured to carry instructions 1401 that can be
loaded into a memory 316B of a computer server system 300. Upon
execution of said instructions by a processor 316A of the computer
server system 300, the computer server system 300 is caused to
execute a method or procedure according to any one of the
embodiments described in conjunction with FIG. 7. The data disc
1400 is arranged to be connected to or within and read by a reading
device (not shown), for loading the instructions into the
processor. One such example of a reading device in combination with
one (or several) data disc(s) 1400 is a hard drive. It should be
noted that the computer-readable medium can also be other mediums
such as compact discs, digital video discs, flash memories or other
memory technologies commonly used. In such an embodiment the data
disc 1400 is one type of a tangible computer-readable medium. The
instructions may alternatively be downloaded to a computer data
reading device, such as a computer server system 300 capable of
reading computer coded data on a computer-readable medium, by
comprising the instructions in a computer-readable signal (not
shown) which is transmitted via a wireless (or wired) interface
(for example via the Internet) to the computer data reading device
for loading the instructions into a processor 316A of the computer
server system 300. In such an embodiment, the computer-readable
signal is one type of a non-tangible computer-readable medium.
[0094] With reference to FIG. 10, an example implementation of the
electronic device 200 of FIGS. 1-4 will be described in some
further detail. For example, the electronic device 200 may be
implemented as a stationary electronic device, such as a stationary
computer. Alternatively, the electronic device 200 may be embodied
as a portable electronic device, such as a mobile telephone, a
cellular telephone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a
personal digital assistant.
[0095] In some embodiments, the electronic device 200 may comprise
means adapted to perform the method described herein with reference
to FIGS. 5 and 6. In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 thus
comprises means adapted to receive (while an audio stream is being
played) a first request to adjust an energy level of the played
audio stream in accordance with a user preference, as well as means
adapted to adjust the energy level of the played audio stream in
dependence of the user preference, in response to receiving the
first request.
[0096] In some embodiments, the electronic device 200 may further
comprise means adapted to send a data message including an
instruction to a computer server system to manipulate the energy
level of the audio stream that is being played as well as means
adapted to receive the audio stream with a manipulated energy
level. Also, the electronic device 200 may comprise means adapted
to play the audio stream with the manipulated energy level.
[0097] In some embodiments, the electronic device 200 may further
comprise means adapted to display a visual array of selectable user
preference options at the user interface, wherein each selectable
user preference option is associated with a respective mood and
wherein each selectable user preference option is further
associated with a predefined energy level; and means adapted to
receive an instruction to select one of the selectable user
preference options. The means adapted to adjust the energy level of
the played audio stream may be configured to adjust the energy
level of the played audio stream in response to receiving the
instruction to select one of the selectable user preference
options.
[0098] Still further, the electronic device 200 may additionally
comprise means adapted to send a data message to a computer server
system, the data message comprising i) information about a selected
user preference option, ii) information about the energy level
associated with the selected user preference option, and iii) an
instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that
is being played in accordance with the energy level associated with
the selected user preference option.
[0099] With continued reference to FIG. 10, an example
implementation of the electronic device 200 will now be described.
The electronic device 200 is configured to execute, or otherwise
perform, any of the methods described herein with reference to
FIGS. 5 and 6. As is schematically illustrated in FIG. 10, the
electronic device 200 comprises hardware 210A-C. For example, the
electronic device 200 may comprise one or more processors 210A and
one or more memories 210B. Also, a communications interface 210C
may be provided in order to allow the electronic device 200 to
communicate with other electronic devices and/or computer servers
300, e.g. via a network 400 such as the Internet. To this end, the
communications interface 210C may comprise a transmitter (Tx) and a
receiver (Rx). Alternatively, the communications interface 210C may
comprise a transceiver (Tx/Rx) combining both transmission and
reception capabilities. The communications interface 210C may
include a radio frequency (RF) interface allowing the electronic
device 200 to communicate with other devices and/or computer
servers 300 through a radio frequency band through the use of
different radio frequency technologies such as LTE (Long Term
Evolution), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), any
other cellular network standardized by the 3rd Generation
Partnership Project (3GPP), or any other wireless technology such
as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.RTM., etcetera. Thus, the electronic device 200
may be configured to remotely control media presentation system(s)
500 as described earlier hereinabove. The electronic device 200 may
further comprise a user interface 230, which may be comprised of a
display and a keypad. Advantageously, the user interface 230
includes a touch-sensitive display as described earlier in this
disclosure. As such, the touch-sensitive display may be a touch
screen display upon which virtual keys may be displayed and
operated. Furthermore, the user interface 230 may include output
means such as loudspeakers (not shown) and/or one or several audio
output connections as described earlier herein. As described with
reference to FIG. 2, the electronic device 200 may also comprise
one or more applications, e.g. the media playback application 220.
These applications may include sets of instructions (e.g., computer
program code) that when executed by the one or more processors 210A
controls the operation of the electronic device 200.
[0100] In some implementations, the one or more memories 210B
stores computer program code, which, when run in the one or more
processors 210A causes the electronic device 200 to receive a first
request to adjust an energy level of a currently played audio
stream in accordance with a user preference, and in response to
thereto, adjust the energy level of the played audio stream in
dependence of the user preference.
[0101] In some implementations, the one or more memories 210B
stores computer program code, which, when run in the one or more
processors 210A causes the electronic device 200 to send, by means
of the transmitter 210C, a data message including an instruction to
a computer server system to manipulate the energy level of the
audio stream that is being played; and receive, by means of the
receiver 201C, the audio stream with a manipulated energy
level.
[0102] Also, the one or more memories 210B may store computer
program code, which, when run in the one or more processors 210A
causes the electronic device 200 to play the audio stream with the
manipulated energy level
[0103] In some advantageous implementations, the one or more
memories 210B may further store computer program code, which, when
run in the one or more processors 210A causes the electronic device
200 to display, at the user interface 230, a visual array of
selectable user preference options, wherein each selectable user
preference option is associated with a respective mood and wherein
each selectable user preference option is further associated with a
predefined energy level; and receive an instruction to select one
of the selectable user preference options; wherein adjusting the
energy level of the played audio stream is performed in response to
receiving the instruction to select one of the selectable user
preference options.
[0104] In some implementations, the one or more memories 210B may
further store computer program code, which, when run in the one or
more processors 210A causes the electronic device 200 to send, by
means of the transmitter 210C, a data message to a computer server
system, the data message comprising i) information about a selected
user preference option, ii) information about the energy level
associated with the selected user preference option, and iii) an
instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream that
is being played in accordance with the energy level associated with
the selected user preference option; and receive, by means of the
receiver 210C, the audio stream with the manipulated energy
level.
[0105] With reference to FIG. 11, an example embodiment of the
computer server system 300 of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in
some further detail. For example, the computer server system 300
shown in FIG. 1 may comprise one or several computer servers, as
described earlier. Furthermore, the computer server system 300 may
comprise means adapted to perform the method described herein with
reference to FIG. 7. In one embodiment, the computer server system
300 may thus comprise means adapted to receive a data message
including an instruction from an electronic device to manipulate
the energy level of an audio stream that is being played; means
adapted to manipulate the energy level of said audio stream; and
means adapted to stream, or otherwise communicate, said audio
stream with the manipulated energy level to the electronic
device.
[0106] In some embodiments, the computer server system 300 may
comprise means adapted to receive a data message from the
electronic device, the data message comprising a) information about
a selected user preference option, b) information about the energy
level associated with the selected user preference option, and c)
an instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream
that is being played in accordance with the energy level associated
with the selected user preference option. The means adapted to
manipulate the energy level of said audio stream may be configured
to manipulate the energy level to correspond to said energy level
associated with the selected user preference option.
[0107] In some embodiments, the computer server system 300 may
additionally comprise means adapted to perform an acoustic analysis
of the audio stream being played to determine an energy level
parameter associated with the audio stream being played; and means
adapted to manipulate the determined energy level parameter to give
the audio stream being played a different energy level parameter
associated with a different energy level. In some embodiments, the
means adapted to perform the acoustic analysis may further comprise
means adapted to sense, or otherwise determine, one or several
acoustical parameters associated with the audio stream being
played; and means adapted to determine the energy level parameter
on the basis of said sensed, or otherwise determined, acoustical
parameters.
[0108] With continued reference to FIG. 11, an example
implementation of the computer server system 300 will now be
described. The computer server system 300 is configured to execute,
or otherwise perform, any of the methods described herein with
reference to FIG. 7. The computer server system 300 is exemplified
by a single computer server in order to ease the understanding of
the disclosure. As is schematically illustrated in FIG. 11, the
computer server 300 comprises hardware 316. For example, the
computer server 300 may comprise one or more processors 316A and
one or more memories 316B. Also, a communications interface 316C,
or a communications circuitry, may be provided in order to allow
the computer server 300 to communicate with electronic devices 200
and/or other servers 300, e.g. via a network 400 such as the
Internet. To this end, the communications interface 316C may
comprise a transmitter (Tx) and a receiver (Rx). Alternatively, the
communications interface 316C may comprise a transceiver (Tx/Rx)
combining both transmission and reception capabilities. The
communications interface 316C may include a radio frequency (RF)
interface allowing the computer server 300 to communicate with
electronic devices 200 and/or other servers 300 through a radio
frequency band through the use of different radio frequency
technologies such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), WCDMA (Wideband
Code Division Multiple Access), any other cellular network
standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), or
any other wireless technology such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.RTM.,
etcetera. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the computer
server 300 may also comprise one or more applications, e.g. the
software application 310 including the media server application
312. The applications are sets of instructions (e.g., computer
program code) that when executed by the one or more processors 316A
controls the operation of the computer server 300.
[0109] In some implementations, the one or more memories 316B may
store computer program code, which, when run in the one or more
processors 316A causes the computer server 300 to: receive, by
means of the communications interface 316C, a data message
including an instruction from an electronic device to manipulate
the energy level of an audio stream that is being played;
manipulate the energy level of said audio stream; and in response
thereto stream, by means of the communications interface 316C, said
audio stream with the manipulated energy level to the electronic
device.
[0110] In some implementations, the one or more memories 316B may
further store computer program code, which, when run in the one or
more processors 316A causes the computer server 300 to: receive, by
means of the communications interface 316C, a data message from the
electronic device, the data message comprising i) information about
a selected user preference option, ii) information about the energy
level associated with the selected user preference option, and iii)
an instruction to manipulate the energy level of the audio stream
that is being played in accordance with the energy level associated
with the selected user preference option; wherein manipulating the
energy level of said audio stream comprises manipulating the energy
level to correspond to said energy level associated with the
selected user preference option.
[0111] In some implementations, the one or more memories 316B may
further store computer program code, which, when run in the one or
more processors 316A causes the computer server 300 to: perform an
acoustic analysis of the audio stream being played to determine an
energy level parameter associated with the audio stream being
played; and manipulate the determined energy level parameter to
give the audio stream being played a different energy level
parameter associated with a different energy level.
[0112] In some implementations, the one or more memories 316B may
further store computer program code, which, when run in the one or
more processors 316A causes the computer server 300 to: sense, or
otherwise determine, one or several acoustical parameters
associated with the audio stream being played; and determine the
energy level parameter on the basis of said sensed, or otherwise
determined, acoustical parameters.
[0113] The various embodiments described throughout this disclosure
may allow a user of an electronic device to dynamically control the
energy level (e.g., the tempo) of a played audio stream (e.g., a
song) on the basis of a user preference. In some advantageous
embodiments, the user preference includes a mood. Thus, in one
example scenario, a party host (i.e., a user) may dynamically
control the tempo of currently played songs on the basis of the
current mood of the people at a social gathering such as at a
party. This may improve the experience of social gatherings such as
parties. According to some embodiments, it may also be possible to
influence the mood of people at a social gathering. For example, if
a party host wishes to change the mood of the people at a social
gathering, he or she may in some embodiments select a mood option
to adjust the energy level of the played songs.
[0114] In the detailed description hereinabove, for purposes of
explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in
order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments
described in this disclosure. In some instances, detailed
descriptions of well-known devices, components, circuits, and
methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of
the embodiments disclosed herein with unnecessary detail. All
statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments
disclosed herein, as well as specific examples thereof, are
intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents
thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include
both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed
in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same
function, regardless of structure. Thus, for example, it will be
appreciated that block diagrams herein can represent conceptual
views of illustrative circuitry or other functional units embodying
the principles of the described embodiments. Similarly, it will be
appreciated that any flow charts and the like represent various
processes which may be substantially represented in computer
readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether
or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. The
functions of the various elements including functional blocks, may
be provided through the use of hardware such as circuit hardware
and/or hardware capable of executing software in the form of coded
instructions stored on the above-mentioned computer readable
medium. Thus, such functions and illustrated functional blocks are
to be understood as being hardware-implemented and/or
computer-implemented, and thus machine-implemented. In terms of
hardware implementation, the functional blocks may include or
encompass, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP)
hardware, reduced instruction set processor, hardware (e.g.,
digital or analog) circuitry including but not limited to
application specific integrated circuit(s) [ASIC], and/or field
programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), and (where appropriate) state
machines capable of performing such functions. In terms of computer
implementation, a computer is generally understood to comprise one
or more processors or one or more controllers. When provided by a
computer or processor or controller, the functions may be provided
by a single dedicated computer or processor or controller, by a
single shared computer or processor or controller, or by a
plurality of individual computers or processors or controllers,
some of which may be shared or distributed. Moreover, use of the
term "processor" or "controller" may also be construed to refer to
other hardware capable of performing such functions and/or
executing software, such as the example hardware recited above.
[0115] In some embodiments, the present invention includes a
computer program product which is a non-transitory storage medium
or computer readable medium (media) having instructions stored
thereon/in which can be used to program a computer to perform any
of the processes of the present invention. Examples of the storage
medium can include, but is not limited to, any type of disk
including floppy disks, optical discs, DVD, CD-ROMs, microdrive,
and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, DRAMs,
VRAMs, flash memory devices, magnetic or optical cards, nanosystems
(including molecular memory ICs), or any type of media or device
suitable for storing instructions and/or data.
[0116] Modifications and other variants of the described
embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art having
benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and
associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the
embodiments are not limited to the specific example embodiments
described in this disclosure and that modifications and other
variants are intended to be included within the scope of this
disclosure. As one mere example, while certain gestures (e.g.,
hovering gestures, press gestures, and tap gestures) have been
described to exemplify some embodiments, other conceivable gestures
also exist (e.g. flick gestures, swipe gestures, swipe-and-hold
gestures, release-of-hold gestures) that could be contemplated when
reducing embodiments described herein into practice.
[0117] Furthermore, it should be appreciated that embodiments
described in this disclosure could be advantageously combined with
any one of the embodiments described in the co-filed U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/714,145, filed on May 15, 2015, entitled
"PLAYBACK OF MEDIA STREAMS AT SOCIAL GATHERINGS", inventors Souheil
Medaghri Alaoui et al and/or in the co-filed U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/714,153 filed on May 15, 2015, entitled
"METHODS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL OF PLAYLISTS",
inventors Souheil Medaghri Alaoui et al, both of which patent
applications are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
[0118] Still further, although specific terms may be employed
herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and
not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, a person skilled in the
art would recognize numerous variations to the described
embodiments that would still fall within the scope of the appended
claims. As used herein, the terms "comprise/comprises" or
"include/includes" do not exclude the presence of other elements or
steps. Furthermore, although individual features may be included in
different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined,
and the inclusion of different claims does not imply that a
combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In
addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality.
* * * * *