Media user interface layers and overlays

• US 20070028183A1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gibson, Mark, Alton, Benjamin, Ostojic, Bojana, Vong, William, Newell, Mark, Glein, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,739,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/768
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Embodiments of a media user interface are presented herein.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

upon receipt of an input, determining a context of a media item being output for display; and

outputting a user interface that is concurrently displayable as an overlay with the media item, wherein the user interface includes one or more features based on the determined context.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the context involves a type of the media item being output for display.

3. A method as described in claim 2, wherein the type is selected from a group consisting of:

a pay-per-view (PPV) movie;

a video-on-demand (VOD);

a song;

a photo;

streaming audio; and

a television program.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the user interface is concurrently displayable as an overlay over the media item such that a substantial portion of the media item is viewable beneath the user interface.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the user interface is concurrently displayable as an overlay over the media item such that a substantial portion of the media item that is not covered by a display of the one or more features is viewable through user interface.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the overlay is configured as a start menu, a now playing page, a details page or an electronic program guide.

7. A method as described in claim 6, wherein:

when the overlay is configured as the details page, the one or more features involve provision of details of the media item; and

when the overlay is configured as the now playing page, the one or more features involve consumption of the media item.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the overlay includes a plurality of panels such that one said feature is displayable in a first said panel and another said feature is displayable in a second said panel; and

the first and second said panels are navigable, one to another, through left/right navigation.

9. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to output a user interface that includes one or more representations of features that are navigable through the use of overlays and that are displayable concurrently over an output of at least one media item.

10. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein at least one said feature is dependent on a context of the at least one media item.

11. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the context involves a media type selected from a group consisting of:

a pay-per-view (PPV) movie;

a video-on-demand (VOD);

a song;

a photo;

streaming audio; and

a television program.

12. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein the user interface is concurrently displayable as an overlay over the media item such that a substantial portion of the media item is viewable as beneath the user interface.

13. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein the user interface is concurrently displayable as an overlay over the media item such that a substantial portion of the media item that is not covered by a display of the one or more features is viewable through user interface.

14. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein the overlay is configured as a start menu, a now playing page, a details page or an electronic program guide.

15. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein:

the overlay includes a plurality of panels such that one said feature is displayable in a first said panel and another said feature is displayable in a second said panel; and

the first and second said panels are navigable, one to another, through left/right navigation.

16. One or more computer-readable media described in claim 9, wherein the overlay includes a start menu, a now playing page, a details page or an electronic program guide.

17. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to output a user interface that is concurrently displayable as an overlay over a media item and that includes features based on a type of the media item.

18. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the user interface is translucent such that the portion of the user interface and a portion of the media item displayed beneath the portion of the user interface are concurrently displayable.

19. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the user interface is transparent such that a portion of the media item displayed beneath the portion of the user interface is viewable by a user.

20. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 17, wherein:

the overlay includes a plurality of panels such that one said feature is displayable in a first said panel and another said feature is displayable in a second said panel; and

the first and second said panels are navigable, one to another, through left/right navigation.