Slide show navigation

• US 8,140,975 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lemay, Stephen, Christie, Gregory N., van Os, Marcel, Neubrand, Hans-Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Takele, Meseker
• Application Number:
  US11/319,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20060156240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 715/730, 715/732, 715/210, 715/211, 715/251, 715/851, 709/206
• US Class Current: 715/730
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A slide show, integrated into an email application, displays images such as those included as an attachment to an email message. The user can view the slide show without exiting the email application. Slide show navigation controls are provided. An index sheet mode can be activated wherein a number of thumbnails are displayed, allowing easy navigation to any image within the slide show. Transition animations can be provided for clarifying operations such as activating and dismissing the index sheet.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying a set of documents within an email application, the method comprising:

executing a slideshow framework comprising software code for facilitating applications that are independent from the slideshow framework to obtain slideshow functionality provided by the slideshow framework;

executing the email application, wherein the email application is independent of the slideshow framework;

receiving an email message within the email application, the email message comprising a plurality of document attachments;

causing the display of the received email message in the email application;

causing the display of a representation of the document attachments in the email application;

invoking by the email application the slideshow framework, comprising;

responsive to receiving a slide show command, using the slideshow framework to cause the display, within a first user interface that is separate from the email application and without dismissing the email application, of both a slide show comprising the document attachments and a toolbar for interacting with the slide show, the toolbar comprising at least an index sheet element;

responsive to receiving a selection of the index sheet element, using the slideshow framework to cause the display, in a second user interface separate from the email application and without dismissing the email application, of an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to the document attachments; and

responsive to receiving a selection of one of the plurality of thumbnail images during the display of the index sheet in the second user interface, using the slideshow framework to automatically close the second user interface that displays the index sheet and resume the display of the slide show within the first user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the display of the received email message comprises using the email application to cause the display of a user interface element for activating a slide show.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein causing the display of the user interface element for activating a slide show comprises causing the display of a slideshow button.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show responsive to user activation of the user interface element.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein causing the display of the user interface element for activating the slide show comprises using the email application to cause the display of the user interface element within the context of the email message.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein using the email application to cause the display of the user interface element for activating the slide show comprises using the email application to cause the display of the user interface element within a header of the email message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the display of the slide show comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show within a window associated with the email application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the display of the slide show comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show in a full-screen mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the display of the slide show comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show as an overlay superimposed on displayed user interface elements.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show as the overlay comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show as a semi-transparent overlay superimposed on displayed user interface elements.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the selection of the index sheet element, using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a transition animation prior to causing the display of the index sheet in the second user interface.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein using the slideshow framework to automatically close the second user interface that displays the index sheet further comprises:

using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a transition animation prior to resuming the display of the slide show within the first user interface.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein using the slideshow framework to cause the display of both the slide show comprising the document attachments and the toolbar comprises:

using the slideshow framework to cause a sequential display of the document attachments.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the sequential display of the document attachments comprises:

causing the display of a first document attachment from the document attachments within the slideshow; and

responsive to a trigger event, causing the display of a second document attachment from the document attachments within the slide show.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

causing the sequential display of a plurality of document attachments from the document attachments within the slideshow; and

stopping the slide show responsive to receiving a command to stop the slide show.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the sequential display of the document attachments comprises:

using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a first document attachment from the document attachments within the slideshow; and

using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a second document attachment from the document attachments within the slide show after a predefined amount of time has elapsed from the display of the first document attachment.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the sequential display of the document attachments comprises:

responsive to receiving user activation of a play command, using the slideshow framework to cause the sequential display of the document attachments;

responsive to receiving user activation of a pause command, using the slideshow framework to remain on a currently displayed document attachment until receiving user activation of another command;

responsive to receiving user activation of a next command, using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a next document attachment from the document attachments; and

responsive to receiving user activation of a previous command, using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a previous document attachment from the document attachments.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a command to save a document attachment, adding the document attachment to an image repository associated with a photo management application.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving user input causing a cursor to hover over a thumbnail image corresponding to a document attachment, causing the display of descriptive information associated with the document attachment.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the descriptive information comprises at least one of a file name associated with the document attachment, a title associated with the document attachment, a date associated with the document attachment, a file size associated with the document attachment, an author associated with the document attachment, a subject associated with the document attachment, a text description associated with the document attachment, or a compression setting associated with the document attachment.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein causing the display of descriptive information associated with the document attachment:

causing the display of the descriptive information as an overlay that is at least partially superimposed on the thumbnail image.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the overlay is semi-transparent.

23. A computer program product for displaying a set of documents within an email application, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

executable computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

executing a slideshow framework comprising software code for facilitating applications that are independent from the slideshow framework to obtain slideshow functionality provided by the slideshow framework;

executing the email application, wherein the email application is independent of the slideshow framework;

receiving an email message within the email application, the email message comprising a plurality of document attachments;

causing the display of the received email message in the email application;

causing the display of a representation of the document attachments in the email application; and

invoking by the email application the slideshow framework, comprising;

responsive to receiving a slide show command, using the slideshow framework to cause the display, within a first user interface that is separate from the email application and without dismissing the email application, of both a slide show comprising the document attachments and a toolbar for interacting with the side show, the toolbar comprising at least an index sheet element;

responsive to receiving a selection of the index sheet element, using the slideshow framework to cause the display, in a second user interface separate from the email application and without dismissing the email application, of an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to the document attachments; and

responsive to receiving a selection of one of the plurality of thumbnail images during the display of the index sheet in the second user interface, using the slideshow framework to automatically close the second user interface that displays the index sheet and resuming the display of the slide show within the first user interface.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein causing the display of the received email message comprises using the email application to cause the display of a user interface element for activating a slide show.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show responsive to user activation of the user interface element.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein causing the display of the user interface element for activating the slide show comprises using the email application to cause the display of the user interface element within the context of the email message.

27. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein using the email application to cause the display of the user interface element for activating the slide show comprises using the email application to cause the display of the user interface element within a header of the email message.

28. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein causing the display of the slide show comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show within a window associated with the email application.

29. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein causing the display of the slide show comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show in a full-screen mode.

30. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein causing the display of the slide show comprises using the slideshow framework to cause the display of the slide show as an overlay superimposed on displayed user interface elements.

31. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the executable computer program code encoded on the medium is further for:

responsive to receiving the selection of the index sheet element, using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a transition animation prior to causing the display of the index sheet in the second user interface.

32. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein using the slideshow framework to automatically close the second user interface that displays the index sheet further comprises:

using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a transition animation prior to resuming the display of the slide show within the first user interface.

33. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein using the slideshow framework to cause the display of both the slide show comprising the document attachments and the toolbar comprises:

using the slideshow framework to cause a sequential display of the document attachments.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the sequential display of the document attachments comprises:

causing the display of a first document attachment from the document attachments within the slideshow; and

responsive to a trigger event, causing the display of a second document attachment from the document attachments within the slide show.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the executable computer program code encoded on the medium is further for:

causing the sequential display of a plurality of document attachments from the document attachments within the slideshow; and

stopping the slide show responsive to receiving a command to stop the slide show.

36. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the sequential display of the document attachments comprises:

using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a first document attachment from the document attachments within the slideshow; and

using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a second document attachment from the document attachments within the slide show after a predefined amount of time has elapsed from the display of the first document attachment.

37. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the sequential display of the document attachments comprises:

responsive to receiving user activation of a play command, using the slideshow framework to cause the sequential display of the document attachments;

responsive to receiving user activation of a pause command, using the slideshow framework to remain on a currently displayed document attachment until receiving user activation of another command;

responsive to receiving user activation of a next command, using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a next document attachment from the document attachments; and

responsive to receiving user activation of a previous command, using the slideshow framework to cause the display of a previous document attachment from the document attachments.

38. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the executable computer program code encoded on the medium is further for:

responsive to receiving a command to save a document attachment, adding the document attachment to an image repository associated with a photo management application.

39. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the executable computer program code encoded on the medium is further for:

responsive to receiving user input causing a cursor to hover over a thumbnail image corresponding to a document attachment, causing the display of descriptive information associated with the document attachment.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the descriptive information comprises at least one of a file name associated with the document attachment, a title associated with the document attachment, a date associated with the document attachment, a file size associated with the document attachment, an author associated with the document attachment, a subject associated with the document attachment, a text description associated with the document attachment, or a compression setting associated with the document attachment.

41. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein causing the display of descriptive information associated with the document attachment:

causing the display of the descriptive information as an overlay that is at least partially superimposed on the thumbnail image.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the overlay is semi-transparent.

43. A system for displaying a set of documents within an email application, comprising:

a slideshow framework comprising software code for facilitating applications that are independent from the slideshow framework to obtain slideshow functionality provided by the slideshow framework;

a computer processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing computer program code configured to execute on the computer processor, the code when executed executes the slideshow framework and executes the email application that is independent from the slideshow framework and further causes the slideshow framework to provide UI elements for the email application, the UI elements comprising;

a slide show activation UI element, for using the slideshow framework to cause the display, within a first user interface that is separate from the email application and without dismissing the email application, of both a slide show comprising document attachments included in an email received by the email application and a toolbar for interacting with the slideshow;

an index sheet activation UI element displayed in the toolbar, for using the slideshow framework to cause the display, in a second user interface, separate from the email application and without dismissing the email application, of an index sheet comprising a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to the document attachments;

an exit UI element displayed in the toolbar during the slide show, for using the slideshow framework to exit the slideshow and resume the display of the email application; and

wherein the index sheet is configured, responsive to a user selection of one of the plurality of thumbnail images during the display, to cause the slideshow framework to automatically close the second user interface that displays the index sheet and display the slide show within the first user interface.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the slide show activation UI element comprises a slideshow button.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within the context of the email message.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the slideshow button is displayed within a header of the email message.