Media Player Album Mode Random Playback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of media players face inefficiencies in finding and playing entire albums while in random mode, as they must manually search their growing media libraries, which is time-consuming and burdensome.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an album mode in media players that allows users to detect a song and automatically retrieve and queue the rest of the album for playback in shuffle mode, either from the local library or a media subscription service if subscribed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually search through their media library to find remaining songs from an album, then they can locate the songs, but the process is time-consuming and burdensome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of finding album songsVSAvoidtime spent searching for songs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting the album tracks when a user plays a song in random mode. The media player proactively identifies remaining tracks from the same album and queues them for playback, eliminating the need for users to manually search through their library later.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The media player provides self-service functionality by autonomously managing album track retrieval and playback sequencing. When a user plays any track from an album in random mode, the system automatically identifies and queues other tracks from the same album without requiring user intervention or manual library searching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If users continue to download or import media files into the library, then their collection grows, but they may forget what is exactly in their library

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of media libraryVSAvoidability to recall library contents

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to users about their library contents through automatic album detection and tracking. When a user plays a song, the system detects the album information and provides contextual feedback by automatically queuing other tracks from the same album, helping users recall and navigate their growing collection more effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8996145B2Album playback in a random mode

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 RED HAT INC

AI summary

An embodiment relates generally to a method of playback in a media player. The method includes retrieving at least one song from a media library in a random mode on a media player and playing the at least one song through the media player. The method also includes initiating an album mode on the media player and retrieving remaining songs on an album associated with the at least one song.