User interface to enable users to scroll through a large list of items

• US 9,507,505 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lambourne, Robert A., Holmgren, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Application Number:
  US14/178,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20140181661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

Techniques pertaining to efficient scrolling are disclosed. One of the features of the efficient scrolling is the enablement of a search right at an appropriate item in a large list of items, thus avoiding going through the long list and wandering back and forth around a desired item. According to one embodiment, an indexing display is used. The indexing display includes a list of indexes, each corresponding to a group of items that sharing one or more common characteristics (e.g., a character or a kind). The indexing display is allowed first to be scrolled for a desired index. Once the desired index is confirmed, searching for a desired item in the large list starts at an item indexed by the desired index.

Claims

1. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing device to perform a method comprising:

displaying, in a first display on a screen of the computing device, at least a portion of a list of items selectable for playback by a playback device separate from and controlled by the computing device;

activating a power scrolling mode;

in response to activating the power scrolling mode, displaying an indexing display that is superimposed over the first display, wherein the indexing display comprises a plurality of indexes, each index comprising one or more characters and corresponding to a subset of items in the list of items that share one or more common characteristics;

while the power scrolling mode is activated, (i) receiving a user selection of one index of the plurality of indexes displayed in the indexing display, and (ii) in response to receiving the user selection of the one index, displaying, in the first display, (a) at least a subset of the items in the one index and (b) at least one additional item in an adjacent index but not in the one index;

receiving a user selection of an item in the one index displayed in the first display; and

after receiving the user selection of the item in the one index displayed in the first display, causing the playback device to play the selected item.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a portable device.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying the indexing display comprises associating the first display with the indexing display such that a movement on the first display causes scrolling in the indexing display.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the indexing display is on one side of the list of items.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the power scrolling mode is activated via a soft key.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein each index comprises two or more characters.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the list of items is sorted and an item indexed by the one index is a first one or a last one of a group of items indexed by the one index.

8. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more common characteristics comprises at least one of an artist, an album, a composer, a genre, and a type.

9. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising;

displaying, in a first display on a screen of the computing device, a list of items selectable for playback by a playback device separate from and controlled by the computing device;

activating a power scrolling mode;

in response to activating the power scrolling mode on the computing device, displaying an indexing display that is superimposed over the first display, wherein the indexing display comprises a plurality of indexes, each index comprising one or more characters and corresponding to a subset of items in the list of items that share one or more common characteristics;

while the power scrolling mode is activated, (i) receiving a user selection of one index of the plurality of indexes displayed in the indexing display, and (ii) in response to receiving the user selection of the one index, displaying, in the first display, (a) at least a subset of the items in the one index and (b) at least one additional item in an adjacent index but not in the one index;

receiving a user selection of an item in the one index displayed in the first display; and

after receiving the user selection of the item in the one index displayed in the first display, causing the playback device to play the selected item.

10. The computing device as recited in claim 9, wherein the computing device comprises a portable device.

11. The computing device as recited in claim 9, wherein displaying the indexing display comprises associating the first display with the indexing display such that a movement on the first display causes scrolling in the indexing display.

12. The computing device as recited in claim 9, wherein the power scrolling mode is activated via a soft key.

13. The computing device as recited in claim 9, wherein each index comprises two or more characters.

14. The computing device as recited in claim 9, wherein the list of items is sorted and an item indexed by the one index is a first one or a last one of a group of items indexed by the one index.

15. The computing device as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more common characteristics comprises at least one of an artist, an album, a composer, a genre, and a type.

16. A method performed by a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying, in a first display on a screen of a the computing device, a list of items selectable for playback by a playback device separate from and controlled by the computing device;

activating a power scrolling mode;

in response to activating the power scrolling mode, displaying an indexing display that is superimposed over the first display, wherein the indexing display comprises a plurality of indexes, each index comprising one or more characters and corresponding to a subset of items in the list of items that share one or more common characteristics;

while the power scrolling mode is activated, (i) receiving a user selection of one index of the plurality of indexes displayed in the indexing display, and (ii) in response to receiving the user selection of the one index, displaying, in the first display, (a) at least a subset of the items in the one index and (b) at least one additional item in an adjacent index but not in the one index;

receiving a user selection of an item in the one index displayed in the first interface display; and

after receiving the user selection of the item in the one index displayed in the first display, causing the playback device to play the selected item.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein displaying the indexing display comprises associating the first display with the indexing display such that a movement on the first display causes scrolling in the indexing display.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the power scrolling mode is activated via a soft key.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein each index comprises two or more characters.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the list of items is sorted and an item indexed by the one index is a first one or a last one of a group of items indexed by the one index.