Patent Publication Number: US-2016249091-A1

Title: Method and an electronic device for providing a media stream

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to the providing of media content. In particular, the embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of operating an electronic device and corresponding electronic devices for playing of media content. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As computer technology has improved, the digital media industry has evolved greatly in recent years. Users are able to use electronic devices such as mobile communication devices (e.g., cellular telephones, smart phones, tablet computers, etc.) to consume music, video and other forms of media content. For instance, users can listen to audio content (e.g., music) and/or watch video content (e.g., movies, television (TV) broadcasts, etc.) on a variety of electronic devices. 
     When listening to songs the listener may sometimes perceive that it is hard to hear, or understand, the text of the song. This could be the case, when the volume of the singer&#39;s voice is low compared to the instruments&#39; volume in the recording, when listening is performed in a noisy environment, etc. In addition, some singers may have voices which are difficult to hear. 
     Traditionally, music and other audio media have been offered on tapes, records, CDs (Compact Discs), etc., and buyers have received the lyrics together with the audio media, e.g. printed on an inner envelope. 
     Today, music is sometimes delivered by various streaming services to the consumers who listen to the music on electronic devices. When the consumers do not visit any music shop, he/she will then not be able to get the lyrics of the song together with the song or album which comprises the song. 
     Thus, there is a need to improve the user experience when delivering songs and other media content, e.g. through streaming services. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is a general object of the embodiments of the present invention to improve user experience when playing back streamed media, such as listening to a song (audio content) or watching a film (video content). 
     This general object has been addressed by the appended independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the appended dependent claims. 
     According to a first aspect, a method of operating a first electronic device for playback of streamed media at a user interface is provided. The method according to the first aspect comprises: receiving a first request requesting a first media content to be complemented with a second media content, the second media content being associated with the first media content; in response to receiving the first request, sending, to a second electronic device, a second request for the first media content complemented with the second media content. Furthermore, the method comprises: receiving, from the second electronic device, a media stream comprising the first media content and the second media content, and playing the first media content of the received media stream complemented with the second media content of the received media stream at the user interface. 
     Furthermore, receiving may comprise receiving the first media content and the associated second media content as a synchronized stream, or as a first media stream and a second media stream, wherein each of the first and second media streams comprises respective markers, and wherein playing the first media content and the second media content comprises synchronizing the received first media content and the received second media content according to the markers. Moreover, the first media stream may comprise audio content, such as a song, and the second media content may comprise a textual content, such as lyrics. 
     Furthermore, the method may comprise receiving a third request for control of playback, and controlling playing in accordance with the third request, e.g. fast-forwarding, rewind, jump, skip, next, search, etc. 
     According to a second aspect, a first electronic device, which is adapted to perform the method steps of the above described method, is also provided. The first electronic device comprises a user interface, a processor, and a memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the first electronic device to perform actions of the above described method. Furthermore, the first electronic device may be implemented as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a lap-top computer, etc. 
     According to a third aspect, a method of operating a second electronic device for providing a streamed media to a first electronic device is provided. The method comprises: receiving from the first electronic device, a request for a first media content complemented with a second media content associated with the first media content; in response to receiving the request, complementing the first media content with the second media content into a media stream; and sending the media stream to the first electronic device. The media stream can be received by the first electronic device, and be played in a synchronized manner to a user at a user interface of the first electronic device. 
     Furthermore, the second media content may be stored at a third electronic device, and the method may comprise obtaining the second media content from the third electronic device. 
     Moreover, the method may comprise complementing the first media content with the second media content synchronized in one stream, or providing markers to the respective first and second media contents, in order to enable the first electronic device to play the first media content in a synchronized manner with the second media contents. 
     According to a fourth aspect, a second electronic device, which is adapted to perform the method steps of the above described method, is also provided. The second electronic device comprises a processor, and a memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the first electronic device to perform actions of the above described method. Furthermore, the second electronic device may be implemented as a suitable type of media server, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of various embodiments, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system for playback of audio content, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIGS. 2A and 3A  illustrate an example of a user interface which supports playback of audio content in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIGS. 2B and 3B  illustrate details of a user interfaces which support playback of audio content in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate examples of user interfaces which support playback of video content in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a computer program product according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those persons skilled in the art. Like reference numbers refer to like elements or method steps throughout the description. 
     As described earlier, some existing solutions for delivery of streamed media content at a user interface of an electronic device may be inadequate. For example, existing solutions for playback of audio content may be perceived as limiting by some users, because it may be hard to hear what an artist, or singer, sings. In turn, this may be perceived as frustrating. Furthermore, this annoyance may be even more prevalent in situations where the user is present in a noisy environment. 
     It is therefore a general object of embodiments described herein to allow for an improved playback of media content. 
     To address this, in accordance with an embodiment, described herein are an electronic device (e.g., a tablet computer or a smart phone) as well as a method of operating the electronic device for playback of media content played at a user interface of the electronic device. The example embodiments below disclose methods and arrangements by which a user may be enabled to request an electronic device to complement a played media content with another associated media content, e.g. complementing a song with lyrics, or a film with sub-titles. In some of the embodiments, the user may request to complement, but also to stop complementing the first media content on his/her own volition. 
     Within this disclosure, the term “synchronized” will be used to denote that a first media content and an associated media content are synchronized in time, i.e. that a part of the first media content and the corresponding part of the associated second media content are presented simultaneously, or substantially simultaneously. For instance, when the first media content is a song and the second media content is the lyrics of that song, a user device displays a lyrics line simultaneously as the corresponding part of the lyrics line is played. In addition, the media contents may be sent synchronized in a combined media stream, where an audio content (the song) and an image or text content (the associated lyrics), such that the song part of a specific lyrics line, are sent and received simultaneously within the media stream. 
     Turning now to the figures, various embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail.  FIG. 1  illustrates a system  100  for playback of media content, in accordance with an example embodiment. The system  100  may comprise an electronic device  200  and a computer system  300  operating as a media server. The electronic device  200  may be communicatively connectable to the computer system  300  via a network  400 , such as the Internet, as is conventional and known in the existing art. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , only a single electronic device  200  and a single computer system  300  are shown. However, the computer system  300  may support the simultaneous use of multiple electronic devices, and/or the electronic device  200  can simultaneously access video content at multiple computer systems. 
     In the following description, the media content will be exemplified to be audio content so as not to obscure the description of the embodiments disclosed herein with unnecessary detail. This should, however, not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the various embodiments of the invention. 
     Turning now to the figures, various exemplifying embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electronic device  200  may be used for the playback of audio content complemented with lyrics content, which is provided by the computer system  300 . The electronic device  200  may be a mobile telephone, such as a smart phone. Alternatively, the electronic device  200  may be a tablet computer. In yet other embodiments, the electronic device  200  may be any other electronic device capable of playback of audio content complemented with lyrics content, such as, for example, one of the electronic devices of the following group: a computer, a laptop computer, and a mobile electronic device (e.g. a handheld entertainment device, a digital media player, or other media device). 
     The electronic device  200  may include one or several physical computer resources, or hardware resources  210 . Likewise, the computer system  300  operating as a media server may include one or several physical computer resources, or hardware resources  316 . 
     The computer system  300  may include an operating system or other processing system which supports execution of a software application  310 , including a media server application  312  which may be used, for example, to stream audio content complemented with lyrics content. A media stream service  320  may be used to buffer audio content  331  and lyrics content  332 , for streaming to one or more complemented audio streams  322 . A media application interface  314  may receive requests from electronic devices  200  or other systems, to retrieve complemented audio content from the computer system  300 . 
     Audio content or items  331  and lyrics content or items  332  may be provided, for example, within a database or repository, or may be received by the computer system  300  from another source (not shown). This another source (not shown) may be external to the computer system  300 , i.e. it may be located remotely from the computer system  300 . 
     A media streaming logic  330  may be used to retrieve or otherwise access the audio content  331  and lyrics content  332  in response to requests from electronic devices  200  or other systems, and populate the complemented stream service with streams  322  of corresponding audio content  331  and lyrics content  332  that may be returned to the requesting electronic device  200 . 
     In some embodiments, the electronic device  200  comprises a user interface  230 . Typically, the user interface  230  includes a display  232 , which is adapted to display lyrics information and a speaker (not shown) which is adapted to play the audio content. The display  232  is preferably, though not necessarily, a touch-sensitive display that is adapted to detect or otherwise determine a user input. 
     Selecting lyrics to be displayed at the display  232  may be used, or otherwise interpreted, as a request or instruction to the media server application  312  to stream or otherwise return associated lyrics to an audio content which is being played. For example, in accordance with some embodiments, the software application  310  at the computer system  300  may be used to stream or otherwise communicate audio content complemented with associated lyrics to the electronic device  200 , wherein the display  232  of said user interface  230  at the electronic device  200  is adapted to display the selected lyrics when playing the audio content at the speaker of the electronic device  200 . 
     A user  500  may interact  11  with the user interface  230  and issue requests, for example the playing a selected song (audio content) and displaying the associated lyrics (lyrics content or information) on the electronic device  200 . The user&#39;s selection that lyrics is requested may be communicated  12  to the media server application  312 , via the media application interface  314 . The media server application  312  may then be instructed  13  to stream corresponding audio content, including one or more streams of audio content data  331  and lyrics content data  332 , and subsequently stream  14  or otherwise communicate to the user&#39;s electronic device  200 . In accordance with some embodiments, pre-buffering requests from the electronic device  200  may also be communicated to the media server application  312  via the media application interface  314 . At the electronic device  200 , in response to the user&#39;s interaction with the user interface  230 , the media playback application  220 , including the playback logic  222 , may display  10  the requested lyrics content and play the associated audio content to the user  500 , for example by playing back a song on the electronic device  200 , as described in further detail below. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a user interface  230  of an electronic device  200 . The user interface  230  comprises a display at which song information  238  about the currently played song can be displayed. A song is a form of media content and more specifically an audio content. The electronic device  200  also comprises a speaker  202  at which the user interface  230  plays the song, and various user controls  204   a,    204   b  by which the user controls playback of the song. In this embodiment the user controls are implemented as one physical button  204   a  and one virtual button  204   b.  In the figure, a headset  202   a  is illustrated which as an alternative may be connected and used instead of the speaker  202  to play the song. 
     On the display, a lyrics control  234  may be arranged which informs the user that lyrics of the song are available to be displayed while the song is being played. In this embodiment, the display is a touch screen and the lyrics control  234  is implemented as a pre-defined surface (dash-dotted in the figure) of the display. The user could request the lyrics by touching the box of the lyrics control  234 , e.g. by a tapping gesture or a pressing gesture. 
     It is to be noted that the inventive concept is not limited to the above described implementation of the user interface  230 . In some embodiments, the user interface  230  may comprise further information. For instance, a suitable image, such as an album cover of the played song may be displayed on the display while playing the song. 
     By arranging the lyrics control  234  at the user interface, the user will be enabled to request to complement the song with the associated lyrics. Thereby, the user will see what the artist sings at the moment, which increases the user experience of the playback. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a detail of the user interface  230  of some above described embodiments. In this figure, the display presents titles  240  of a plurality of songs which are possible to play. Furthermore, the display comprises lyrics controls  242  beside the titles  240 . This embodiment is related to the embodiment described above in conjunction with  FIG. 2A . Possible songs (with or without selectable lyrics) may be presented in advance before playback of any of the songs. For instance, when the user selects one of the titles  240 , he/she may also request the lyrics of the song by tapping or touching the corresponding lyrics control  242 . 
     Thereby, the user is enabled to request the lyrics in advance, such that the lyrics will be displayed already from start of the song. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of a visual appearance of the user interface  230  of the electronic device  200 , when lyrics have been selected for a song which is being played, in accordance with one embodiment. This embodiment is related to the one described in conjunction with  FIG. 2A , and the same reference numbers has therefore been applied when appropriate. As seen in  FIG. 3A , lyrics information  232  associated with the song being played is displayed on the display of the user interface  230 . In this embodiment the current lyrics line is marked as bold, and the previous and next lyrics lines are non-bold. However, this illustrated appearance is an example and may be different within the inventive concept, e.g. in accordance with selected user-settings. The lyrics control  234  is designed to inform the user that lyrics is selected. In this embodiment this is performed by a marked box and the text “Lyrics” as an example, without being limited thereto. 
     In some embodiments, the lyrics control  234  may be alternatively designed when lyrics is selected. For instance, the lyrics control  234  may be designed as commercial information, such as a text: “Lyrics presented by Company A”, etc. 
     Moreover, the lyrics information  232  may be displayed as long as the user wants. For instance, the lyrics information  232  may be removable, such that the user may request the electronic device  200  to stop displaying lyrics information. This request may be implemented in various ways, e.g. by unmarking the checkbox of the lyrics control  234 , or by sweeping the lyrics control  234  or the lyrics information in a horizontal direction. 
     In some embodiments, the user interface  230  may be implemented to enable the user to control the playback of the song further. This further control may be implemented in a number of various ways. For instance, a user who wants to listen to a specific part of the song may request the electronic device to control the playback of the song, e.g. by affecting the playing of the audio content or the displaying of the associated lyrics information  232 . The user interface  230  is adapted to enable the user to request this further control by scrolling the lyrics information upwards or downwards. Alternatively, a timing control  244  which is arranged on the user interface  230  during playback may be controlled by the user. For instance, the user may request fast-forwarding or rewinding of the song and the associated lyrics. 
     In some embodiments, the user interface  230  may be provided with functionality for searching for a specific part of the lyrics information  232 , such as e.g. a specific line of the lyrics information  232 . Typically, such search functionality may be implemented by arranging a search field at the display, where a user can input a text string to search for. 
     One alternative implementation example of displaying the lyrics information  232  is illustrated in  FIG. 3B . As shown, the user interface  230  marks the current lyrics line of the associated song in more detail than in some other embodiments, In this example, the part of the current lyrics line for which the song already has been played is unmarked and the remaining part of the lyrics line is marked. This additional detail of the marking could increase the user experience further. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a user interface  230  of an electronic device  200 . The user interface  230  comprises a display on which film information  238  of a currently played film is displayed, e.g. film title, etc. A film is a form of media content and more specific a video content. The electronic device  200  comprises also a speaker  202  at which the user interface  230  plays the audio content of the film, and various user controls  204   a,    204   b  by which the user controls the playback. In this embodiment the user controls are implemented as one physical button  204   a  and one virtual button  204   b.    
     On the display, a sub-title control  234  is arranged which informs the user that sub-titles of the film is available to be displayed while the film is playing. In this embodiment, the display is a touch screen and the sub-title control  234  is implemented as a pre-defined surface of the display. The user requests sub-titles by touching the check-box of the lyrics control  234 , e.g. by a tapping or a pressing. 
     It is to be noted that the inventive concept is not limited to the above described implementation of the user interface  230 . In some embodiments, the user interface  230  may comprise further information. 
     By providing the sub-title control  234 , the user will be enabled to request the user interface  230  to complement the film with the associated sub-titles. Thereby, the user will be enabled to see what the actors of the film say. Providing the sub-titles could be appreciated by the users, especially in noisy environments and by users having a hearing impairment. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a visual appearance of the user interface  230  of the electronic device  200 , when sub-titles  232  have been selected for a film which is currently played (illustrated as “Film scene” in the figure), in accordance with one embodiment. This embodiment is related to the embodiment described in conjunction with  FIG. 4  and the same reference numbers have therefore been applied when appropriate. As seen in  FIG. 5 , sub-titles  232  associated with the currently played film are displayed on the display of the user interface  230 . In this embodiment the sub-titles  232  are illustrated as white text on a black background, as a non-limiting example. However, in some embodiments the user may set the appearance of the sub-titles on his/her own volition, e.g. by formatting text style, text font, text background, etc. 
     Moreover, the sub-titles  232  may be displayed as long as the user wants. For instance, the sub-titles  232  may be removable, such that the user may request the electronic device  200  to stop displaying sub-titles. This request may be implemented in various ways, e.g. by sweeping the sub-titles  232  horizontal direction. 
     EXAMPLE METHODS 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example method  600  of operating a first electronic device  200  for playback of media content according to embodiments herein. The method comprises receiving  602  a first request to play audio content complemented with associated textual content (e.g. a song complemented with lyrics as in the example of  FIG. 3A ) at the user interface  230  of the electronic device  200 . In response to receiving the first request, a second request is sent  604  to a second electronic device (e.g. a media server) for the audio content complemented with the textual content. 
     A media stream is received  606  from the second electronic device according to the second request. The media stream comprises the requested audio content and textual content. The received audio content is played  608  synchronized with the received textual content at the user interface of the first electronic device. 
     In some embodiments, the audio content and the textual content are received  606  synchronized in a combined media stream from the second electronic device (e.g. a media server) and the first electronic device (e.g. a user device) plays the combined media stream by displaying the textual content at a speaker while playing the audio content at a display of the user interface. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto and may be alternatively implemented. In some embodiments the audio content and textual content are instead received unsynchronized but are provided with respective time markers, which the first electronic device utilizes for synchronizing the audio and textual contents with respect to each other when playing  608  the audio content. For instance the textual content may be sent as a text file with time markers from the second electronic device when being requested. Furthermore, the audio content and the textual content may be sent in separate media streams or in a combined un-synchronized stream. 
     In some embodiments, the first electronic device continuously monitors  602  whether a first request is received, as indicated in the  FIG. 6 . The electronic device may in addition monitor whether the user still wants to display the textual content or if he/she wants to stop the displaying (dashed line from action  608  to action  602 ). In some embodiments the first electronic device may then request the second electronic device to stop sending the textual content, but in some other embodiments the first electronic device proceeds receiving the textual content without displaying it. 
     In some embodiments, the first electronic device may receive  610  a third input for control of the playback. For instance, the third input relates to any of: fast-forwarding, rewind, jump, skip, next, search, etc. For instance, when a user wants to jump to a specific part of a song, he/she may scroll the lyrics information until the wanted lyrics line is seen at the display and proceed to play the song there from. The first electronic device may then control  612  the playback in accordance with the received  610  request. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an example method  700  of operating a second electronic device  300  (e.g. a media server) for providing streamed media to a first electronic device according to embodiments herein. The method comprises receiving  702  a request for an audio content complemented with associated textual content (e.g. a song complemented with lyrics as in the example of  FIG. 3A ). The request is received  702  from the first electronic device (e.g. a user device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, etc.). 
     In response to the received  702  request, the second electronic device matches  706  the audio content with the textual content, into a media stream. The media stream is sent  708  to the first electronic device in order to be played synchronized at a user interface  230  of the electronic device  200 . 
     In some embodiments, the lyrics information is stored at the second electronic device, and the second electronic device matches the audio content and the textual content into a combined media stream which is sent  708  to the first electronic device. One advantage is then that the first electronic device does not have to synchronize the audio content with the textual content when performing playback. Especially, this is beneficial when calculating capacity of user devices are limited. 
     In some embodiments, the textual content is stored at another electronic device remote from the second electronic device. For instance, when a service provider stores audio content and textual content on respective electronic devices, the second electronic device obtains  704  the textual content from the electronic device on which the textual content is stored, before matching  706  the audio content with the textual content. 
     In some embodiments, the audio content and textual content may be sent as different sub-streams of the media stream, or sent as separate media streams. In these embodiments the audio content and the textual content are provided with respective time markers, which the first electronic device will utilize when synchronizing the audio content and the textual content. 
     It is to be noted that even if the above described embodiments have been described for audio content which is complemented with textual content, the inventive concept is not limited thereto. A designer may apply the described concept also for other suitable types of media contents when appropriate. For instance, the designer may devise a method for complementing video content with associated textual content or image content, such as complementing a film with sub-titles or commercial information. In addition, the textual content of the above described embodiments may alternatively be implemented as images when appropriate. For instance, one or more lyrics lines may be sent as images. 
     EXAMPLE COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUMS 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment will be briefly discussed.  FIG. 8  shows an example of a computer-readable medium, in this example in the form of a data disc  3000 . In one embodiment the data disc  3000  is a magnetic data storage disc. The data disc  3000  is configured to carry instructions  3001  that when loaded into a processor  210 A of an electronic device  200  having a memory  210 B, executes a method or procedure according to the embodiments disclosed in this disclosure. The data disc  3000  is arranged to be connected to or within and read by a reading device (not shown), for loading the instructions into the processor. One such example of a reading device in combination with one (or several) data disc(s)  3000  is a hard drive. It should be noted that the computer-readable medium can also be other mediums such as compact discs, digital video discs, flash memories or other memory technologies commonly used. In such an embodiment the data disc  3000  is one type of a tangible computer-readable medium. The instructions may alternatively be downloaded to a computer data reading device, such as a computer or other electronic device  200  capable of reading computer coded data on a computer-readable medium, by comprising the instructions in a computer-readable signal (not shown) which is transmitted via a wireless (or wired) interface (for example via the Internet) to the computer data reading device for loading the instructions into a processor  210 A of the electronic device  200 . In such an embodiment, the computer-readable signal is one type of a non-tangible computer-readable medium. 
     SELECTED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     The technology described in this disclosure thus encompasses without limitation the following numbered example embodiments: 
     Embodiment 1 
     A method of operating a first electronic device for playback of streamed media at a user interface, the method comprising: 
     receiving a first request requesting a first media content to be complemented with a second media content, the second media content being associated with the first media content, in response to receiving the first request, sending, to a second electronic device, a second request for the first media content complemented with the second media content, 
     receiving, from the second electronic device, a media stream comprising the first media content and the second media content, 
     playing the first media content of the received media stream complemented with the second media content of the received media stream at the user interface. 
     Embodiment 2 
     The method of embodiment 1, wherein the first media content is synchronized with the second media content. 
     Embodiment 3 
     The method of embodiment 1, wherein receiving comprises: receiving the media stream as a first media stream and a second media stream separately, wherein each of the first and second media streams comprises respective markers, and wherein playing the first media content and the second media content comprises synchronizing the received first media content and the received second media content according to the markers. 
     Embodiment 4 
     The method of any one of the embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the first media content comprises audio content and the second media content comprises textual content, and wherein playing the first media content and the second media content comprises playing the first media content at the user interface and displaying the second media content on the user interface. 
     Embodiment 5 
     The method of embodiment 4, wherein the audio content comprises a song and the textual content comprises lyrics. 
     Embodiment 6 
     The method of any one of the embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the first media content comprises audio content and the second media content comprises at least one of: image content and video content. 
     Embodiment 7 
     The method of any one of the embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the first media content comprises video content and the second media content comprises textual content, and wherein playing the first media content and the second media content comprises displaying the first media content on the user interface and displaying the second media content on the user interface, such that the second media content at least partly overlaps the first media content. 
     Embodiment 8 
     The method of any one of the embodiments 1 to 7, further comprising: 
     receiving a third request for control of playback, and 
     controlling playing in accordance with the received third request. 
     Embodiment 9 
     The method of embodiment 8, wherein the third request for control of playback relates to at least one of: fast-forwarding, rewind, jump, skip, next, and search. 
     Embodiment 10 
     A first electronic device for playback of a streamed media at a user interface, the first electronic device comprising: 
     a user interface; 
     a processor; and 
     a memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the first electronic device to: 
     receive a first request requesting a first media content to be complemented with a second media content, the second media content being associated with the first media content, 
     in response to receiving the first request, send, to a second electronic device, a second request for the first media content complemented with the second media content, 
     receive, from the second electronic device, the media stream comprising the first media content and the second media content, and 
     play the first media content of the received media stream complemented with the second media content of the received media stream at the user interface. 
     Embodiment 11 
     The first electronic device of embodiment 10, wherein the processor is adapted to receive the first media content synchronized with the second media content. 
     Embodiment 12 
     The first electronic device of embodiment 10, wherein the processor is adapted to receive the media stream as a first media stream and a second media stream separately, wherein each of the first and the second media streams comprises respective markers, and further adapted to synchronize the received first media content and the second media content according to the markers when playing the first media content and the second media content. 
     Embodiment 13 
     The first electronic device of any one of the embodiments 10 to 12, wherein the first media content comprises audio content and the second media content comprises textual content, and wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the first electronic device to play the first media content and the second media content by playing the first media content at the user interface and displaying the second media content on the user interface. 
     Embodiment 14 
     The first electronic device of embodiment 13, wherein the audio content comprises a song and the textual content is lyrics. 
     Embodiment 15 
     The first electronic device of any one of the embodiment 10 to 12, wherein the first media content comprises audio content and the second media content comprises at least one of: image content and video content. 
     Embodiment 16 
     The first electronic device of any one of the embodiments 10 to 12, wherein the first media content comprises video content and the second media content comprises textual content, and wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the first electronic device to play the first media content and the second media content by displaying the first media content at the user interface and displaying the second media content on the user interface, such that the second media content at least partly overlaps the first media content. 
     Embodiment 17 
     The first electronic device of any one of the embodiments 10 to 16, wherein the controller is adapted to receive a third request for control of playback, and further adapted to control playing in accordance with the received third request. 
     Embodiment 18 
     The first electronic device of embodiment 17, wherein the third request relates to at least one of: fast-forwarding, rewind, jump, skip, next. 
     Embodiment 19 
     A method of operating a second electronic device for providing a streamed media to a first electronic device, the method comprising: 
     receiving, from the first electronic device, a request for a first media content complemented with a second media content associated with the first media content, 
     in response to receiving the request, complementing the first media content with the second media content into a media stream, and 
     sending the media stream to the first electronic device, 
     such that the media stream can be received by the first electronic device, and be played in a synchronized manner to a user at a user interface of the first electronic device. 
     Embodiment 20 
     The method of embodiment 19, wherein the first media content is stored at the second electronic device, and the method further comprises: 
     obtaining the second media content from a third electronic device. 
     Embodiment 21 
     The method of embodiment 20, wherein obtaining comprises sending a request for the second media content and receiving the second media in response thereto. 
     Embodiment 22 
     The method of any one of embodiments 19 to 21, wherein complementing comprises synchronizing the first media content and the second media content in the media stream. 
     Embodiment 23 
     The method of any one of embodiments 19 to 21, wherein complementing comprises providing markers to the respective first media content and second media content. 
     Embodiment 24 
     The method of any one of the embodiments 19 to 23, wherein the first media content comprises audio content and the second media content comprises textual content. 
     Embodiment 25 
     The method of embodiment 24, wherein the audio content comprises a song and the text content comprises lyrics. 
     Embodiment 26 
     The method of any one of the embodiments 19 to 23, wherein the first media content comprises audio content and the second media content comprises at least one of: image content and video content. 
     Embodiment 27 
     The method of any one of the embodiments 19 to 23, wherein the first media content comprises video content and the second media content comprises text content. 
     Embodiment 28 
     A second electronic device for providing streamed media to a first electronic device, the second electronic device comprising: 
     a processor; and a 
     memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the second electronic device to: 
     receive, from the first electronic device, a request for a first media content complemented with a second media content associated with the first media content, 
     in response to receiving the request, complementing the second media content with the first media content into a media stream, and 
     send the media stream to the first electronic device, 
     the media stream to be received by the first electronic device, and to be played in a synchronized manner to a user at a user interface of the first electronic device. 
     Embodiment 29 
     The second electronic device of embodiment 28, wherein the first media content is stored at the second electronic device, and the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the second electronic device to obtain the second media content from a third electronic device. 
     Embodiment 30 
     The second electronic device of embodiment 29, wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the second electronic device to obtain the second media content by sending a request for the second media content to the third electronic device and receiving the second media in response thereto. 
     Embodiment 31 
     The second electronic device of embodiment 29, wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the second electronic device to complement the first media content with the second media content by synchronizing the first media content and the second media content in the media stream. 
     Embodiment 32 
     The second electronic device of embodiment 29, wherein the memory stores computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the second electronic device to complement the first media content with the second media content by providing markers to the respective first media content and second media content, before sending the first media content and the second media content as the media stream. 
     Embodiment 33 
     The second electronic device of any one of the embodiments 28 to 32, wherein the first media content comprises audio content and the second media content comprises textual content. 
     Embodiment 34 
     The second electronic device of embodiment 33, wherein the audio content comprises a song and the textual content comprises lyrics. 
     Embodiment 35 
     The second electronic device of any one of the embodiments 28 to 34, wherein the first media content comprises audio content and the second media content comprises at least one of: image content and video content. 
     Embodiment 36 
     The second electronic device of any one of the embodiments 28 to 35, wherein the first media content comprises video content and the second media content comprises text content. 
     In the detailed description hereinabove, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments described in this disclosure. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, circuits, and methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of the embodiments disclosed herein with unnecessary detail. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments disclosed herein, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure. Thus, for example, it will be appreciated that block diagrams herein can represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry or other functional units embodying the principles of the described embodiments. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. The functions of the various elements including functional blocks, may be provided through the use of hardware such as circuit hardware and/or hardware capable of executing software in the form of coded instructions stored on the above-mentioned computer readable medium. Thus, such functions and illustrated functional blocks are to be understood as being either hardware-implemented and/or computer-implemented, and thus machine-implemented. In terms of hardware implementation, the functional blocks may include or encompass, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, reduced instruction set processor, hardware (e.g., digital or analog) circuitry including but not limited to application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC), and/or field programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), and (where appropriate) state machines capable of performing such functions. In terms of computer implementation, a computer is generally understood to comprise one or more processors or one or more controllers. When provided by a computer or processor or controller, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated computer or processor or controller, by a single shared computer or processor or controller, or by a plurality of individual computers or processors or controllers, some of which may be shared or distributed. Moreover, use of the term “processor” or “controller” may also be construed to refer to other hardware capable of performing such functions and/or executing software, such as the example hardware recited above. 
     Modifications and other variants of the described embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art having benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the specific example embodiments described in this disclosure and that modifications and other variants are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, a person skilled in the art would recognize numerous variations to the described embodiments that would still fall within the scope of the appended claims. As used herein, the terms “comprise/comprises” or “include/includes” do not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion of different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality.