Playback of media streams at social gatherings

Abstract

This disclosure concerns the providing of media, and more particularly to the streaming of media. In accordance with an example embodiment, a visual queue of media items (e.g. media items B and C) to be played next may be displayed at a user interface of the electronic device. Each one of the media items is associated with media content of a respective media content stream. While a media content stream is being played (e.g., a media content stream associated with media item A), a request to play another media content stream in accordance with a user preference may be received by the electronic device. This request may, for example, be a user selection of one of the available mood options. In response to receiving this request, the visual queue of the media items to be played next can be adjusted, and thus changed, in dependence of the selected mood option.

1 . A method of operating an electronic device for performing playback of a first media content stream and dynamically controlling a queue of subsequently playable media items, each of which is associated with another media content stream, the method comprising:
 displaying a visual queue of subsequently playable media items, at a user interface of the electronic device, wherein each media item is associated with media content of a respective media content stream;   displaying, at the user interface, a plurality of selectable options that enable input of a user preference as to the media content to be played;   playing a first media content stream that is associated with a first set of media items; and   while the first media content stream is being played:
 receiving, in response to selection of an option from within the plurality of selectable options, a first request to play a different media content stream in accordance with a first user preference; and 
 in response to receiving the first request, and while the first media content stream is being played, adjusting the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of the first user preference, to control playback of the media content, including
 requesting, from a computer server, a proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with the first user preference, 
 receiving, from the computer server, the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items, and 
 replacing one or more of the subsequently playable media items originally displayed within the visual queue displayed at the user interface, with subsequently playable media items from the proposed queue. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of the first user preference, comprises:
 sending a first data message including an instruction to the computer server to return the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with the first user preference;   receiving a signal comprising a second data message including the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items;   generating the visual queue of subsequently playable media items corresponding to the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items; and in response thereto   displaying the visual queue of subsequently playable media items at the user interface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user preference comprises a mood. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising:
 displaying a visual array of selectable mood options, wherein each selectable mood option is associated with a respective mood; and wherein   receiving the first request to play a different media content stream in accordance with the first user preference comprises receiving an instruction to select one of the selectable mood options.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, in response to a selection of another of the plurality of selectable options, a second request to play a different media content stream in accordance with a second user preference;   in response to receiving the second request, adjusting the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of a combination of the first user preference and the second user preference.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein adjusting the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of the second user preference, comprises:
 sending a first data message including an instruction to a computer server to return a proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with a second user preference;   receiving a second signal comprising a second data message including the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items;   generating a visual queue of subsequently playable media items corresponding to the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items; and in response thereto   displaying the visual queue of subsequently playable media items at the user interface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second user preference comprises a genre, an artist, or a sound. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving, in response to a selection of another of the plurality of selectable options, a second request to play a different media content stream in accordance with a second user preference;   in response to receiving the second request, adjusting the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of a combination of the first user preference and the second user preference.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of the second user preference, comprises:
 sending a first data message including an instruction to a computer server to return a proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with a second user preference;   receiving a second signal comprising a second data message including the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items;   generating a visual queue of subsequently playable media items corresponding to the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items; and in response thereto   displaying the visual queue of subsequently playable media items at the user interface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second user preference comprises a genre, an artist, or a sound. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media content stream comprises an audio content stream. 
     
     
         12 . An electronic device for performing playback of a first media content stream and dynamically controlling a queue of subsequently playable media items, each of which is associated with a different media content 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:   display a visual queue of subsequently playable media items, at said user interface, wherein each media item is associated with media content of a respective media content stream;   display, at the user interface, a plurality of selectable options that enable input of a user preference as to the media content to be played;   play a first media content stream that is associated with a first set of media items; and   while the first media content stream is being played:
 receive, in response to selection of an option from within the plurality of selectable options, a first request to play a different media content stream in accordance with a first user preference, 
 in response to receiving the first request, and while the first media content stream is being played, adjust the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of the first user preference, to control playback of the media content, including
 requesting, from a computer server, a proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with the first user preference, 
 receiving, from the computer server, the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items, and 
 replacing one or more of the subsequently playable media items originally displayed within the visual queue displayed at the user interface, with subsequently playable media items from the proposed queue. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , 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, a first data message including an instruction to the computer server to return a proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with a first user preference; and   receive, by means of the receiver, a second signal comprising a second data message including the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items;   generate the visual queue of subsequently playable media items corresponding to the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items; and in response thereto   display the visual queue of subsequently playable media items at a user interface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first user preference comprises a mood. 
     
     
         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:
 display a visual array of selectable mood options, wherein each selectable mood option is associated with a respective mood; and   receive an instruction to select one of the selectable mood options.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
 receive a second request to play a different media content stream in accordance with a second user preference,   in response to receiving the second request, adjust the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of a combination of the first user preference and the second user preference.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , 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, a first data message including an instruction to a computer server to return a proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with a second user preference;   receive, by means of the receiver, a second signal comprising a second data message including the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items;   generate a visual queue of subsequently playable media items corresponding to the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items; and in response thereto   display the visual queue of subsequently playable media items at a user interface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the second user preference comprises a genre, an artist, or a sound. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
 receive a second request to play a different media content stream in accordance with a second user preference,   in response to receiving the second request, adjust the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of a combination of the first user preference and the second user preference.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , 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, a first data message including an instruction to a computer server to return a proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with a second user preference;   receive, by means of the receiver, a second signal comprising a second data message including the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items;   generate a visual queue of subsequently playable media items corresponding to the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items; and in response thereto   display the visual queue of subsequently playable media items at the user interface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         21 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the second user preference comprises a genre, an artist, or a sound. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the media content stream comprises an audio content stream. 
     
     
         23 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method comprising:
 displaying a visual queue of subsequently playable media items, at a user interface of the electronic device, wherein each media item is associated with media content of a respective media content stream;   displaying, at the user interface, a plurality of selectable options that enable input of a user preference as to the media content to be played;   playing a first media content stream that is associated with a first set of media items; and   while the first media content stream is being played:
 receiving, in response to selection of an option from within the plurality of selectable options, a first request to play a different media content stream in accordance with a first user preference; and 
 in response to receiving the first request, and while the first media content stream is being played, adjusting the queue of subsequently playable media items in dependence of the first user preference, to control playback of the media content, including
 requesting, from a computer server, a proposed queue of subsequently playable media items in accordance with the first user preference, 
 receiving, from the computer server, the proposed queue of subsequently playable media items, and 
 replacing one or more of the subsequently playable media items originally displayed within the visual queue displayed at the user interface, with subsequently playable media items from the proposed queue. 
 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of selectable options that enable input of a user preference as to the media content to be played, are provided as a circular control device displayed on the user interface and having regions associated with different ones of the selectable options. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , whereupon rotating the cyclic control device between regions associated with different ones of the selectable options causes different selectable options to be selected as input, and different proposed queues of subsequently playable media items to be returned. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of selectable options that enable input of a user preference as to the media content to be played, are provided as a circular control device displayed on the user interface and having regions associated with different ones of the selectable options. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 26 , whereupon rotating the cyclic control device between regions associated with different ones of the selectable options causes different selectable options to be selected as input, and different proposed queues of subsequently playable media items to be returned.