System and method for playback of media content with support for audio touch caching

Abstract

A system and method for playback of media content, for example music, video, or other media content. A media device having a media playback application and including a touch-sensitive user interface can be adapted to display a visual array of media options, for example as a grid or list of card elements. Each media option can be associated with one or more media content items that can be streamed to and/or played on the device. The system can determine a selected card element, or media options that are proximate to a selected point or region of the visual array, and play or crossfade media content as appropriate. In accordance with various embodiments, additional features can be provided that improve user interaction, for example the use of audible notifications, media caching, or touch menus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for playback of media content, including the use of media caching, comprising:
 a media device, including a processor, and a media playback application executing thereon, wherein the media playback application is adapted to play media content provided by a computer system operating as a media server;   a user interface, provided at the media device,
 wherein the user interface is adapted to display a visual array of media options, and 
 wherein each media option within the visual array of media options is associated with at least one media content item that can be provided by the media server and streamed to the media device, to be played at the media device; 
   wherein the media playback application enables portions of media content items to be pre-buffered at the media device, including that, while the visual array of media options is being prepared for display, a portion of one or more media content items associated with the visual array of media options is pre-buffered at the media device as determined by a caching policy; and   wherein the media playback application is adapted to
 determine at least one of a cache setting, user setting, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed within the visual array of media options, to determine if the media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the media device, and 
 determine, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the media content items is to be pre-buffered at the media device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on at least one of a current usage information or historical usage information, including an amount of media content data communicated to the media device within a previous temporal interval. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a current session information including information describing media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with a selection of media options, is used in determining the particular caching policy to be used. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system includes support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options. 
     
     
         6 . A method for playback of media content, including the use of media caching, comprising:
 displaying, at a media device including
 a processor, 
 a media playback application adapted to play media content provided by a computer system operating as a media server, and 
 a user interface, 
 a visual array of media options, wherein each media option within the visual array of media options is associated with at least one media content item that can be provided by the media server and streamed to the media device, to be played at the media device; 
   pre-buffering portions of media content items at the media device, including that, while the visual array of media options is being prepared for display, a portion of one or more media content items associated with the visual array of media options is pre-buffered at the media device as determined by a caching policy;   determining at least one of a cache setting, user setting, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed within the visual array of media options, to determine if the media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the media device; and   determining, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the media content items is to be pre-buffered at the media device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on at least one of a current usage information or historical usage information, including an amount of media content data communicated to the media device within a previous temporal interval. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a current session information including information describing media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with a selection of media options, is used in determining the particular caching policy to be used. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further including providing support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which when read and executed by a media device causes the media device to perform the steps comprising:
 displaying, at a media device including
 a processor, 
 a media playback application adapted to play media content provided by a computer system operating as a media server, and 
 a user interface, 
 a visual array of media options, wherein each media option within the visual array of media options is associated with at least one media content item that can be provided by the media server and streamed to the media device, to be played at the media device; 
   pre-buffering portions of media content items at the media device, including that, while the visual array of media options is being prepared for display, a portion of one or more media content items associated with the visual array of media options is pre-buffered at the media device as determined by a caching policy;   determining at least one of a cache setting, user setting, user behavior, or visible media option information for those media options displayed within the visual array of media options, to determine if the media device is associated with a restriction on an amount of data to be transferred to the media device; and   determining, from within a plurality of caching policies, a particular caching policy by which the data for prebuffering the media content items is to be pre-buffered at the media device.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein cache settings or user settings can be adjusted to control which of the plurality of caching policies is to be used. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein a determination of the particular policy to be used is at least partially based on at least one of a current usage information or historical usage information, including an amount of media content data communicated to the media device within a previous temporal interval. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein a current session information including information describing media options currently displayed on the user interface, and a probability associated with a selection of media options, is used in determining the particular caching policy to be used. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , further including providing support for force-sensitive touch input in selection, playback, or other interaction with media options.