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.

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.