Viewing digital images using a floating controller

• US 7,557,818 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ubillos, Randy, Perrodin, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Amini; Javid A
• Application Number:
  US10/960,163
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 345/648, 345/684
• US Class Current: 345/684
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A method and apparatus for viewing one or more images using a floating controller is provided. A collection of digital images may be managed using a digital image system that displays images using a floating controller. While a pointer is over the floating controller, the floating controller is continuously displayed, but when the pointer is moved off the floating controller, a period of time during which no user input of any type is tracked. If, while the pointer is off the toolbar, an idle period exceeds a predetermined threshold duration, then the floating controller is hidden. A set of images of a bounded sequence of images may be displayed on the floating controller. A visual indication that indicates whether a particular image in the set of images is either the first or last image in the bounded sequence may be displayed on each image of the set of images.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method, comprising:

simultaneously displaying a first number of visual depictions on a screen,

wherein the visual depictions correspond to a first number of items within a bounded sequence of a second number of items;

wherein said second number is greater than said first number;

wherein each visual depiction corresponds to a separate file that contains data;

wherein each visual depiction is displayed unobstructed by other visual depictions;

in response to user input, scrolling through said bounded sequence of items;

wherein the step of scrolling includes

ceasing to display at least a portion of a first visual depiction;

displaying a previously undisplayed portion of a second visual depiction to fully display a visual depiction of a particular item;

displaying a visual indication that indicates whether the particular item is located at a particular position within the bounded sequence,

wherein the particular position includes one of the beginning of the bounded sequence and the end of the bounded sequence;

wherein displaying the visual indication includes;

if displaying the previously undisplayed portion fully displays a visual depiction of the particular item that corresponds to an item at an end of the bounded sequence of items, then displaying the visual depiction without modification; and

if displaying the previously undisplayed portion fully displays a visual depiction of the particular item that corresponds to an item not at an end or beginning of the bounded sequence of items, then displaying the visual depiction with a modification;

wherein the modification includes shading a portion of the visual depiction.

2. A machine-implemented method, comprising:

simultaneously displaying a first number of visual depictions on a screen,

wherein the visual depictions correspond to a first number of items within a bounded sequence of a second number of items;

wherein said second number is greater than said first number;

wherein each visual depiction corresponds to a separate file that contains data;

wherein each visual depiction is displayed unobstructed by other visual depictions;

in response to user input, scrolling through said bounded sequence of items;

wherein the step of scrolling includes

ceasing to display at least a portion of a first visual depiction;

displaying a previously undisplayed portion of a second visual depiction to fully display a visual depiction of a particular item;

displaying a visual indication that indicates whether the particular item is located at a particular position within the bounded sequence,

wherein the particular position includes one of the beginning of the bounded sequence and the end of the bounded sequence;

displaying a toolbar on said screen, wherein said first number of visual depictions are displayed in said toolbar;

while a pointer is over the toolbar, continuing to display the toolbar;

when the pointer is moved off the toolbar, tracking idle periods, wherein each idle period is a period of time during which no input, of one or more types of said user input, is received;

if, while the pointer is off the toolbar, an idle period exceeds a predetermined threshold duration, then hiding said toolbar.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

if the toolbar is hidden during an idle period, then redisplaying the toolbar in response to the end of the idle period.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the toolbar is a floating toolbar that does not have any boundary that is adjacent to any screen boundaries.

5. A machine-implemented method, comprising:

simultaneously displaying a first number of visual depictions on a screen,

wherein the visual depictions correspond to a first number of items within a bounded sequence of a second number of items;

wherein said second number is greater than said first number;

wherein each visual depiction corresponds to a separate file that contains data;

wherein each visual depiction is displayed unobstructed by other visual depictions;

in response to user input, scrolling through said bounded sequence of items;

wherein the step of scrolling includes

ceasing to display at least a portion of a first visual depiction;

displaying a previously undisplayed portion of a second visual depiction to fully display a visual depiction of a particular item;

displaying a visual indication that indicates whether the particular item is located at a particular position within the bounded sequence;

wherein the particular position includes one of the beginning of the bounded sequence and the end of the bounded sequence;

wherein said user input is first user input, and further comprising the steps of;

receiving second user input that assigns a rating value of a sequence of rating values to each image of a plurality of images and identifies a particular rating value;

automatically selecting a subset of said plurality of images, based at least in part on

the particular rating value,

the sequence of the rating values, and

the rating values assigned to each image of the plurality of images; and

displaying, within a particular graphical user interface object, only images that belong to said subset.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the graphical user interface object is a toolbar.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the toolbar shows less than all images in the subset, and has controls for scrolling through images in said subset.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said graphical user interface object is a window.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting a subset includes selecting all images that are associated with rating values having a particular relationship, in said sequence, to said particular rating value.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting all images that are associated with rating values having a particular relationship, in said sequence, to said particular rating value includes selecting all images that are associated with the particular rating value, and all images that are associated with any rating values that are higher than the particular rating value in the sequence of rating values.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting all images that are associated with rating values having a particular relationship, in said sequence, to said particular rating value includes selecting all images that are associated with the particular rating value, and all images that are associated with any rating values that are lower than the particular rating value in the sequence of rating values.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the graphical user interface object has a control for changing the rating of an image.

13. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

if the rating of a particular image is changed, then removing the particular image from the subset of images displayed on the particular graphical user interface object.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting the subset is performed in response to receiving user input to display said particular graphical user interface object.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of displaying includes, displaying, on said screen, images of said plurality of images that meet or exceed said particular rating value in response to receiving a request to display images of said plurality of images that meet or exceed said particular rating value.

16. A volatile or non-volatile medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

simultaneously displaying a first number of visual depictions on a screen,

wherein the visual depictions correspond to a first number of items within a bounded sequence of a second number of items;

wherein said second number is greater than said first number;

wherein each visual depiction corresponds to a separate file that contains data;

wherein each visual depiction is displayed unobstructed by other visual depictions;

in response to user input, scrolling through said bounded sequence of items;

wherein the step of scrolling includes

ceasing to display at least a portion of a first visual depiction;

displaying a previously undisplayed portion of a second visual depiction to fully display a visual depiction of a particular item;

displaying a visual indication that indicates whether the particular item is located at a particular position within the bounded sequence;

wherein the particular position includes one of the beginning of the bounded sequence and the end of the bounded sequence;

wherein displaying the visual indication includes;

if displaying the previously undisplayed portion fully displays a visual depiction of the particular item that corresponds to an item at an end of the bounded sequence of items, then displaying the visual depiction without modification; and

if displaying the previously undisplayed portion fully displays a visual depiction of the particular item that corresponds to an item not at an end or beginning of the bounded sequence of items, then displaying the visual depiction with a modification;

wherein the modification includes shading a portion of the visual depiction.

17. A volatile or non-volatile medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

simultaneously displaying a first number of visual depictions on a screen,

wherein the visual depictions correspond to a first number of items within a bounded sequence of a second number of items;

wherein said second number is greater than said first number;

wherein each visual depiction corresponds to a separate file that contains data;

wherein each visual depiction is displayed unobstructed by other visual depictions;

in response to user input, scrolling through said bounded sequence of items;

wherein the step of scrolling includes

ceasing to display at least a portion of a first visual depiction;

displaying a previously undisplayed portion of a second visual depiction to fully display a visual depiction of a particular item;

displaying a visual indication that indicates whether the particular item is located at a particular position within the bounded sequence,

wherein the particular position includes one of the beginning of the bounded sequence and the end of the bounded sequence;

displaying a toolbar on said screen, wherein said first number of visual depictions are displayed in said toolbar;

while a pointer is over the toolbar, continuing to display the toolbar;

when the pointer is moved off the toolbar, tracking idle periods, wherein each idle period is a period of time during which no input, of one or more types of said user input, is received;

if, while the pointer is off the toolbar, an idle period exceeds a predetermined threshold duration, then hiding said toolbar.

18. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

if the toolbar is hidden during an idle period, then redisplaying the toolbar in response to the end of the idle period.

19. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 17, wherein the toolbar is a floating toolbar that does not have any boundary that is adjacent to any screen boundaries.

20. A volatile or non-volatile medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

simultaneously displaying a first number of visual depictions on a screen,

wherein the visual depictions correspond to a first number of items within a bounded sequence of a second number of items;

wherein said second number is greater than said first number;

wherein each visual depiction corresponds to a separate file that contains data;

wherein each visual depiction is displayed unobstructed by other visual depictions;

in response to user input, scrolling through said bounded sequence of items;

wherein the step of scrolling includes

ceasing to display at least a portion of a first visual depiction;

displaying a previously undisplayed portion of a second visual depiction to fully display a visual depiction of a particular item;

displaying a visual indication that indicates whether the particular item is located at a particular position within the bounded sequence,

wherein the particular position includes one of the beginning of the bounded sequence and the end of the bounded sequence;

wherein said user input is first user input, and further comprising the steps of;

receiving second user input that assigns a rating value of a sequence of rating values to each image of a plurality of images and identifies a particular rating value;

automatically selecting a subset of said plurality of images, based at least in part on

the particular rating value,

the sequence of the rating values, and

the rating values assigned to each image of the plurality of images; and

displaying, within a particular graphical user interface object, only images that belong to said subset.

21. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface object is a toolbar.

22. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 21, wherein the toolbar shows less than all images in the subset, and has controls for scrolling through images in said subset.

23. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, wherein said graphical user interface object is a window.

24. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, wherein the step of selecting a subset includes selecting all images that are associated with rating values having a particular relationship, in said sequence, to said particular rating value.

25. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, wherein the step of selecting all images that are associated with rating values having a particular relationship, in said sequence, to said particular rating value includes selecting all images that are associated with the particular rating value, and all images that are associated with any rating values that are higher than the particular rating value in the sequence of rating values.

26. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, wherein the step of selecting all images that are associated with rating values having a particular relationship, in said sequence, to said particular rating value includes selecting all images that are associated with the particular rating value, and all images that are associated with any rating values that are lower than the particular rating value in the sequence of rating values.

27. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface object has a control for changing the rating of an image.

28. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, further comprising:

if the rating of a particular image is changed, then removing the particular image from the subset of images displayed on the particular graphical user interface object.

29. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, wherein the step of selecting the subset is performed in response to receiving user input to display said particular graphical user interface object.

30. The volatile or non-volatile medium of claim 20, wherein the step of displaying includes, displaying, on said screen, images of said plurality of images that meet or exceed said particular rating value in response to receiving a request to display images of said plurality of images that meet or exceed said particular rating value.