Apple patent is for system, method for advanced media playback
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Jun 19, 2008 at 5:38am
An Apple patent (number 2008147214) for a system and method for advanced media playback has appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. The invention relates to providing media playback on electronic devices.
Systems and methods for enhanced media playback are disclosed. According to one aspect, during media playback, auxiliary (or secondary) media can be integrated with primary media. For example, an electronic device offering media playback can not only play back media item data but can also play back other auxiliary media data. In one implementation, presentation of a media group can involve not only presentation of media items of the media group but also presentation of auxiliary media. Another aspect pertains to how and when auxiliary media data is to be presented (e.g., played) by an electronic device. Another aspect pertains to updating or refreshing auxiliary media data. Still another aspect pertains to restricting presentation of primary media by an electronic device unless auxiliary data is also presented.
Here’s Apple’s summary of the invention: “The invention can pertain to systems and methods for enhanced media playback. According to one aspect of the invention, during media playback, auxiliary (or secondary) media can be integrated with primary media. For example, an electronic device offering media playback can not only play back media item data but can also play back other auxiliary media data. In one implementation, presentation of a media group can involve not only presentation of media items of the media group but also presentation of auxiliary media. Another aspect of the invention pertains to how and when auxiliary media data is to be presented (e.g., played) by an electronic device. Another aspect of the invention pertains to updating or refreshing auxiliary media data. Still another aspect of the invention pertains to restricting presentation of primary media by an electronic device unless auxiliary data is also presented. These and other various aspects of the invention can be used separately or in any combination.
“The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a method, system, device, apparatus (including graphical user interface), or computer readable medium. Several embodiments of the invention are discussed below.
“As a method for presenting media by a media playback device, one embodiment of the invention can include at least the acts of: receiving a playback request to play a media group, the media group including a plurality of media items; determining whether auxiliary media is also to be played back; playing back media items from the media group; and playing the auxiliary media if determined that the auxiliary media is also to be played back.
“As a computer readable medium including at least computer program code for presenting media by a media playback device, one embodiment of the invention can include at least: computer program code for determining whether a media group is to be presented, the media group including a plurality of media items; computer program code for determining whether secondary media is also to be presented; computer program code for presenting the media items from the media group when it is determined that the media group is to be presented; and computer program code for presenting the secondary media when it is determined that the secondary media is also to be presented.
“As an electronic device, one embodiment of the invention can include at least a data storage device and a media playback subsystem. The data storage device stores at least a portion of primary media data and auxiliary media data. The primary media data can include a plurality of media items, and the auxiliary media data can include a plurality of auxiliary media items. The media playback subsystem can operate to playback two or more of the media items while interspersing playback of at least one of the auxiliary media items between playback of at least two of the media items.”
The inventors are Michael M. Lee, Jay F. Hamlin and Christoper P. Dudte. The graphic below is a block diagram of a media system according to one embodiment of the invention.
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 10,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
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