Method and terminal for playing and displaying music

• US 8,146,019 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Hee Kyung, Lim, Kyoung Ae, KWON, Min Soo, Lee, Hye Won, Kim, Hyo Young, KIM, Min Suk, Lim, Dok Shin, KIM, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOI, DAVID E
• Application Number:
  US12/027,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20080190266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 846/02, 846/01, 715/764, 715/202, 715/203, 715/702, 715/716, 715/719, 715/746, 715/748, 715/765, 715/779, 715/809, 715/830, 715/835, 715/863, 345/156, 345/169, 345/173, 345/440, 345/530
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A method and a terminal for playing and displaying music are provided. The method includes selecting a desired track in a playback mode, playing the selected track, displaying information about the selected track and a playing progress bar and displaying a current play time for the selected track and a position corresponding to the current play time on the playing progress bar in order to update playing progress information. The method and terminal enable a user to adjust the playback and selection of tracks through a novel interface, thereby providing increased convenience for a user of a terminal equipped with a music player.

Claims

1. A method for playing and displaying music in a terminal comprising:

selecting a desired track in a playback mode;

playing the selected track;

displaying a playing progress bar and information about the selected track;

displaying a current play time for the selected track and a position corresponding to the current play time on the playing progress bar; and

wherein the displaying of the playing progress bar and the information about the selected track comprises;

displaying a volume control bar intersecting with the playing progress bar such that the volume control bar moves as the current play time changes; and

displaying a point where the playing progress bar and the volume control bar intersect as a playing point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the playing progress bar comprises displaying the playing progress bar on a display unit in a horizontal direction and further wherein the displaying of the volume control bar comprises displaying the volume control bar in a direction perpendicular to the playing progress bar such that the playing progress bar and the volume control bar intersect with each other in a crosswise manner.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising playing, if a flick and hold action is performed on the playing progress bar, a portion of a track corresponding to a position where the hold occurs.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising moving the volume control bar to the position where the hold occurs and displaying a current play time corresponding to the position where the hold occurs.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the playing of the portion of the track further comprises performing, if the flick and hold is performed in a direction of progress of the playing point while the track is playing, a fast forward operation on the track.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the playing of the portion of the track further comprises performing, if the flick and hold is performed in a direction opposite to the direction of progress of the playing point while the track is playing, a rewind operation on the track.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising selecting and playing, if a flick action is performed through an end of the playing progress bar, at least one of a previous track and a next track to the track being played.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising changing, if a flick and hold action is performed on the volume control bar, the volume of a track being played to a volume level corresponding to a position where the hold occurs.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising moving the volume control bar and the playing progress bar to the position where the hold occurs.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising pausing, if a touch is performed on the display unit, the playback of a track being played.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising resuming, if a touch is performed on the display unit in a state in which the playback of the track is paused, the playback of the track.

12. A terminal including a music player comprising:

a memory unit for storing music tracks;

a music player for playing the music tracks;

a display unit comprising a touch screen for displaying a point where a playing progress bar indicating a current play time for a track being played and a volume control bar intersect as a playing point; and

a controller for controlling the display unit to display the playing progress bar in a first direction and the volume control bar in a second direction that intersects with the playing progress bar such that the volume control bar moves correspondingly as the current play time changes.

13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the first and second directions are horizontal and vertical to the display unit, respectively.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller moves the volume control bar in the horizontal direction and controls the display unit to display a point where the playing progress bar and the volume control bar intersect as a playing point.

15. The terminal of claim 14, wherein, if a flick and hold action is performed on the playing progress bar in a direction of progress of the playing point while the track is playing, the controller performs a fast forward operation on the track.

16. The terminal of claim 14, wherein, if a flick and hold action is performed on the playing progress bar in a direction opposite to the direction of progress of the playing point while the track is playing, the controller performs a rewind operation on the track.

17. The terminal of claim 14, wherein, if a flick and hold action is performed upwards on the volume control bar, the controller increases the volume of the track being played.

18. The terminal of claim 14, wherein, if a flick and hold action is performed downwards on the volume control bar, the controller decreases the volume of the track being played.

19. The terminal of claim 14, wherein, if a touch is performed on the display unit, the controller pauses the playback of the track being played.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein, if a touch is performed on the display unit in a state in which the playback of the track is paused, the controller resumes the playback of the track.

21. A music player including a touch screen comprising:

a memory unit for storing music tracks; and

a controller for playing the music tracks, for displaying a point where a playing progress bar indicating a current play time for a track being played and a volume control bar intersect as a playing point on the touch screen, and for controlling the touch screen to display the playing progress bar in a first direction and the volume control bar in a second direction that intersects with the playing progress bar such that the volume control bar moves correspondingly as the current play time changes.