Bookmark navigation user interface

• US 9,223,475 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Amy M
• Application Number:
  US12/827,369
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A user interface for a touch-screen display of an electronic book reader device is described. The user interface has a bookmark feature designed to facilitate navigation through bookmarked locations in digital content items, such as electronic books, in response to use input via the touch-screen display. Further, the user interface provides a split progress indicator with separate portions presented in different areas of the display. The portions of the indicator are configured to represent proportions of content that comes before and after the current location being displayed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of an electronic book reader device configured with specific executable instructions,

displaying, in a first mode of the electronic book reader device, a current page of an electronic book on a touch-screen display of the electronic book reader device, wherein bookmark navigation is disabled in the first mode;

detecting user input to the touch-screen display, wherein the user input comprises a touch gesture followed by a first stroke;

transitioning the electronic book reader device from the first mode to a second mode of operation based at least in part on detecting the user input, wherein bookmark navigation is enabled in the second mode;

determining that the first stroke is performed in a first direction;

depicting on the touch-screen display, based at least in part on the first stroke, a collection of bookmark icons comprising a first plurality of bookmark icons associated with the electronic book, each individual bookmark icons of the first plurality of bookmark icons corresponds to one or more preceding pages relative to the current page of the electronic book;

receiving user selection of a particular bookmark icon from the first plurality of bookmark icons; and

temporarily displaying a second page of the electronic book on the touch screen display, the second page being associated with a bookmark represented by the particular bookmark icon.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the touch gesture originates in an upper right-hand corner of the touch-screen display.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein depicting the collection of bookmark icons comprises arranging the collection of bookmark icons horizontally across a top portion of the touch-screen display.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein depicting the collection of bookmark icons comprises arranging the collection of bookmark icons vertically along a right side of the touch-screen display.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein depicting the collection of bookmark icons comprises arranging a first portion of the collection of bookmark icons horizontally across a top portion of the touch-screen display and a second portion of the collection of bookmark icons vertically along a right side of the touch-screen display.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting second user input comprising the touch gesture followed by a second stroke in a second direction that is different from the first direction; and

depicting, on the touch-screen display, a second plurality of bookmark icons of the collection of bookmark icons associated with the electronic book, wherein individual bookmarks of the second plurality of bookmark icons correspond to one or more subsequent pages relative to the current page of the electronic book.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising shifting a portion of content from the second page relative to the touch-screen display in response to user contact with the touch-screen display.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to user selection of a second particular bookmark icon, displaying a third page of the electronic book on the touch-screen display, the third page being associated with another bookmark represented by the second particular bookmark icon.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising depicting a split progress indicator in conjunction with the current page, the split progress indicator having a first portion in a first region of the touch-screen display to represent an amount of content that comes before the current page and a second portion in a second region of the touch-screen display to represent an amount of content that comes after the current page.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the first and second portions of the split progress indicator in response to displaying the second page, such that the first portion in the first region of the touch-screen display is updated to represent an amount of content that comes before the second page and the second portion in the second region of the touch-screen display is updated to represent an amount of content that comes after the second page.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning the electronic book reader device from the first mode to a chapter navigation mode in response to a directional swiping gesture that includes pausing and changing direction at an anchor point, the anchor point used to separate a page navigation gesture from a chapter navigation gesture.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning from the first mode to a third mode in response to detecting second user input;

based at least partly on detecting a vertical stroke, moving from a current chapter to a next chapter or a previous chapter of the electronic book;

based at least partly on detecting a downward vertical stroke, advancing one chapter toward an end of the electronic book;

based at least partly on detecting an upward vertical stroke, moving one chapter toward a beginning of the electronic book;

based at least partly on detecting a left-to-right stroke, moving a single page forward in the electronic book; and

based at least partly on detecting a right-to-left motion, moving a single page backward in the electronic book.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of an electronic book reader device configured with specific executable instructions,

displaying, in a first mode of the electronic book reader device, a page of an electronic book on a display of the electronic book reader device, the first mode not enabling bookmark navigation;

receiving user input comprising a first stroke;

transitioning the electronic book reader device from the first mode to a second mode in which one or more bookmark indicia are presented on the display for enabling bookmark navigation within the electronic book;

determining that the first stroke is performed in a first direction; and

displaying, based at least in part on the first stroke performed in the first direction, one or more bookmarks, wherein individual bookmarks of the one or more bookmarks are associated with one or more subsequent pages relative to the page of the electronic book.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising:

depicting a split progress indicator in conjunction with the page, the split progress indicator having a first portion in a first region of the display to represent an amount of content that comes before the page and a second portion in a second region of the display to represent an amount of content that comes after the page, the first region being separate from the second region; and

responsive to movement through the electronic book from the page to a second page, adjusting both the first and second portions of the split progress indicator,

wherein the first region is located on a left side of the display and the second region is located on a right side of the display.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first and second portions are arranged vertically along opposing sides of the display.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first portion of the split progress indictor grows taller and the second portion of the split progress indictor shrinks smaller as the electronic book is read from front to back, and the first portion of the split progress indictor shrinks smaller and the second portion of the split progress indictor grows taller as the electronic book is read from back to front.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first region is located at a top of the display and the second region is located at a bottom of the display.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first and second portions are arranged horizontally along a top and bottom of the display.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first and second portions are arranged linearly on a common line along a bottom or a top of the display, with a distance between the first and second portions to provide separation.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first and second portions of the split progress indicator are composed of one or more segments, wherein:

individual segments of the one or more segments represent a predetermined amount of content in the electronic book; and

the one or more segments are further grouped according to at least one of;

corresponding sections of the electronic book;

or

user interactions with the electronic book, including according to one of annotations, bookmarks, or highlights.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein each of the one or more segments are approximately equal in size.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving second user input comprising a second stroke in a second direction that is different from the first direction; and

displaying, based at least in part on the second stroke in the second direction, one or more additional bookmarks, wherein individual bookmarks of the one or more additional bookmarks are associated with one or more preceding pages relative to the page of the electronic book.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising initiating a chapter navigation operation based at least in part on detecting second user input comprising a pattern traced onto the display, the pattern including a sequence of non-linear strokes that are made contiguously.

24. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying, in a normal mode of an electronic device, in which page-to-page navigation is enabled, a first page of an electronic book on a touch-screen display;

detecting first user input comprising a gesture that pauses and changes direction at an anchor point that separates page navigation gestures from chapter navigation gestures;

transitioning to a chapter navigation mode in which a subsequent gesture causes navigation to a chapter start location based at least partly on detecting the first user input;

detecting second user input;

transitioning from the chapter navigation mode to the normal mode based at least partly on the second user input;

detecting third user input comprising a touch and a slide;

transitioning from the normal mode to a bookmark navigation mode;

determining that the slide is performed in a first direction; and

displaying, based at least in part on the slide in the first direction, one or more bookmarks, wherein individual bookmarks of the one or more bookmarks are associated with one or more preceding pages relative to the page.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising:

in the chapter navigation mode;

based at least partly on detecting a vertical stroke, navigating from a current chapter to a next chapter or a previous chapter of the electronic book;

based at least partly on detecting a downward vertical stroke, navigating one chapter toward an end of the electronic book;

based at least partly on detecting an upward vertical stroke, navigating one chapter toward a beginning of the electronic book;

based at least partly on detecting a left-to-right stroke, navigating a single page forward in the electronic book; and

based at least partly on detecting a right-to-left motion, navigating a single page backward in the electronic book.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying, in the normal mode of the electronic device, a split progress indicator in conjunction with the first page of the electronic book, wherein;

the split progress indicator comprises a first portion and a second portion that together indicate user progress through the electronic book;

the first portion is in a first region of the touch-screen display to represent an amount of content that comes before the first page; and

the second portion is in a second region of the touch-screen display to represent an amount of content that comes after the first page, the first region being separate from the second region.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, further comprising:

determining that the slide is performed in a second direction that is different from the first direction; and

displaying, based at least in part on the slide in the second direction, one or more additional bookmarks, wherein individual bookmarks of the one or more additional bookmarks are associated with one or more subsequent pages relative to the page.

28. An electronic book reader device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory accessible by the processor;

a touch-screen display to present a visible representation of an electronic book; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions executable by the processor to perform acts comprising;

presenting a graphical user interface that facilitates user navigation through the electronic book;

transitioning from a normal mode to a chapter navigation mode based at least partly on detecting a first user input performed at an anchor point on the touch-screen display, the anchor point distinguishing between a page navigation and chapter navigation;

navigating from a current chapter to a next chapter or a previous chapter of the electronic book based at least partly on detecting at least one subsequent input gesture in the chapter navigation mode;

transitioning from the chapter navigation mode to the normal mode based at least partly on detecting a second user input;

transitioning from the normal mode to a bookmark navigation mode based at least partly on detecting a third user input that includes a directional slide; and

displaying, based at least in part on the directional slide, one or more bookmarks in the bookmark navigation mode, wherein individual bookmarks of the one or more bookmarks are associated with one or more subsequent pages relative to a current page of the electronic book.

29. The electronic book reader device of claim 28, the acts further comprising:

in the bookmark navigation mode;

displaying a first set of one or more graphical icons representing the one or more bookmarks;

responsive to user selection of one of the one or more graphical icons via the touch-screen display, transitioning from the current page to a bookmarked page, wherein the first set of one or more graphical icons is arranged along a first side of the touch-screen display.

30. The electronic book reader device of claim 29, wherein, responsive to user selection of a particular graphical icon via the touch-screen display, instructing the touch-screen display to present another page of the electronic book associated with a bookmark corresponding to the particular graphical icon.

31. The electronic book reader device of claim 28, the acts further comprising:

navigate one chapter toward an end of the electronic book in response to detecting a downward vertical stroke,

navigate one chapter toward a beginning of the electronic book in response to detecting an upward vertical stroke,

navigate a single page forward in the electronic book in response to detecting a left-to-right stroke, and

navigate a single page backward in the electronic book in response to detecting a right-to-left motion.

32. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-screen display to present a digital content item;

a processor;

a memory accessible by the processor; and

one or more program modules stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, the one or more program modules including instructions for;

displaying, in a normal mode of the electronic device, a portion of the digital content item, wherein the normal mode disables use of bookmarks for navigation;

receiving mode selection user input;

transitioning, based at least partly on the mode selection user input, from the normal mode to a bookmark navigation mode to enable bookmark navigation to a bookmarked location in a digital content item;

determining that the mode selection user input includes a swipe in a first direction;

displaying, in the bookmark navigation mode and based at least in part on the swipe in the first direction, a plurality of bookmark icons, wherein individual bookmark icons of the plurality of bookmark icons correspond to one or more pages subsequent to a current location in the digital content item;

receiving a user selection of a bookmark icon from the plurality of bookmark icons displayed on the touch-screen display;

receiving a user selection of the bookmark icon, temporarily displaying a second page of the digital content item while the bookmark icon is selected; and

based, at least in part on detecting, on the touch-screen display, additional user input comprising, a pattern that includes a sequence of non-linear strokes that are made contiguously, initiating a chapter navigation operation.

33. The electronic device of claim 32, the one or more program modules further including instructions for:

displaying a split progress indicator having first and second portions that together indicate user progress through the digital content item; and

responsive to movement through the digital content item, adjusting both the first and second portions of the split progress indicator, wherein the first portion is provided in a first region of the display to represent an amount of content that comes before a current location in the digital content item and the second portion is provided in a second region of the display to represent an amount of content that comes after the current location, the first region being separate from the second region.

34. The electronic device of claim 33, wherein the first portion is arranged vertically along a left side of the display and the second portion is arranged vertically along a right side of the display.

35. The electronic device of claim 33, wherein the first and second portions of the split progress indicator are composed of one or more distinct segments, where each segment represents a predetermined amount of content in the digital content item.

36. The electronic device of claim 33, wherein the one or more program modules further include instructions for:

responsive to navigating to a particular bookmark, adjusting both the first and second portions of the split progress indicator.

37. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform acts comprising:

presenting, in a normal mode that does not provide bookmark navigation or chapter navigation, a first part of a digital content item on a display device;

transitioning from the normal mode to a bookmark navigation mode of operation based at least partly on detecting a first user input performed on a touch-screen display, the bookmark navigation mode depicting one or more graphical bookmark icons, wherein selection of a particular graphical bookmark icon of the one or more graphical bookmark icons causes a second part of the digital content item to be displayed, the second part of the digital content item associated with the particular graphical bookmark icon;

displaying, based at least in part on a direction of a slide included in the first user input, one or more bookmarks in the bookmark navigation mode, wherein individual bookmarks of the one or more bookmarks correspond to one or more preceding pages relative to a current page of the digital content item;

transitioning from the bookmark navigation mode to the normal mode; and

transitioning from the normal mode to a chapter navigation mode in response to detecting a second user input performed on the touch-screen display.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the electronic device comprises an electronic book reader device and the digital content item comprises an electronic book.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the digital content item comprises one of an electronic book, an audio item, a video item, or a multimedia item.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, the acts further comprising:

displaying a split progress indicator having a first portion to proportionally represent an amount of content that comes before the part of the digital content item being presented in a region of the display and a second portion to proportionally represent an amount of content that comes after the part of the digital content item being presented in the region, wherein the graphical bookmark icons include a first set of icons to represent bookmarks associated with content coming before the part of the digital content item being presented in the region, and a second set of icons to represent bookmarks associated with content coming after the part of the digital content item being presented in the region.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein:

the digital content item comprises an electronic book; and

in the chapter navigation mode;

a vertical stroke moves from a current chapter to a next chapter or a previous chapter of the electronic book;

a downward vertical stroke advances one chapter toward an end of the electronic book;

an upward vertical stroke moves one chapter toward a beginning of the electronic book;

a left-to-right stroke moves a single page forward in the electronic book; and

a right-to-left motion moves a single page backward in the electronic book.