How Apple's Interface Switches Between Music Playlists and Menus
A method for navigating through a stack of music playlists on a touchscreen or dial, which automatically shifts to a menu view when you reach the end of the list.
Original patent title: “User interfaces for playing and managing audio items”
A method for navigating through a stack of music playlists on a touchscreen or dial, which automatically shifts to a menu view when you reach the end of the list. Granted to Apple Inc in 2021 with 39 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to organize and browse music playlists on a device with a small screen, like a smartwatch or a music player. The interface displays playlists as an 'ordered stack' where one item sits on top of others. As you scroll through the stack using a finger swipe or a physical dial, the device tracks your position. If you are in the middle of the stack, the device simply shows the next playlist. However, if you reach the 'terminal item' (the very first or last playlist in the stack), the interface changes behavior: it splits the screen to show both the current playlist and a set of menu options, allowing the user to navigate to different parts of the app without starting music playback.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover standard list-based scrolling that does not involve a stack-based visual representation.
- Does not cover navigation systems that do not automatically trigger a menu view upon reaching the end of a list.
- Does not cover interfaces where the menu and the playlist stack are always displayed simultaneously.
- Does not cover non-audio applications that do not utilize the specific stack-to-menu transition logic.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The patent uses the 'terminal' position of a list as a context-aware trigger to change the UI mode, effectively turning a simple scroll gesture into a gateway to deeper navigation menus.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Apple Watch music library navigation
Smartwatch media player interfaces
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the 'small screen problem' in wearable technology, where space is too limited for traditional menus. By using a stack-based navigation that intelligently switches to a menu view at the end of a list, Apple optimizes how users interact with media libraries on devices like the Apple Watch. It provides a consistent, predictable way to navigate deep hierarchies without cluttering the display.
Filed
October 11, 2017
Granted
February 23, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple remains the primary entity utilizing this specific interface logic within its watchOS ecosystem. The design patterns established here are foundational to how Apple handles media management on constrained, wearable screen sizes.
Market impact
This patent reinforces Apple's focus on proprietary navigation gestures for wearables. It helps maintain a distinct user experience for Apple Watch users, potentially creating a barrier for competitors who must develop different, non-infringing ways to handle media navigation on small screens.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to organize and browse music playlists on a device with a small screen, like a smartwatch or a music player. The interface displays playlists as an 'ordered stack' where one item sits on top of others. As you scroll through the stack using a finger swipe or a physical dial, the device tracks your position. If you are in the middle of the stack, the device simply shows the next playlist. However, if you reach the 'terminal item' (the very first or last playlist in the stack), the interface changes behavior: it splits the screen to show both the current playlist and a set of menu options, allowing the user to navigate to different parts of the app without starting music playback.
The clever bit
The patent uses the 'terminal' position of a list as a context-aware trigger to change the UI mode, effectively turning a simple scroll gesture into a gateway to deeper navigation menus.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover standard list-based scrolling that does not involve a stack-based visual representation.
- Does not cover navigation systems that do not automatically trigger a menu view upon reaching the end of a list.
- Does not cover interfaces where the menu and the playlist stack are always displayed simultaneously.
- Does not cover non-audio applications that do not utilize the specific stack-to-menu transition logic.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$48K – $154K
Midpoint $96K · 11.3 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
39 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Carrigan, T. G., FOSS, C. P., & Lemay, S. O. (2021). How Apple's Interface Switches Between Music Playlists and Menus (U.S. Patent No. 10,928,980). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10928980/ios-widgets-on-home-screen
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Apple's Interface Switches Between Music Playlists and Menus cover?
A method for navigating through a stack of music playlists on a touchscreen or dial, which automatically shifts to a menu view when you reach the end of the list.
Who owns patent US 10928980?
Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 23, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the 'small screen problem' in wearable technology, where space is too limited for traditional menus. By using a stack-based navigation that intelligently switches to a menu view at the end of a list, Apple optimizes how users interact with media libraries on devices like the Apple Watch. It provides a consistent, predictable way to navigate deep hierarchies without cluttering the display.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover standard list-based scrolling that does not involve a stack-based visual representation.
Same assignee
More from Apple Inc
Patent monitoring