Playback of media streams in dependence of a time of a day

Abstract

This disclosure concerns the providing of media, and more particularly to the streaming of media. In accordance with an example embodiment, a portion of a day is determined; a first data message is sent to a computer server system. The first data message comprises instructions to the computer server system to return media content associated with the determined portion of the day. A second data message is received from the computer server system, the second data message comprising media content associated with the determined portion of the day. In response thereto is playback performed of the media content at the user interface of the electronic device in dependence of the determined portion of the day. While performing playback is a visual appearance parameter of the user interface adjusted according the determined portion of the day.

1 . A method of controlling playback of streamed media content at a user interface of an electronic device in dependence of a time of a day, the method comprises:
 determining a portion of a day, by at least one of reference to a day portion time table or receipt, at a user interface of an electronic device, of a user input that is indicative of the portion of the day,   sending a first data message to a computer server system, the first data message comprising instructions to the computer server system to return a stream of media content associated with the determined portion of the day,   receiving a second data message from the computer server system, the second data message comprising the stream of media content associated with the determined portion of the day, and in response thereto
 performing playback of the media content associated with the determined portion of the day, at the user interface of the electronic device, in dependence of the determined portion of the day, and 
 while performing playback of the media content associated with the determined portion of the day, at the user interface, adjusting a visual appearance parameter of the user interface according to the determined portion of the day. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the visual appearance parameter comprises performing, at a display of the user interface, at least one of:
 displaying a symbol representing the determined portion of the day, and   displaying a color representing the determined portion of the day.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the visual appearance parameter comprises adjusting a brightness level representing the determined portion of the day. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving the second data message comprises receiving information related to the media content, the method further comprising:
 displaying the received information related to the media content at a display of the user interface.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the second data message comprises:
 receiving image data of an image related to the media content; and   receiving the media content as audio content, and wherein performing playback of the media content at the user interface comprises:
 playing the audio content by a speaker of the user interface, and 
 processing the received image data into the image, and 
 displaying the image by a display of the user interface. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein displaying the image comprises displaying the image as at least one of:
 a background image, and   a part of the image at a pre-defined position of the display.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the second data message comprises:
 receiving the media content as video content and a corresponding audio content, and wherein performing playback of the media content at the user interface comprises:
 displaying the video content by a display of the user interface, and 
 playing the audio content by a speaker of the user interface. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request for changing a portion of the day to an updated portion of the day, wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, at the user interface, a user input indicative of switching between a current portion of the day, and an updated portion of the day,   sending a third data message to a computer server system, the third data message comprising instructions to the computer server system to return a stream of media content related to the updated portion of the day,   receiving a fourth data message from the computer server system, the fourth data message comprising the stream of media content associated with the updated portion of the day, and in response thereto
 performing playback of the media content associated with the updated portion of the day at the user interface of the electronic device, and 
 while performing playback of the media content at the user interface, adjusting the visual appearance parameter of the user interface in dependence of the changed portion of the day. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface comprises an input means, and wherein receiving the request for changing the portion of the day comprises detecting a first user input performed at the input means. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the input means comprises a touch-sensitive surface, and detecting the user input comprises detecting the first user input as any of:
 a swipe gesture, a tap gesture, a press gesture, and a click gesture.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the portion of the day comprises determining a time, comparing the determined time with a day portion timetable comprising a plurality of time intervals corresponding to respective portions of the day, and determining the portion of the day for the time interval which comprises the determined time. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a control means at a display of the user interface, wherein the control means comprises an expansion control,   receiving a request for displaying a media player at the display, and   displaying the media player at the display.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the request for displaying the media player comprises detecting a user input at the control means. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the control means comprises a touch sensitive surface, and wherein detecting the user input comprises detecting user input as at least one of:
 a swipe gesture, a tap gesture, a press gesture, and a click gesture.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for changing media content items, wherein the request relates to changing media content items, from a currently playbacked first media content item of the media content to a second media content item of the media content,   sending, to the computer server system, a request for the second media content item,   receiving, from the computer server system, the second media content item, and   performing playback of the second media content item at the user interface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein receiving the request for changing media content items comprises detecting a user input at the user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for adjusting the performed playback of the second media content item at the user interface, and   adjusting the performed playback in accordance with the received request.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein performing playback of the second media content item comprises displaying an image content or a video content at the user interface, and receiving the request for adjusting the performed playback of the second media content item comprises detecting a user input in form of a tap gesture, a press gesture, or a click gesture on the image content or the video content. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic device for playback of a streamed media content in dependence of a time of a day at a user interface of the electronic device, 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:   determine a portion of a day, by at least one of reference to a day portion time table or receipt, at the user interface of the electronic device, of a user input that is indicative of the portion of the day,   send a first data message to a computer server system, the first data message comprising instructions to the computer server system to return a stream of media content associated with the determined portion of the day,   receive a second data message from the computer server system, the second data message comprising the stream of media content associated with the determined portion of the day, and in response thereto
 perform playback of the media content associated with the determined portion of the day, at the user interface of the electronic device, and 
 while performing playback of the media content associated with the determined portion of the day, at the user interface, adjusting a visual appearance parameter of the user interface according to the determined portion of the day. 
   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to adjust the visual appearance parameter by performing at least one of:
 displaying a symbol representing the determined portion of the day, and   displaying a color representing the determined portion of the day.   
     
     
         21 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to adjust the visual appearance parameter by adjusting a brightness level representing the determined portion of the day. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the user interface comprises a display, wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
 receive the second data message by receiving information related to the media content, and   display the received information related to the media content at the display.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the user interface comprises a speaker and a display, and wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
 receive the second data message by receiving image data of an image related to the media content, and receiving the media content as audio content,   process the received image data into the image, and   perform playback of the media content by playing the audio content at the speaker, and displaying the image at the display.   
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to display the image as at least one of:
 a background image and a part of the image at a pre-defined position at the display.   
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the user interface comprises a speaker and a display, and wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
 receive the second data message by receiving the media content as video content and a corresponding audio content, and   perform playback of the media content at the user interface by displaying the video content by a display of the user interface, and playing the audio content by a speaker of the user interface.   
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
 receive a request to switch between a current portion of the day and an updated portion of the day,   send a third data message to a computer server system, the third data message comprising instructions to the computer server system to return a stream of media content related to the updated portion of the day,   receive a fourth data message from the computer server system, the fourth data message comprising the stream of media content associated with the updated portion of the day, and in response thereto
 perform playback of the media content associated with the updated portion of the day at the user interface in dependence of the changed portion of the day. 
   
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to determine the portion of the day by:
 determining a time,   comparing the determined time with a day portion timetable comprising a plurality of time intervals corresponding to respective portions of the day, and   determining the portion of the day for the time interval which comprises the determined time.   
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the user interface comprises a display, and wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
 display a control means at the display, wherein the control means comprises an expansion control,   receive a request for displaying a media player at the display, and   display the media player at the display.   
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to:
 receive a request for changing media content items, wherein the request relates to changing media content items, from a currently playbacked first media content item of the media content to a second media content item of the media content,   send, to the computer server system, a request for the second media content item,   receive, from the computer server system, the second media content item, and   perform playback of the second media content item at the user interface.   
     
     
         30 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, having thereon a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program being loadable into a data-processing unit and adapted to cause execution of the method comprising
 determining a portion of a day by at least one of reference to a day portion time table or receipt, at a user interface of an electronic device, of a user input that is indicative of the portion of the day,   sending a first data message to a computer server system, the first data message comprising instructions to the computer server system to return a stream of media content associated with the determined portion of the day,   receiving a second data message from the computer server system, the second data message comprising the stream of media content associated with the determined portion of the day, and in response thereto
 performing playback of the media content associated with the determined portion of the day, at the user interface of the electronic device in dependence of the determined portion of the day, and 
 while performing playback of the media content associated with the determined portion of the day, at the user interface, adjusting a visual appearance parameter of the user interface according to the determined portion of the day.