Graphical user interface for browsing, searching and presenting media items

• US 20050193094A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Wagner, Peter K., Robbin, Jeffrey L., Wiese, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,291,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• 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 method for browsing media items via a client application program that connects to an online media store, said method comprising:

(a) displaying an application program window associated with the client application program, the application program window including at least one sub-window;

(b) displaying a first set of media item representations in the sub-window, the media item representations corresponding to a plurality of media items;

(c) displaying a first direction control within or proximate to a first side of the sub-window;

(d) displaying a second direction control within or proximate to a second side of the sub-window; and

(e) moving the media item representations through the sub-window in a first direction in response to receiving a user selection of the first direction control or in a second direction in response to receiving a user selection of the second direction control, to thereby display a second set of media item representations in the sub-window, where at least one of the media item representations of the second set of media item representations is different than the media item representations of the first set of media item representations.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said displaying (b) displays the media item representations in a horizontal manner, and wherein said moving (e) moves the media item representations in a horizontal manner.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first direction is to the left of the sub-window, and the second direction is to the right of the sub-window.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement caused by said moving (e) is a scroll action through the sub-window in the first direction in response to receiving a user selection of the first direction control or in the second direction in response to receiving a user selection of the second direction control.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said displaying (b) displays the media item representations in a horizontal manner.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the scroll action is horizontal.

7. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first direction is to the left of the sub-window, and the second direction is to the right of the sub-window.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sub-window is associated with a category or grouping of media.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the media item representations being displayed in the sub-window all pertain to the category or grouping.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the category or grouping of media pertains to new releases.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media item representations, for each of the media items corresponding thereto, include at least a text descriptor and an image.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the image pertains to artwork associated with the media item corresponding thereto.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the image is a thumbnail-sized image.

14. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the text descriptor pertains to a title of the media item.

15. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the media item representations are provided to the client application program by an online media store via a network,

wherein the media item representations, for each of the media items corresponding thereto, include at least a text descriptor and an image,

wherein said displaying (b) displays the media item representations in a horizontal manner, and wherein said moving (e) moves the media item representations in a horizontal manner,

wherein the sub-window is associated with a category or grouping of media, and

wherein the media item representations being displayed in the sub-window all pertain to the category or grouping.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media item is an album of music.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media item is a song.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media item representations are provided to the client application program by an online media store via a network.

19. A graphical user interface for scrolling through a plurality of media items, said graphical user interface comprising:

an application program window associated with a client application program;

at least one sub-window, within said application program window, for displaying a plurality of media item representations, the media item representations corresponding to a plurality of media items;

a first-side transition control for requesting first direction scrolling of the media item representations within said at least one sub-window; and

a second-side transition control for requesting second direction scrolling of the media item representations within said at least one sub-window.

20. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 19,

wherein said first-side transition control is a left-side transition control and is for requesting left direction scrolling, and

wherein said second-side transition control is a right-side transition control and is for requesting right direction scrolling.

21. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the media item representations being displayed in said at least one sub-window includes, for each of the media items corresponding thereto, at least a text descriptor and an image.

22. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 21, wherein the image pertains to artwork associated with the media item corresponding thereto.

23. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the image is a thumbnail-sized image.

24. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 21, wherein the text descriptor pertains to a title of the media item.

25. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the media item is an album of music.

26. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the media item is a song.

27. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein the sub-window is associated with a category or grouping of media.

28. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 27, wherein the category or grouping pertains to new releases.

29. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a position indicator that indicates relative position of the displayed media item representations with respect to a larger set of available media item representations that can be displayed in said at least one sub-window.

30. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 19, wherein said at least one sub-window comprises:

a first sub-window for displaying a first plurality of media item representations pertaining to a first category or grouping; and

a second sub-window for displaying a second plurality of media item representations pertaining to a second category or grouping,

wherein each of the first and second plurality of media item representations corresponds to a plurality of media items.

31. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 30, wherein each of said first sub-window and said second sub-window has said first-side transition control and said second-side transition control.

32. A graphical user interface for browsing through a plurality of media items, said graphical user interface comprising:

a window, associated with a client application program, for displaying a plurality of media item representations, the media item representations corresponding to a plurality of media items, the media item representations being provided to the client application program by an online media store via a network;

a first-side transition control for requesting a first transition effect of the media item representations within said window; and

a second-side transition control for requesting a second transition effect of the media item representations within said window.

33. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for browsing media items via a client application program that connects to an online media store, said method comprising:

computer program code for displaying a plurality of media item representations in a window, the media item representations corresponding to a plurality of media items;

computer program code for displaying a first direction control within or proximate to a first side of the window;

computer program code for displaying a second direction control within or proximate to a second side of the window;

computer program code for moving the media item representations through the window in a first direction in response to receiving a user selection of the first direction control; and

computer program code for moving the media item representations through the window in a second direction in response to receiving a user selection of the second direction control.

34. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said computer program code for moving the plurality of media item representations through the window operates to remove one or more media item representations from the window and add the same number of media item representations to the window.

35. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said computer program code for displaying always operates to display the same number of media item representations in the window regardless of any movement by said computer program code for moving.

36. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33,

wherein said computer program code for displaying always operates to display a first set of the media item representations in the window, and

wherein said computer code for moving operates to display a second set of the media item representations in the window, where at least one of the media item representations of the second set of media item representations is different than the media item representations of the first set of media item representations.

37. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein at least a portion of said computer program code is provided in a markup language document.

38. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said computer program code for displaying displays the media item representations in a horizontal manner.

39. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 38, wherein the first direction is to the left of the window, and the second direction is to the right of the window.