Systems and methods for providing alternate views when rendering audio/video content in a computing system

• US 7,512,882 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gibson, Mark, Fong, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/751,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 715704-705, 715/716, 715718-723, 715728-730, 715/851, 715853-854
• US Class Current: 715/716
• 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: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring

Abstract

Systems and methods for transitioning between alternate views when rendering A/V content in a computing system are provided. In various embodiments, a “Now Playing” state is exposed to a user experiencing media on a media device via a user interface, wherein the “Now Playing” state has a plurality of associated “Now Playing” views. The user interface allows the user to change “Now Playing” views based on media type and, if desirable, offer quick access settings. Advantageously, when transitioning between or cycling through the “Now Playing” views, the state of the user interface remains the “Now Playing” state.

Claims

1. A user interface for a computing device for use in connection with rendering a media object, comprising:

a computing device display associated with a computing device for viewing a rendering of the media object; and

a “

Now Playing”

state to which a user navigates to render the media object, the “

Now Playing”

state comprising a plurality of views based on the type of the media object being rendered through which a user cycles via at least one input component when deciding upon a view for rendering the media object, wherein the first time a user navigates to the “

Now Playing”

state for a type of media object, a default initial view of the plurality of views is presented to the user.

2. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of views are presented according to characteristics determined by configurable settings changed by the user.

3. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein when the user leaves the “

Now Playing”

state of the user interface by navigating to another state, at least one of the settings and the last view viewed in the “

Now Playing”

state are stored so that the user is represented with the same view when the user returns to the “

Now Playing”

state for another media object of the same type.

4. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of views include at least one of a full screen view and a view of the metadata associated with the media object.

5. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of views are configurable to display in available languages via a multilingual user interface.

6. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein the type of the media object is one of Recorded TV, Music, Video and Picture.

7. A user interface according to claim 1, further comprising preset button interface elements for entering the “

Now Playing”

state based upon at least pre-defined playlist.

8. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable modules having computer executable instructions for implementing the user interface of claim 1.

9. A computing device comprising the user interface of claim 1.

10. A modulated data signal carrying computer executable instructions for implementing the user interface of claim 1.

11. A method for interfacing with the rendering of a media object via a user interface of a computing device and implemented on the computing device, comprising:

receiving a selection of a playing state for rendering the media object via at least one interface control element of the user interface;

presenting an initial view of a plurality of views in the playing state on a display of the computing device by way of the user interface, the presented initial view being selected based on the type of the media object being rendered;

allowing a user to cycle by way of the user interface through the plurality of views via the at least one interface control element when the user is deciding upon a view for rendering the media object; and

when the user leaves the playing state, storing at least one of the settings and the last view viewed in the playing state so that the user is presented with the last view as the initial view when the user returns to the playing state for another media object of the same type.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the presenting of the plurality of views includes presenting the plurality of views according to characteristics determined by configurable settings changed by the user.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein one view of the plurality of views is a default initial view.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of views include at least one of a full screen view and a view of the metadata associated with the media object.

15. A method according to claim 11, further including configuring the plurality of views to display in a different language via a multilingual user interface.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the type of the media object is one of Recorded TV, Music, Video and Picture.

17. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable modules having computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 11.

18. A computing device comprising means for performing the method of claim 11.

19. A modulated data signal carrying computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 11.

20. A computing device, comprising:

a display;

a computer readable medium comprising computer executable modules comprising computer executable instructions configured to interact with the display and enabling a user to interact with the playback of a media object by a media player via a user interface including a playing state to which a user navigates to render the media object,

the playing state comprising a plurality of views based on the type of the media object being rendered, the user interface allowing a user to cycle through the plurality of views based on preference via at least one input component when deciding upon a view for rendering the media object, wherein the first time a user navigates to the playing state for a type of media object, a default initial view of the plurality of views is presented to the user.

21. A computing device according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of views are presented according to characteristics determined by configurable settings, changed by the user.

22. A computing device according to claim 20, wherein when the user leaves the playing state of the user interface by navigating to another state, at least one of the settings and the last view viewed in the playing state are stored so that the user is presented with the same view when the user returns to the playing state for another media object of the same type.

23. A computing device according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of views include at least one of a full screen view and a view of the metadata associated with the media object.

24. A computing device according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of views are configurable to display in available languages via a multilingual user interface.

25. A computing device according to claim 20, wherein the type of the media object is one of Recorded TV, Music, Video and Picture.

26. A computing device for interacting with media objects including a user interface for rendering a media object, the user interface of the computing device being implemented on the computing device, comprising:

means for receiving a selection of a playing state for rendering the media object via at least one interface control element of the user interface;

means for presenting an initial view of a plurality of user selectable views in the playing state on a display of the computing device by way of the user interface, the presented initial view being selected based on the type of the media object being rendered;

means for allowing a user to cycle by way of the user interface through the plurality of views via the at least one interface control element when the user is deciding upon a view for rendering the media object; and

means for configuring the plurality of views to display in a different language via a multilingual user interface.

27. A computing device according to claim 26, further comprising:

means for storing at least one of the settings and the last view viewed in the playing state, whereby when the user returns to the playing state for another media object of the same type, said means for presenting presents an initial view based on at least one of the settings and the last view.

28. A computing device according to claim 26, wherein the type of the media object is one of Recorded TV, Music, Video and Picture.