Taskbar media player
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement a taskbar player, the taskbar player comprising:
- a player deskband; and
a player controller, the player controller configured to implement a player user interface that enables a user to select media-playing services, the player user interface integrated into an existing taskbar user interface of an operating system shell and including multiple controls for selection of the media-playing services, the multiple controls displayed simultaneously in the taskbar user interface of the operating system shell and including at least a play control, a pause control, or a stop control.
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling media through a user interface integrated within a taskbar is described. This system and method enable a user to control media while a user interface of another application remains in perspective. Further, this system includes a taskbar media player, which can play media and enable a user to control the play of that media from within a taskbar.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement a taskbar player, the taskbar player comprising:
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a player deskband; and a player controller, the player controller configured to implement a player user interface that enables a user to select media-playing services, the player user interface integrated into an existing taskbar user interface of an operating system shell and including multiple controls for selection of the media-playing services, the multiple controls displayed simultaneously in the taskbar user interface of the operating system shell and including at least a play control, a pause control, or a stop control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
a media-playing application in computer memory executing in a shell process of an operating system, the media-playing application including a player deskband and a player controller, the player controller configured to enable a user to control media through a player user interface having multiple controls integrated into an existing taskbar user interface associated with the shell process, the multiple controls comprising at least one of a play control, a pause control, a stop control, a previous track control, a next track control, a volume control, a mute control, a metadata control, a visual space control, a switch play control, or a library control, the multiple controls displayed in the taskbar. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system comprising:
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a deskband; a player controller; a playback module; a visual space; and a player user interface, wherein; the player controller is capable of creating the player user interface; the player user interface is integrated within an existing taskbar user interface associated with an operating system shell and is capable of enabling a user to input preferences for play of a media file, the player user interface including multiple controls that are displayed simultaneously in the existing taskbar user interface associated with the operating system shell including at least a play control, a pause control, or a stop control; and the playback module is capable of rendering the media file to enable the player controller to present the media file in the visual space and with the visual space remaining visible over all other windows on a screen in which the player user interface and the existing taskbar user interface associated with the operating system shell is presented. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method comprising:
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presenting, by a player controller of a taskbar player, a player user interface having multiple controls and integrated into an existing taskbar user interface of an operating system shell, the multiple controls displayed simultaneously in the existing taskbar user interface and including at least a play control, a pause control, or a stop control, the taskbar player further including a deskband; and enabling, without the player user interface being in perspective, a user to select media-playing services through the multiple controls of the player user interface. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that perform the following when executed by a computer:
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present, via a player controller of a taskbar player, a player user interface having multiple controls in a first process for controlling services associated with playing media, the multiple controls displayed simultaneously in an existing taskbar of an operating system shell and including at least a play control, a pause control, or a stop control, the taskbar player further including a deskband; and enable a user that is actively engaged with a non-player user interface in a second process to interact with the player user interface through selection of one or more of the multiple controls by clicking one time on one of the multiple controls without disengaging from the non-player user interface. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that perform the following when executed by a computer:
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create, via a player controller of a taskbar player, a player user interface with graphically selectable media-control services and running in a first process, the player user interface integrated into an existing taskbar of an operating system shell and including multiple controls including at least a play control, a pause control, or a stop control, the play control, pause control, or stop control displayed simultaneously in the taskbar, the taskbar player further including a deskband; and enable selection of the media-control services while an additional user interface running in a second process remains in perspective. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification