Control of background media when foreground graphical user interface is invoked

• US 7,853,895 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tu, Edgar A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault; Steven B
• Application Number:
  US10/874,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20050257169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,366 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/965
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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

Abstract

A contents display control system includes: a media type determination unit configured to determine a media type of selected media contents; a contents display parameter adjustment unit operating to generate at least one adjustment value for at least one display parameter of the selected media contents; and a contents display processor configured to control display of the selected media contents in the background when graphical user interface is present in the foreground, the contents display processor controlling the display by appropriately adjusting the at least one display parameter of the selected media contents with the at least one adjustment value for the determined media type.

Claims

1. A contents display control system for controlling the display of media contents derived from a medium selected from plural media types, comprising:

a media type determination unit configured to determine the media type from which currently displayed media contents are derived;

a contents display parameter adjustment unit operating to generate at least one adjustment value for at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents as a function of the determined media type; and

a contents display processor configured to display, as background, the currently displayed media contents and to operatively control the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents in said background when a graphical user interface is invoked to be displayed concurrently in the foreground of the display such that a display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background is changed when said graphical user interface is invoked,

wherein the currently displayed media content is selected from a plurality of media content using the graphical user interface,

wherein the selection comprises;

scrolling icons, each icon representing a different source of multimedia content, in a horizontal direction;

selecting the type of multimedia content;

scrolling contents files in a vertical direction; and

selecting the contents file,

wherein the display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background is changed as a function of at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents in said background from a currently displayed icon on the graphical user interface,

wherein, when the graphical user interface is invoked, the currently displayed media contents are resized to match a portion of the screen not obscured by the graphical user interface, and

wherein the display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background that was changed as a function of the at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents is changed back when said graphical user interface is exited.

2. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one display parameter includes brightness.

3. The contents display control system of claim 2, wherein the at least one adjustment value includes a value for the brightness to operatively dim the display of the currently displayed media contents in said background.

4. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one display parameter includes color.

5. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one display parameter includes size.

6. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one display parameter includes hue.

7. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the content display control system is implemented in a multimedia processing apparatus.

8. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the media type includes photograph.

9. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the media type includes music.

10. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the media type includes video.

11. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the media type includes broadcast.

12. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the media type includes web.

13. The contents display control system of claim 1, wherein the media type includes optical disks.

14. A contents display control method for controlling the display of media contents derived from a medium selected from plural media types, said method comprising:

determining the media type from which currently displayed media contents are derived;

generating at least one adjustment value for at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents as a function of the determined media type;

displaying as background the currently displayed media contents,

wherein the currently displayed media content is selected from a plurality of media content using the graphical user interface,

wherein the selection comprises;

scrolling icons, each icon representing a different source of multimedia content, in a horizontal direction;

selecting the type of multimedia content;

scrolling contents files in a vertical direction; and

selecting the contents file; and

controlling the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents in said background when a graphical user interface is invoked to be displayed concurrently in the foreground of the display such that a display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background is changed when said graphical user interface is invoked,

wherein the display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background is changed as a function of at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents in said background from a currently displayed icon on the graphical user interface,

wherein, when the graphical user interface is invoked, the currently displayed media contents are resized to match a portion of the screen not obscured by the graphical user interface, and

wherein the display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background that was changed as a function of the at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents is changed back when said graphical user interface is exited.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a media type includes determining the media type of currently displayed media contents as broadcast or streaming video.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein controlling the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes displaying the video in full motion.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a media type includes determining the media type of currently displayed media contents as stored video.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes displaying the video in a freeze frame mode.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a media type includes determining the media type of currently displayed media contents as music animation or graphics.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein controlling the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes displaying the music animation or graphics in slow motion.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a media type includes determining the media type of currently displayed media contents as a slide presentation.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein controlling the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes completing a last slide transition.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein controlling the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents further includes displaying the last slide in still image.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for use in controlling the display of media contents derived from a medium selected from plural media types, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

determine the media type from which currently displayed media contents are derived;

generate at least one adjustment value for at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents as a function of the determined media type;

display as background the currently displayed media contents,

wherein the currently displayed media content is selected from a plurality of media content using the graphical user interface,

wherein the selection comprises;

scrolling icons, each icon representing a different source of multimedia content, in a horizontal direction;

selecting the type of multimedia content;

scrolling contents files in a vertical direction; and

selecting the contents file; and

control the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents in said background when a graphical user interface is invoked to be displayed concurrently in the foreground of the display such that a display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background is changed when said graphical user interface is invoked,

wherein the display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background is changed as a function of at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents in said background from a currently displayed icon on the graphical user interface,

wherein, when the graphical user interface is invoked, the currently displayed media contents are resized to match a portion of the screen not obscured by the graphical user interface, and

wherein the display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background that was changed as a function of the at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents is changed back when said graphical user interface is exited.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to determine a media type includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

determine the media type of currently displayed media contents as broadcast or streaming video.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to control the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

display the video in full motion.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to determine a media type includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

determine the media type of currently displayed media contents as stored video.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to control the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

display the video in a freeze frame mode.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to determine a media type includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

determine the media type of currently displayed media contents as music animation or graphics.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to control the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

display the music animation or graphics in slow motion.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to determine a media type includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

determine the media type of currently displayed media contents as a slide presentation.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to control the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

complete a last slide transition.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to control the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

display the last slide in still image.

34. A graphical user interface accessible to a user suitable for receiving user-supplied inputs that facilitate selecting a multimedia icon, comprising:

a medium icon array arranged in a first direction, and including a plurality of user selectable medium icons representing different media from which media contents are derived;

a contents icon array arranged in a second direction, and including a plurality of user selectable contents icons representing the contents on a selected medium; and

media contents arranged to be executed in the background of the graphical user interface, wherein at least one display parameter of the media contents displayed in the background is adjusted as a function of the media type from which the media contents are derived, when the medium icon array and the contents icon array are displayed in the foreground of the graphical user interface,

wherein the currently displayed media content is selected from a plurality of media content using the graphical user interface,

wherein the selection comprises;

scrolling icons, each icon representing a different source of multimedia content, in a horizontal direction;

selecting the type of multimedia content;

scrolling contents files in a vertical direction; and

selecting the contents file,

wherein a display characteristic of currently displayed media contents in said background is changed as a function of at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents in said background from the medium icon array and the contents icon array displayed in the foreground of the graphical user interface,

wherein, when the graphical user interface is invoked, the currently displayed media contents are resized to match a portion of the screen not obscured by the graphical user interface, and

wherein the display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background that was changed as a function of the at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents is changed back when said graphical user interface is exited.

35. The graphical user interface of claim 34, wherein the medium icon array and the contents icon array are configured in a cross shape with an intersecting area.

36. A contents display control apparatus for controlling the display of media contents derived from a medium selected from plural media types, comprising:

means for determining the media type from which currently displayed media contents are derived;

means for generating at least one adjustment value for at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents as a function of the determined media type;

means for displaying the currently displayed media contents as background,

wherein the currently displayed media content is selected from a plurality of media content using the graphical user interface,

wherein the selection comprises;

scrolling icons, each icon representing a type-different source of multimedia content, in a horizontal direction;

selecting the type of multimedia content;

scrolling contents files in a vertical direction; and

selecting the contents file; and

means for controlling the at least one display parameter of the currently displayed media contents in said background when a graphical user interface is invoked to be displayed concurrently in the foreground of the display such that a display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background is changed when said graphical user interface is invoked,

wherein the display characteristic of currently displayed media contents in said background is changed as a function of at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents in said background from a currently displayed icon on the graphical user interface,

wherein, when the graphical user interface is invoked, the currently displayed media contents are resized to match a portion of the screen not obscured by the graphical user interface, and

wherein the display characteristic of the currently displayed media contents in said background that was changed as a function of the at least one adjustment value generated to contrast the currently displayed media contents is changed back when said graphical user interface is exited.