User interface for presenting media information

• US 7,458,025 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wasko, Timothy E., Jobs, Steven P., Dykstra-Erickson, Elizabeth, Crow, Daniel N., Hoddie, J. Peter, Dean, Cary
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Sy D
• Application Number:
  US11/521,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 715/723, 715/786
• 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 providing a user interface, said user interface providing functionality for processing time-based media, said method comprising:

detecting input to change a portion of a graphical user interface being displayed, wherein said portion indicates information relating to said time-based media;

determining an input speed of said input to change said portion wherein said input comprises a physical motion from which said input speed is determined;

determining a rate at which to change said portion, said rate being dependent on said input speed; and

changing said portion at said rate by scrolling on a line or part thereof by line or part thereof basis wherein a line of information or a part thereof is moved off said portion and for each said line or said part thereof that is moved off said portion, a new line of information or a new part thereof is displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying in said graphical interface text information indicating a location of said time-based media; and

in response to said input, scrolling through said time-based media at a scroll rate that depends on said input speed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said input is from a hand controlled user input device of a portable computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said hand controlled user input device is a touch pad and/or button.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data and wherein the information comprises title information relating to the time-based media.

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

detecting input to change a portion of a graphical user interface being displayed, wherein said portion indicates information relating to said time-based media;

determining an input speed of said input to change said portion wherein said input comprises a physical motion from which said input speed is determined;

determining a rate at which to change said portion, said rate being dependent on said input speed; and

changing said portion at said rate by scrolling on a line or part thereof by line or part thereof basis wherein a line of information or a part thereof is moved off said portion and for each said line or said part thereof that is moved off said portion, a new line of information or a new part thereof is displayed.

7. The machine readable medium of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying in said graphical interface text information indicating a location of said time-based media; and

in response to said input, scrolling through said time-based media at a scroll rate that depends on said input speed.

8. The machine readable medium of claim 6, wherein said input is from a hand controlled user input device of a portable computer.

9. The machine readable medium of claim 8, wherein said hand controlled user input device is a touch pad and/or button.

10. The machine readable medium of claim 6, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, and a combination of audio and video data and wherein the information comprises title information relating to the time-based media.