Graphical user interface for browsing, searching and presenting media items

• US 8,161,411 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Robbin, Jeffrey L., Heller, Dave, Wagner, Peter K., Wiese, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keaton, Sherrod
• Application Number:
  US10/832,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20040268451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,913 Days
• Field of Search: 434/112, 715/854, 715/841, 715/853, 715/768, 715/727, 715/765, 715/781, 707/104, 707/104.1, 705/26
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Improved graphical user interfaces suitable for reviewing, browsing, previewing and/or purchasing media items are also disclosed. The graphical user interfaces are suitable for reviewing or browsing numerous media items. The graphical user interfaces are also suitable for previewing or purchasing media items in an on-line manner. The graphical user interfaces are particularly useful for a system that provides purchase and distribution of media in a client-server environment.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface produced by an application program operating on a computing device having a display device associated therewith, comprising:

an application program window presented on the display device, said application program window being generated by the application program operating on the computing device, said application program window concurrently including at least a first sub-window and a second sub-window displayed on the display device associated with the computing device,

wherein said first sub-window displays first content received by the application program from a remote server over a network, and the first content pertains to a media item and includes at least an image pertaining to the media item and descriptive item information pertaining to the media item, and the image and the descriptive item information are rendered in said first sub-window by the application program,

wherein said second sub-window displays second content received by the application program from the remote server over the network, the second content being displayed in said second sub-window having a listing of a plurality of media items,

wherein said second sub-window displays a plurality of hyperlinks that, upon user selection, serve to access additional content from the remote server over the network, the additional content pertaining to additional media information that corresponds to or is associated with at least one of the media item in the listing of the plurality of media items in said second sub-window, and the additional content, including an image and descriptive information for the at least one associated media item, is received from the remote server and displayed in an information window which is presented on the display device by the application program in place of said first sub-window and said second sub-window, and

wherein said second sub-window displays the second content using a multi-row and multi-column format.

2. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program is a non-browser application program.

3. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the first content further includes an item acquisition user interface control configured to permit user initiation of a purchase request for the media item.

4. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 3, wherein the second content includes at least a list of media items for presenting a plurality of the media items.

5. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 4, wherein the second content further includes a specific item request link presented for each of the particular media items in the list of media items.

6. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 4, wherein those of the media items in the list of media items that contain explicit content are visibly identified by an explicit content indicator.

7. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 4, wherein those of the media items in the list of media items that contain a cleaned version of an otherwise explicit content version are identified by a clean content indicator.

8. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 4, wherein those of the media items in the list of media items are identified by names for the media items, and

wherein when the name of a particular one of the media items contains an offensive word, the name of the particular one of the media items is displayed in a modified manner so as to not be offensive.

9. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the first content pertains to an album, and wherein the second content pertains to particular media items associated with the album.

10. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 9, wherein the second content includes a buy button for each of the particular media items, the buy button allowing for one-click purchase of the associated media item.

11. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 9, wherein the first content is provided in a markup language format from the remote server and is rendered in said first sub-window by the application program.

12. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said application program window further includes an account window that displays an active account identifier.

13. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said application program window further includes a source window that is concurrently displayed with the first sub-window and the second sub-window.

14. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a toggle control which when selected causes the first content in the first sub-window to be replaced with a browse interface that facilitates a user browsing of a plurality of media items.

15. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 14, wherein said browse interface includes at least:

a first list of first selectable items, with at least one of the first selectable items being capable of being selected by the user;

a second list of second selectable items, with at least one of the second selectable items being capable of being selected by the user, the second selectable items of the second list being dependent on a first selection by the user of at least one of the first selectable items from the first list, and the second list being displayed along with the first list after the user has selected at least one of the first selectable items from the first list; and

a third list of third selectable items, with at least one of the third selectable items being capable of being selected by the user, the third selectable items of the third list being dependent on a second selection by the user of at least one of the second selectable items from the second list, and the third list being displayed along with the first list and the second list after the user has selected at least one of the second selectable items from the second list.

16. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15,

wherein said graphical user interface further comprises

a media item window that includes at least a fourth list of fourth selectable items, with at least one of the fourth selectable items being capable of being selected by the user, the fourth list representing a subset of the plurality of the media items, and the fourth selectable items of the fourth list being dependent on a third selection by the user of at least one of the third selectable items from the third list,

wherein the first selectable items, the second selectable items, the third selectable items and the fourth selectable items are genre types, artists, albums and media items, respectively, and

wherein, for each of the particular media items in the fourth selectable items, a first specific item request link is presented for linking to an associated artist page, a second specific item request link is presented for linking to an associated album page, and a third specific item request link is presented for linking to an associated genre page.

17. A graphical user interface produced by an application program, comprising:

a browse window generated by the application program operating on a computing device, said browse window enabling a user of the application program to browse through a plurality of media items, said browse window including at least;

a first list of first selectable items, with at least one of the first selectable items being capable of being selected by the user;

a second list of second selectable items, with at least one of the second selectable items being capable of being selected by the user, the second selectable items of the second list being dependent on a first selection by the user of at least one of the first selectable items from the first list, and the second list being displayed along with the first list after the user has selected at least one of the first selectable items from the first list; and

a third list of third selectable items, with at least one of the third selectable items being capable of being selected by the user, the third selectable items of the third list being dependent on a second selection by the user of at least one of the second selectable items from the second list, and the third list being displayed along with the first list and the second list after the user has selected at least one of the second selectable items from the second list; and

a media item window that includes at least a fourth list of fourth selectable items, with at least one of the fourth selectable items being capable of being selected by the user, the fourth list representing a subset of the plurality of the media items, and the fourth selectable items of the fourth list being dependent on a third selection by the user of at least one of the third selectable items from the third list,

wherein the first selectable items, the second selectable items, the third selectable items and the fourth selectable items are genre types, artists, albums and media items, respectively,

wherein, for each of the particular media items in the fourth selectable items, said media item window concurrently displays a first specific item request link is presented for linking to an associated artist page, a second specific item request link is presented for linking to an associated album page, and a third specific item request link is presented for linking to an associated genre page, and

wherein, on selection of at least one of the first specific item request link, the second specific item request link or the third specific item request link, an information window presenting additional information is displayed in place of at least said browse window.

18. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, wherein the fourth list is displayed along with the first list, the second list after the user has selected at least one of the second selectable items from the second list, and the third list after the user has selected at least one of the third selectable items from the third list.

19. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 18, wherein the browse through the plurality of media items is achieved by the combination of the first selection, the second selection, and the third selection.

20. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, wherein the media items are songs.

21. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, wherein a buy button is presented for each of the particular media items in the fourth selectable items.

22. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, wherein each of the buy buttons allows for one-click purchase of the associated media item.

23. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a toggle control which when selected causes said browse window to be replaced with an information window, the information window including information pertaining to at least one of the first selection, the second selection and a third selection by the user of at least one of the third selectable items from the third list.

24. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, wherein those of the media items of the fourth selectable items that contain explicit content are visibly identified by an explicit content indicator.

25. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, wherein those of the media items of the fourth selectable items that contain a cleaned version of an otherwise explicit content version are identified by a clean content indicator.

26. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 17, wherein those of the media items of the fourth selectable items being displayed in said browse window are identified by names for the media items, and

wherein when the name of a particular one of the media items contains an offensive word, the name of the particular one of the media items is displayed in a modified manner so as to not be offensive.