Retrieving graphics from slow retrieval storage devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computerized method for presenting a menu of media content to a user, said computerized method comprising:
- opening a menu structure file, said menu structure file defining a menu of media files;
identifying, from the opened menu structure file, a compound image file associated with the menu, said compound image file storing image data for each of the media files in the menu;
opening the identified compound image file;
retrieving the image data from the opened compound image file as a function of the menu; and
displaying the menu with the retrieved image data to a user for navigation and selection.
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Abstract
Storing image data for a menu in a compound image file. Image data for a menu of media files is retrieved and efficiently stored in the compound image file. A media player accesses the compound image file to obtain and display relevant images in a menu. The invention reduces the quantity of file operations needed to render the menu and thus reduces the time needed to display the menu as perceived by a user. As a result, the invention enhances the user experience with the media player.
67 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computerized method for presenting a menu of media content to a user, said computerized method comprising:
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opening a menu structure file, said menu structure file defining a menu of media files;
identifying, from the opened menu structure file, a compound image file associated with the menu, said compound image file storing image data for each of the media files in the menu;
opening the identified compound image file;
retrieving the image data from the opened compound image file as a function of the menu; and
displaying the menu with the retrieved image data to a user for navigation and selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable components for presenting a menu of media content to a user, said components comprising:
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a menu component for receiving menu data from a memory area, said menu data defining a menu of media files, wherein each of the media files has an image associated therewith;
an image component for identifying, from the menu data received by the menu component, a compound image file associated with the menu data, said compound image file storing image data for each of the media files;
a cache component for retrieving the image data from the identified compound image file as a function of the menu data; and
a display component for rendering, to a user for navigation and selection, the menu with the image data retrieved by the cache component. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for creating a compound image file for a menu, said system comprising:
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a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a compound image file, said compound image file storing;
a plurality of images each associated with a media file, said media file being associated with at least one menu;
a plurality of image entries each storing a reference to one of the plurality of images, each of said plurality of image entries further storing a menu identifier identifying the menu associated with the image entry; and
a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions for;
defining a menu of media files based on a grouping of the media files;
determining a menu identifier for the defined menu of media files;
identifying a plurality of images associated with the defined menu;
retrieving the identified plurality of images from a metadata repository;
storing the retrieved plurality of images in the compound image file stored on the computer-readable medium;
determining a reference to each of the stored plurality of images in the compound image file;
populating each of a plurality of image entries with the determined reference and the determined menu identifier, wherein each of the populated plurality of image entries corresponds to one of the plurality of images; and
file stored on the computer-readable medium. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification