User Interface With Menu Abstractions And Content Abstractions

• US 20080066010A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pacurariu, Mihnea Calin, Ma, Jeffrey, Brodersen, Rainer, Goldeen, Rachel Clare, Robbin, Jeff, Seymour, Eric Taylor, Madden, Thomas Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

Media menu items are generated within a media interface environment. Media menu item abstractions are generated, one of the media menu item abstractions arranged in a foreground position, and one or more of the media menu item abstractions arranged in background positions in the media interface environment. Selection of a media menu items transitions to a corresponding content menu interface.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a media menu interface comprising a plurality of media menu items;

highlighting one or more media menu items for selection;

generating a plurality of media menu item abstractions corresponding to the media menu items;

arranging the media menu item abstractions so that a media menu item abstraction corresponding to a highlighted media menu item is displayed in a foreground position; and

arranging the media menu item abstractions so that the media menu item abstractions corresponding to the media menu items that are note highlighted are displayed in background positions.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

arranging the media menu item abstractions in the foreground and background positions to define a multidimensional path extending from a terminus.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

blurring one or more of the media menu item abstractions in the background positions.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a selection of a media menu item; and

transitioning from the media menu interface to a selected media menu interface.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising:

transitioning a media menu item abstraction corresponding to the selected media menu item from the foreground position to a title position; and

generating a content menu in proximity to the title position, the content menu comprising content menu items based on the selected media menu item.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

generating at least one content abstraction adjacent the content menu items, the at least one content abstraction associated with at least one of the content menu items.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising:

generating content abstractions, the content abstractions associated with at least one of the content menu items;

defining a multidimensional path having an ingress terminus and an egress terminus;

emerging the content abstractions into the multidimensional path at the ingress terminus;

eliminating the content abstractions from the multidimensional path at the egress terminus; and

generating depth transitions of the content abstractions through the multidimensional path from the ingress terminus to the egress terminus.

8. The method of claim 5, comprising:

generating s sales content menu item associated with content offered for sale.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

generating a list of content offered for sale in response to a selection of the sales content menu item.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

generating a list of content offered for sale based on content sale metrics.

11. The method of claim 5, comprising:

generating a preview content menu item associated with content.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

generating a list of content previews available for preview in response to a selection of the preview content menu item.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the media menu abstractions comprise one or more of a movie icon, a music icon, a video icon, and a broadcast icon.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the content abstractions comprises one of more of a movie still image, a cover art image, a video clip, or a program image.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising:

receiving a selection of a media menu item associated with the movie icon;

transitioning the movie icon to a title position;

generating a movie content menu in proximity to the title position, the movie content menu comprising a movie sale menu item, a preview menu item, and one or more library menu items; and

generating movie abstractions corresponding to one or more of the movie sale menu item, the preview menu item, or one or more library menu item.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

receiving a selection of the movie sale menu item;

generating a movie offer menu in proximity to the title position, the movie offer menu comprising movie offer menu items;

generating depth transitions of the movie abstractions through a multidimensional path.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising:

receiving a selection of the preview menu item;

generating a preview menu in proximity to the title position, the preview menu comprising video previews;

generating movie abstractions corresponding to the preview menu items; and

generating depth transitions of the movie abstractions through a multidimensional path.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising:

receiving a selection of the library menu items, and

presenting a movie associated with the selected library menu item.

19. The method of claim 13, comprising:

receiving a selection of a media menu item associated with the music icon;

transitioning the music icon to a title position;

generating a music content menu in proximity to the title position, the music content menu comprising a music sale menu item, a shuffle menu item, and one or more category menu items; and

generating music abstractions corresponding to one or more of the music sale menu item, the shuffle menu item, or one or more library menu item.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising:

receiving a selection of the music sale menu item;

generating a music offer menu in proximity to the title position, the music offer menu comprising music offer menu items;

generating music abstractions corresponding to the music offer menu items; and

generating depth transitions of the music abstractions through a multidimensional path.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the one ore more library menu items comprise one or more of a music video category, a playlist category, and a songs category.

22. The method of claim 13, comprising:

receiving a selection of a media menu item associated with the broadcast icon;

transitioning the broadcast icon to a title position;

generating a broadcast content menu in proximity to the title position, the broadcast content menu comprising broadcast library menu items;

generating a program sort menu item;

generating a date sort menu item; and

generating one or more library menu items.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising:

receiving a selection of the date menu item; and

sorting the library menu items according to an acquisition date.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising:

receiving a selection of the date menu item; and

sorting the library menu items according to an episode order.

25. The method of claim 22, comprising:

receiving a selection of the program menu item; and

sorting the library menu items according to program titles.

26. The method claim 4, comprising:

transitioning the media menu abstraction from the foreground position to a title position along a path defining a beginning at the foreground position and a terminus at the title position; and

reducing a size of the media menu abstraction as the media menu abstraction transitions from the foreground position to the title position.

27. A computer readable medium storing instructions that are executable by a processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating a home interface environment;

generating a home menu within the home interface environment, the home menu comprising a plurality of home menu items;

generating a plurality of home menu item abstractions, one of the home menu item abstractions arranged in a foreground position, and one or more of the home menu item abstractions arranged in background positions in the home interface environment, the foreground positions and background positions defining a multidimensional path extending from a terminus; and

transitioning the home menu item abstractions between the foreground position and the background positions along the multidimensional path.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

blurring the home menu item abstractions arranged in the background positions.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 27, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating a highlight indicator to highlight a home menu item corresponding to a home menu item abstractions in the foreground position.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

changing the highlight indicator from the highlighted home menu item to another home menu item;

transitioning a home menu item abstraction corresponding to the another home menu item from a background position to the foreground position when the home menu item abstractions transition between the foreground position and the background positions in a first direction; and

emerging a home menu item abstraction corresponding to the another home menu item into the foreground position when the home menu item abstractions transition between the foreground position and the background positions along the multidimensional path in a second direction.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein:

the home menu item abstractions comprise media icons.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

transitioning from the home interface environment to a selected media interface environment upon receiving a selection of a highlighted home menu item.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

transitioning a media icon corresponding to the selected home menu item from the foreground position to a title position; and

generating a content menu in proximity to the title position, the content menu comprising content menu items based on the selected home menu item.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause that processing device to perform operations comprising:

transitioning the media icon corresponding to the selected home menu item from the foreground position to the title position along a path defining a beginning at the foreground position and a terminus at the title position; and

reducing a size of the media icon corresponding to the selected home menu item as the media icon transitions from the foreground position to the title position.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 33, storing further instructions that are executive by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating content abstractions related to a highlighted content menu item;

defining a multidimensional path having an ingress terminus and en egress terminus;

eliminating the content abstractions from the multidimensional path at the egress terminus; and

generating depth transitions of the content abstractions through the multidimensional path from the ingress terminus to the egress terminus.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating overlapping depth transitions of the content abstractions through the multidimensional path from the ingress terminus to the egress terminus.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein:

the media icons comprise one or more of a movie content icon, a music content icon, a video content icon, and a broadcast content icon.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein:

the content abstractions comprises one of more of a movie still image, a cover art image, a video clip, or a program image.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 33, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating a sales content menu item associated with content offered for sale.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 39, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generate a list of content offered for sale in response to a selection of the sales content menu item.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein:

the list of content offered for sale is based on content sales metrics.