User interface system and method for controlling playback time-based temporal digital media

• US 6,191,784 B1
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics Incorporated (Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fitzmaurice, George William, Buxton, William Arthur Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/100,246
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 345/328, 345/326, 345/473-475, 345/159, 345/163
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method that maps temporal control functions into a six degree of freedom pointing device. The six degree of freedom pointing device controls both transport and view modes within a time-based media editing system and allows a user to toggle between modes without losing visual contact with graphical objects appearing on a video screen. During playback operations in the transport (temporal) mode, the system allows a cap on the six degree of freedom pointing device to be divided into multiple uneven regions in one direction along a single degree of freedom. Each of the multiple regions then corresponds to a unique rate of frame increments/decrements.

Claims

1. In a system for controlling playback of temporal digital media, a system for controlling the transition from single to multiple frame increment/decrement modes, comprising:

means for dividing a maximum range of motion in one direction along a single degree of freedom by a pointing device into a plurality of regions, wherein each of said plurality of regions corresponds to a unique rate of frame increments/decrements, each of said unique rate of frame increments/decrements representing an equilibrium point within that corresponding region;

means for classifying an event based on movement of said pointing device along said single degree of freedom into one of said plurality of regions; and

means for controlling transitions between said equilibrium points based on the length of time that said pointing device resides in a particular region.

2. In a method for controlling playback of temporal digital media, a method for controlling the transition from single to multiple frame increment/decrement modes, comprising the steps of:

dividing a maximum range of motion in one direction along a single degree of freedom by appointing device into a plurality of regions, wherein each of said plurality of regions corresponds to a unique rate of frame increments/decrements, each of said unique rate of frame increments/decrements representing an equilibrium point within that corresponding region;

classifying an event based on movement of said pointing device along said single degree of freedom into one of said plurality of regions; and

controlling transitions between said equilibrium points based on the length of time that said pointing device resides in a particular region.