User interface for presenting media information

• US 8,196,043 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Crow, Daniel N., Dean, Cary, Dykstra-Erickson, Elizabeth, Hoddie, J. Peter, Jobs, Steven P., Wasko, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITARO, RYAN F
• Application Number:
  US11/983,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20080072152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 715/787, 715/716, 715719-721
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/326 used signal is a video-frame or a video-field (P.I.P.)
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

A user interface and methods for using a user interface for controlling processing of time-based media files. In one exemplary method, a graphical representation of a time line for a time-based media is displayed along with a graphical representation of a current time along the graphical representation of the time line. A start graphical indicator and a stop graphical indicator is also displayed along the graphical representation of the time line. A portion of the time-based media may be selected for presentation by dragging or positioning at least one of the start graphical indicator and the stop graphical indicator along the graphical representation of the time line. In another aspect of the invention, an exemplary method allows for the adaptive control of a portion of the interface which indicates time relating to a time-based media. An input speed is determined where this input is to change the portion and the rate at which the change to this portion occurs is dependent upon the input speed. Other aspects of the present invention relating to the interface for controlling the processing of time-based media files are also described.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an information related to a time-based media in a media player, comprising:

displaying a media window to display information pertaining to said time-based media;

displaying a time corresponding to a current time in a said time-based media in a time display line in said media window, the time display line representing the entire time of the time-based media;

displaying a chapter display area having a predetermined initial size;

displaying a chapter information corresponding to said current time within said chapter display area, wherein said chapter display area is configured to control displaying said current time in the time display, and the time display is configured to control displaying the chapter information in the chapter display area, and truncating said chapter information if said chapter information is larger than said area; and

displaying an additional chapter information in response to a user input if said chapter information is larger than said area to accommodate said chapter information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said user input comprises clicking a pointing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said user input comprises inputting a voice command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said chapter information comprises a chapter title, a chapter number, and a chapter time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said user input comprises acting to change a chapter corresponding to said chapter information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying a time bar having a first end and a second end representing respectively a beginning and an end of said time-based media, and displaying a cursor along said time bar, said cursor corresponding to said current time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising changing said chapter in response to said user input to change said chapter, said user input comprising dragging said cursor to a segment along said time bar, said segment corresponding to a new chapter.

8. A machine readable medium having stored thereon executable program code which, when executed, causes a machine to perform a method for displaying an information related to a time-based media in a media player, said method comprising:

displaying a media window to display information pertaining to said time-based media;

displaying a time corresponding to a current time in a time based media in a time display line in said media window, the time display line representing the entire time of the time-based media;

displaying a chapter display area having a predetermined initial size;

displaying a chapter information corresponding to said current time within said chapter display area wherein said chapter display area is configured to control displaying said current time in the time display, and the time display is configured to control displaying the chapter information in the chapter display area, and truncating said chapter information if said chapter information is larger than said area; and

displaying an additional chapter information in response to a user input if said chapter information is larger than said area to accommodate said chapter information.

9. The machine readable medium of claim 8, wherein said user input comprises clicking a pointing device.

10. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein said user input comprises inputting a voice command.

11. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein said chapter information comprises a chapter title, a chapter number, and a chapter time.

12. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein said user input comprises acting to change a chapter corresponding to said chapter information.

13. The machine readable medium of claim 12, said method further comprising displaying a time bar having a first end and a second end representing respectively a beginning and an end of said time-based media, and displaying a cursor along said time bar, said cursor corresponding to said current time.

14. The machine readable medium of claim 13, said method further comprising changing said chapter in response to said user input to change said chapter, said user input comprising dragging said cursor to a segment along said time bar, said segment corresponding to a new chapter.

15. A digital processing system for displaying an information related to a time-based media in a media player, said digital processing system comprising:

means for displaying a media window to display information pertaining to said time-based media;

means for displaying a time corresponding to a current time in a time based media in a time display line in said media window, the time display line representing the entire time of the time-based media;

means for displaying a chapter display area having a predetermined initial size;

means for displaying a chapter information corresponding to said current time within said chapter display area, wherein said chapter display area is configured to control displaying said current time in the time display, and the time display is configured to control displaying the chapter information in the chapter display area, and truncating said chapter information if said chapter information is larger than said area; and

means for displaying an additional chapter information in response to a user input if said chapter information is larger than said area to accommodate said chapter information, wherein at least one of the means for displaying and means for enlarging includes a processor.

16. The digital processing system of claim 15, wherein said user input comprises means for clicking a pointing device.

17. The digital processing system of claim 15, wherein said user input comprises means for inputting a voice command.

18. The digital processing system of claim 15, wherein said chapter information comprises a chapter title, a chapter number, and a chapter time.

19. The digital processing system of claim 15, wherein said user input comprises means for acting to change a chapter corresponding to said chapter information.

20. The digital processing system of claim 19, further comprising means for displaying a time bar having a first end and a second end representing respectively a beginning and an end of said time-based media, and means for displaying a cursor along said time bar, said cursor corresponding to said current time.

21. The digital processing system of claim 20, further comprising means for changing said chapter in response to said user input to change said chapter, said user input comprising dragging said cursor to a segment along said time bar, said segment corresponding to a new chapter.

22. A digital processing system, comprising:

a digital processor coupled to a display device;

a memory coupled to said digital processor, said memory receiving a time-based media for display on said display device, said processor;

displaying a media window to display information pertaining to said time-based media;

displaying a time corresponding to a current time in a time based media in a time display line in said media window, the time display line representing the entire time of the time-based media;

displaying a chapter display area having a predetermined initial size;

displaying a chapter information corresponding to said current time within said chapter display area, wherein said chapter display area is configured to control displaying said current time in the time display, and the time display is configured to control displaying the chapter information in the chapter display area, and truncating said chapter information if said chapter information is larger than said area; and

displaying an additional chapter information in response to a user input if said chapter information is larger than said area to accommodate said chapter information.

23. The digital processing system of claim 22, wherein said user input comprises clicking a pointing device.

24. The digital processing system of claim 22, wherein said user input comprises inputting a voice command.

25. The digital processing system of claim 22, wherein said chapter information comprises a chapter title, a chapter number, and a chapter time.

26. The digital processing system of claim 22, wherein said user input comprises acting to change a chapter corresponding to said chapter information.

27. The digital processing system of claim 26, said processor further displaying a time bar having a first end and a second end representing respectively a beginning and an end of said time-based media, and displaying a cursor along said time bar, said cursor corresponding to said current time.

28. The digital processing system of claim 27, said processor further changing said chapter in response to said user input to change said chapter, said user input comprising dragging said cursor to a segment along said time bar, said segment corresponding to a new chapter.