{
  "patent_number": "US 10928980",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Apple's Interface Switches Between Music Playlists and Menus",
  "original_title": "User interfaces for playing and managing audio items",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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.",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2017-10-11",
  "granted": "2021-02-23",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Apple Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/apple-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Taylor G. Carrigan",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/taylor-g-carrigan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Christopher Patrick FOSS",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/christopher-patrick-foss"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stephen O. Lemay",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/stephen-o-lemay"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "The present disclosure generally relates to playing and managing audio items. In some examples, an electronic device provides intuitive user interfaces for playing and managing audio items on the device. In some examples, an electronic device provides seamless transitioning from navigating a stack of items corresponding to groups of audio items to navigating a list of menus. In some examples, an electronic device provides for quick and easy access between different applications that are active on the device. In some examples, an electronic device enables automatic transmission of data associated with audio items to be stored locally on a linked external device.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10928980/ios-widgets-on-home-screen",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10928980/ios-widgets-on-home-screen/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10928980",
  "relatedPatents": []
}