Virtual assistant for media playback

Abstract

An exemplary method for identifying media may include receiving user input associated with a request for media, where that user input includes unstructured natural language speech including one or more words; identifying at least one context associated with the user input; causing a search for the media based on the at least one context and the user input; determining, based on the at least one context and the user input, at least one media item that satisfies the request; and in accordance with a determination that the at least one media item satisfies the request, obtaining the at least one media item.

1 . A method for identifying media, comprising:
 at a device with one or more processors, memory and a microphone:
 receiving user input associated with a request for media, the user input comprising unstructured natural language speech including one or more words; 
 identifying at least one context associated with the user input; 
 causing a search for the media based on the at least one context and the user input; 
 determining, based on the at least one context and the user input, at least one media item that satisfies the request; 
 in accordance with a determination that the at least one media item satisfies the request, obtaining the at least one media item; 
 receiving second user input requesting alternate media; 
 in response to receiving the second user input, causing a search for the media based on the at least one context, the user input and the second user input; 
 determining, based on the at least one context, the user input and the second user input, at least one additional media item that satisfies the request; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the at least one additional media item satisfies the request, obtaining the at least one additional media item. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the causing a search causes searching to be performed locally on the device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the causing a search causes searching to be performed remotely to the device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the media item for the user comprises:
 determining whether a local library includes the media item; and
 in accordance with a determination that the local library includes the media item, presenting the media item to the user; 
 in accordance with a determination that the local library does not include the media item, obtaining the media item from an external data source. 
   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one context associated with the user input includes a device context. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the device context includes the location of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the device context includes the proximity of the device to a wireless location transmitter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the device context includes the content of media concurrently played by the device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the device context includes a timecode associated with media concurrently played by the device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the device context includes audio input from the microphone other than user speech. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the device context includes data associated with media stored on the device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one context associated with the user input includes a user context. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user context includes the content of the user input. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user context includes media associated with the user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user context includes demographic information associated with the user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user context includes information relating to a musical preference of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user context includes data associated with user content accessible by the device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one context associated with the user input includes a social context. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the social context includes the access frequency of a particular media item across a plurality of users. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the social context includes the number of references to a media item in a social media database. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media item is a song. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to obtaining the at least one media item, playing at least one media item, and terminating concurrent playback of other media.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the at least one media item comprises adding the at least one media item to a media library associated with the user. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after obtaining the media item, receiving second user input comprising unstructured natural language speech including one or more words;   annotating the media item with the one or more words.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, based on the at least one context and the user input, at least one media item that satisfies the request comprises:
 determining a probability, based on the at least one context and the user input, that at least one media item satisfies the request; and   determining whether the probability exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, based on the at least one context and the user input, at least one media item that satisfies the request comprises:
 determining a probability, based on the at least one context and the user input, that at least one media item satisfies the request; and   selecting the media item having the highest probability.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the at least one media item comprises receiving streaming audio containing the at least one media item. 
     
     
         29 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display;   a memory;   a microphone;   a processor coupled to the display, the memory and the microphone; the processor configured to:
 receive user input associated with a request for media, the user input comprising unstructured natural language speech including one or more words; 
 identify at least one context associated with the user input; 
 cause a search for the media based on the at least one context and the user input; 
 determine, based on the at least one context and the user input, at least one media item that satisfies the request; 
 in accordance with a determination that the at least one media item satisfies the request, obtain the at least one media item; 
 receiving second user input requesting alternate media; 
 in response to receiving the second user input, causing a search for the media based on the at least one context, the user input and the second user input; 
 determining, based on the at least one context, the user input and the second user input, at least one additional media item that satisfies the request; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the at least one additional media item satisfies the request, obtaining the at least one additional media item. 
   
     
     
         30 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to:
 receive user input associated with a request for media, the user input comprising unstructured natural language speech including one or more words;   identify at least one context associated with the user input;   cause a search for the media based on the at least one context and the user input;   determine, based on the at least one context and the user input, at least one media item that satisfies the request; and   in accordance with a determination that the at least one media item satisfies the request, obtain the at least one media item;   receiving second user input requesting alternate media;   in response to receiving the second user input, causing a search for the media based on the at least one context, the user input and the second user input;   determining, based on the at least one context, the user input and the second user input, at least one additional media item that satisfies the request; and   in accordance with a determination that the at least one additional media item satisfies the request, obtaining the at least one additional media item.