Content display and navigation interface

• US 8,055,444 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Salay, Brian, Fallon, Keara, Curtis, Hillman, Buschmann, Brian F., Bhat, Tapan V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, KYUNG J
• Application Number:
  US11/398,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,044 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 340/1.1, 340/500, 340/691.1, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/211
• 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: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• 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 user interface for navigating and viewing content is described. In one example, the apparatus includes display logic for displaying at least two content properties, wherein each of the content properties is associated with additional content (e.g., an application, service, media object, or combinations thereof). Further, the apparatus includes selection logic for displaying the content associated with the content properties in response to selections thereof, and the content associated with each content property is displayed in a common (or reusable) display space of the interface. As different content properties are selected, the content displayed within the display space is replaced (e.g., through animation) according to the associated content of the newly selected content properties.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising;

display logic executed by the processor for simultaneously displaying a plurality of content properties and a common display space on an interface tangibly displayed on a display device, such that each content property of the plurality of content properties is associated with respective content;

selection logic executed by the processor for displaying the respective content associated with each content property of the plurality of content properties in response to selections thereof, such that the respective content associated with each content property of the plurality of content properties is displayed in the common display space at a respective level of detail of a plurality of levels of detail in response to the selection of the respective content property, where the respective level of detail is determined by a user profile, and such that a first content property of the plurality of content properties is positioned above the common display space, and a second content property of the plurality of content properties is positioned below the common display space, such that the common display space and the second content property of the plurality of content properties are moved in response to user interaction with the second content property of the plurality of content properties such that the second one of the plurality of content properties is positioned above the common display space.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the content displayed in the display space is replaced according to selections of different content properties.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the selection logic replaces the respective content associated with the second content property of the plurality of content properties displayed in the common display space with second the respective content associated with the first content property of the of the plurality of content properties in response to a selection of the first content property of the of the plurality of content properties.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the second content property of the plurality of content properties is selected in response to a pointer positioned over the second content property.

5. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising logic executed by the processor for initiating the launch of an application associated with content displayed in the display space in response to user input.

6. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising logic executed by the processor for accessing the content within the display space.

7. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising logic executed by the processor for initiating the display of additional content associated with content displayed in the display space in response to user input.

8. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising logic executed by the processor for determining the plurality of content properties for display within the interface in response to user input.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the content comprises an application or service.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the content comprises a media object.

11. A method comprising:

simultaneously displaying, using a computing device, a plurality of content properties and a common display space on an interface tangibly displayed on a display device, such that each content property of the plurality of content properties is associated with respective content, and such that a first content property of the plurality of content properties is positioned above the common display space, and a second content property of the plurality of content properties is positioned below the common display space;

in response to a selection of the second content property of the plurality of content properties by a user;

displaying, using the computing device, the respective content associated with the second content property of the plurality of content properties in the common display space such that the respective content is displayed at a level of detail of a plurality of levels of detail, where the respective level of detail is determined by a profile for the user; and

moving, using the computing device, the common display space and the second content property of the plurality of content properties such that the second one of the plurality of content properties is positioned above the common display space.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein

the second content property of the plurality of content properties is selected in response to a pointer positioned over the second content property.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

replacing, using the computing device, the respective content associated with the second content property of the plurality of content properties displayed in the common display space with the respective content associated with the first content property of the plurality of content properties in response to a selection of the first content property of the plurality of content properties.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing, using the computing device, additional content associated with the content displayed in the display space.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the content is selected from the group consisting of an application, service, and media object.

16. A computer readable storage media for tangibly storing thereon computer readable instructions for a method comprising:

simultaneously displaying a plurality of content properties and a common display space on an interface, such that each content property of the plurality of content properties is associated with respective content, and such that a first content property of the plurality of content properties is positioned above the common display space and a second content property of the plurality of content properties is positioned below the common display space;

in response to a selection of the second content property of the plurality of content properties by a user;

displaying the respective content associated with the second content property of the plurality of content properties in the common display space such that the respective content is displayed at a level of detail of a plurality of levels of detail, where the respective level of detail is determined by a profile for the user; and

moving the common display space and the second content property of the plurality of content properties such that the second one of the plurality of content properties is positioned above the common display space.

17. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, further comprising:

replacing the respective content associated with the second content property of the plurality of content properties displayed in the common display space with the respective content associated with the first content property of the plurality of content properties in response to a selection of the first content property of the plurality of content properties.

18. The computer readable storage media of claim 16 wherein the second content property of the plurality of content properties is selected in response to a pointer positioned over the second content property.

19. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, further comprising:

initiating the launch of an application associated with content displayed in the display space in response to input from the user.

20. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, further comprising:

initiating the display of additional content associated with content displayed in the display space in response to input from the user.

21. The computer readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the content is selected from the group consisting of an application, service, and media object.