Slide show navigation

• US 20060156240A1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Christie, Gregory N., Neubrand, Hans-Werner, van Os, Marcel, Lemay, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/730
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• 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 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A slide show, integrated into an email application, displays images such as those included as an attachment to an email message. The user can view the slide show without exiting the email application. Slide show navigation controls are provided. An index sheet mode can be activated wherein a number of thumbnails are displayed, allowing easy navigation to any image within the slide show. Transition animations can be provided for clarifying operations such as activating and dismissing the index sheet.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a set of images, comprising:

responsive to activation of a slide show command within an application, displaying a slide show without dismissing the application;

responsive to receiving an index sheet command during the slide show, displaying an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to images within the slide show;

responsive to receiving a command to exit the index sheet, resuming the slide show from the previous position; and

responsive to user selection of a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed, dismissing the plurality of thumbnail images, and displaying the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises an email application.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to displaying the slide show, receiving a plurality of images via the email application;

and wherein the slide show comprises the received images;

and wherein the thumbnail images comprise representations of the received images.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving a plurality of images via the email application comprises receiving the plurality of images as email attachments.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving an index sheet command during the slide show, displaying a transition animation prior to displaying the index sheet; and

responsive to receiving a command to exit the index sheet, displaying a transition animation prior to resuming the slide show from the previous position;

responsive to user selection of a thumbnail while the index sheet is displayed, displaying a transition animation prior to displaying the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a slide show comprises sequentially displaying a series of images;

and wherein the thumbnail images represent images in the series.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein sequentially displaying a series of images comprises:

a) displaying a first image in the series; and

b) responsive to a trigger event, displaying a next image in the series.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

c) repeating b) until all images in the series have been displayed.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

c) repeating b) until detection of a user command requesting that the slide show stop.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger event comprises user activation of a next command.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

c) responsive to user activation of a previous command, displaying a previous image in the series.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein sequentially displaying a series of images comprises:

a) displaying a first image in the series; and

b) after a predefined period of time, displaying a next image in the series.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

c) repeating b) until all images in the series have been displayed.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

c) repeating b) until detection of a user command requesting that the slide show stop.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a slide show comprises displaying a series of images responsive to user control.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying a series of images responsive to user control comprises:

responsive to user activation of a play command, sequentially displaying the series of images;

responsive to user activation of a pause command, remaining on a currently displayed image until user activation of another command;

responsive to user activation of a next command, displaying a next image in the series;

responsive to user activation of a previous command, displaying a previous image in the series.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an index sheet command comprises receiving user input activating an index sheet button.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a command to save an image, saving the image in a storage device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a command to save an image, adding a currently displayed image to an image repository associated with a photo management application.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to user input causing a cursor to hover over a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed, displaying descriptive information associated with the thumbnail image.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying descriptive information associated with the thumbnail image comprises displaying at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a file name, a title, a date, a file size, an author, a subject, a text description, an icon, and a compression setting.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying descriptive information associated with the thumbnail image comprises displaying the descriptive information as an overlay at least partially superimposed on the thumbnail image.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying descriptive information associated with the thumbnail image comprises displaying the descriptive information as a semi-transparent overlay at least partially superimposed on the thumbnail image.

24. A method for displaying a set of images within an email application, comprising:

receiving an email message within an email application, the email message comprising a plurality of image attachments;

displaying the received email message;

displaying a representation of the image attachments; and

displaying a slide show comprising the image attachments without dismissing the email application.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the received email message comprises displaying a user interface element for activating a slide show.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying a user interface element for activating a slide show comprises displaying a slideshow button.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying a slide show comprises displaying a slide show responsive to user activation of the user interface element.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying a user interface element for activating a slide show comprises displaying the user interface element within the context of the email message.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying a user interface element for activating a slide show comprises displaying the user interface element within a header of the email message.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the slide show comprises displaying the slide show within a window associated with the email application.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the slide show comprises displaying the slide show in a full-screen mode.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the slide show comprises displaying the slide show as an overlay superimposed on displayed user interface elements.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein displaying the slide show as an overlay comprises displaying the slide show as a semi-transparent overlay superimposed on displayed user interface elements.

34. A computer program product for displaying a set of images, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

responsive to activation of a slide show command within an application, displaying a slide show without dismissing the application;

responsive to receiving an index sheet command during the slide show, displaying an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to images within the slideshow;

responsive to receiving a command to exit the index sheet, resuming the slide show from the previous position; and

responsive to user selection of a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed, dismissing the plurality of thumbnail images, and displaying the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the application comprises an email application.

36. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer program code for displaying a slide show comprises computer program code for sequentially displaying a series of images;

and wherein the thumbnail images represent images in the series.

37. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer program code for displaying a slide show comprises computer program code for displaying a series of images responsive to user control.

38. A computer program product for displaying a set of images within an email application, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

receiving an email message within an email application, the email message comprising a plurality of image attachments;

displaying the received email message;

displaying a representation of the image attachments; and

displaying a slide show comprising the image attachments without dismissing the email application.

39. A user interface for displaying a set of images, comprising:

a slide show UI element within an application, for activating display of a slide show without dismissing the application;

an index sheet UI element displayed during the slide show, for activating display of an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to images within the slide show;

an exit UI element displayed during the index sheet display, for resuming the slide show from the previous position; and

wherein user selection of a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed causes dismissal of the plurality of thumbnail images, and display of the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.

40. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the application comprises an email application.

41. The user interface of claim 40, wherein the thumbnail images comprise representations of images received by the email application.

42. A user interface for displaying a set of images within an email application, comprising:

an email message display area, for displaying a received email message presented within an email application, the email message comprising a plurality of image attachments;

an image attachment display area, for displaying a representation of the image attachments; and

a slide show activation UI element, for activating display of a slide show comprising the image attachments without dismissing the email application.

43. The user interface of claim 42, wherein the slide show activation UI element comprises a slideshow button.

44. The user interface of claim 43, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within the context of the email message.

45. The user interface of claim 43, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within a header of the email message.

46. A system for displaying a set of images, comprising:

a slide show UI element within an application, for activating display of a slide show without dismissing the application;

an index sheet UI element displayed during the slide show, for activating display of an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to images within the slide show;

an exit UI element displayed during the index sheet display, for resuming the slide show from the previous position; and

wherein user selection of a thumbnail image while the index sheet is displayed causes dismissal of the plurality of thumbnail images, and display of the image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the application comprises an email application.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the thumbnail images comprise representations of images received by the email application.

49. A system for displaying a set of images within an email application, comprising:

an email message display area, for displaying a received email message presented within an email application, the email message comprising a plurality of image attachments;

an image attachment display area, for displaying a representation of the image attachments; and

a slide show activation UI element, for activating display of a slide show comprising the image attachments without dismissing the email application.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the slide show activation UI element comprises a slideshow button.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within the context of the email message.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within a header of the email message.