Patent ID: 8650487

Claim:
A computer implemented method of controlling an electronic media player, the method comprising: executing an electronic media player on a computing device, the electronic media player initiating playback of a first media content item of a plurality of media content items via an output device of the computing device, the electronic media player providing a graphical user interface and a device driver interface that enables device drivers to modify the graphical user interface of the electronic media player; receiving, at the user interface of the electronic media player on the computing device, a first request from a user, the first request directing an action to manage the plurality of media content items and being unrelated to suspending the playback of the first media content item; receiving, at the device driver interface of the electronic media player on the computing device, a second request to suspend the playback of the first media content item by the electronic media player, wherein the device driver interface is operably connected to the electronic media player, wherein the second request is received at the device driver interface from a device driver, wherein the device driver is in communication with an external media renderer and configured to transmit media content items to the external media renderer, and wherein the device driver is adapted to removably couple to the device driver interface to operably connect to the electronic media player; responsive to receiving the second request, suspending the playback of the first media content item by the electronic media player and altering the user interface of the electronic media player.