Audio variance for multiple windows

• US 8,136,040 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fleming, Hoyt
• Primary Examiner(s): ENGLAND, SARA M
• Application Number:
  US11/804,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 715/761, 715/716, 715/790
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

Systems and methods for varying the audio of multiple windows on a personal computer are provided. The windows may overlap in various configurations. These configurations may cause the audio associated with media playing in each media window that is overlapped to be varied in a number of different ways. The audios may be scaled in response to a set of user preferences.

Claims

1. A method performed by a data processing system, the method comprising:

displaying a media playing window that plays audio, the media playing window including a plurality of window elements, wherein each window element is a window control element or a display pane element, the window control element selectable to control the playing of the audio, the display pane element to display content information of the audio played by the media playing window, wherein the window elements include at least one window control element;

displaying a second window that overlaps at least a portion of one or more of the window elements in the media playing window;

determining a visibility parameter from a measure of a visible portion of the one or more window elements in the media playing window based at least in part upon the second window overlapping the at least a portion of the one or more window elements in the media playing window; and

adjusting the audio of the media according to the visibility parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting comprises reducing a volume level of the audio.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting comprises linearly scaling a volume level of the audio.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting comprises logarithmically scaling a volume level of the audio.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an overlap percentage of the media playing window; and

adjusting the audio based, at least in part, on the determined overlap percentage.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the number of overlapping windows that overlap the media playing window; and

adjusting the audio based, at least in part, on the determined number of overlapping windows.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the audio based, at least in part, on user-defined preferences.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user input to position the at least one overlapping window over at least a portion of the media playing window.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically positioning the overlapping window over at least a portion of the media playing window.

10. A method performed by a data processing system, the method comprising:

displaying a media playing window that plays media at a volume level, the media playing window including a plurality of window elements, each window element being a window control element or a display pane element, the window control element selectable to control the playing of the audio, the display pane element to display content information of the audio played by the media playing window, wherein the window elements include at least one window control element;

determining at least one media playing window visibility parameter from a measure of a visible portion of one or more of the window elements in the media playing window; and

adjusting the audio of the media based, at least in part, on the at least one determined visibility parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one visibility parameter includes the percentage of a media playing window not overlaid by another window, the number of other windows overlapping the media playing window, which portions of the media playing window are covered, the number of visible corners of the media playing window, the portion of the perimeter of the border of the media playing window that is covered, whether the media playing window is the foremost window in the GUI, or whether the media playing window is minimized.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying at least a first overlapping window; and

positioning the first overlapping window over at least a portion of the media playing window, wherein the at least one visibility parameter changes in response to the relative positions of the media playing window and the first overlapping window.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the media comprises video with corresponding audio and the media playing window comprises a region for displaying the video, and wherein the at least one visibility parameter is related to the portion of the region that is covered.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting comprises reducing the volume level to a level between minimum volume level and a maximum volume level.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting the audio of the playing media in the media playing window while the media playing window is being moved.

16. A method performed by a data processing system, the method comprising:

displaying a media playing window that plays audio, the media playing window including a plurality of window elements, each window element being a window control element or a display pane window, the window control element selectable to control the playing of the audio, the display pane window to display content information of the audio played by the media playing window, wherein the window elements include at least one window control element;

determining at least one media playing window visibility parameter from a measure of a visible portion of one or more of the window elements in the media playing window; and

adjusting the audio of the playing media when the determined at least one visibility parameter is changed.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

selecting a determination interval; and

determining the at least one visibility parameter every determination interval.

18. A program storage device storing a computer program, the computer program for execution by a computer system having a processor, a memory, and a display, the computer program, when executed by the computer system, performing the following:

displaying a media playing window that plays audio, the media playing window including a plurality of window elements, each window element being a window control element or a display pane window, the window control element selectable to control the playing of the audio, the display pane window to display content information of the audio played by the media playing window, wherein the window elements include at least one window control element;

displaying a second window that overlaps at least a portion of one or more of the window elements in the media playing window;

determining a visibility parameter from a measure of a visible portion of the one or more window elements in the media playing window based at least in part upon the second window overlapping the at least a portion of the one or more window elements in the media playing window; and

adjusting the audio of the media according to the visibility parameter.

19. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein adjusting comprises reducing a volume level of the audio.

20. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein adjusting comprises linearly scaling a volume level of the audio.

21. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein adjusting comprises logarithmically scaling a volume level of the audio.

22. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein the computer program is further operative to:

determine an overlap percentage of the media playing window; and

adjust the audio based, at least in part, on the determined overlap percentage.

23. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein the computer program is further operative to:

determine the number of overlapping windows that overlap the media playing window; and

adjust the audio based, at least in part, on the determined number of overlapping windows.

24. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein the computer program is further operative to adjust the audio based, at least in part, on user-defined preferences.

25. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein the computer program is further operative to receive user input to position the at least one overlapping window over at least a portion of the media playing window.

26. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein the computer program is further operative to automatically position the overlapping window over at least a portion of the media playing window.

27. A system for use in an interactive data processing system, the system comprising a processor operative to:

display a media playing window that plays media at a volume level, the media playing window including a plurality of window elements, each window element is a window control element or a display pane element, the window control element selectable to control the playing of the audio, the display pane element to display content information of the audio playing by the media playing window, wherein the window elements include at least one window control element;

determine at least one media playing window visibility parameter from a measure of a visible portion of the one or more window elements in the media playing window; and

adjust the audio of the playing media based, at least in part, on the at least one determined visibility parameter.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one visibility parameter includes the percentage of a media playing window not overlaid by another window, the number of other windows overlapping the media playing window, which portions of the media playing window are covered, the number of visible corners of the media playing window, the portion of the perimeter of the border of the media playing window that is covered, whether the media playing window is the foremost window in the GUI, or whether the media playing window is minimized.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further operative to:

display at least a first overlapping window; and

position the first overlapping window over at least a portion of the media playing window, wherein the at least one visibility parameter changes in response to the relative positions of the media playing window and the first overlapping window.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the media comprises video with corresponding audio and the media playing window comprises a region for displaying the video, and wherein the at least one visibility parameter is related to the portion of the region that is covered.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein adjusting comprises reducing the volume level to a level between minimum volume level and a maximum volume level.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the processor is further operative to adjust the audio of the playing media in the media playing window while the media playing window is being moved.

33. A system for use in an interactive data processing system, the system comprising a processor operative to:

display a media playing window that plays audio, the media playing window including a plurality of window elements, each window element being a window control element or a display pane window, the window control element selectable to control the playing of the audio, the display pane window to display content information of the audio being played, wherein the window elements include at least one window control element;

determine at least one media playing window visibility parameter from a measure of a visible portion of one or more of the window elements in the media playing window; and

adjust the audio of the media dynamically when the at least one determined visibility parameter is changed.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further operative to select a determination interval;

and

determine the at least one visibility parameter every determination interval.