Patents by Inventor Christopher John Sanders

Christopher John Sanders has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11029817
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for intelligently managing a playlist of digital media provide an intelligent dynamic queue that is configured to manage the playback of digital media. The queue can transition between passive playback mode, active playback mode, and mixed playback mode. The queue can handle the playback of the songs in the queue according to the playback mode and/or a queue status field that is associated with each song in the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Sanders, Anne Jones, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William Martin Bachman, Timothy B. Martin
  • Publication number: 20210026880
    Abstract: A method at a client device includes displaying media library information corresponding to a set of media items. The media items include one or more local media items, the one or more local media items including media items stored at the client device, and one or more remote media items, the one or more remote media items including media items stored at a remote system and not at the client device. The method also includes displaying, concurrently with displaying the media library information, affordances identifying the remote media items; detecting user interaction with an affordance identifying a respective remote media item; and in response to detecting the user interaction, initiating a process for downloading a copy of the respective remote media item to the client device for storage at the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher John SANDERS, Timothy B. MARTIN, Imran CHAUDHRI, Lucas C. NEWMAN, Sean Boland KELLY, Thomas M. ALSINA, Jeffrey L. ROBBIN, Andrew M. WADYCKI, Patrice O. GAUTIER
  • Publication number: 20200382872
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to audio synchronization. An example method includes, at a first device with a communication device: performing an audio timing synchronization process that includes: transmitting, via the communication device, to a second device, a request for the second device to participate in the audio timing synchronization process; subsequent to transmitting the request to the second device, causing an output of an audio tone; subsequent to causing the output of the audio tone, receiving data from the second device based on the audio tone; and adjusting an audio timing synchronization setting of a third device based at least in part on the data received from the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Taylor G. CARRIGAN, Joseph LABARCK, Christopher John SANDERS, Jarrad A. STALLONE
  • Patent number: 10706096
    Abstract: A method at a client device includes displaying media library information corresponding to a set of media items. The media items include one or more local media items stored at the client device, and one or more remote media items stored at a remote system and not at the client device. The method also includes displaying affordances identifying the remote media items and detecting user interaction with an affordance identifying a respective remote media item. The method also includes, in response to detecting the user interaction, initiating a process for downloading a copy of the respective remote media item to the client device for storage at the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Sanders, Timothy B. Martin, Imran Chaudhri, Lucas C. Newman, Sean Boland Kelly, Thomas M. Alsina, Jeffrey L. Robbin, Andrew M. Wadycki, Patrice O. Gautier
  • Patent number: 10390125
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatically controlling the operation of a media device based upon whether a portable presentation device coupled to the media device is currently being worn by a user. A portable presentation device may be any device that is meant to be worn by a user that is capable of presenting media content to the user (e.g. earphones, headphones, goggles or faceplates with video/audio capability, etc.). With this mechanism, a user can affect the operation of the media device by simply putting on or taking off the portable presentation device. The user does not need to manually manipulate the controls of the media device. By automatically controlling the operation of the media device in this manner, use of the media device and the portable presentation device as a unit is made much simpler and more convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher John Sanders
  • Patent number: 10255449
    Abstract: To perform a restricted action, such as access a restricted content item, a subordinate user account can transmit a permission request to an authorizing user account. The permission request can request authorization from the authorizing user account to perform the restricted action. The permission request can be transmitted to one or more client devices of the authorizing user account, and enable to the authorizing user account to remotely select to approve or deny the permission request, thereby either granting or denying the subordinate user account from performing the restricted action. In addition to approving or denying a permission request, an authorizing user account can also be enabled to ignore a permission request, thereby allowing the authorizing user account to respond to the permission request at a later time. Further, in some embodiments, an authorizing user account can select to deny all further permission requests to perform the restricted action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Espinosa, Christopher John Sanders, David L. Neumann, Gregory Quirk, James C. Wilson, Maria D. Ioveva, Michael Chu
  • Publication number: 20190025993
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for intelligently managing a playlist of digital media provide an intelligent dynamic queue that is configured to manage the playback of digital media. The queue can transition between passive playback mode, active playback mode, and mixed playback mode. The queue can handle the playback of the songs in the queue according to the playback mode and/or a queue status field that is associated with each song in the queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher John Sanders, Anne Jones, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William Martin Bachman, Timothy B. Martin
  • Patent number: 10140742
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to automatic generation of dynamically changing layouts for a graphical user-interface. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure employ analysis of an image associated with the view (e.g., either the current view or a future view) of the graphical user-interface to determine colors that are complementary to the image. The colors are applied to the view, such that the color scheme of the view matches the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joe R. Howard, Brian R. Frick, Timothy B. Martin, Christopher John Sanders
  • Patent number: 10120533
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for intelligently managing a playlist of digital media provide an intelligent dynamic queue that is configured to manage the playback of digital media. The queue can transition between passive playback mode, active playback mode, and mixed playback mode. The queue can handle the playback of the songs in the queue according to the playback mode and/or a queue status field that is associated with each song in the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Sanders, Anne Jones, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William Martin Bachman, Timothy B. Martin
  • Publication number: 20180302706
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatically controlling the operation of a media device based upon whether a portable presentation device coupled to the media device is currently being worn by a user. A portable presentation device may be any device that is meant to be worn by a user that is capable of presenting media content to the user (e.g. earphones, headphones, goggles or faceplates with video/audio capability, etc.). With this mechanism, a user can affect the operation of the media device by simply putting on or taking off the portable presentation device. The user does not need to manually manipulate the controls of the media device. By automatically controlling the operation of the media device in this manner, use of the media device and the portable presentation device as a unit is made much simpler and more convenient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher John Sanders
  • Patent number: 9942642
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatically controlling the operation of a media device based upon whether a portable presentation device coupled to the media device is currently being worn by a user. A portable presentation device may be any device that is meant to be worn by a user that is capable of presenting media content to the user (e.g. earphones, headphones, goggles or faceplates with video/audio capability, etc.). With this mechanism, a user can affect the operation of the media device by simply putting on or taking off the portable presentation device. The user does not need to manually manipulate the controls of the media device. By automatically controlling the operation of the media device in this manner, use of the media device and the portable presentation device as a unit is made much simpler and more convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher John Sanders
  • Publication number: 20160364893
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to automatic generation of dynamically changing layouts for a graphical user-interface. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure employ analysis of an image associated with the view (e.g., either the current view or a future view) of the graphical user-interface to determine colors that are complementary to the image. The colors are applied to the view, such that the color scheme of the view matches the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Joe R. Howard, Brian R. Frick, Timothy B. Martin, Christopher John Sanders
  • Publication number: 20160291817
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for intelligently managing a playlist of digital media provide an intelligent dynamic queue that is configured to manage the playback of digital media. The queue can transition between passive playback mode, active playback mode, and mixed playback mode. The queue can handle the playback of the songs in the queue according to the playback mode and/or a queue status field that is associated with each song in the queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher John Sanders, Anne Jones, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William Martin Bachman, Timothy B. Martin
  • Patent number: 9397844
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to automatic generation of dynamically changing layouts for a graphical user-interface. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure employ analysis of an image associated with the view (e.g., either the current view or a future view) of the graphical user-interface to determine colors that are complementary to the image. The colors are applied to the view, such that the color scheme of the view matches the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joe R. Howard, Brian R. Frick, Timothy B. Martin, Christopher John Sanders
  • Publication number: 20150348032
    Abstract: A computing device provides methods and workflow for setting up a shared family account on a content storage system, including the creation of accounts for child family members. A computing device supports the creation of a family account using an account on the content storage system associated with an adult family member acting as a family organizer. The family organizer can designate a specific account as a purchase account for allowing other family member to purchase content from content servers associated with the content storage system. The family organizer can invite other adult family members to join the shared family account. The family organizer can create new accounts on the content storage system for child family members, and can designate access and purchase restrictions for such child family members. Family members have access to shared storage content, as well as services such as family calendar, group messaging, and device location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Maria Dimitrova Ioveva, Christopher John Sanders, James Christopher Wilson, Michael Kuohao Chu, David Lawrence Neumann, Gregory T. Quirk, Christopher D. Espinosa, Jeffrey L. Robbin, Joseph Michael Rossell, Monika E. Gromek, Daniel E. Pu, William Martin Bachman
  • Publication number: 20150347769
    Abstract: To perform a restricted action, such as access a restricted content item, a subordinate user account can transmit a permission request to an authorizing user account. The permission request can request authorization from the authorizing user account to perform the restricted action. The permission request can be transmitted to one or more client devices of the authorizing user account, and enable to the authorizing user account to remotely select to approve or deny the permission request, thereby either granting or denying the subordinate user account from performing the restricted action. In addition to approving or denying a permission request, an authorizing user account can also be enabled to ignore a permission request, thereby allowing the authorizing user account to respond to the permission request at a later time. Further, in some embodiments, an authorizing user account can select to deny all further permission requests to perform the restricted action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher D. Espinosa, Christopher John Sanders, David L. Neumann, Gregory Quirk, James C. Wilson, Maria D. Ioveva, Michael Chu
  • Patent number: D746317
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Frick, Timothy Benjamin Martin, Christopher John Sanders
  • Patent number: D784378
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Frick, Timothy Benjamin Martin, Christopher John Sanders
  • Patent number: D806101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Frick, Joe Randall Howard, Jonathan Lochhead, Timothy Benjamin Martin, Christopher John Sanders
  • Patent number: D859456
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Frick, Joe Randall Howard, Jonathan Lochhead, Timothy Benjamin Martin, Christopher John Sanders