User interface for presenting media information

• US 6,262,724 B1
• Filed: 04/15/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Wasko, Timothy E., Jobs, Steven P., Dykstra-Erickson, Elizabeth, Crow, Daniel N., Hoddie, J. Peter, Dean, Cary
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/293,508
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 345/328, 345/326, 345/339, 345/340, 345/348, 345/343, 345/346
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/326 used signal is a video-frame or a video-field (P.I.P.)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

A user interface and methods for using a user interface for controlling processing of time-based media files. In one exemplary method, a graphical representation of a time line for a time-based media is displayed along with a graphical representation of a current time along the graphical representation of the time line. A start graphical indicator and a stop graphical indicator is also displayed along the graphical representation of the time line. A portion of the time-based media may be selected for presentation by dragging or positioning at least one of the start graphical indicator and the stop graphical indicator along the graphical representation of the time line. In another aspect of the invention, an exemplary method allows for the adaptive control of a portion of the interface which indicates time relating to a time-based media. An input speed is determined where this input is to change the portion and the rate at which the change to this portion occurs is dependent upon the input speed. Other aspects of the present invention relating to the interface for controlling the processing of time-based media files are also described.

Claims

1. A method for generating a graphical user interface for presentation to a user, said graphical user interface to provide functionality for processing time-based media data, said method comprising:

generating a first set of data representing said graphical user interface as a primary window for display;

generating a second set of data representing a media drawer window which in a first display state is at least partially overlapped by said primary window and in a second display state is at least partially viewable; and

said media window providing a plurality of locations each for displaying a time-based media icon associated with a time-based media file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing said time-based media file as a QuickTime movie.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing said time-based media file at a remote location accessible through a data processing network.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing said time-based media file on a machine-readable medium at a local location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said time-based media file from a remote data processing system in response to selection of said time-based media icon associated with said time-based media file.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing said time-based media file for playback in response to selection of said time-based media icon associated with said time-based media file.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said time-based media file comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transferring a set of one or more time-based media icons to a set of one or more of said plurality of locations, such that said set of time-based media icons appear in said media drawer when said media drawer is sufficiently non-overlapped by said primary window, and each of said set of time-based media icons is associated with a particular media file, which particular media file is played back in response to selection of a particular one of said set of time-based media icons associated therewith.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a secondary window within said primary window, said secondary window for displaying motion image media associated with a time-based media icon of said media drawer window.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transferring said time-based media icon from a first of said plurality of locations in said media drawer window to a second of said plurality of locations in said media drawer window.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein said media drawer window is attached to said primary window which is moveable on a desktop of said graphical user interface and wherein said media drawer window moves with said primary window as said primary window is moved.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein objects may be moved into or out of said media drawer window.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said objects may be moved by dragging said objects into or out of said media drawer window.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein said dragging further comprises:

selecting at least one of said objects with a cursor;

moving said cursor with said at least one of said objects to move said at least one of said objects.

15. A method as in claim 13 wherein said media drawer window comprises a plurality of predetermined, tiled regions for receiving said objects.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein when an object is dragged near one of said tiled regions, said object is automatically aligned within said tiled region when dropped near said one of said tiled regions.

17. A method as in claim 11 wherein said media drawer window appears to slide under said primary window when said media drawer is being closed and appears to slide out from under said primary window when said media drawer is being opened.

18. A method as in claim 11 wherein said media drawer window comprises a handle region which is displayed attached to an edge of said primary window when said media drawer window is in said first display state.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said handle region comprises at least one of an open control button and a resize button.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein said open control button, when dragged in a first direction, opens said media drawer window from said first display state to said second display state and, when dragged in a second direction, closes said media drawer window from said second display state to said first display state.

21. A machine readable medium having stored thereon executable code which causes a machine to perform a method for generating a graphical user interface for display, said graphical user interface to provide functionality for processing time-based media data, said method comprising:

generating a first set of data representing said graphical user interface as a primary window for display;

generating a second set of data representing a media drawer window which in a first display state is at least partially overlapped by said primary window and in a second display state is at least partially viewable in selectable proportions; and

said media window providing a plurality of locations each for displaying a time-based media icon associated with a time-based media file.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

storing said time-based media file as a QuickTime movie.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein said method further comprises:

accessing said time-based media file from a remote location.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein said method further comprises:

accessing said time-based media file from a local location.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving said time-based media file from a remote data processing system in response to selection of said time-based media icon associated with said time-based media file.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

storing said time-based media file for playback in response to selection of said time-based media icon associated with said time-based media file.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said time-based media file comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

28. The machine-readable medium claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

transferring a set of one or more time-based media icons to a set of one or more of said plurality of locations, such that said set of time-based media icons appear in said media drawer when said media drawer is sufficiently non-overlapped by said primary window, and each of said set of time-based media icons is associated with a particular media file, which particular media file is played back in response to selection of a particular one of said set of time-based media icons associated therewith.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

generating a secondary window within said primary window, said secondary window for displaying motion image media associated with a time-based media icon of said media drawer window.

30. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said method further comprises:

transferring said time-based media icon from a first of said plurality of locations in said media drawer window to a second of said plurality of locations in said media drawer window.

31. A data processing system for generating a graphical user interface for display, said graphical user interface to provide functionality for processing time-based media data, said data processing system comprising:

a first means for generating a first set of data representing said graphical user interface as a primary window for display on a display means;

a second means for generating second set of data representing a media drawer window which, in response to a user input, controllably slides said media drawer window relative to said primary window on said display means such that said media window appears to be at least partially overlapped by said primary window, wherein said user input controls a proportion of said media window that appears to be overlapped by said primary window relative to a proportion of said media window that is viewable on said display means; and

a third means for providing in said media drawer a plurality of channel windows, wherein each of said plurality of channel windows provides a location for displaying a time-based media icon associated with a time-based media file, wherein selection of said time-based media icon by a user causes said data processing system to playback said time-based media file.

32. The data processing system of claim 31, wherein said time-based media file comprises a QuickTime movie.

33. The data processing system of claim 31, further comprising a network interface means for receiving said time-based media file from a remote data processing system in response to selection of said time-based media icon associated with said time-based media file.

34. The data processing system of claim 31, further comprising a storage means for storing said time-based media file for playback in response to selection of said time-based media icon associated with said time-based media file.

35. The data processing system of claim 31, wherein said time-based media file comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

36. The data processing system of claim 31, further comprising:

a fourth means for transferring a set of one or more time-based media icons to a set of one or more of said plurality of channel windows, such that said set of time-based media icons appear in said media drawer when said media drawer is sufficiently non-overlapped by said primary window, and each of said set of time-based media icons is associated with a particular media file, which particular media file is played back by said data processing system in response to selection of a particular one of said set of time-based media icons associated therewith.

37. The data processing system of claim 31, further comprising:

a fourth means for generating a secondary window within said primary window, said secondary window for displaying motion image media associated with said time-based media file.

38. The data processing system of claim 31, further comprising:

a fourth means for transferring said time-based media icon from said location in said plurality of channel windows to another location in said plurality of channel windows.

39. The data processing system of claim 31, further comprising:

a fourth means for transferring said time-based media icon from said location in said plurality of channel windows to another location of said display means.

40. A method for generating a graphical user interface for display, said graphical user interface to provide functionality for processing time-based media data, said method comprising:

generating a first set of data representing said graphical user interface as a primary window for display;

generating a second set of data representing an auxiliary drawer window which in a first display state is at least partially overlapped by said primary window and in a second display state is at least partially viewable; and

said auxiliary drawer window providing one of information relating to, and functionality for presentation of, a time-based media file.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

storing said time-based media file as a QuickTime movie.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

storing said time-based media file at a remote location accessible through a data processing network.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

storing said time-based media file on a machine-readable medium at a local location.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving said time-based media file from a remote data processing system in response to selection of a time-based media icon associated with said time-based media file, said time-based media icon being displayed by a channel well drawer window.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

said functionality including a set of audio control mechanisms each for controlling a characteristic of audio information included in said media file.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein said time-based media file comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said set of audio control mechanisms comprises at least one of bass control, treble control, and balance control.

48. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

said functionality including providing a set of time-based media play back control mechanisms, including at least one of a forward step control, a reverse step control, a forward scan control, a reverse scan control, a go to beginning control, and a go to end control.

49. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

detecting user input; and

in response to detecting said user input, displaying said auxiliary window as a drawer that previous to said user input appears overlapped by said primary window.

50. A method as in claim 40 wherein said auxiliary drawer window is attached to said primary window which is moveable on a desktop of said graphical user interface and wherein said auxiliary drawer window moves with said primary window as said primary window is moved.

51. A method as in claim 50 wherein objects may be moved into or out of said auxiliary drawer window.

52. A method as in claim 51 wherein said objects may be moved by dragging said objects into or out of said auxiliary drawer window.

53. A method as in claim 52 wherein said dragging further comprises:

selecting at least one of said objects with a cursor;

moving said cursor with said at least one of said objects to move said at least one of said objects.

54. A method as in claim 52 wherein said auxiliary drawer window comprises a plurality of predetermined, tiled regions for receiving said objects.

55. A method as in claim 54 wherein when an object is dragged near one of said tiled regions, said object is automatically aligned within said tiled region when dropped near said one of said tiled regions.

56. A method as in claim 50 wherein said auxiliary drawer window appears to slide under said primary window when said auxiliary drawer is being closed and appears to slide out from under said primary window when said auxiliary drawer is being opened.

57. A method as in claim 50 wherein said auxiliary drawer window comprises a handle region which is displayed attached to an edge of said primary window when said auxiliary drawer window is in said first display state.

58. A method as in claim 57 wherein said handle region comprises at least one of an open control button and a resize button.

59. A method as in claim 58 wherein said open control button, when dragged in a first direction, opens said auxiliary drawer window from said first display state to said second display state and, when dragged in a second direction, closes said auxiliary drawer window from said second display state to said first display state.

60. A machine readable medium having stored thereon executable code which causes a machine to perform a method for generating a graphical user interface for display, said graphical user interface to provide functionality for processing time-based media data, said method comprising:

generating a first set of data representing said graphical user interface as a primary window for display;

generating a second set of data representing an auxiliary drawer window which in a first display state is at least partially overlapped by said primary window and in a second display state is at least partially viewable; and

said auxiliary drawer window providing one of information relating to, and functionality for presentation of, a time-based media file.

61. The machine-readable medium of claim 60, wherein said method further comprises:

storing said time-based media file as a QuickTime movie.

62. The machine-readable medium of claim 61, wherein said method further comprises:

accessing said time-based media file from a remote location.

63. The machine-readable medium of claim 61, wherein said method further comprises:

accessing said time-based media file from a local location.

64. The machine-readable medium of claim 60, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving said time-based media file from a remote data processing system in response to selection of a time-based media icon associated with said time-based media file.

65. The machine-readable medium of claim 60, wherein said method further comprises:

said functionality including a set of audio control mechanisms each for controlling a characteristic of audio information included in said media file.

66. The machine-readable medium of claim 60, wherein said time-based media file comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

67. The machine-readable medium claim 60, wherein said set of audio control mechanisms comprises at least one of bass control, treble control, and balance control.

68. The machine-readable medium of claim 60, wherein said method further comprises:

said functionality including providing a set of time-based media play back control mechanisms, including at least one of a forward step control, a reverse step control, a forward scan control, a reverse scan control, a go to beginning control, and a go to end control.

69. The machine-readable medium of claim 60, wherein said method further comprises:

detecting user input; and

in response to detecting said user input, displaying said auxiliary window as a drawer that previous to said user input appears overlapped by said primary window.

70. A data processing system for generating a graphical user interface for display, said graphical user interface to provide functionality for processing time-based media data, said data processing system comprising:

a first means for generating a first set of data representing said graphical user interface as a primary window for display on a display means;

a second means for generating a second set of data representing an auxiliary window which, in response to a user input, is displayed on said display means as a drawer window relative to said primary window; and

a third means for providing in said auxiliary drawer one of information about a time-based media file and a set of function means for controlling presentation of said time-based media file.

71. The data processing system of claim 70, wherein said time-based media file comprises a QuickTime movie.

72. The data processing system of claim 70, further comprising a network interface means for receiving said time-based media file from a remote data processing system.

73. The data processing system of claim 70, further comprising a storage means for storing said time-based media file.

74. The data processing system of claim 70, wherein said time-based media file comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

75. The data processing system of claim 70, wherein said set of function means comprises:

at least one of a means for controlling audio bass output level, a means for controlling audio treble output level, and a means for controlling audio balance output level.

76. The data processing system of claim 70, further comprising:

a fourth means for generating a secondary window within said primary window, said secondary window for displaying motion image media associated with said time-based media file.

77. The data processing system of claim 70, wherein said set of function means comprises:

at least one of a means for controlling forward or reverse scanning of said time-based media file, a means for controlling forward and reverse stepping of said time-based media file.