Progress bar with multiple portions

• US 7,290,698 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ryal, Kim Annon, Poslinski, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US10/925,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20060045470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/381, 235/492, 235/454, 369/30.01, 386/68, 386/125, 386/46, 725/37, 725/115, 725/45, 725/34, 725/46, 725/38, 725/134
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/06 for recorders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A method and system for providing information about recorded media content having a beginning and end time. A progress bar including a first portion is displayed on a display device. The first portion graphically represents the duration of the recorded media content and has a first color. The progress bar also includes a second portion having a second color. The second portion graphically represents a section of the recorded media content that is viewed during a viewing session. The second color is distinct from the first color.

Claims

1. A method of providing information about recorded media content having a beginning and end time, said method comprising:

displaying a progress bar having a first portion, said first portion graphically representing the duration of said recorded media content and having a first color; and

displaying a second portion having a second color in said progress bar, said second portion graphically representing a section of said recorded media content that is viewed during a viewing session;

wherein said second color is distinct from said first color; and

wherein said second portion graphically tracks a navigation through said recorded media content being viewed in a trick mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a third portion having a third color in said progress bar, said third portion graphically representing a section of said recorded media content that is designated for editing;

wherein said third color is distinct than said first and second colors.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a fourth portion having a fourth color in said progress bar, said fourth portion graphically representing a deleted section of said recorded media content;

wherein said fourth color is distinct from said first, second, and third colors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of said second portion shrinks when said recorded media content is rewound.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of said second portion increases when said recorded media content is fast forwarded.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a sixth portion having a sixth color in said progress bar, said sixth portion graphically representing unrecorded media content;

wherein said sixth color is distinct from said first and second colors.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said unrecorded media content is caused by a signs drop-out.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said unrecorded media content corresponds to one or more time periods within said beginning and end times of said recorded media content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said section of said recorded media content that is viewed during said viewing session starts at said beginning time of said recorded media content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said section of said recorded media content that is viewed during a viewing session starts at an entry point that is sequentially after said beginning time of said recorded media content.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said recorded media content is stored in a live cache buffer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said recorded media content is stored in a permanent buffer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying a fifth portion having a fifth color in said progress bar, said fifth portion graphically representing an entire section of said recorded media content that is viewed;

wherein said fifth color is distinct from said first and second colors.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a time scale.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying program information corresponding to said recorded media content.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of displaying said program information comprises superimposing said program information on top of said progress bar.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said second portion has a smaller vertical dimension than does said first portion.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying one or more additional portions in said progress bar;

wherein each of said one or more additional portions has a distinct color from said first and second colors, wherein each of said one or more additional portions provides additional information about said recorded media content.

19. A system for providing information about recorded media content having a beginning and end time, said system comprising:

a memory unit including a number of applications;

a storage device including a buffer for storing said recorded media content;

a graphics engine configured to render graphics that are displayed on a display device; and

a processor configured to use one or more of said number of applications to cause said graphics engine to display a progress bar on said display device;

wherein said progress bar comprises a first portion and a second portion, said first portion graphically representing the duration of said recorded media content and having a first color, said second portion having a second color and graphically representing a section of said recorded media content that is viewed during a viewing session.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said second color is distinct from said first color.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said progress bar further comprises a third portion having a third color, said third portion graphically representing a section of said recorded media content that is designated for editing, wherein said third color is distinct from said first and second colors.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said progress bar further comprises a fourth portion having a fourth color, said fourth portion graphically representing a deleted section of said recorded media content, wherein said fourth color is distinct from said first, second, and third colors.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein said second portion graphically tracks a navigation through said recorded media content being viewed in a trick mode.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the length of said second portion shrinks when said recorded media content is rewound.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the length of said second portion increases when said recorded media content is fast forwarded.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said progress bar further comprises a fifth portion having a fifth color, said fifth portion graphically representing an entire section of said recorded media content that is viewed, wherein said fifth color is distinct from said first and second colors.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein said progress bar further comprises a sixth portion having a sixth color, said sixth portion graphically representing unrecorded media content, wherein said sixth color is distinct from said first and second colors.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said unrecorded media content is caused by a signal drop-out.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said unrecorded media content corresponds to one or more time periods within said beginning and end times of said recorded media content.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein said section of said recorded media content that is viewed during said viewing session starts at said beginning time of said recorded media content.

31. The system of claim 19, wherein said section of said recorded media content that is viewed during a viewing session starts at an entry point that is sequentially after said beginning time of said recorded media content.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein said buffer is a live cache buffer or a permanent buffer.

33. The system of claim 19, wherein said processor causes said graphics engine to further display a time scale on said display device.

34. The system of claim 19, wherein said processor causes said graphics engine to further display program information corresponding to said recorded media content.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said program information is superimposed on top of said progress bar.

36. The system of claim 19, wherein said second portion has a smaller vertical dimension than does said first portion.

37. The system of claim 19, wherein said progress bar further comprises one or more additional portions, wherein each of said one or more additional portions has a distinct color from said first and second colors, wherein each of said one or more additional portions provides additional information about said recorded media content.

38. The system of claim 19, wherein said number of applications includes a personal video recording (PVR) application configured to generate said progress bar.

39. The system of claim 19, wherein said media content comprises a number of media content instances.

40. A graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on a display device said GUI comprising a progress bar, said progress bar comprising:

a first portion, said first portion graphically representing the duration of said recorded media content having a beginning and end time and having a first color; and

a second portion having a second color, said second portion graphically representing a section of said recorded media content that is viewed during a viewing session;

wherein said second color is distinct from said first color; and

wherein said second portion graphically tracks a navigation through said recorded media content being viewed in a trick mode.

41. The GUI of claim 40, wherein said progress bar further comprises a third portion having a third color, said third portion graphically representing a section of said recorded media content that is designated for editing, wherein said third color is distinct from said first and second colors.

42. The GUI of claim 41, wherein said progress bar further comprises a fourth portion having a fourth color, said fourth portion graphically representing a deleted section of said recorded media content, wherein said fourth color is distinct from said first, second, and third colors.

43. The GUI of claim 40 wherein the length of said second portion shrinks when said recorded media content is rewound.

44. The GUI of claim 40, wherein the length of said second portion increases when said recorded media content is fast forwarded.

45. The GUI of claim 40, wherein said progress bar further comprises a fifth portion having a fifth color, said fifth portion graphically representing an entire section of said recorded media content that is viewed, wherein said fifth color is distinct from said first and second colors.

46. The GUI of claim 40, wherein said progress bar further comprises a sixth portion having a sixth color, said sixth portion graphically representing unrecorded media content, wherein said sixth color is distinct from said first and second colors.

47. The GUI of claim 46, wherein said unrecorded media content is caused by a signal drop-out.

48. The GUI of claim 46, wherein said unrecorded media content corresponds to one or more time periods within said beginning and end times of said recorded media content.

49. The GUI of claim 40, wherein said section of said recorded media content that is viewed during said viewing session starts at said beginning time of said recorded media content.

50. The GUI of claim 40, wherein said section of said recorded media content that is viewed during a viewing session starts at an entry point that is sequentially after said beginning time of said recorded media content.

51. The GUI of claim 40, further comprising a time scale.

52. The GUI of claim 40, wherein said progress bar further comprises program information corresponding to said recorded media content.

53. The GUI of claim 52, wherein said program information is superimposed on top of said progress bar.

54. The GUI of claim 40, wherein said second portion has a smaller vertical dimension than does said first portion.

55. The GUI of claim 40, wherein said progress bar further comprises one or more additional portions, wherein each of said one or more additional portions has a distinct color from said first and second colors, wherein each of said one or more additional portions provides additional information about said recorded media content.

56. A system of providing information about recorded media content having a beginning and end time, said system comprising:

means for displaying a progress bar having a first portion, said first portion graphically representing the duration of said recorded media content and having a first color;

means for displaying a second portion having a second color in said progress bar, said second portion graphically representing a section of said recorded media content that is viewed during a viewing session, wherein said second color is distinct from said first color; and

means for graphically tracking a navigation through said recorded media content being viewed in a trick mode.

57. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

means for displaying a third portion having a third color in said progress bar, said third portion graphically representing a section of said recorded media content that is designated for editing;

wherein said third color is distinct from said first and second colors.

58. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

means for displaying a fourth portion having a fourth color in said progress bar, said fourth portion graphically representing a deleted section of said recorded media content;

wherein said fourth color is distinct from said first, second, and third colors.

59. The system of claim 56, further comprising means for shrinking the length of said second portion when said recorded media content is rewound.

60. The system of claim 56, further comprising means for increasing the length of said second portion when said recorded media content is fast forwarded.

61. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

means for displaying a fifth portion having a fifth color in said progress bar, said fifth portion graphically representing an entire section of said recorded media content that is viewed;

wherein said fifth color is distinct from said first and second colors.

62. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

means for displaying a sixth portion having a sixth color in said progress bar, said sixth portion graphically representing unrecorded media content;

wherein said sixth color is distinct from said first and second colors.

63. The system of claim 56, further comprising means for displaying program information corresponding to said recorded media content.

64. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

means for displaying one or more additional portions in said progress bar;

wherein each of said one or more additional portions has a distinct color from said first and second colors, wherein each of said one or more additional portions provides additional information about said recorded media content.