Seekbar in taskbar player visualization mode

• US 20050183017A1
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cain, Jonathan Marshall
• Application Number:
  US11/108,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/719
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image

Abstract

Methods and system for enhancing user experience when rendering digital media content. Defining a visible region of the window in which a media player user interface (UI) is presented to clip undesirable portions of the window provides an improved media player UI. Further aspects are directed to enhancing user experience when rendering digital media content in mini-mode screen presentation mode.

Claims

1. A method of processing media content comprising:

rendering a media file by a media player program executed on a computer, said computer having a display for presenting a user interface (UI) associated with the media player program, said UI occupying less than all of the display;

defining a window in which the UI is presented on the display, said UI including a control element for controlling the processing of the media file;

setting a visible region of the window, said visible region excluding the control element from being viewable on the display; and

selectively removing the visible region of the window in response to user input via an input device whereby the window and the control element are viewable on the display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises a pointing device for controlling a cursor and further comprising detecting the cursor being positioned adjacent an outer edge of the visible region of the window and selectively removing the visible region of the window in response thereto.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising re-setting the visible region of the window thereby excluding the control element from being viewable on the display after the cursor is no longer positioned within the visible region.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises a keyboard and further comprising detecting one or more keys on the keyboard being depressed and selectively removing the visible region of the window in response thereto.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising re-setting the visible region of the window thereby excluding the control element from being viewable on the display after a predetermined interval of time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the control element comprises a media file playback control.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein selectively removing the visible region of the window causes the playback control to be viewable on the display and permits control of a play back position of the media file.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising re-setting the visible region of the window for excluding the portion of the frame from being viewable on the display after the playback control is no longer in use.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein setting the visible region of the window comprises defining a skin for the media player program, said skin occupying substantially less than all of the display.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the media file includes a visual rendering element and wherein rendering a media file includes playing the visual rendering element of the media file in a miniature screen presentation mode.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more computer-readable media have computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

12. A system for processing media content comprising a computer executing a media player program for rendering a media file, said computer having a display for presenting user interface (UI) associated with the media player program, said display having a window in which the media player program UI is presented, said UI occupying less than all of the display and having a control element for controlling the processing of the media content, said window further having a visible region applied thereon, said visible region excluding the control element from being viewable on the display unless selectively removed in response to user input via an input device whereby the window and control element are viewable on the display.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the input device comprises a pointing device for controlling a cursor and wherein the visible region of the window is selectively removed in response to the cursor being positioned adjacent an outer edge of the visible region of the window.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the visible region of the window is re-set thereby excluding the control element from being viewable on the display after the cursor is no longer positioned adjacent the outer edge of the visible region.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the input device comprises a keyboard and wherein the visible region of the window is selectively removed in response to one or more keys on the keyboard being depressed.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the visible region of the window is re-set thereby excluding the control element from being viewable on the display after a predetermined interval of time.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the control element excluded by the visible region from being viewable on the display is a media file playback control, said media file playback control permitting control of a playback position of the media file by the user via the playback control when viewable on the display.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the visible region of the window is re-set thereby excluding the playback control from being viewable on the display after the playback control is no longer in use.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the media player program has a miniature screen presentation mode for playing a visual rendering element of the media file.

20. In a computer system having a graphical user interface for rendering a media file on a display, said user interface including a skin occupying substantially less than all of the display, a method of processing media content comprising:

defining a window in which the skin is presented on the display, said skin including a control element for controlling the processing of the media file;

setting a visible region of the window, said visible region excluding the control element from being viewable on the display;

detecting a cursor relative to the visible region window, said cursor location being controlled by user input;

removing the visible region of the window when the cursor is positioned adjacent to an outer edge of the visible region of the window, whereby the window and the control element are viewable on the display; and

re-setting the visible region of the window thereby excluding the control element from being viewable on the display after the cursor is no longer positioned within the visible region.