Volume control

• US 20060291666A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Stephen, Ball, Steven J., Yerrace, Frank D., Rundle, Mitchell K., Omiya, Elliot, Baudisch, Patrick M., Crowley, Annette M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40

Abstract

A volume control may be provided with some integrated graphical indication of the presence and/or level of an audio signal that it controls. For example, a slider-type volume control may be provided with a signal meter within the slider itself. A volume control may be provided with a mechanism for showing the non-mute volume control level of a volume when the volume control is muted. For example, a slider-type volume control may display a ghosted slider tab at the level of volume control in effect before muting while at the same time displaying a regular slider tab at a muted level. A user may be able to glance at a volume control and quickly and intuitively understand aspects of the volume control'"'"'s state such as the level and condition of the signal that is flowing through or blocked by (if muted) the control.

Claims

1. A volatile or non-volatile storage storing information for enabling a device to display a user interface of a volume control, the volume control having a variable control level, the user interface comprising:

a graphical interface component configured to interactively vary the control level and/or configured to changeably indicate the variable control level in accordance with variation thereof, the graphical interface component comprising a signal indication graphically united with the graphical interface component and indicating a level and/or presence of an audio signal controlled by the variable control level, where the signal indication is graphically united with at least a portion of the graphical interface component that varies the control level and/or changeably indicates the variable control level.

2. A volatile or non-volatile storage according to claim 1, wherein the graphical interface component comprises a slider, or a virtual thumbwheel, or a virtual dial, or a numerical controller, or push buttons, or a valve.

3. A volatile or non-volatile storage according to claim 1, wherein the signal indication further indicates whether or not the graphical interface component is in a muted state.

4. A volatile or non-volatile storage according to claim 1, wherein when the audio signal is present the signal indication varies in appearance according to variations in the audio signal.

5. A volatile or non-volatile storage according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the graphical interface component indicates and/or varies the variable control level, and the signal indication is embedded within the part, or overlaps the part, or is overlapped by the part, or comprises the part.

6. A volatile or non-volatile storage according to claim 1, wherein the signal indication and the graphical interface component are united such that a change in appearance of one effects a change in appearance of the other.

7. A device comprising a display unit and configured to be capable of displaying a volume control widget on the display, the device being further configured such that when displaying the volume control widget:

when muting occurs in response a first audio level indicator is displayed in the volume control widget to indicate a muted audio level and a second audio level indicator is displayed in the volume control widget to indicate a pre-muted audio level.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the device is further configured such that when unmuting occurs the first audio level indicator is no longer displayed to indicate the muted audio level and either or both audio level indicators are displayed at the pre-muted audio level.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the volume control widget comprises a slider, first audio level indicator comprises a slider tab, the second audio level indicator comprises a ghosted slider tab, and both slider tabs are displayed on the slider.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein the first audio level indicator comprises a slider tab and the second audio indicator comprises a ghosted slider tab.

11. A device according to claim 7, wherein the volume control, when displayed, also includes graphic information integrated therewith that indicates the presence and/or level and state of an audio signal that the volume control widget is controlling.

12. A method comprising:

displaying a volume control that comprises an area receptive to stroke, drag, or click inputs to raise and/or lower a setting that raises and/or lowers the level of an audio signal regulated by the volume control; and

receiving a mute command and in response;

muting the audio signal, displaying in the area receptive to stroke, drag, or click inputs a first marker indicating the value of the setting prior to the muting, and displaying in the area receptive to stroke, drag, or click inputs a second marker indicating a muted value of the setting.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving an unmute command and in response;

unmuting the audio signal, displaying one of the markers to indicate the value of the setting prior to the muting and undisplaying, hiding, or changing the appearance of the other marker.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the unmute command comprises moving the first marker with a stroke or drag command.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the other marker is changed in appearance and the change in appearance comprises displaying the other marker with a ghosting or alpha-blended overlay effect or other such dual state indicator.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein when the audio signal changes the appearance of the volume control changes accordingly.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the changing of the appearance comprises a metering effect, or a change in color or brightness, or a change in shape of a part of the area of the volume control that is receptive to stroke, drag, or click inputs.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein displaying the second marker comprises displaying an animation to give an appearance of a marker, either the second marker or another marker, moving from the position of the first marker to a position indicating the muted value of the setting.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the muting the audio signal comprises gradually lowering the level of the audio signal.

20. A method according to claim 12, wherein the muting the audio signal comprises gradually lowering the level of the audio signal.