Morphing between views of data

• US 7,770,117 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wasko, Timothy E., Uy, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chuong; Truc T
• Application Number:
  US10/444,465
• Time in Patent Office: 2,630 Days
• Field of Search: 715/512, 715/726, 715/730, 715/706, 715/732, 715/709, 715/768, 715/838, 715/861, 715722-723, 715/716, 715/719
• US Class Current: 715/726
• 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

Abstract

A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium are provided that in an embodiment morph between two graphical views of related content that share a common frame of reference. In an embodiment, the two views depict the same data at different resolutions. The morphing permits the viewer to visualize the relationship between the two views along a common axis or within a common frame of reference. In another embodiment, the two views may be a clip view and a timeline view. In the clip view, icons representing clips are the same size. In the timeline view, icons representing clips have a size proportional to the time of the clip when played. A virtual playhead icon is maintained in the same relative position in both views, so that a user'"'"'s focus is maintained.

Claims

1. A method of displaying content, the method comprising:

displaying a first view of a plurality of items of video content on a monitor, the items being in a sequence relative to each other, the first view displayed having a time-based frame of reference for displaying the first view, the time-based frame of reference being different from the plurality of items of video content;

in response to a command to switch views, morphing from the first view to a second view of the plurality of items of video content, the morphing including displaying the second view on the monitor such that the first view is not displayed while maintaining the sequence of the items from the first view to the second view without editing the items of video content, the second view being different from the first view, the second view displayed having the same time-based frame of reference; and

maintaining a point of focus displayed in the first view as a point of focus displayed in the second view when morphing from the first view to a second view, the point of focus being a playhead icon different from the plurality of items of video content, the playhead icon having a position maintained relative to the time-based frame of reference in morphing from the first view to the second view in response to the command to switch views such that the playhead icon indicates a playing position within one of the items of video content both in the first view and in the second view, the command to switch views being different than playing the video content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time-based frame of reference includes a linear axis along which the first and second views are arranged.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the linear axis is a time-sequence axis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises selecting the point of focus using a pointing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises moving a pointer to define the point of focus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the command to switch views includes a single user activated command.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the single user activated command includes selecting a displayed button.

8. An apparatus for displaying content, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a first view of a plurality of items of video content on a monitor, the items being in a sequence relative to each other, the first view configured having a time-based frame of reference for displaying the first view, the time-based frame of reference being different from the plurality of items of video content;

means for morphing from the first view to a second view of the plurality of items of video content within the same time-based frame of reference for displaying the second view, in response to a command to switch views, the morphing including displaying the second view on the monitor such that the first view is not displayed while maintaining the sequence of the items from the first view to the second view without editing the items of video content, the second view being different from the first view; and

means for maintaining a point of focus displayed in the first view as a point of focus displayed in the second view when morphing from the first view to a second view, the point of focus being a playhead icon different from the plurality of items of video content, the playhead icon having a position maintained relative to the time-based frame of reference in morphing from the first view to the second view in response to the command to switch views such that the playhead icon indicates a playing position within one of the items of video content both in the first view and in the second view, the command to switch views being different than playing the video content.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the time-based frame of reference includes a linear axis along which the first and second views are arranged.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the linear axis is a time-sequence axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises a pointing device and the point of focus is selectable using the pointing device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for displaying a first view further comprises a means to move a pointer to define the point of focus.

13. The apparatus for displaying content of claim 8, wherein the command to switch views includes a single user activated command.

14. The apparatus for displaying content of claim 13, wherein the single user activated command includes selecting a displayed button.

15. A machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

displaying a first view of a plurality of items of video content on a monitor, the items being in a sequence relative to each other, the first view displayed having a time-based frame of reference for displaying the first view, the time-based frame of reference being different from the plurality of items of video content;

morphing from the first view to a second view of the plurality of items of video content in response to a command to switch views, the second view being different from the first view, the second view displayed having the same time-based frame of reference, the morphing including displaying the second view on the monitor such that the first view is not displayed while maintaining the sequence of the items from the first view to the second view without editing the items of video content; and

maintaining a point of focus displayed in the first view as a point of focus displayed in the second view when morphing from the first view to a second view, the point of focus being a playhead icon different from the plurality of items of video content, the playhead icon having a position maintained relative to the time-based frame of reference, in morphing from the first view to the second view in response to the command to switch views such that the playhead icon indicates a playing position within one of the items of video content both in the first view and in the second view, the command to switch views being different than playing the video content.

16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the time-based frame of reference includes a linear axis along which the first and second views are arranged.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the linear axis is a time-sequence axis.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise selecting the point of focus using a pointing device.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise to move a pointer to define the point of focus.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the command to switch views includes a single user activated command.

21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the single user activated command includes selecting a displayed button.

22. An electronic device comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device, wherein the storage device comprises instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising;

displaying a first view of a plurality of items of video content on a monitor, the items being in a sequence relative to each other, the first view having a time-based frame of reference for displaying the first view, the time-based frame of reference being different from the plurality of items of video content;

morphing from the first view to a second view of the plurality of items of video content in response to a command to switch views, the second view being different from the first view, the second view displayed having the same time-based frame of reference, the morphing including displaying the second view on the monitor such that the first view is not displayed while maintaining the sequence of the items from the first view to the second view without editing the items of video content; and

maintaining a point of focus displayed in the first view as a point of focus displayed in the second view when morphing from the first view to a second view, the point of focus being a playhead icon different from the plurality of items of video content, the playhead icon having a position maintained relative to the time-based frame of reference in morphing from the first view to the second view in response to the command to switch views such that the playhead icon indicates a playing position within one of the items of video content both in the first view and in the second view, the command to switch views being different than playing the video content.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the time-based frame of reference includes a linear axis along which the first and second views are arranged.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein the linear axis is a time-sequence axis.

25. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the instructions further comprise selecting the point of focus using a pointing device.

26. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to move a pointer to define the point of focus.

27. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the command to switch views includes a single user activated command.

28. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the single user activated command includes selecting a displayed button.

29. A method of displaying content, the method comprising:

displaying a first view of media clips on a monitor, the first view displayed having a time-based frame of reference for displaying the first view, the time-based frame of reference being different from the media clips, the first view configured to represent each of the media clips with a representation of content of its associated media clip, the media clips being in a sequence relative to each other;

in response to a command to switch views, morphing from the first view to a second view of the media clips, the morphing including displaying the second view on the monitor such that the first view is not displayed while maintaining the sequence of the media clips from the first view to the second view without editing the media clips, the second view being different from the first view, the second view displayed having the same time-based frame of reference; and

maintaining a point displayed in the first view in the time-based frame of reference as a point shared in common with and displayed in the second view in the response to the command to switch views, the second view configured to represent duration of at least a subset of the media clips, the point in common being a playhead icon different from the media clips and different from representations of the media clips, the playhead icon having a position maintained relative to the time-based frame of reference in morphing from the first view to the second view in response to the command to switch views such that the playhead icon indicates a playing position within one of the media clips both in the first view and in the second view, the command to switch views being different than playing the media clips.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the method further comprises representing duration of one of the media clips with a geometric shape that corresponds to the duration relative to the other media clips.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the method further comprises displaying the media clips in the second view such that the time-based frame of reference indicates a relative timeline.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the media clips include audio clips.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the method further comprises moving a pointer to define the point in common.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the time-based frame of reference includes a time sequence of the media clips.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the command to switch views includes a single user activated command.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the single user activated command includes selecting a displayed button.

37. A machine-readable storage media having stored instructions, which when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

displaying a first view of media clips on a monitor, the first view displayed having a time-based frame of reference for displaying the first view, the time-based frame of reference being different from the media clips, the first view configured to represent each of the media clips with a representation of content of its associated media clip, the media clips being in a sequence relative to each other;

morphing, in response to a command to switch views, from the first view to a second view of the media clips, the morphing including displaying the second view on the monitor such that the first view is not displayed while maintaining the sequence of the media clips from the first view to the second view without editing the media clips, the second view being different than the first view, the second view displayed having the same time-based frame of reference; and

maintaining the a point displayed in the first view in the time-based frame of reference as a point shared in common with and displayed in the second view in the response to the command to switch views, the second view configured to represent duration of at least a subset of the media clips, the point in common being a playhead icon different from the media clips and different from representations of the media clips, the playhead icon having a position maintained relative to the time-based frame of reference in morphing from the first view to the second view in response to the command to switch views such that the playhead icon indicates a playing position within one of the media clips both in the first view and in the second view, the command to switch views being different than playing the media clips.

38. The machine-readable storage media of claim 37, wherein the instructions further comprise representing duration of one of the media clips with a geometric shape that corresponds to the duration relative to the other media clips.

39. The machine-readable storage media of claim 37, wherein the instructions further comprise displaying the media clips in the second view such that the time-based frame of reference indicates a relative timeline.

40. The machine-readable storage media of claim 37, wherein the media clips include audio clips.

41. The machine-readable storage media of claim 37, wherein the instructions further comprise moving a pointer to define the point in common.

42. The machine-readable storage media of claim 37, wherein the time-based frame of reference includes a time sequence of the media clips.

43. The machine-readable storage media of claim 37, wherein the command to switch views includes a single user activated command.

44. The machine-readable storage media of claim 43, wherein the single user activated command includes selecting a displayed button.

45. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device, wherein the storage device comprises instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

displaying a first view of media clips on a monitor, the first view displayed having a time-based frame of reference for displaying the first view, the time-based frame of reference being different from the media clips, the first view configured to represent each of the media clips with a representation of content of its associated media clip, the media clips being in a sequence relative to each other;

morphing, in response to a command to switch views, from the first view to a second view of the media clips, the morphing including displaying the second view on the monitor such that the first view is not displayed while maintaining the sequence of the media clips from the first view to the second view without editing the media clips, the second view being different than the first view, the second view displayed having the same time-based frame of reference; and

maintaining a point displayed in the first view in the time-based frame of reference as a point shared in common with and displayed in the second view in the response to the command to switch views, the second view configured to represent duration of at least a subset of the media clips, the point in common being a playhead icon different from the media clips and different from representations of the media clips, the playhead icon having a position maintained relative to the time-based frame of reference in morphing from the first view to the second view in response to the command to switch views such that the playhead icon indicates a playing position within one of the media clips both in the first view and in the second view, the command to switch views being different than playing the media clips.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the instructions further comprise representing duration of one of the media clip with a geometric shape that corresponds to the duration relative to the other media clips.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the instructions further comprise displaying the media clips in the second view such that the time-based frame of reference indicates a relative timeline.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the media clips include audio clips.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the instructions further comprise moving a pointer to define the point in common.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the time-based frame of reference includes a time sequence of the media clips.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the command to switch views includes a single user activated command.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the single user activated command includes selecting a displayed button.