System and method for providing an adaptive seek bar for use with an electronic device

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for providing an adaptive seek bar, for use with a displayed user interface of an electronic device, for example a tablet computer, smartphone, or wearable mobile device, that can be used as a media device for playing of music, video, or other forms of media content. A media application is configured to display a seek bar that is adaptable to the shape of a parent user interface, for example by being displayed along the perimeter of the parent user interface. The adaptive seek bar can be associated with a greater usable length, and occupy less central space than other types of seek bar. User interaction with the seek bar can be used to access or otherwise control the playing of media content that is stored locally at the electronic device, or is streamed from a media server.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display screen adapted to display a user interface; and   one or more processors, and a media application executable thereon and configured to access media content items, for playing at the electronic device;   wherein the media application, when executed, causes the electronic device to:
 receive, from an operating system of the electronic device, a parent user interface data that indicates a shape and dimensions of the user interface; and 
 generate and display, within the user interface, a display element that includes a plurality of sections and adaptively conforms to the shape and dimensions of the user interface; 
 wherein each section of the display element can be associated with a respective portion of a media content item to be played at the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the media content items are received from a media server, and wherein generating and displaying the display element further comprises:
 receiving from the media server, for a particular media content item, a media content data that indicates a duration of the particular media content to be streamed by the media server and played at the electronic device; and   determining a total length of the display element to be displayed that corresponds to the duration of the particular media content item.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein the display screen is touch-sensitive display screen, and wherein the display element is a seek bar that includes a movable indicator displayed thereon that corresponds to a current position within the particular media content item being streamed by the media server, and that controls playing of the media content item in response to interaction with the adaptive seek bar. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the media application is configured to:
 receive a user input indicative of movement of the movable indicator from a first position on the seek bar to a second position on the seek bar, and;   adjust playback of the media content item being streamed by the media server to a playback position that corresponds to the second position on the seek bar.   
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the seek bar is displayed to adaptively conform to the perimeter of the user interface. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic device is a watch device. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the media application maintains a client-side media content buffer that enables a portion of the media content item, or sample thereof, to be pre-buffered at the electronic device, while the display element is being prepared for display within the user interface. 
     
     
         28 . A method performed at an electronic device, comprising:
 providing a media application executing on the electronic device and configured to access media content items, for playing at the electronic device;   receiving, from an operating system of the electronic device, a parent user interface data that indicates a shape and dimensions of a user interface; and   generating and displaying, within the user interface, a display element that includes a plurality of sections and adaptively conforms to the shape and dimensions of the user interface;   wherein each section of the display element can be associated with a respective portion of a media content item to be played at the electronic device.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the media content items are received from a media server, and wherein generating and displaying the display element further comprises:
 receiving from the media server, for a particular media content item, a media content data that indicates a duration of the particular media content to be streamed by the media server and played at the electronic device; and   determining a total length of the display element to be displayed that corresponds to the duration of the particular media content item.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display screen, and wherein the display element is a seek bar that includes a movable indicator displayed thereon that corresponds to a current position within the particular media content item being streamed by the media server, and that controls playing of the media content item in response to interaction with the adaptive seek bar. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the media application is configured to:
 receive a user input indicative of movement of the movable indicator from a first position on the seek bar to a second position on the seek bar, and;   adjust playback of the media content item being streamed by the media server to a playback position that corresponds to the second position on the seek bar.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the seek bar is displayed to adaptively conform to the perimeter of the user interface. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the electronic device is a watch device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the media application maintains a client-side media content buffer that enables a portion of the media content item, or sample thereof, to be pre-buffered at the electronic device, while the display element is being prepared for display within the user interface. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructions stored thereon which, when read and executed an electronic device including one or more computer processors, cause the electronic device to perform a method comprising:
 providing a media application executing on the electronic device and configured to access media content items, for playing at the electronic device;   receiving, from an operating system of the electronic device, a parent user interface data that indicates a shape and dimensions of a user interface; and   generating and displaying, within the user interface, a display element that includes a plurality of sections and adaptively conforms to the shape and dimensions of the user interface;   wherein each section of the display element can be associated with a respective portion of a media content item to be played at the electronic device.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the media content items are received from a media server, and wherein generating and displaying the display element further comprises:
 receiving from the media server, for a particular media content item, a media content data that indicates a duration of the particular media content to be streamed by the media server and played at the electronic device; and   determining a total length of the display element to be displayed that corresponds to the duration of the particular media content item.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 36 ,
 wherein the electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display screen, and wherein the display element is a seek bar that includes a movable indicator displayed thereon that corresponds to a current position within the particular media content item being streamed by the media server, and that controls playing of the media content item in response to interaction with the adaptive seek bar;   wherein the media application is configured to:
 receive a user input indicative of movement of the movable indicator from a first position on the seek bar to a second position on the seek bar, and; 
 adjust playback of the media content item being streamed by the media server to a playback position that corresponds to the second position on the seek bar. 
   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the seek bar is displayed to adaptively conform to the perimeter of the user interface. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the electronic device is a watch device. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the media application maintains a client-side media content buffer that enables a portion of the media content item, or sample thereof, to be pre-buffered at the electronic device, while the display element is being prepared for display within the user interface.