Mobile communications terminal

• US 7,805,684 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Arvilommi, Jaakko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore; William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZAHR, ASHRAF A
• Application Number:
  US11/469,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 715/829, 715853-855, 715/864
• US Class Current: 715/829
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A mobile communication apparatus including a display and means for navigating among items displayed on the display, arranged to display a first list of items belonging to a higher hierarchical level on the display and being capable of enabling selection of a first item among the higher hierarchical level items by the means for navigation is disclosed. Upon selection of the first item, being arranged to insert and display a second list including at least one item belonging to a lower hierarchical level between the first item and subsequent higher hierarchical level items for enabling selection of a second item from the second list, wherein the second list is hierarchically associated with the first item. A corresponding application, apparatus and computer program is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sorting items in an hierarchy according to metadata;

displaying a first list of items belonging to an highest hierarchical level in a display view;

enabling selection of a first item among said highest hierarchical level items;

upon selection of said first item, scrolling the first item to a top of the display view, and inserting a second list in said display view between said first item and subsequent highest hierarchical level items, the second list comprising at least one item belonging to a middle hierarchical level between said first item and subsequent highest hierarchical level items for enabling selection of a second item from said second list, wherein said at least one item in said second list is hierarchically associated with said first item having at least one metadata item in common; and

upon selection of said second item, determining if a next lower level of said hierarchy is the lowest level and if so displaying a third list in another display view, said third list comprising at least one item belonging to a lowest hierarchical level and receiving a selection of third item from said third list and rendering said third item;

and if a next lower level is not the lowest level, inserting a third list in said display view between said second item and subsequent middle hierarchical level items without automatically scrolling said second item to a top of said display view, the third list comprising at least one item belonging to a lower hierarchical level between said second item and subsequent middle hierarchical level items for enabling selection of a third item from said third list, wherein said at least one item in said third list is hierarchically associated with said first item having at least one metadata item in common and hierarchically associated with said second item having at least two metadata items in common.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a further list in said display view, upon selection of a previous item in a previous inserted list, the further list comprising at least one item belonging to a lower hierarchical level between said previous item and previous subsequent items, for enabling selection of a item from said further list, wherein said further list is hierarchically associated with said previous item.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising indenting said inserted further list compared to said previous list.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a first list of artist items belonging to a higher hierarchical level in a display view, upon selection of said artist item, a list comprising at least one album item, belonging to a lower hierarchical level, is inserted in the same display view between said artist item and subsequent artist items, and upon selection of said artist item, a list comprising at least one renderable song item, belonging to the lowest hierarchical level, is displayed in a further display view, wherein said further list is hierarchically associated with said artist item.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a first list of genre items belonging to a higher hierarchical level in a display view, upon selection of said genre item, a list comprising at least one artist item, belonging to a lower hierarchical level, is inserted in the same display view between said genre item and subsequent genre items, and upon selection of said genre item, a list comprising at least one album item, belonging to a lower hierarchical level, is inserted in the same display view between said artist item and subsequent artist items, and upon selection of said artist item, a list comprising at least one renderable song item, belonging to the lowest hierarchical level, is displayed in a further display view, wherein said further list is hierarchically associated with said artist item.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said items are items of the group comprising:

a media library item, a playlist item, and a tracklist item.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising indenting said inserted second list compared to said first list.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising rendering a media item belonging to the lowest hierarchical level, associated with said previous item, upon selection of said media item belonging to the lowest hierarchical level.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising scrolling items such that said first item is displayed uppermost of the displayed items.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing symbols as visual cues to differentiate between said lists.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing symbols, at the top of said display view, as visual cues to indicate active level in the hierarchical structure.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing arrows as visual cues to indicate the existence of selectable sub levels containing hierarchical connected items.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selection from any list in the hierarchical structure.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said metadata comprises one item taken from a group consisting of genre, artist, album and song.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying in said another view a line indicating the first and second items selected.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor arranged to sort items in an hierarchy according to metadata;

a display arranged to display a view comprising a first list of items belonging to an highest hierarchical level; and

a navigation device arranged to navigate among items displayed on said display, and being capable of enabling selection of a first item among said highest hierarchical level items by said navigation device,

wherein upon selection of said first item, the display being arranged to scroll the first item to a top of the display view, and to insert into said view a second list on said display between said first item and subsequent highest hierarchical level items, the second list comprising at least one item belonging to a middle hierarchical level between said first item and subsequent higher hierarchical level items for enabling selection of a second item from said second list, wherein said at least one item in said second list is hierarchically associated with said first item having at least one metadata item in common; and

upon selection of said second item, the processor being arranged to determine if a next lower level of said hierarchy is the lowest level and if so the display being arranged to displaying a third list in another display view, said third list comprising at least one item belonging to a lowest hierarchical level and the navigation device being arranged to receive a selection of third item from said third list and the display further being arranged to render said third item;

and if a next lower level is not the lowest level, the display being arranged to insert a third list in said display view between said second item and subsequent middle hierarchical level items without automatically scrolling said second item to a top of said display view, the third list comprising at least one item belonging to a lower hierarchical level between said second item and subsequent middle hierarchical level items for enabling selection of a third item from said third list, wherein said at least one item in said third list is hierarchically associated with said first item having at least one metadata item in common and hierarchically associated with said second item having at least two metadata items in common.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, being arranged to display a further list in said display view, upon selection of said previous item in a previous inserted list, the further list comprising at least one item belonging to a lower hierarchical level between said previous item and previous subsequent items for enabling selection of a item from said further list, wherein said further list is hierarchically associated with said previous item.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, further being arranged to scroll items such that said first item is displayed uppermost of the displayed items on the display.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a media library, wherein said items are items in the media library.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a media library item, a playlist item, and a tracklist item.

21. The apparatus according to claim 16, belonging to a group comprising:

PDA, mobile communication apparatus, portable media player.

22. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable components comprising instructions for

sorting items in an hierarchy according to metadata;

displaying a first list of items in a display view belonging to an hiqhest hierarchical level in a display view;

enabling selection of a first item among said highest hierarchical level items;

upon selection of said first item, scrolling the first item to a top of the display view, and inserting a second list in said display view between said first item and subsequent highest hierarchical level items, the second list comprising at least one item belonging to a middle hierarchical level between said first item and subsequent highest hierarchical level items for enabling selection of a second item from said second list, wherein said at least one item in said second list is hierarchically associated with said first item having at least one metadata item in common; and

upon selection of said second item, determining if a next lower level of said hierarchy is the lowest level and if so displaying a third list in another display view, said third list comprising at least one item belonging to a lowest hierarchical level and receiving a selection of third item from said third list and rendering said third item;

and if a next lower level is not the lowest level, inserting a third list in said display view between said second item and subsequent middle hierarchical level items without automatically scrolling said second item to a top of said display view, the third list comprising at least one item belonging to a lower hierarchical level between said second item and subsequent middle hierarchical level items for enabling selection of a third item from said third list, wherein said at least one item in said third list is hierarchically associated with said first item having at least one metadata item in common and hierarchically associated with said second item having at least two metadata items in common.

23. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 22, further comprising instructions for displaying a further list in said display view, upon selection of said previous item in a previous inserted list, the further list comprising at least one item belonging to a lower hierarchical level between said previous item and previous subsequent items for enabling selection of a item from said further list, wherein said further list is hierarchically associated with said previous item.

24. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 22, further comprising instructions for rendering a media item associated with said second item upon selection of said second item.

25. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 22, comprising instructions for indenting said inserted second list compared to said first list.