User interface for presenting media information

• US 7,318,196 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Crow, Daniel N., Dean, Cary, Wasko, Timothy E., Jobs, Steven P., Dykstra-Erickson, Elizabeth, Hoddie, J. Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/374,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/719, 715/723, 715/772, 715/784, 715/786, 715/973
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/326 used signal is a video-frame or a video-field (P.I.P.)
• 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: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

A user interface and methods for using a user interface for controlling processing of time-based media files. In one exemplary method, a graphical representation of a time line for a time-based media is displayed along with a graphical representation of a current time along the graphical representation of the time line. A start graphical indicator and a stop graphical indicator is also displayed along the graphical representation of the time line. A portion of the time-based media may be selected for presentation by dragging or positioning at least one of the start graphical indicator and the stop graphical indicator along the graphical representation of the time line. In another aspect of the invention, an exemplary method allows for the adaptive control of a portion of the interface which indicates time relating to a time-based media. An input speed is determined where this input is to change the portion and the rate at which the change to this portion occurs is dependent upon the input speed. Other aspects of the present invention relating to the interface for controlling the processing of time-based media files are also described.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a status corresponding to a time-based media, comprising:

displaying a media window to play said time-based media;

receiving said time-based media in said media window;

displaying and scrolling in a first message corresponding to said status of said receiving said time-based media;

scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in a second message corresponding to said status as said status changes;

displaying a time bar in an area of said media window, said time bar includes a first end and a second end representing respectively a beginning of said time-based media and an end of said time-based media;

removing said time bar in response to receiving said first message; and

displaying and scrolling in said first message in said area, and scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in said second message in said area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling horizontally.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling vertically.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said time-based media comprises a streaming media received over a network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said message comprises an information corresponding to a network status of said time-based media.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first message and said second message comprise one of “

connecting,”

“

negotiating,”

“

receiving,” and

“

buffering.”

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing said time-based media as a QuickTime movie.

9. A machine readable medium having stored thereon executable program code which, when executed, causes a machine to perform a method for displaying a status corresponding to a time-based media, said method comprising:

displaying a media window to play said time-based media;

receiving said time-based media in said media window;

displaying and scrolling in a first message corresponding to said status of said receiving said time-based media;

scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in a second message corresponding to said status as said status changes;

displaying a time bar in an area of said media window, said time bar includes a first end and a second end representing respectively a beginning of said time-based media and an end of said time-based media;

removing said time bar in response to receiving said first message; and

displaying and scrolling in said first message in said area, and scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in said second message in said area.

10. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling horizontally.

11. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein said scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling vertically.

12. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein said time-based media comprises a streaming media received over a network.

13. The machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein said message comprises an information corresponding to a network status of said time-based media.

14. The machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said first message and said second message comprise one of “

connecting,”

“

negotiating,”

“

receiving,” and

“

buffering.”

15. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

16. The machine readable medium of claim 15, said method further comprising storing said time-based media as a QuickTime movie.

17. A digital processing system for displaying a status corresponding to a time-based media, said digital processing system comprising:

means for displaying a media window to play said time-based media;

means for receiving said time-based media in said media window;

means for displaying and scrolling in a first message corresponding to said status of said receiving said time-based media;

means for scrolling out said first message and means for displaying and scrolling in a second message corresponding to said status as said status changes;

means for displaying a time bar in an area of said media window, said time bar includes a first end and a second end representing respectively a beginning of said time-based media and an end of said time-based media;

means for removing said time bar in response to receiving said first message; and

means for displaying and scrolling in said first message in said area, and means for scrolling out said first message and means for displaying and means for scrolling in said second message in said area.

18. The digital processing system of claim 17, wherein said means for scrolling in and scrolling out comprise means for scrolling horizontally.

19. The digital processing system of claim 17, wherein said scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling vertically.

20. The digital processing system of claim 17, wherein said time-based media comprises a streaming media received over a network.

21. The digital processing system of claim 20, wherein said message comprises an information corresponding to a network status of said time-based media.

22. The digital processing system of claim 21, wherein said first message and said second message comprise one of “

connecting,”

“

negotiating,”

“

receiving,” and

“

buffering.”

23. The digital processing system of claim 17, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

24. The digital processing system of claim 23, further comprising means for storing said time-based media as a QuickTime movie.

25. A digital processing system, comprising:

a digital processor coupled to a display device;

a memory coupled to said digital processor, said memory receiving a time-based media for display on said display device, said processor;

displaying a media window to play said time-based media;

receiving said time-based media in said media window;

displaying and scrolling in a first message corresponding to said status of said receiving said time-based media;

scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in a second message corresponding to said status as said status changes;

displaying a time bar in an area of said media window, said time bar includes a first end and a second end representing respectively a beginning of said time-based media and an end of said time-based media;

removing said time bar in response to receiving said first message; and

displaying and scrolling in said first message in said area, and scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in said second message in said area.

26. The digital processing system of claim 25, wherein scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling horizontally.

27. The digital processing system of claim 25, wherein said scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling vertically.

28. The digital processing system of claim 25, wherein said time-based media comprises a streaming media received over a network.

29. The digital processing system of claim 28, wherein said message comprises an information corresponding to a network status of said time-based media.

30. The digital processing system of claim 29, wherein said first message and said second message comprise one of “

connecting,”

“

negotiating,”

“

receiving,” and

“

buffering.”

31. The digital processing system of claim 25, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

32. The digital processing system of claim 31, said processor further storing said time-based media as a QuickTime movie.

33. A method for displaying a status corresponding to a time-based media, comprising:

displaying a media window to play said time-based media;

receiving said time-based media in said media window;

displaying and scrolling in a first message corresponding to said status of said receiving said time-based media, wherein said status is capable of varying over time; and

scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in a second message corresponding to said status as said status changes.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling horizontally.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling vertically.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said time-based media comprises a streaming media received over a network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said message comprises an information corresponding to a network status of said time-based media.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said first message and said second message comprise one of “

connecting,”

“

negotiating,”

“

receiving,” and

“

buffering.”

39. The method of claim 33, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising storing said time-based media as a movie.

41. A machine readable medium having stored thereon executable program code which, when executed, causes a machine to perform a method for displaying a status corresponding to a time-based media, said method comprising:

displaying a media window to play said time-based media;

receiving said time-based media in said media window;

displaying and scrolling in a first message corresponding to said status of said receiving said time-based media, wherein said status is capable of varying over time; and

scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in a second message corresponding to said status as said status changes.

42. The machine readable medium of claim 41, wherein scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling horizontally.

43. The machine readable medium of claim 41, wherein said scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling vertically.

44. The machine readable medium of claim 41, wherein said time-based media comprises a streaming media received over a network.

45. The machine readable medium of claim 44, wherein said message comprises an information corresponding to a network status of said time-based media.

46. The machine readable medium of claim 45, wherein said first message and said second message comprise one of “

connecting,”

“

negotiating,”

“

receiving,” and

“

buffering.”

47. The machine readable medium of claim 41, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

48. The machine readable medium of claim 47, said method further comprising storing said time-based media as a movie.

49. A digital processing system for displaying a status corresponding to a time-based media, said digital processing system comprising:

means for displaying a media window to play said time-based media;

means for receiving said time-based media in said media window;

means for displaying and scrolling in a first message corresponding to said status of said receiving said time-based media, wherein said status is capable of varying over time; and

means for scrolling out said first message and means for displaying and scrolling in a second message corresponding to said status as said status changes.

50. The digital processing system of claim 49, wherein said means for scrolling in and scrolling out comprise means for scrolling horizontally.

51. The digital processing system of claim 49, wherein said scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling vertically.

52. The digital processing system of claim 49, wherein said time-based media comprises a streaming media received over a network.

53. The digital processing system of claim 52, wherein said message comprises an information corresponding to a network status of said time-based media.

54. The digital processing system of claim 53, wherein said first message and said second message comprise one of “

connecting,”

“

negotiating,”

“

receiving,” and

“

buffering.”

55. The digital processing system of claim 49, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

56. The digital processing system of claim 55, further comprising means for storing said time-based media as a movie.

57. A digital processing system, comprising:

a digital processor coupled to a display device;

a memory coupled to said digital processor, said memory receiving a time-based media for display on said display device, said processor;

displaying a media window to play said time-based media;

receiving said time-based media in said media window;

displaying and scrolling in a first message corresponding to said status of said receiving said time-based media, wherein said status is capable of varying over time; and

scrolling out said first message and displaying and scrolling in a second message corresponding to said status as said status changes.

58. The digital processing system of claim 57, wherein scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling horizontally.

59. The digital processing system of claim 57, wherein said scrolling in and scrolling out comprise scrolling vertically.

60. The digital processing system of claim 57, wherein said time-based media comprises a streaming media received over a network.

61. The digital processing system of claim 60, wherein said message comprises an information corresponding to a network status of said time-based media.

62. The digital processing system of claim 61, wherein said first message and said second message comprise one of “

connecting,”

“

negotiating,”

“

receiving,” and

“

buffering.”

63. The digital processing system of claim 57, wherein said time-based media comprises one of video data, audio data, visual data, and a combination of audio and video data.

64. The digital processing system of claim 63, said processor further storing said time-based media as a movie.