Playlist Switching via Candidate Content Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Music players typically require users to stop playing one playlist before they can switch to another, limiting opportunities for users to listen to different playlists unless playlists are manually switched or automatically switched after all tracks in a playlist have finished.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a content storage unit, playlist storage unit, reproducing unit, candidate content extracting unit, playlist extracting unit, and playlist switching unit that allows users to switch playlists based on candidate contents displayed and selected, enabling automatic switching after the current content is finished, and creating new playlists from reproduction history or characteristic analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the reproducing unit sequentially reproduces contents in a playlist, then the reproduction continuity is maintained, but the user cannot switch to another playlist during playback
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts candidate contents related to the currently reproduced content in advance and displays them to the user. When the user selects a candidate content, the system has already prepared the corresponding playlist information, enabling immediate switching without stopping the current playback. This preliminary extraction and display of candidate contents resolves the contradiction by preparing switching options ahead of time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides multiple playlists for user selection, then the content diversity increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The candidate content extracting unit acts as an intermediary between the reproducing unit and the playlist storage unit. It extracts and filters relevant playlist information based on the currently reproduced content, presenting only pertinent options to the user. This intermediary function simplifies the interface by showing only relevant playlists rather than requiring the user to navigate through all available playlists, thus reducing perceived complexity while maintaining versatility.
3Ease of operation
If the playlist switching is enabled during reproduction, then the user accessibility to diverse content improves, but the reproduction stability is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts candidate contents and prepares playlist switching information in advance during the reproduction process. When the user selects a candidate content, the corresponding playlist is already prepared for immediate switching. This preliminary preparation allows seamless transitions without interrupting the current playback, maintaining reproduction stability while enabling easy playlist switching.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus which can direct a user to a playlist different from a playlist being reproduced. There is provided the information processing apparatus including a content storage unit storing a plurality of contents therein, a playlist storage unit storing a plurality of playlists which is related to at least some of the plurality of contents, a reproducing unit sequentially reproducing a plurality of contents belonging to a first playlist in a plurality of playlists, a candidate content extracting unit extracting one or more candidate contents relating to a content being reproduced by the reproducing unit from the content storage unit, a playlist extracting unit extracting a second playlist to which the extracted candidate contents belong from the playlist storage unit, and a playlist switching unit switching a playlist to be reproduced by the reproducing unit from the first playlist into the second playlist.