USER INTERFACE FOR MEDIA PLAYBACK

• US 20100318908A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bachman, William Martin, Neuman, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,429,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A graphical user interface made up of icons representing individual files and collectively forming the shape of a “v” is described along with methods of using and creating the graphical user interface. The v-shaped interface is useful to display detailed information about many of the items in a list and facilitates manipulation of list order and selection of the active file in the list. The interface further permits the use of a representative icon associated with the list as a whole. Manipulation of the representative icon can cause modification or replacement of the entire playlist represented by the icon.

Claims

1. A method of playlist manipulation comprising:

providing a graphical user interface in the form of a receding v-shape made up of a collection of icons representing media items in a playlist;

providing an icon in a region separate from the v-shape representing the entire playlist; and

receiving inputs representative of a selection and dragging of a representation of a media item or playlist into the region separate from the v-shape and displaying a new receding v-shape based on the media item or playlist currently in the region separate from the v-shape.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the new receding v-shape is generated based on a playlist created using similarity data related to the new media item in region separate from the v-shape, the media items in the playlist are considered similar to the new media item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least some of the icons representing the media items in the playlist are derived from album art.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the icon in the region separate from the v-shape is derived from album art when the playlist is generated based on a media item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon in the region separate from the v-shape is a generic icon representing a playlist.

6. A method a manipulating a playlist comprising:

providing a graphical representation of a playlist comprising previously played items, queued items and a currently playing item arranged such that the previously played items comprise a line intersecting a line comprising queued items at the presently playing item such that the two lines create an angle;

providing a playlist descriptive region separate from the graphical representation of the playlist comprising an item representing the entire playlist;

receiving inputs representative of a selection and movement, to a new position, of least one of the items in the playlist; and

reproducing the playlist according to the new position of the at least one of the items and responsively updating the graphical user interface based on the rearranged playlist.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a media item is removed from the playlist by receiving inputs representative of a selection and movement of a media item out of the graphical representation of the playlist.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a new playlist is represented when an media item or playlist is selected and relocated to the playlist descriptive region.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

emphasizing a specific item of the collection of items in response to a cursor being positioned over the specific item.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the specific item is emphasized by bringing the item into a foreground.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the specific item is emphasized by enlarging the icon.

26. The method of claim 9, wherein the specific icon is emphasized by displaying information associated with the icon in a heads-up-display.

12. A computer-readable medium comprising computer program code causing a device to perform a method comprising:

mapping graphical representations of at least some items in a playlist to locations on a virtual display wherein the collective graphical representations of the items comprises a v-shape;

displaying the contents of the virtual display on a display device;

detecting a selection action representative of selecting at least one of the graphical representations;

detecting a move action representative of relocating the position of the selected graphical representation;

displaying the graphical representation throughout the move action, whereby the potential new order of the playlist is displayed; and

reordering the playlist based on the relocated position of the selected graphical representation.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the move action caused relocation of a graphical representation of a media item that does not make up the v-shape into the v-shape and the reordering comprises incorporating the media item into the playlist represented by the v-shape.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the move action is representative of moving the media item from a directory folder.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the move action is representative of moving the media item from a media management graphical user interface.

16. A method for managing a list in a graphical user interface comprising:

generating a relative ordering for a list of digital files;

displaying a graphical user interface comprising respective graphical icons for each digital file, the respective graphical icons positioned for maintaining the relative ordering, and collectively producing a pattern comprising two lines that intersect at one of their respective ends at an angle;

graphically distinguishing, on the display, the icon for a currently selected digital file at the junction of the two lines that intersect;

updating the pattern comprising two intersecting lines based on changes of the currently selected digital file to maintain each then-currently selected digital file in approximately a constant location, while previously currently selected digital files are segregated from to-be-selected digital files by the icon for the currently selected digital file;

accepting digital file sequence manipulation input from the graphical user interface; and

based on the sequence manipulation input, generating a different ordering for the list of digital files.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of updating includes an animation sequence to illustrate the change in the currently selected digital file.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the animation illustrates the pattern shifting the new currently selected digital file into the approximately constant location designated for the currently selected file.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of displaying an icon separate from the pattern comprising two intersecting lines which represents the entire list.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein a new digital file is inserted into the list by inserting a graphical representation of a new digital file into the pattern.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the new digital file is inserted into the list in the same relative position as the position that the graphical representation of the new digital file was inserted into the pattern relative to the other files already in the list.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein a new list is created by replacing the icon separate from the pattern with a graphical representation of a new digital file.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the new list is created based on similarity data associated with the new digital file.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the graphical representation of the new digital file is selected from outside of the pattern.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the graphical representation of the new digital file is selected from one of the items already within the pattern.