Hot key systems and methods

• US 10,397,639 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Inventor Tech, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sitting Man LLC
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Huy T
• Application Number:
  US15/694,760
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/00 Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast

Abstract

Methods and systems are described. In one aspect, a control user interface including selectable representations identifying a plurality of operating media players is presented. A user selection identifying a selected portion of the plurality of operating media players is received. And, an indication is provided allowing a media player in the selected portion access to a presentation device.

Claims

1. A presentation device, comprising:

a non-transitory memory storing instructions and a plurality of applications including a first media player application, a second media player application, and a third application;

a touchscreen; and

one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory and the touchscreen, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to;

present, utilizing the touchscreen, a first media player application window associated with the first media player application;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a predetermined input;

in response to the detection of the predetermined input, present, utilizing the touchscreen, a control user interface adjacent and exterior to the first media player application window associated with the first media player application, the control user interface including a plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations identifying a subset of the plurality of applications that are executed, the selectable representations including;

a second media player application window representation associated with the second media player application and having a first order attribute, and a third application window representation associated with the third application and having a second order attribute;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a selection of one of the selectable representations of the control user interface including the second media player application window representation associated with the second media player application;

in response to the detection of the selection of the one of the selectable representations of the control user interface, indicate that the second media player application is allowed to play one or more media streams in addition to the first media player application being allowed to play one or more other media streams, where the first media player application window associated with the first media player application is simultaneously presented, utilizing the touchscreen, with a second media player application window associated with the second media player application, such that the first media player application window is presented with at least one first input control and the second media player application window is presented with at least one second input control, the at least one first input control and the second input control each including at least one of a play input control or a pause input control;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a selection of the at least one first input control presented with the first media player application window;

in response to the detection of the selection of the at least one first input control presented with the first media player application window, present, utilizing the touchscreen, a first media stream in the first media player application window;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen and while the first media stream is being presented in the first media player application window, a selection of the at least one second input control presented with the second media player application window; and

in response to the detection of the selection of the at least one second input control presented with the second media player application window while the first media stream is being presented in the first media player application window, pause the presentation of the first media stream in the first media player application window, and present, utilizing the touchscreen, a second media stream in the second media player application window.

2. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the predetermined input includes, in addition to other input, a hot key input.

3. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, user input in connection with at least one of the selectable representations of the control user interface; and

in response to the detection of the user input, change, utilizing the touchscreen, a visibility attribute of the at least one selectable representation of the control user interface.

4. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

detect a new application;

refrain from identifying the new application with a corresponding selectable representation in the control user interface;

detect a user input in connection with the new application; and

in response to the detection of the user input in connection with the new application and the new application being executed, present the corresponding selectable representation in the control user interface.

5. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the second media player application includes a browser application, and one of the selectable representations of the control user interface associated with the second media player application has associated therewith a plurality of media players.

6. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the indication is such that the second media player application is allowed to play one or more media streams, at a first given time, in addition to the first media player application being allowed to play one or more other media streams, at a second given time, where the one or more media streams allowed to play utilizing the first media player application is different than the one or more media streams allowed to play utilizing the second media player application, and the subset of the plurality of applications that are executed are operating.

7. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is configured such that a third media player application window is presented, utilizing the touchscreen, overlaid over at least one of:

the first media player application window or the second media player application window.

8. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the selectable representations are capable of being scrolled at least in part.

9. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to automatically play at least one media stream.

10. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is configured such that at least one of the selectable representations identifies a corresponding application in addition to at least one media stream that is capable of being presented via the corresponding application.

11. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

detect user input in connection with the first media player application window associated with the first media player application, which includes a browser application; and

in response to the detection of the user input in connection with the first media player application window, select the third application which is a video player application and change a visibility thereof.

12. The presentation device of claim 11, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the third application is unselected, prior to the detection of the user input.

13. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

determine that at least one of the subset of the plurality of applications is no longer executed; and

in response to the determination, remove at least one of the selectable representations from the control user interface that corresponds with the at least one of the subset of the plurality of applications determined to be no longer executed.

14. The presentation device of claim 13, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the at least one of the subset of the plurality of applications is no longer executed, in response to a detection of a user closing a visual element associated with the at least one of the subset of the plurality of applications.

15. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the simultaneous presentation is performed in response to the detection of the selection of the one of the selectable representations of the control user interface.

16. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein, in another scenario, the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

detect, while the first media stream is being presented in the first media player application window, the selection of the at least one second input control presented with the second media player application window; and

in response to the detection of the selection of the at least one second input control presented with the second media player application window while the first media stream is being presented in the first media player application window, the presentation of the first media stream in the first media player application window continues during a presentation of the second media stream via a separate presentation device.

17. The presentation device of claim 16, wherein, in yet another scenario, the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

in response to the detection of the selection of the at least one second input control presented with the second media player application window while the first media stream is being presented in the first media player application window, cause a pause of the presentation of the first media stream in the first media player application window and via the separate presentation device, and cause a presentation of the second media stream in the second media player application window and via the separate presentation device.

18. The presentation device of claim 17, wherein, in each scenario:

the presentation device is configured such that no more than a single media stream is presented via the presentation device at a time, and no more than a single media stream is presented via the separate presentation device at a time;

the presentation device is configured such that the first media player and the second media player remain simultaneously presented; and

the presentation device is configured to limit a number of media players on the touchscreen.

19. The presentation device of claim 18, wherein, in each scenario, the presentation device is configured such that, while the first media player application window and the second media player application window are simultaneously presented, the first media player application is prevented from being utilized to present any media stream if a visibility of the first media player application window exists but is less than a predetermined amount.

20. The presentation device of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is configured such that at least one unselected executed application is capable of being selected from a different selected executed application, for initiation of play of one or more media streams via the at least one unselected executed application in response to a detection of a user action in connection with the different selected executed application.

21. A presentation device, comprising:

a non-transitory memory storing instructions and a plurality of applications including a first media player application, a second application, and a third media player application;

a touchscreen; and

one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory and the touchscreen, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to;

present, utilizing the touchscreen, a first media player application window associated with the first media player application that is allowed to play one or more media streams, where the first media player application window is presented with at least one first input control including at least one of a play input control or a pause input control;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a selection of an option;

in response to the detection of the selection of the option, present, utilizing the touchscreen, a control user interface adjacent and exterior to the first media player application window associated with the first media player application, the control user interface including a plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations identifying a subset of the plurality of applications that are executed, the selectable representations including;

a second application window representation associated with the second application and having a first order attribute, and a third media player application window representation associated with the third media player application and having a second order attribute;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a selection of one of the selectable representations of the control user interface including the second application window representation associated with the second application;

in response to the detection of the selection of the one of the selectable representations of the control user interface including the second application window representation associated with the second application, present, utilizing the touchscreen, the second application window, where the second application window associated with the second application is simultaneously presented, utilizing the touchscreen, with the first media player application window associated with the first media player application;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a selection of a visual element presented in connection with the first media player application window associated with the first media player application; and

in response to the detection of the selection of the visual element presented in connection with the first media player application window associated with the first media player application, indicate that the third media player application is allowed to play at least one media stream, and present, utilizing the touchscreen, the at least one media stream in the third media player application window.

22. The presentation device of claim 21, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, user input in connection with at least one of the selectable representations of the control user interface; and

in response to the detection of the user input, alter a visibility, utilizing the touchscreen, of the at least one selectable representation of the control user interface.

23. The presentation device of claim 21, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, user input in connection with at least one of the selectable representations of the control user interface; and

in response to the detection of the user input, change, utilizing the touchscreen, a visibility of the at least one selectable representation of the control user interface.

24. The presentation device of claim 21, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the selectable representations are capable of being scrolled at least in part.

25. The presentation device of claim 21, wherein the presentation device is configured such that a visibility of the third media player application window is changed in response to the detection of the selection of the visual element presented in connection with the first media player application window associated with the first media player application.

26. The presentation device of claim 21, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the first media player application is a browser application, and the third media player application is a video player application.

27. The presentation device of claim 21, wherein the presentation device is configured such that the third media player application is unselected, prior to the detection of the selection of the visual element presented in connection with the first media player application window associated with the first media player application.

28. The presentation device of claim 21, wherein the presentation device is configured such that at least one unselected executed application is capable of being selected from a different selected executed application, for initiation of play of one or more media streams via the at least one unselected executed application in response to a detection of a user action in connection with the different selected executed application.

29. The presentation device of claim 21, wherein at least one of:

an entirety of the first media player application window and an entirety of the second application window are simultaneously presented;

a portion of the first media player application window and a portion of the second application window are simultaneously presented;

the control user interface includes a media control user interface;

the presentation device includes a mobile device;

the indication that the second media player application is allowed to play one or more media streams in addition to the first media player application being allowed to play one or more other media streams, indicates that only one of the second media player application or the first media player application is allowed to play, at a time;

the at least one first input control and the second input control each is capable of including both the play input control and the pause input control;

the at least one first input control and the second input control each is capable of including both the play input control and the pause input control which are simultaneously displayed;

the first order attribute and the second order attribute are not z-order attributes;

the control user interface includes the plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations, by simultaneously displaying the plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations;

the control user interface includes the plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations, by displaying at least one of the plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations, at a time;

the control user interface includes the plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations, by allowing a user to scroll among the plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations;

the first media player application window includes a tabbed window;

the second application includes a second media player application;

the subset of the plurality of applications that are executed, are operating;

the phrases one or more processors, non-transitory memory, and instructions all do not invoke 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph;

the indication includes at least one of;

instructing a corresponding media player in the plurality to change its mode of operation, displaying the corresponding media player, intercepting stream data received from the corresponding media player, changing a state of a thread of the corresponding media player, at least one of sending a message or receiving a message via network, or providing access information;

or the visual element includes a tab of the first media player application window.

30. A presentation device, comprising:

a non-transitory memory storing instructions and a plurality of applications including a first media player application, a second media player application, and a third application;

a touchscreen; and

one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory and the touchscreen, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to;

present, utilizing the touchscreen, a first media player application window associated with the first media player application;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a user input in connection with an option;

in response to the detection of the user input in connection with the option, present, utilizing the touchscreen, a control user interface adjacent and exterior to the first media player application window associated with the first media player application, the control user interface including a plurality of non-overlapping selectable representations identifying a subset of the plurality of applications that are the subject of execution, the selectable representations including;

a second media player application window representation associated with the second media player application and having a first order attribute, and a third application window representation associated with the third application and having a second order attribute;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a selection of one of the selectable representations of the control user interface including the second media player application window representation associated with the second media player application;

in response to the detection of the selection of the one of the selectable representations of the control user interface, indicate that the second media player application is allowed to play one or more media streams in addition to the first media player application being allowed to play one or more other media streams, where the first media player application window associated with the first media player application is simultaneously presented, utilizing the touchscreen, with a second media player application window associated with the second media player application, such that the first media player application window is presented with at least one first input control and the second media player application window is presented with at least one second input control, the at least one first input control and the second input control each including at least one of a play input control or a pause input control;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a selection of the at least one first input control presented with the first media player application window;

in response to the detection of the selection of the at least one first input control presented with the first media player application window, present, utilizing the touchscreen, a first media stream in the first media player application window;

detect, utilizing the touchscreen, a selection of the at least one second input control presented with the second media player application window;

in response to the detection of the selection of the at least one second input control presented with the second media player application window, present, utilizing the touchscreen, a second media stream in the second media player application window;

determine whether at least one of the subset of the plurality of applications ceases operating; and

in response to the determination that the at least one of the subset of the plurality of applications ceases operating, remove one of the selectable representations from the control user interface that corresponds with the at least one of the subset of the plurality of applications.