Graphical user interface for browsing, searching and presenting media items

• US 9,087,061 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• 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): Bhatia, Ajay
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEATON, SHERROD L
• Application Number:
  US13/438,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20120192104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 715/781
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 disclosed. 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 non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code stored thereon for presenting a graphical user interface on a display associated with a computing device, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for presenting a browse window on the display, the browse window enabling a user of the computing device to browse through a plurality of media items, the 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;

computer program code for presenting 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, the media item window concurrently displays at least a first specific item request link for linking to an associated artist page, a second specific item request link for linking to an associated album page, and a third specific item request link 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, a first information window presenting additional information is displayed in place of at least the browse window; and

computer program code for presenting a toggle control which when selected causes the browse window to be replaced with a second information window, the second information window including information pertaining to at least one of the first selection, the second selection and the third selection.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, 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.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the first list, the second list, the third list and the fourth list are all concurrently displayed after the first selection, the second selection, and the third selection.

4. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the media items are songs.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein a buy button is presented for each of the particular media items in the fourth selectable items.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the buy buttons allows for one-click purchase of the associated media item.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, 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.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein those of the media items of the fourth selectable items that contain explicit content are visibly identified by an explicit content indicator.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, 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.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein those of the media items of the fourth selectable items being displayed in the 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.

11. A computer-implemented method for browsing through a plurality of items available for acquisition from a media store, the method comprising:

requesting first selectable items for a first list from a remote server via a data network;

displaying a browse window with the first list of the first selectable items;

receiving a first user selection of one of the first selectable items in the first list;

distinctively displaying the one of the first selectable items in the first list that the user has selected;

requesting second selectable items for a second list from the remote server via the data network, the second selectable items being dependent on the one of the first selectable items in the first list that the user has selected;

displaying the browse window with the first list of the first selectable items and the second list of the second selectable items;

receiving a second user selection of one of the second selectable items in the second list;

distinctively displaying the one of the second selectable items in the second list that the user has selected;

requesting third selectable items for a third list from the remote server via the data network, the third selectable items being dependent on the one of the second selectable items in the second list that the user has selected;

displaying the browse window with the first list of the first selectable items, the second list of the second selectable items, and the third list of the third selectable items;

receiving a third user selection of one of the third selectable items in the third list;

distinctively displaying the one of the third selectable items in the third list that the user has selected;

requesting fourth selectable items for a fourth list from the remote server, the fourth selectable items being dependent on the one of the third selectable items in the third list that the user has selected;

displaying the browse window with the first list of the first selectable items, the second list of the second selectable items, the third list of the third selectable items, and the fourth list of the fourth selectable items; and

presenting a toggle control which when selected causes at least a portion of the browse window to be replaced at least in part with a first information window, the first information window including information pertaining to at least one of (i) the one of the first selectable items in the first list that the user has selected, and (ii) the one of the second selectable items in the second list that the user has selected,

wherein the browse window displays one or more request links associated with the fourth selectable items in the fourth list, and

wherein, on selection of at least one of the one or more request links, a second information window presenting information associated therewith is displayed in place of at least a portion of the browse window.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first selectable items, the second selectable items, the third selectable items and fourth selectable items are one of genre types, artists, albums and media items.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the media items are songs.

14. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the fourth selectable items include media items, and 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 user has selected.

15. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein a browse operation through the plurality of media items is achieved by the combination of the first user selection, the second user selection, and the third user selection.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the fourth selectable items include media items, and wherein those of the media items of the fourth selectable items that contain explicit content are visibly identified by an explicit content indicator second list of the second selectable items, and the third list of the third selectable items.

17. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein a browse operation through the plurality of items is achieved by the combination of the first user selection, the second user selection, and the third user selection, and wherein the fourth selectable items in the fourth list represent results of the browse operation.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, 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.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the media items are songs.

20. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the items are media items, and wherein the remote server is associated with a media store so that the first, second and third lists assist a user in browsing through the media items available from the media store.