`
`patent Ottico
`
`“9)
`
`(12)
`
`III!IillliIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiiliillilili
`
`(11)
`
`EP 3 032 537 A2
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`(43) Date of publication:
`15.06.2016 Builetin 2016/24
`
`(51) Int CL:
`G11B 27/11 (2005-01)
`
`GOGQ 5010000120”
`
`(21) Appiication number: 151964012
`
`(22) Date of filing: 26.11.2015
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES Fl FR GB
`GR HR HU iE IS IT Li LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO
`PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
`
`Designated Extension States:
`BA ME
`
`Designated Vaiidation States:
`MA MD
`
`(30) Priority: 09.12.2014 US 201414564247
`
`(71) Appiicant: Harman International Industries,
`incorporated
`Stamford, CT 06901 (US)
`
`
`
`(72) Inventors:
`‘ DI CENSO, Davide
`Stamford, CT Connecticut 06901 (US)
`- MARTI, Stefan
`Stamford, CT Connecticut 06901 (US)
`
`(74) Representative: Westphai, Mussgnug & Partner
`Patentanwalte mbB
`
`Herzog-Wiihelm-Strasse 26
`80331 M'L'Inchen (DE)
`
`(54)
`
`PROXiMITY BASED TEMPORARY AUDIO SHARING
`
`Systems, methods, and computer program
`(57)
`products are provided, to perform an operation compris-
`ing, upon determining that a first media device playing a
`first audio content and a second media device piaying a
`second audio content are within a predefined distance,
`causing at least a segment of the first audio content to
`.
`.
`.
`be played on the second media deVIce, and causmg at
`
`least a segment ofthe second audio contentto be played
`0” the firSt media deVlce-
`
`EP3032537A2
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`FIG. 3
`
`@
`
`@
`
`I
`
`USER OPTS IN TO SHARING SERVICE
`”\J
`
`310
`
`
`!
`DETECT TWO OR MORE DEVICES WITHIN THRESHOLD I» 320
`DISTANCE OF EACH OTHER
`
`
`
`I
`
`SELECT DEVICES FOR MEDIA SHARING
`’\/ 330
`
`
`
`I
`
`CONNECT SELECTED DEVICES
`’\J 340
`
`I
`SHARE MEDIA BETWEEN DEVICES
`
`
`I
`
`STOP SHARING MEDIA UPON DETERMINING DEVICES /\/ 360
`ARE NO LONGER WITHIN THRESHOLD DISTANCE
`OF EACH OTHER AND/OR THAT SHARING TIME
`LIMIT HAS EXPIRED
`
` I
`
`’\/ 35°
`
`
`
`
`
`PROCESS USER REQUEST TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL
`OPERATIONS
`
`’\/ 370
`
`
`
`

`

`1
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`EP 3 032 537 A2
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`2
`
`Description
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`{0001] The present disclosure relates to sharing digital
`audio, and more specifically, proximity based temporary
`audio sharing.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`{0002] Aspects disclosed herein include systems,
`methods, and computer program products to perform an
`operation comprising upon determining that a first media
`device playing a first audio content and a second media
`device playing a second audio content are within a pre-
`defined distance, causing at least a segment of the first
`audio content to be played on the second media device,
`and causing at least a segment ofthe second audio con—
`tent to be played on the first media device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF
`THE DRAWlNGS
`
`{0003}
`
`Figures tA-1E are schematics illustrating proximity
`based temporary audio sharing, according to one
`aspect.
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a system to provide proximity
`based temporary audio sharing, according to one
`aspect.
`
`Figure 3 illustrates a method to provide proximity
`based temporary audio sharing, according to one
`aspect.
`
`Figure 4 illustrates a method to select devices for
`media sharing, according to one aspect.
`
`Figure 5 illustrates a method to process user re-
`quests to perform additional operations, according
`to one aspect.
`
`DETAILED DESCRlPTlON
`
`{0004] Aspects disclosed herein provide techniques to
`share samples of music (or any digital audio) between
`users who are within close proximity of each other. When
`two participating users come within a threshold distance
`of each other, the music being played on their media
`player fades out, while the other user’s music fades in.
`A sample of the other user’s music will be played for a
`predefined duration, or until the users are no longer within
`proximity of each other. Users may then be presented
`different options, including, without limitation, to search
`for information about the music sample they just heard
`(such as title, artist, and other information), purchase the
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`sampled music, share the sampled music on social me—
`dia sites, connect with the other user via social media.
`{0005] As used herein, the term "audio content" may
`referto any type of digital audio content, including music,
`songs, podcasts, narratives,
`interviews, radio broad-
`casts, and the like. Generally, any type of audio content
`may be shared between media devices. Similarly, the
`audio content may be live or recorded. Any specific ex-
`amples used herein should not be considered limiting of
`the disclosure.
`
`Figure 1A is a schematic illustrating proximity
`{0006]
`based temporary audio sharing, according to one aspect.
`As shown, a user A 101 is listening to song 1 via a set
`of headphones 103. Similarly, a second user, user B102
`is listening to song 2 via a set of headphones 103. The
`headphones 103 may include a wireless radio, a proc—
`essor, and memory (all not pictured) to enable playback
`of local and remote audio and/or video. In other aspects,
`the headphones 303 output audio generated by a media
`player, computer, or other device (all not pictured). As
`shown, the users are approaching each other, but remain
`outside ofa threshold distance 110 from each other. The
`
`threshold distance 110 may be any distance, such as 3
`meters, and may vary based on the wireless technologies
`used to establish communications between the head—
`
`phones 103.
`{0007] However, when the users enter within the
`threshold distance 110, as depicted in Figure 1B, the
`songs are shared, such that song 2 is outputted on user
`A 101’s headphones 103, while song 1
`is outputted on
`user B 102‘s headphones. The headphones 103 (or me-
`dia playback devices) may first establish a wireless con-
`nection (using technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
`NFC, and the like). Once connected, the shared songs
`may be transferred over the connection. Alternatively,
`the respective headphones (or devices) may share infor-
`mation about the songs, enabling the devices to down-
`load the audio of the songs from the Internet.
`{0008] The shared songs may play for a predefined
`duration, such as 10 seconds. Therefore, song 2 may
`play for user A 101 for 10 seconds, while song 1 may
`play for user 8 102 for 10 seconds. The shared songs
`may play from any point of the song. For example, if 50
`seconds of song 1 played back on user A 101’s head-
`phones when the users entered the threshold distance
`130, song 1 may begin playback at 50 seconds on user
`B 102’s headphones. Similarly, playback of the shared
`songs may begin from the start of the respective songs.
`Further still, a random segment ofeach shared song may
`be played on the other user’s headphones. For example,
`the segment of song ‘l played for user B 102 may span
`from 20 seconds to 30 seconds in song 1, while the seg—
`ment of song 2 played for user A 101 may span from 2
`minutes 15 seconds to 2 minutes 25 seconds.
`
`{0009] The transition between songs on the respective
`headphones may take anyform, such as atade transition.
`Alternatively, the song being played may stop in orderto
`allow the shared song to begin playback. In order to share
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`EP 3 032 537 A2
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`songs, the users 101-102 may provide an indication to
`participate in music sharing. For example, the users may
`opt-in to the service, or toggle an indication requesting
`to search for nearby devices that are also willing to share
`music.
`
`{0010} When the segment of the shared song is com-
`plete, the originally played song may resume playback.
`Therefore, when the shared songs finish playback, song
`1 (or the next queued song) is played for user A 10?,
`while song 2 (or the next queued song) is played for user
`B 102. Similarly, when the users are no longer within the
`threshold distance 110, playback of the shared songs
`may cease. Therefore, as shown in Figure 10, when the
`users are no longer within the threshold distance 110,
`song 1
`is played for user A 101, while song 2 is played
`for user B 102. However, in some aspects, the segment
`may finish playback (if the entire segment has been re-
`ceived) even if the segment of the shared song has not
`finished playback before the users leave the threshold
`distance 110.
`
`Figure D is a graph 120 illustrating proximity
`{0011]
`based temporary audio sharing, according to one aspect.
`The graph 120 reflects the loudness of each song played
`for user A in Figures 1A—1C over time. As shown, user A
`101 initially hears song 1 (represented by line 12?) until
`the users enter within the threshold distance 310, at
`which point, song 1 begins to fade out, while song 2 (rep—
`resented byline 122) begins to fade in. Song 2 then plays
`for a predefined duration (or until the users are no longer
`within the threshold distance 1 10), at which point song 2
`fades out, while song 1 fades in.
`{0012]
`Figure E is a graph 125 illustrating proximity
`based temporary audio sharing, according to one aspect.
`The graph 120 reflects the loudness ofeach song played
`for user B in Figures 1A—1C over time. As shown, user B
`102 initially hears song 2 (represented byline 123) until
`the users enter within the threshold distance HO, at
`which point, song 2 begins to fade out, while song 1 (rep-
`resented byline 124) begins to fade in. Song 1 then plays
`for a predefined duration (or until the users are no longer
`within the threshold distance 110), at which point song 1
`fades out, while song 2 fades in.
`{0013} Once a user has heard a shared song, aspects
`may allow the user to perform many different operations.
`For example, the user may search for identification infor—
`mation about the song (if none was provided during play-
`back of the sample). Similarly, the user may request to
`purchase the song, at which point, the user may be pro-
`vided with a portal to purchase the song. Furthermore,
`the user may share the sample (or the entire song) via
`social media sites, email, multimedia messaging, and the
`like. lndeed, the user may push the sample to another
`user who may like the song. Further still, if one (or both)
`of the users 101, 102 express an indication to connect
`with the other user, the users may be able to exchange
`contact information, or may connect via one or more so-
`cial media platforms.
`{0014]
`Figure 2 illustrates a system 200 to provide
`
`proximity based temporary audio sharing, according to
`one aspect. The networked system 200 includes a com—
`puter 202. The computer 202 may also be connected to
`other computers via a network 230. in general, the net-
`work 230 may be a telecommunications network and/or
`a wide area network (WAN). In a particular aspect, the
`network 230 is the tnternet. The computer 202 may be
`any computing device configured to output audio, includ-
`ing without limitation, a media player, a smartphone, a
`laptop or other portable computer, a game console, a
`smart watch, a head mounted display device (such as
`glasses), or a tablet computer. Similarly, the computer
`202 may be integrated into any device, such as wearable
`headphones, the head mounted display device, a smart
`watch, or an in-vehicle entertainment (or infotainment)
`system.
`{0015] The computer 202 generally includes a proces-
`sor 204 connected via a bus 220 to a memory 206, a
`network interface device 218, a storage 208, an input
`device 222, and an output device 224. The computer 202
`is generally underthe control of an operating system (not
`shown). Examples of operating systems include the UN-
`lX operating system, versions of the Microsoft Windows
`operating system, and distributions ofthe Linux operating
`system. (UNlX is a registered trademark of The Open
`Group in the United States and other countries. Microsoft
`and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
`in the United States, other countries, or both. Linux is a
`registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United
`States, other countries, or both.) More generally, any op-
`erating system supporting the functions disclosed herein
`may be used. The processor 204 is included to be rep-
`resentative of a single CPU, multiple CPUs, a single CPU
`having multiple processing cores, and the like. The net—
`work interface device 218 may be any type of network
`communications device allowing the computer 202 to
`communicate with other computers via the network 230.
`{0016] The storage 208 may be a persistent storage
`device. Although the storage 208 is shown as a single
`unit, the storage 208 may be a combination offixed and/or
`removable storage devices, such as fixed disc drives,
`solid state drives, SAN storage, NAS storage, removable
`memory cards or optical storage. The memory 206 and
`the storage 208 may be part of one virtual address space
`spanning multiple primary and secondary storage devic-
`es.
`
`{0017] The input device 222 may be any device for
`providing input to the computer 202. For example, a key-
`board and/or a mouse may be used. The output device
`224 may be any device for providing output to a user of
`the computer 202. For example, the output device 224
`may be any conventional display screen or set of speak—
`ers. Although shown separately from the input device
`222, the output device 224 and input device 222 may be
`combined. For example, a display screen with an inte—
`grated touch-screen may be used.
`{0018] The headphones 223 may be a pair of small
`loudspeakers that are designed to be held in place in,
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`on, or close to a user's ears. The headphones 223 may
`take any form factor. As previously indicated, the com-
`puter 202 may be integrated in the headphones 223, such
`as wireless Bluetooth headphones that playback remote
`(or streaming) audio, or headphones that play media from
`local storage.
`{0019] As shown, the memory 206 contains the play-
`back application 212, which is an application generally
`configured to facilitate music sharing between users who
`are within proximity of each other. Generally, the play-
`back application 212 may play any type of song or audio
`file to a user via the headphones 223 (or output device
`224). However, when a first computer 202 comes within
`a threshold distance 110 of a second computer 202 par-
`ticipating in music sharing, the playback application 212
`may cause the first and second computers to establish
`a wireless data connection, share information about the
`songs currently being played, and cause the songs to be
`played on the other computer. Specifically, if song A is
`playing on the first computer and song B is playing on
`the second computer, the playback application 212 may
`stop playback of song A on the first computer, and cause
`a segment of song B to be played back on the first com-
`puter. Similarly, the playback application 212 may stop
`playback of song B on the second computer, and cause
`a segment song A to be played on the second computer.
`The instances ofthe playback application 212 may trans—
`mit the segments of songs between the devices, or the
`instances of the playback application 212 may retrieve
`the segments of the songs from a remote location on the
`Internet. When the segments of the songs finish playing,
`the playback application 212 may cause the originally
`played songs to resume playback. Similarly, if the users
`are no longer within the threshold distance 110, the play-
`back application 212 may stop playback of the shared
`audio content.
`
`in some aspects, multiple computers 202 may
`{0020]
`be within the threshold distance 110. In such a case, the
`playbackapplication 212 may sequentially playback seg-
`ments of songs of all nearby users on the respective de—
`vices (it user preferences specify to playback from all
`nearby users). However, if the users do not wish to listen
`to shared music from all other users, the playback appli-
`cation 212 may randomly pairthe userwith another user.
`Alternatively, the playback application 212 may pair the
`user with a subset of nearby users based on one or more
`user preferences in the profiles 209. For example, if the
`profiles of four users out often (that are within the thresh-
`old distance 110) specify hip—hop as a preferred genre,
`then the playback application 212 may initiate sharing
`between these four users in sequence.
`{0021] The playback application 212 may also allow
`the user to perform different actions responsive to hear—
`ing a shared song, such as retrieving identification infor-
`mation of the shared song from the social media plat-
`forms 250, providing a portal to purchase the shared song
`via the remote media services 250, allowing the user to
`share the song (via social media platforms 240, email,
`
`and the like).
`{0022] As shown, storage 208 contains the profiles
`209, media store 210, and associations 211. The profiles
`209 is generally configured to store user data, such as
`identification information, preferences, and the like. For
`example, user Z’s profile information may reflect a pref—
`erence forforeign music, while user Y's profile may reflect
`a preference for bluegrass music. Additionally, the profile
`209 may specify multi—user settings, such as whether a
`userwishes to automatically interactwith all nearby users
`in the event more than one user is in proximity. The media
`store 210 may include different digital audio files that may
`be played by the playback application 212 to a local user,
`or shared with a remote user. The associations 211 may
`include relationships between users, including levels of
`separation between different users in the event a direct
`relationship does not exist. The playback application 212
`may leverage data in the profiles 209 and associations
`211 in order to pair users for music sharing as described
`herein.
`
`{0023] As previously indicated, the playback applica—
`tion 212 may provide users a portal to social media plat-
`forms 240 and remote media services 250 via respective
`interfaces 241 and 251. Generally, the social media plat—
`forms 240 are social networking sites that allow users to
`interact with each other. For example, users may use the
`playback application 212 to share songs on their own
`profiles on the social media platforms 240. The remote
`media services 250 include services to search for audio
`
`content, play audio content, purchase audio content, and
`the like. For example, a user may use the playback ap-
`plication 212 to search for a shared audio content via a
`remote media service 250, and once the user has re—
`ceived identification information forthe shared audio con-
`
`tent, the user may use the playback application 212 to
`purchase the identified audio content via a remote media
`service 250.
`
`Figure 3 illustrates a method 300 to provide
`{0024]
`proximity based temporary audio sharing, according to
`one aspect. Generally, the steps of the method 300 au-
`tomatically share segments ofaudio content between de-
`vices thatare within proximity of each other. For example,
`if user X,
`listening to Beethoven‘s Moonlight Sonata,
`comes into proximity with user Y, listening to an audio
`podcast, the playback application 212 on each user’s de-
`vice may share the audio content such that user X hears
`a segment of the audio podcast, while user Y hears a
`segment of Moonlight Sonata.
`{0025] The method 300 begins at step 310, where a
`user opts into the sharing service provided by the play-
`back application 212. The user may opt in via a stored
`setting that makes his or her device available to share
`audio. Alternatively, the user may provide a request to
`scan for nearby devices that are sharing audio. At step
`320, the playbackapplication 212 may detect two or more
`devices within a threshold distance of the user‘s media
`
`playback device. As previously indicated, the media play—
`back device may be any device capable of playing audio
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`and performing wireless data communications, such as
`portable media players, laptop computers, tablet com-
`puters, vehicles with infotainment systems, headphones
`with integrated wireless chipsets, and the like. The de—
`vices may use any suitable technique for proximity de-
`tection, such as radio frequency (RF) detection (such as
`via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi beacon signals), infrared signals,
`location sharing services or applications (such as the
`"Find My Friends" application by Apple® inc.) and the
`like. The threshold distance may be any distance within
`which the devices can communicate wirelessly.
`{0026} At step 330, described in greater detail with ref-
`erence to Figure 4, the playback application 212 may
`select nearby devices for sharing of audio content. The
`playback application 212 may select the nearby devices
`for sharing based on any number of factors, such as a
`number of available nearby devices, common interests
`or preferences, shared connections, settings in the user
`profiles 209, and the like. At step 340, the playback ap-
`plication 212 on each device may wirelessly connect to
`create ad-hoc wireless communication networks, such
`that the playback applications 212 may stream their cur—
`rently playing audio content to the paired device. in an-
`other aspect, the playback applications 212 may connect
`to each other by first connecting to the lnternet using
`independent cellular network communication, or lever-
`aging connectivity of a paired smartphone. Once con—
`nected to the lnternet, the playback applications 212 on
`each device may then communicate. Regardless of the
`communication route, the playback application 212 on
`each device may share information regarding the cur—
`rently playing audio content, user preferences or other
`data in the profiles 209, and connection or friendship data
`in the associations 211. At step 350, the playback appli-
`cations 212 may share the audio content currently play—
`ing on its respective device with the playback application
`212 on the paired device. Therefore, for example, if user
`A is listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, while user B is
`listening to Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor, the playback
`application 212 on user A‘s device will play Mozart, while
`the playback application 212 on user B’s device will play
`Vivaldi. The playback applications 212 may transfer the
`audio content directly between devices, or the playback
`applications 232 may cause the respective device to
`download the audio content from the lnternet.
`
`{0027} At step 360, the playback applications 212 on
`each device may stop sharing the audio content upon
`determining that the devices are no longer within the
`threshold distance and/or upon determining that a time
`limit for sharing the audio content has expired. For ex-
`ample, if the users were in the same coffee shop when
`the audio content sharing began, but one (or both) users
`subsequently left the coffee shop, the playback applica—
`tion 212 may stop playing the shared content. However,
`in some aspects, the playback applications 212 may at-
`low the segment ofthe shared content to continue playing
`until the time limit has been reached. Similarly,
`if two
`vehicles are stopped at a stop light, their infotainment
`
`systems may play the shared music until the vehicles
`turn in different directions and are no longer within the
`threshold distance. The time limit may be any amount of
`time, such as 10 seconds, which sets a maximum amount
`oftime that a user can listen to another user’s audio con-
`
`tent. Doing so may maintain compliance with copyright
`laws and contractual obligations. At step 370, described
`in greater detail with reference to Figure 5, the playback
`application 212 may process user requests to perform
`additional operations responsive to hearing the shared
`audio content from the other user. For example, the user
`may request to identify the shared audio content, pur-
`chase the shared audio content, share the shared audio
`content with others, and connect with the other user via
`social media or other platforms.
`{0028] Figure4 illustrates a method 400 corresponding
`to step 330 to select devices for audio content sharing,
`according to one aspect. Generally, the playback appli-
`cation 212 may perform the steps of the method 400 in
`order to ensure participating devices are paired with at
`least one nearby device in order to share (and receive)
`audio content between the devices. While the steps of
`the method 400 are described from the perspective of a
`single instance ofthe playback application 212 executing
`on a device, the same process may be followed by other
`devices in order to ensure that all devices are paired with
`at least one device. At step 410, the playback application
`212 may, upon determining that only one device is within
`the threshold distance ofthe current device (namely, two
`total devices are within proximity of each other), select
`the one nearby device to pair with the current device.
`{0029] At step 420, the playback application 212 may
`select one nearby device to pair with the current device
`upon determining that more than one device is within the
`threshold distance but that the user of the current device
`
`does notwish to share music with all nearby devices. For
`example, user preferences in the current device may
`specify to not share with all nearby devices but only one
`(or two, or any number) of devices. in such a case, the
`playback application 272 may select one nearby device
`based on a set of attributes, such as the nearest device
`(by distance), which song the other device is currently
`playing, preferences in each user’s profile, music genres
`that the users do not like, friendship connections and
`levels of separation, and the like. For example, user A’s
`profile may specify country music as a dislike and clas—
`sical music as a preference. if user B’s nearby device is
`currently playing country music, the playback application
`212 may not select user B’s device, as user A has ex-
`pressly indicated they do not like country music. Howev-
`er, if user C’s nearby device is playing Beethoven, the
`playback application 212 may select user C’s device due
`to the preferred musical genre. Similarly, the playback
`application 212 may compare preferences in the user
`profile to find the users who share the most in common
`(such a likes and dislikes), and pair those users. lf the
`user’s settings specify to share audio with a maximum
`of 3 users, the playback application 212 may pair the
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`user’s device with upto three devices based on the above
`attributes.
`
`{0030] At step 430, the playback application 212 may
`select all nearby devices for sharing audio content upon
`determining that more than one device is within the
`threshold distance, and that the user wishes to share
`content with all devices. in such a case, the playback
`application 212 may select each nearby device, such that
`the devices share audio content in sequence. The play—
`back application 2t2 may order the sequence of device
`sharing according to any methodology, such as placing
`users with similar preferences at the beginning of the
`queue, randomly ordering the devices, and the like.
`{0031]
`Figure 5 illustrates a method 500 corresponding
`to step 370 to process user requests to perform additional
`operations, according to one aspect. Generally, the steps
`of the method 500 describe example functionalities that
`the playback application 212 may provide to a user who
`has heard shared audio content from a nearby device.
`At step 510, the playback application 212 may output
`identification information of the shared audio content re-
`
`sponsive to a user request to identify the shared audio
`content. For example, if the user hears a new song (but
`is unaware of the title, artist, or album information), the
`user may request the identification information.
`in re-
`sponse, the playback application 212 may access an on-
`line portal which may analyze the song and provide the
`correct identification information for the song. At step
`520, the playback application 212 may provide an inter-
`face for the user to purchase the shared audio content
`responsive to a user request to purchase the shared au—
`dio content. For example, once the shared audio content
`finishes playing, the playback application 212 may dis-
`play a linkto purchase the shared media. lfthe user se-
`lects the link, the playback application 212 may direct the
`user to a portal to purchase the shared audio content. At
`step 530, the playback application 212 may provide an
`interface to publish the shared audio content on a social
`media platform responsive to a user request. For exam-
`ple, if the user wishes to post a link to the shared audio
`content on a friend's social media profile, the playback
`application 212 may provide an interface to the social
`media platform to post the link on the friends profile. Sim-
`ilarly, the playback application 212 may share the shared
`media through otherformats, such as email, social media
`messages, text messages, multimedia messages, and
`the like. At step 540, the playback application 212 may
`provide an interface to create a relationship with the user
`sharing the shared media responsive to a user request
`to connect with the other user. For example, if user A
`loves the sample of user B‘s music, user A may wish to
`connect with user B on a social networking site.
`in re-
`sponse, the playback application 212 may identify user
`B‘s contact information (such as a URL to a social net-
`working profile in the profiles 209), and provide an inter-
`face to send a friend request to user B. Similarly, the
`playback application 212 may facilitate the sharing ofoth-
`er contact information, such as email addresses and
`
`phone numbers.
`{0032] Advantageously, aspects disclosed herein al—
`low users to share audio content with nearby devices.
`The sharing may be triggered by proximity (or a user
`request to search for nearby devices). When two devices
`are paired, the devices share the audio content such that
`each device plays back the audio content of the other
`device. Users have a great interest in sharing music over
`social media sites, and aspects disclosed herein may
`facilitate the sharing of music as well as the development
`of friendships and other relationships.
`{0033] The descriptions of the various aspects of the
`present disclosure have been presented for purposes of
`illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or lim-
`ited to the aspects disclosed. Many modifications and
`variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
`art without departing from the scope and spirit of the de-
`scribed aspects. The terminology used herein was cho-
`sen to best explain the principles of the aspects, the prac—
`tical application or technical improvement over technol—
`ogies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of
`ordinary skill
`in the art to understand the aspects dis-
`closed herein.
`
`ln the foregoing, reference is made to aspects
`{0034]
`presented in this disclosure. However, the scope of the
`present disclosure is not limited to specific described as-
`pects. instead, any combination of the features and ele-
`ments, whether related to different aspects or not, is con-
`templated to implement and practice contemplated as—
`pects. Furthermore, although aspects disclosed herein
`may achieve advantages over other possible solutions
`or over the prior art, whether or not a particular advantage
`is achieved by a given aspect is not limiting of the scope
`of the present disclosure. Thus, the recited aspects, fea—
`tures, aspects and advantages are merely illustrative and
`are not considered elements or limitations ofthe append-
`ed claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s).
`Likewise, reference to "the invention“ shall not be con—
`strued as a generalization ofany inventive subject matter
`disclosed herein and shall not be considered to be an
`
`element or limitation of the appended claims except
`where explicitly recited in a claim(s).
`{0035] Aspects of the present disclosure may take the
`form of an entirely hardware aspect, an entirely software
`aspect (including firmware, resident software, micro-
`code, etc.) or an aspect combining software and hard—
`ware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein
`as a "circuit,“ "module" or "system."
`{0036] The present disclosure may be a system, a
`method, and/or a computer program product. The com-
`puter program product may include a computer readable
`storage medium (or media) having computer readable
`program instructions thereon for causing a processor to
`carry out aspects of the present disclosure.
`{0037] The computer readable storage medium can be
`a tangible device that can retain and store instructions
`for use by an instruction execution device. The computer
`readable storage medium may be, for example, but is
`
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`

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`3?
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`EP 3 032 537 A2
`
`12
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`not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic
`storage device, an optical storage device, an electromag-
`netic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
`any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. A non-exhaus—
`tive list of more specific examples ofthe computer re