Methods and electronic devices for dynamic control of playlists

Abstract

This disclosure concerns the playback of audio content, 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 dynamically controlling a playlist including one or several audio items. A request to adjust an energy level (e.g. a tempo) associated with the playlist is received. In response to receiving this request, the playlist is adjusted in accordance with the requested energy level (e.g., the tempo).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an electronic device for dynamically controlling a playlist of audio items, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to adjust an energy level associated with the playlist; and   in response to receiving said request, adjusting the playlist in accordance with the requested energy level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy level is indicative of an average tempo of the audio items included in said playlist. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute, BPM. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 displaying a visual array of selectable mood options at a user interface of the electronic device, wherein each selectable mood option is associated with a respective mood; wherein   receiving the request to adjust the energy level comprises receiving an instruction to select one of the selectable mood options.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the energy level is indicative of an average tempo of the audio items included in said playlist. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute, BPM. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the playlist in accordance with the requested energy level comprises:
 sending a data message including an instruction to a computer server system to return a proposed playlist of audio items in accordance with the requested energy level; and   receiving a data message including data related to a proposed playlist of audio items; in response thereto   generating, based on said data related to the proposed playlist, a visual queue of selectable audio items corresponding to the proposed playlist; and in response thereto   displaying the visual queue of selectable audio items at the user interface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the energy level is indicative of an average tempo of the audio items included in said playlist. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute, BPM. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein adjusting the playlist in accordance with the requested energy level comprises, comprises:
 sending a data message including an instruction to a computer server system to return a proposed playlist of audio items in accordance with the requested energy level;   and receiving a data message including data related to a proposed playlist of audio items; in response thereto   generating, based on said data related to the proposed playlist, a visual queue of selectable audio items corresponding to the proposed playlist; and in response thereto   displaying the visual queue of selectable audio items at the user interface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the energy level is indicative of an average tempo of the audio items included in said playlist. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute, BPM. 
     
     
         13 . An electronic device for dynamically controlling a playlist of audio items, the electronic device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the electronic device to   receive a request to adjust an energy level associated with the playlist; and in response thereto   adjust the playlist in accordance with the requested energy level.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the energy level is indicative of an average tempo of the audio items included in said playlist. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein said tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute, BPM. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a user interface adapted to display a visual array of selectable mood options, wherein each selectable mood option is associated with a respective mood; wherein   the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the user interface to receive an instruction to select one of the selectable mood options.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the energy level is indicative of an average tempo of the audio items included in said playlist. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein said tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute, BPM. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a transmitter; and   a receiver; 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 data message including an instruction to a computer server system to return a proposed playlist of audio items in accordance with the requested energy level; and   receive, by means of the receiver, a data message including data related to a proposed playlist of audio items; in response thereto   generate, based on said data related to the proposed playlist, a visual queue of selectable audio items corresponding to the proposed playlist; and in response thereto   display the visual queue of selectable audio items at the user interface.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the energy level is indicative of an average tempo of the audio items included in said playlist. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein said tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute, BPM. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a transmitter; and   a receiver; 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 data message including an instruction to a computer server system to return a proposed playlist of audio items in accordance with the requested energy level; and   receive, by means of the receiver, a data message including data related to a proposed playlist of audio items; in response thereto   generate, based on said data related to the proposed playlist, a visual queue of selectable audio items corresponding to the proposed playlist; and in response thereto   display the visual queue of selectable audio items at the user interface.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein the energy level is indicative of an average tempo of the audio items included in said playlist. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein said tempo is measured in Beats Per Minute, BPM. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic device is a stationary electronic device, such as a stationary computer. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic device is a portable electronic device, such as a mobile telephone, a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant 
     
     
         27 . 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 a comprising:
 receiving a request to adjust an energy level associated with the playlist; and   in response to receiving said request, adjusting the playlist in accordance with the requested energy level.