User interface with menu abstractions and content abstractions

• US 7,930,650 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pacurariu, Mihnea Calin, Robbin, Jeff, Madden, Thomas Michael, Ma, Jeffrey, Brodersen, Rainer, Goldeen, Rachel Clare, Seymour, Eric Taylor
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow; Dennis-Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tillery; Rashawn
• Application Number:
  US11/530,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 715/802, 715/810, 715/838, 715/841, 715/859, 715/860, 715/861, 715/864, 715/821, 715/836, 715/767, 345/640
• US Class Current: 715/838
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

Media menu items are generated within a media interface environment. Media menu item abstractions are generated, one of the media menu item abstractions arranged in a foreground position, and one or more of the media menu item abstractions arranged in background positions in the media interface environment. Selection of a media menu items transitions to a corresponding content menu interface.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a media menu interface comprising a plurality of media menu items;

defining a plurality of media menu item positions in the media menu interface for the plurality of media menu items, each of the media menu item positions arranged along a one- dimensional path;

highlighting with a highlight indicator a media menu item for selection;

generating in the media menu interface a plurality of media menu item abstractions corresponding to the media menu items;

defining a foreground position and a plurality of background positions in the media menu interface, each of the foreground position and background positions arranged along a multidimensional path separate from the one-dimensional path and being a position to which the media menu item abstractions transition according to the highlighted media menu item, and wherein the media menu item abstractions are displayed in the positions along the multidimensional path concurrently with the media menu items being displayed in the media menu item positions along the one-dimensional path;

transitioning the media menu item abstractions into each of the background positions and the foreground position so that a media menu item abstraction corresponding to a-the highlighted media menu item transitions into the foreground position and after the transition is displayed in the foreground position, and media menu item abstractions corresponding to media menu items that are not highlighted transition into the background positions and after the transition are displayed in the background positions, wherein a media menu item abstraction is displayed in each of the foreground position and background positions after each transition, and a relative proximity of a media menu item to its corresponding media menu item abstraction changes in relation to a position of the highlight indicator relative to the menu item;

receiving a selection of a highlighted media menu item; and

transitioning a media menu item abstraction corresponding to the selected media menu item from the foreground position to a title position along the one-dimensional path, wherein after the media menu item abstraction has been transitioned into the title position the media menu item abstraction is displayed only in the title position and the media menu item abstractions corresponding to the media menu items that are not selected are not displayed;

wherein transitioning a media menu item abstraction corresponding to the selected home menu item from the foreground position to a title position comprises;

transitioning the media menu abstraction from the foreground position to the title position along a path defining a beginning at the foreground position and a terminus at the title position; and

reducing a size of the media menu abstraction as the media menu abstraction transitions from the foreground position to the title position.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

blurring one or more of the media menu item abstractions in the background positions.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a content menu in proximity to the title position, the content menu comprising content menu items based on the selected media menu item, and wherein each of the content menu items are displayed in the media menu item positions arranged along the one-dimensional path; and

concurrently displaying content abstractions with the content menu, the content abstractions displayed along another multidimensional path adjacent to the content menu items and corresponding to at least one of the content menu items.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein concurrently displaying content abstractions with the content menu comprises:

generating content abstractions;

defining the another multidimensional path having an ingress terminus and an egress terminus;

emerging the content abstractions into the another multidimensional path at the ingress terminus;

eliminating the content abstractions from the another multidimensional path at the egress terminus; and

generating depth transitions of the content abstractions through the another multidimensional path from the ingress terminus to the egress terminus.

5. The method of claim 3, comprising:

generating a sales content menu item associated with content offered for sale.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

generating a list of content offered for sale in response to a selection of the sales content menu item.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

generating a list of content offered for sale based on content sales metrics.

8. The method of claim 3, comprising:

generating a preview content menu item associated with content.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

generating a list of content previews available for preview in response to a selection of the preview content menu item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the media menu item abstractions comprise one or more of a movie icon, a music icon, a video icon, and a broadcast icon.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the content abstractions comprises one of more of a movie still image, a cover art image, a video clip, or a program image.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected media menu item is associated with the movie icon, the method comprising:

generating a movie content menu in proximity to the title position, the movie content menu comprising a movie sale menu item, a preview menu item, and one or more library menu items; and

generating movie abstractions corresponding to one or more of the movie sale menu item, the preview menu item, or one or more library menu item.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

receiving a selection of the movie sale menu item;

generating a movie offer menu in proximity to the title position, the movie offer menu comprising movie offer menu items;

generating movie abstractions corresponding to the movie offer menu items; and

generating depth transitions of the movie abstractions through another multidimensional path.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising:

receiving a selection of the preview menu item;

generating a preview menu in proximity to the title position, the preview menu comprising video previews;

generating movie abstractions corresponding to the preview menu items; and

generating depth transitions of the movie abstractions through another multidimensional path.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising:

receiving a selection of the library menu items; and

presenting a movie associated with the selected library menu item.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected media menu item is associated with the music icon, the method comprising:

generating a music content menu in proximity to the title position, the music content menu comprising a music sale menu item, a shuffle menu item, and one or more category menu items; and

generating music abstractions corresponding to one or more of the music sale menu item, the shuffle menu item, or one or more library menu item.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

receiving a selection of the music sale menu item;

generating a music offer menu in proximity to the title position, the music offer menu comprising music offer menu items;

generating music abstractions corresponding to the music offer menu items; and

generating depth transitions of the music abstractions through another multidimensional path.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the one or more library menu items comprise one or more of a music video category, a playlist category, and a songs category.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected media menu item is associated with the broadcast icon, the method comprising:

generating a broadcast content menu in proximity to the title position, the broadcast content menu comprising broadcast library menu items;

generating a program sort menu item;

generating a date sort menu item; and

generating one or more library menu items.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising:

receiving a selection of the date menu item; and

sorting the library menu items according to an acquisition date.

21. The method of claim 19, comprising:

receiving a selection of the date menu item; and

sorting the library menu items according to an episode order.

22. The method of claim 19, comprising:

receiving a selection of the program menu item; and

sorting the library menu items according to program titles.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning a media menu item abstraction corresponding to the selected media menu item from the foreground position to a title position along the one-dimensional path further comprises transitioning the media menu item abstractions corresponding to the media menu items that are not selected out of the media menu interface along the multidimensional path so that the media menu items that are not selected are not displayed.

23. A computer readable medium storing instructions that are executable by a processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating a home interface environment;

generating a home menu within the home interface environment, the home menu comprising a plurality of home menu items;

defining a plurality of home menu item positions for the plurality of home menu items, each of the home menu item positions arranged along a one-dimensional path;

providing a highlight indicator to highlight one of the home menu items for selection;

generating in the home interface environment a plurality of home menu item abstractions corresponding to the home menu items;

defining a foreground position and a plurality of background positions in the home interface environment, each of the foreground position and background positions being a position to which the home menu item abstractions transition according to the highlighted home menu item, wherein the foreground position and the background positions are arranged along a multidimensional path separate from the one-dimensional path, the multidimensional path extending from a terminus, and wherein the home menu item abstractions are displayed in the positions along the multidimensional path concurrently with the home menu items being displayed in the media menu item positions along the one-dimensional path;

transitioning the home menu item abstractions into each of the foreground position and the background positions along the multidimensional path so that a home menu item abstraction corresponding to a highlighted home menu item transitions into the foreground position and is displayed in the foreground position after the transition, and each home menu item abstraction corresponding to a home menu item that is not highlighted transitions into a background position and is displayed in that background position after the transition, wherein a home menu item abstraction is displayed in each of the foreground position and background positions after each transition and a relative proximity of a home menu item to its corresponding home menu item abstraction changes in relation to a position of the highlight indicator relative to the home menu item;

receiving a selection of a home menu item; and

transitioning a home menu item abstraction corresponding to the selected home menu item from the foreground position to a title position along the one-dimensional path, wherein after the home menu item abstraction has been transitioned into the title position the home menu item abstraction is displayed only in the title position and the home menu item abstractions corresponding to the home menu items that are not selected are not displayed;

wherein transitioning a home menu item abstraction corresponding to the selected home menu item from the foreground position to a title position along the one-dimensional path comprises;

transitioning the home menu item abstraction from the foreground position to the title position along a path defining a beginning at the foreground position and a terminus at the title position; and

reducing a size of the media menu abstraction as the media menu abstraction transitions from the foreground position to the title position.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

blurring the home menu item abstractions in the background positions.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 23, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

changing the highlight indicator from the highlighted home menu item to another home menu item;

transitioning a home menu item abstraction corresponding to the another home menu item from a background position to the foreground position when the home menu item abstractions transition into the foreground position and the background positions in a first direction; and

emerging a home menu item abstraction corresponding to the another home menu item into the foreground position when the home menu item abstractions transition into the foreground position and the background positions along the multidimensional path in a second direction.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein:

the home menu item abstractions comprise media icons.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 23, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating a content menu in proximity to the title position, the content menu comprising content menu items based on the selected home menu item, and wherein each of the content menu items are displayed in the home menu item positions arranged along the one-dimensional path; and

concurrently displaying content abstractions with the content menu, the content abstractions displayed adjacent to the content menu items and corresponding to at least one of the content menu items.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein concurrently displaying content abstractions with the content menu comprises:

generating content abstractions related to a highlighted content menu item;

defining the another multidimensional path having an ingress terminus and an egress terminus;

emerging the content abstractions into the another multidimensional path at the ingress terminus;

eliminating the content abstractions from the another multidimensional path at the egress terminus; and

generating depth transitions of the content abstractions through the another multidimensional path from the ingress terminus to the egress terminus.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating overlapping depth transitions of the content abstractions through the another multidimensional path from the ingress terminus to the egress terminus.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein:

the media icons comprise one or more of a movie content icon, a music content icon, a video content icon, and a broadcast content icon.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein:

the content abstractions comprises one of more of a movie still image, a cover art image, a video clip, or a program image.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 27, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generating a sales content menu item associated with content offered for sale.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32, storing further instructions that are executable by the processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

generate a list of content offered for sale in response to a selection of the sales content menu item.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein:

the list of content offered for sale is based on content sales metrics.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein transitioning a home menu item abstraction corresponding to the selected home menu item from the foreground position to a title position along the one-dimensional path further comprises transitioning the home menu item abstractions corresponding to the home menu items that are not selected out of the home interface environment along the multidimensional path so that the home menu items that are not selected are not displayed.