User interface for scrolling through a large list of items

• US 10,691,325 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2016
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lambourne, Robert A., Holmgren, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Application Number:
  US15/331,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20170038936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

Techniques pertaining to efficient scrolling are disclosed. One of the features of the efficient scrolling is the enablement of a search right at an appropriate item in a large list of items, thus avoiding going through the long list and wandering back and forth around a desired item. According to one embodiment, an indexing display is used. The indexing display includes a list of indexes, each corresponding to a group of items that sharing one or more common characteristics (e.g., a character or a kind). The indexing display is allowed first to be scrolled for a desired index. Once the desired index is confirmed, searching for a desired item in the large list starts at an item indexed by the desired index.

Claims

1. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing device to perform a method comprising:

displaying via a screen of the computing device, a first interface showing at least a portion of a list of items selectable for playback by at least one playback device separate from and controlled by the computing device;

based on a first input via the first interface, displaying a second interface showing a plurality of indexes, each index comprising one or more characters corresponding to one or more shared characteristics of a first subset of items in the list of items, wherein at least a portion of the second interface is superimposed over at least a portion the first interface;

receiving via the second interface, a second input indicating a selection of a first index of the plurality of indexes;

in response to receiving the second input, displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of the first subset of items in the list of items, wherein the first subset of items corresponds to the first index; and

displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of a second subset of items in the list of items, wherein the second subset of items corresponds to a second index of the plurality of indexes.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to displaying the second interface, displaying on the first interface, a selectable icon to cause the second interface to be displayed, wherein the first input comprises a selection of the selectable icon.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to displaying at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items, receiving via the first interface, a third input indicating a scroll through at least the portion of the first subset of items in the list of items displayed on the first interface, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items comprises;

based on the third input, displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to displaying at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items, receiving via the second interface, a third input indicating a scroll through the plurality of indexes, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items comprises;

based on the third input, displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of a first subset of items in the list of items comprises:

highlighting one of at least the portion of the first subset of items in the list of items.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving the second input, highlighting the first index on the second interface.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more shared characteristics comprises at least one of an artist, an album, a genre, and a beginning character of a track title.

8. A computing device comprising:

a screen;

a processor; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising;

displaying via the screen, a first interface showing at least a portion of a list of items selectable for playback by at least one playback device separate from and controlled by the computing device;

based on a first input via the first interface, displaying a second interface showing a plurality of indexes, each index comprising one or more characters corresponding to one or more shared characteristics of a first subset of items in the list of items, wherein at least a portion of the second interface is superimposed over at least a portion the first interface;

receiving via the second interface, a second input indicating a selection of a first index of the plurality of indexes;

in response to receiving the second input, displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of the first subset of items in the list of items, wherein the first subset of items corresponds to the first index; and

displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of a second subset of items in the list of items, wherein the second subset of items corresponds to a second index of the plurality of indexes.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to displaying the second interface, displaying on the first interface, a selectable icon to cause the second interface to be displayed, wherein the first input comprises a selection of the selectable icon.

10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to displaying at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items, receiving via the first interface, a third input indicating a scroll through at least the portion of the first subset of items in the list of items displayed on the first interface, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items comprises;

based on the third input, displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items.

11. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to displaying at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items, receiving via the second interface, a third input indicating a scroll through the plurality of indexes, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items comprises;

based on the third input, displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items.

12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of a first subset of items in the list of items comprises:

highlighting one of at least the portion of the first subset of items in the list of items.

13. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving the second input, highlighting the first index on the second interface.

14. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the one or more shared characteristics comprises at least one of an artist, an album, a genre, and a beginning character of a track title.

15. A method performed by a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying via a screen, a first interface showing at least a portion of a list of items selectable for playback by at least one playback device separate from and controlled by the computing device;

based on a first input via the first interface, displaying a second interface showing a plurality of indexes, each index comprising one or more characters corresponding to one or more shared characteristics of a first subset of items in the list of items, wherein at least a portion of the second interface is superimposed over at least a portion the first interface;

receiving via the second interface, a second input indicating a selection of a first index of the plurality of indexes;

in response to receiving the second input, displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of the first subset of items in the list of items, wherein the first subset of items corresponds to the first index; and

displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of a second subset of items in the list of items, wherein the second subset of items corresponds to a second index of the plurality of indexes.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

prior to displaying the second interface, displaying on the first interface, a selectable icon to cause the second interface to be displayed, wherein the first input comprises a selection of the selectable icon.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising prior to displaying at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items, receiving via the first interface, a third input indicating a scroll through at least the portion of the first subset of items in the list of items displayed on the first interface, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items comprises:

based on the third input, displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising prior to displaying at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items, receiving via the second interface, a third input indicating a scroll through the plurality of indexes, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items comprises:

based on the third input, displaying on the first interface, at least the portion of the second subset of items in the list of items.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying on the first interface, at least a portion of a first subset of items in the list of items comprises:

highlighting one of at least the portion of the first subset of items in the list of items.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to receiving the second input, highlighting the first index on the second interface.