Associating keywords to media

• US 9,142,253 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ubillos, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US11/760,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,028 Days
• Field of Search: 715/838, 715/719, 715/724, 715/777, 715/738
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0484 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• 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 computer-implemented method includes displaying, within a user interface in a digital media system, a media pane and a tools pane, displaying, within the media pane, a thumbnail group representing a media item, the thumbnail group including one or more thumbnails, displaying, within the tools pane, a tool configured to assign a keyword, enabling a user to select a segment of the media item, and enabling a user to assign a keyword to the selected segment by activating the tool.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying, within a user interface in a digital media system, a media pane;

displaying, within the media pane, a plurality of thumbnails that collectively represent a media item, wherein each thumbnail corresponds to a section of media item content that is less than all of the media item content;

detecting inputs selecting a first portion of a first thumbnail and a second portion of a second thumbnail, wherein at least the first portion of the first thumbnail or the second portion of the second thumbnail is respectively less than all of the first thumbnail or the second thumbnail; and

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the first portion of the first thumbnail and the second portion of the second thumbnail as a first segment of the media item, wherein the first segment includes media item content corresponding to the first portion of the first thumbnail and media item content corresponding to the second portion of the second thumbnail.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more media items are displayed within the media pane, the one or more media items including one or more of digital or digitized video clips and photographs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting inputs selecting the first portion of the first thumbnail and the second portion of the second thumbnail comprises:

detecting a first selection of a starting position within the first thumbnail using a pointer;

in response to detecting the first selection, displaying a first vertical line on the first thumbnail at the starting position that is indicative of the first selection;

selecting a section of the first thumbnail from the first vertical line to an end of the first thumbnail as the first portion;

detecting a second selection of an ending position within the second thumbnail using the pointer;

in response to detecting the second selection, displaying a second vertical line on the second thumbnail at the ending position that is indicative of the second selection; and

selecting a section of the second thumbnail from a start of the second thumbnail to the second vertical line as the second portion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the starting position corresponds to a first frame of the media item content associated with a time instant determined by the starting position and the ending position corresponds to a second frame of the media item content associated with a time instant determined by the ending position, the method comprising:

in response to detecting the first selection, displaying, in a preview pane included in the user interface, the first frame;

in response to detecting the second selection, displaying, in the preview pane, the second frame; and

selecting, as the first segment, a continuous portion of the media item content between the first frame and the second frame.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the ending position is independent of the starting position.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein a length of the first vertical line or the second vertical line is equal to a vertical dimension of the respective first thumbnail or the second thumbnail.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, within the user interface, a tools pane that includes a tool configured to enable a user to assign a keyword to one or more segments of the media item;

detecting input to activate the tool to assign a first keyword to the first segment;

in response to detecting the input to activate the tool, displaying a keyword tool in the user interface; and

displaying a keyword palette within the keyword tool, wherein the keyword palette includes a keyword region displaying the first keyword and a first check box associated with the first keyword.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising assigning the first keyword to the first segment, wherein assigning the first keyword to the first segment comprises:

receiving an input selecting the first check box associated with the first keyword; and

in response to receiving the input selecting the first check box, assigning the first keyword to the first segment.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the keyword region includes a second keyword and a second check box associated with the second keyword, the method comprising:

assigning the second keyword to a second segment of the media item.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein assigning the second keyword to the second segment comprises:

detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail;

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as the second segment;

after determining the second segment, detecting input to select the second check box associated with the second keyword to assign the second keyword to the second segment; and

assigning the second keyword to the second segment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein assigning the second keyword to the second segment comprises:

detecting input to select the second check box associated with the second keyword;

after detecting the input to select the second check box, detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail;

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as the second segment; and

assigning the second keyword to the second segment.

12. The method of claim 7, comprising:

displaying, within the keyword palette, a word box that is configured as an input field to receive keywords from a user for inclusion in the keyword palette.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

receiving, through the word box, a user input providing a third keyword; and

in response to receiving the user input providing the third keyword, displaying, in the keyword region, the third keyword and an associated third check box that is displayed adjacent to the third keyword.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising:

detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail; and

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as a second segment of the media item, wherein the second segment includes media item content corresponding the new first portion of the new first thumbnail and media item content corresponding to the new second portion of the new second thumbnail.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying, within the user interface, a tools pane that includes a tool configured to enable a user to assign a keyword to one or more segments of the media item;

detecting input to activate the tool to assign a first keyword to the first segment and the second segment; and

in response to detecting the input to activate the tool, assigning the first keyword to the first segment and the second segment.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

displaying, within the user interface, a filter tool;

detecting input to filter the display of the first segment and the second segment based on the assigned first keyword; and

in response to detecting the input to filter the display;

removing, from the user interface, thumbnails that are not included in the first segment or the second segment, and

displaying, in the user interface, the first segment and the second segment.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting input to filter the display comprises:

detecting input to activate the filter tool; and

in response to detecting input to activate the filter tool, displaying, in the user interface, a filter palette, the filter palette comprising;

a plurality of keywords assigned to a plurality of segments of the media item that comprise subsets of the plurality of thumbnails displayed in the media pane; and

a check box associated with each keyword.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in association with each keyword included in the filter palette, a time duration for which the associated keyword is assigned to the plurality of segments.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in the filter palette, a Boolean tool that is selectable by a user, wherein the Boolean tool includes a user-selectable icon indicating Boolean AND, the user-selectable icon is associated with performing Boolean AND operation.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in the filter palette, a Boolean tool that is selectable by a user, wherein the Boolean tool includes a user-selectable icon indicating Boolean OR, the user-selectable icon is associated with performing Boolean OR operation.

21. A medium bearing instructions to enable one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

displaying, within a user interface in a digital media system, a media pane;

displaying, within the media pane, a plurality of thumbnails that collectively represent a media item, wherein each thumbnail corresponds to a section of media item content that is less than all of the media item content;

detecting inputs selecting a first portion of a first thumbnail and a second portion of a second thumbnail, wherein at least the first portion of the first thumbnail or the second portion of the second thumbnail is respectively less than all of the first thumbnail or the second thumbnail; and

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the first portion of the first thumbnail and the second portion of the second thumbnail as a first segment of the media item, wherein the first segment includes media item content corresponding the first portion of the first thumbnail and media item content corresponding to the second portion of the second thumbnail.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein one or more media items are displayed within the media pane, the one or more media items including one or more of digital or digitized video clips and photographs.

23. The medium of claim 21, wherein detecting inputs selecting the first portion of the first thumbnail and the second portion of the second thumbnail comprises:

detecting a first selection of a starting position within the first thumbnail using a pointer;

in response to detecting the first selection, displaying a first vertical line on the first thumbnail at the starting position that is indicative of the first selection;

selecting a section of the first thumbnail from the first vertical line to an end of the first thumbnail as the first portion;

detecting a second selection of an ending position within the second thumbnail using the pointer;

in response to detecting the second selection, displaying a second vertical line on the second thumbnail at the ending position that is indicative of the second selection; and

selecting a section of the second thumbnail from a start of the second thumbnail to the second vertical line as the second portion.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein the starting position corresponds to a first frame of the media item content associated with a time instant determined by the starting position and the ending position corresponds to a second frame of the media item content associated with a time instant determined by the ending position, the operations comprising:

in response to detecting the first selection, displaying, in a preview pane included in the user interface, the first frame;

in response to detecting the second selection, displaying, in the preview pane, the second frame; and

selecting, as the first segment, a continuous portion of the media item content between the first frame and the second frame.

25. The medium of claim 23, wherein the ending position is independent of the starting position.

26. The medium of claim 23, wherein a length of the first vertical line or the second vertical line is equal to a vertical dimension of the respective first thumbnail or the second thumbnail.

27. The medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions enable the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

displaying, within the user interface, a tools pane that includes a tool configured to enable a user to assign a keyword to one or more segments of the media item;

detecting input to activate the tool to assign a first keyword to the first segment;

in response to detecting the input to activate the tool, displaying a keyword tool in the user interface; and

in response to input to activate the tool, displaying a keyword palette within the keyword tool, wherein the keyword palette includes a keyword region displaying the first keyword and a first check box associated with the first keyword.

28. The medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions that enable the one or more machines to assign the first keyword to the first segment, wherein assigning the first keyword to the first segment comprises:

receiving an input selecting the first check box associated with the first keyword; and

in response to receiving the input selecting the first check box, assigning the first keyword to the first segment.

29. The medium of claim 27, wherein the keyword region includes a second keyword and a second check box associated with the second keyword, the operations comprising:

assigning the second keyword to a second segment of the media item.

30. The medium of claim 29, wherein assigning the second keyword to the second segment comprises:

detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail;

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as the second segment;

after determining the second segment, detecting input to select the second check box associated with the second keyword to assign the second keyword to the second segment; and

assigning the second keyword to the second segment.

31. The medium of claim 29, wherein assigning the second keyword to the second segment comprises:

detecting input to select the second check box associated with the second keyword;

after detecting the input to select the second check box, detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail;

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as the second segment; and

assigning the second keyword to the second segment.

32. The medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions enable the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

displaying, within the keyword palette, a word box that is configured as an input field to receive keywords from a user for inclusion in the keyword palette.

33. The medium of claim 32, the operations comprising:

receiving, through the word box, a user input providing a third keyword; and

in response to receiving the user input providing the third keyword, displaying, in the keyword region, the third keyword and an associated third check box that is displayed adjacent to the third keyword.

34. The medium of claim 21, the operations comprising:

detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail; and

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as a second segment of the media item, wherein the second segment includes media item content corresponding the new first portion of the new first thumbnail and media item content corresponding to the new second portion of the new second thumbnail.

35. The medium of claim 34, the operations comprising:

displaying, within the user interface, a tools pane that includes a tool configured to enable a user to assign a keyword to one or more segments of the media item;

detecting input to activate the tool to assign a first keyword to the first segment and the second segment; and

in response to detecting the input to activate the tool, assigning the first keyword to the first segment and the second segment.

36. The medium of claim 35, the operations comprising:

displaying, within the user interface, a filter tool;

detecting input to filter the display of the first segment and the second segment based on the assigned first keyword; and

in response to detecting the input to filter the display;

removing, from the user interface, thumbnails that are not included in the first segment or the second segment, and

displaying, in the user interface, the first segment and the second segment.

37. The medium of claim 36, wherein detecting input to filter the display comprises:

detecting input to activate the filter tool; and

in response to detecting input to activate the filter tool, displaying, in the user interface, a filter palette, the filter palette comprising;

a plurality of keywords assigned to a plurality of segments of the media item that comprise subsets of the plurality of thumbnails displayed in the media pane; and

a check box associated with each keyword.

38. The medium of claim 37, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in association with each keyword included in the filter palette, a time duration for which the associated keyword is assigned to the plurality of segments.

39. The medium of claim 37, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in the filter palette, a Boolean tool that is selectable by a user, wherein the Boolean tool includes a user-selectable icon indicating Boolean AND, the user-selectable icon is associated with performing Boolean AND operation.

40. The medium of claim 37, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in the filter palette, a Boolean tool that is selectable by a user, wherein the Boolean tool includes a user-selectable icon indicating Boolean OR, the user-selectable icon is associated with performing Boolean OR operation.

41. A system comprising:

instructions stored in a machine-readable medium for execution by a processor and, when executed, configured to cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

displaying, within a user interface in a digital media system, a media pane;

displaying, within the media pane, a plurality of thumbnails that collectively represent a media item, wherein each thumbnail corresponds to a section of media item content that is less than all of the media item content;

detecting inputs selecting a first portion of a first thumbnail and a second portion of a second thumbnail, wherein at least the first portion of the first thumbnail or the second portion of the second thumbnail is respectively less than all of the first thumbnail or the second thumbnail; and

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the first portion of the first thumbnail and the second portion of the second thumbnail as a first segment of the media item, wherein the first segment includes media item content corresponding the first portion of the first thumbnail and media item content corresponding to the second portion of the second thumbnail.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein one or more media items are displayed within the media pane, the one or more media items including one or more of digital or digitized video clips and photographs.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein detecting inputs selecting the first portion of the first thumbnail and the second portion of the second thumbnail comprises:

detecting a first selection of a starting position within the first thumbnail using a pointer;

in response to detecting the first selection, displaying a first vertical line on the first thumbnail at the starting position that is indicative of the first selection;

selecting a section of the first thumbnail from the first vertical line to an end of the first thumbnail as the first portion;

detecting a second selection of an ending position within the second thumbnail using the pointer;

in response to detecting the second selection, displaying a second vertical line on the second thumbnail at the ending position that is indicative of the second selection; and

selecting a section of the second thumbnail from a start of the second thumbnail to the second vertical line as the second portion.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the starting position corresponds to a first frame of the media item content associated with a time instant determined by the starting position and the ending position corresponds to a second frame of the media item content associated with a time instant determined by the ending position, the operations comprising:

in response to detecting the first selection, displaying, in a preview pane included in the user interface, the first frame;

in response to detecting the second selection, displaying, in the preview pane, the second frame; and

selecting, as the first segment, a continuous portion of the media item content between the first frame and the second frame.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the ending position is independent of the starting position.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein a length of the first vertical line or the second vertical line is equal to a vertical dimension of the respective first thumbnail or the second thumbnail.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

displaying, within the user interface, a tools pane that includes a tool configured to enable a user to assign a keyword to one or more segments of the media item;

detecting input to activate the tool to assign a first keyword to the first segment;

in response to detecting the input to activate the tool, displaying a keyword tool in the user interface; and

in response to input to activate the tool, displaying a keyword palette within the keyword tool, wherein the keyword palette includes a keyword region displaying the first keyword and a first check box associated with the first keyword.

48. The system of claim 47, further comprising assigning the first keyword to the first segment, wherein assigning the first keyword to the first segment comprises:

receiving an input selecting the first check box associated with the first keyword; and

in response to receiving the input selecting the first check box, assigning the first keyword to the first segment.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the keyword region includes a second keyword and a second check box associated with the second keyword, the operations comprising:

assigning the second keyword to a second segment of the media item.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein assigning the second keyword to the second segment comprises:

detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail;

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as the second segment;

after determining the second segment, detecting input to select the second check box associated with the second keyword to assign the second keyword to the second segment; and

assigning the second keyword to the second segment.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein assigning the second keyword to the second segment comprises:

detecting input to select the second check box associated with the second keyword;

after detecting the input to select the second check box, detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail;

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as the second segment; and

assigning the second keyword to the second segment.

52. The medium of claim 47, wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

displaying, within the keyword palette, a word box that is configured as an input field to receive keywords from a user for inclusion in the keyword palette.

53. The system of claim 52, the operations comprising:

receiving, through the word box, a user input providing a third keyword; and

in response to receiving the user input providing the third keyword, displaying, in the keyword region, the third keyword and an associated third check box that is displayed adjacent to the third keyword.

54. The system of claim 41, the operations comprising:

detecting inputs selecting a new first portion of a new first thumbnail and a new second portion of a new second thumbnail; and

determining media item content associated with all thumbnails between the new first portion and the new second portion as a second segment of the media item, wherein the second segment includes media item content corresponding the new first portion of the new first thumbnail and media item content corresponding to the new second portion of the new second thumbnail.

55. The system of claim 54, the operations further comprising;

displaying, within the user interface, a tools pane that includes a tool configured to enable a user to assign a keyword to one or more segments of the media item;

detecting input to activate the tool to assign a first keyword to the first segment and the second segment; and

in response to detecting the input to activate the tool, assigning the first keyword to the first segment and the second segment.

56. The system of claim 55, the operations comprising:

displaying, within the user interface, a filter tool;

detecting input to filter the display of the first segment and the second segment based on the assigned first keyword; and

in response to detecting the input to filter the display;

removing, from the user interface, thumbnails that are not included in the first segment or the second segment, and

displaying, in the user interface, the first segment and the second segment.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein detecting input to filter the display comprises:

detecting input to activate the filter tool; and

in response to detecting input to activate the filter tool, displaying, in the user interface, a filter palette, the filter palette comprising;

a plurality of keywords assigned to a plurality of segments of the media item that comprise subsets of the plurality of thumbnails displayed in the media pane; and

a check box associated with each keyword.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in association with each keyword included in the filter palette, a time duration for which the associated keyword is assigned to the plurality of segments.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in the filter palette, a Boolean tool that is selectable by a user, wherein the Boolean tool includes a user-selectable icon indicating Boolean AND, the user-selectable icon is associated with performing Boolean AND operation.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein displaying the filter palette comprises:

displaying, in the filter palette, a Boolean tool that is selectable by a user, wherein the Boolean tool includes a user-selectable icon indicating Boolean OR, the user-selectable icon is associated with performing Boolean OR operation.