Image preview

• US 9,678,926 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ragan, Gene Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Angkool, David Phantana
• Application Number:
  US14/666,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20150193384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 715856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/156 Query results presentation
• 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 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of a file by interfacing with a graphical interface relating to the file. A request for viewing a file content is received. A window for viewing a graphical representation of at least a portion of the content of a file is provided.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a computer with a display;

displaying, on the display, an icon that represents a file that contains content;

detecting a first input that corresponds to the icon that represents the file that contains content;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a preview that graphically illustrates at least a portion of the content of the file;

while displaying the preview, detecting a second input that corresponds to the preview, and,

in response to detecting the second input;

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to display the content in an application associated with the file, opening the application associated with the file; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to manipulate the preview, manipulating the preview in accordance with the second input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second input is detected on the preview.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to detecting the first input, the preview is displayed without opening the application associated with the file.

4. The method of claim 1, including:

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request close the preview, ceasing to display the preview.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input includes a cursor contacting or rolling over the icon.

6. The method of claim 1, including:

ceasing to display the preview in response to detecting activation of a key or a space bar on a keyboard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the preview is generated by a preview process that is separate from the application associated with the file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the preview is generated without launching the application associated with the content.

9. A computer, comprising:

a display; and

a computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by the computer, performs a method, comprising;

displaying, on the display, an icon that represents a file that contains content;

detecting a first input that corresponds to the icon that represents the file that contains content;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a preview that graphically illustrates at least a portion of the content of the file;

while displaying the preview, detecting a second input that corresponds to the preview, and,

in response to detecting the second input;

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to display the content in an application associated with the file, opening the application associated with the file; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to manipulate the preview, manipulating the preview in accordance with the second input.

11. The computer of claim 9, wherein the second input is detected on the preview.

12. The computer of claim 9, wherein, in response to detecting the first input, the preview is displayed without opening the application associated with the file.

13. The computer of claim 9, wherein the method includes:

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request close the preview, ceasing to display the preview.

14. The computer of claim 9, wherein the first input includes a cursor contacting or rolling over the icon.

15. The computer of claim 9, wherein the method includes:

ceasing to display the preview in response to detecting activation of a key or a space bar on a keyboard.

16. The computer of claim 9, wherein the preview is generated by a preview process that is separate from the application associated with the file.

17. The computer of claim 9, wherein the preview is generated without launching the application associated with the content.

10. A non-transitory computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer with a display, performs a method, comprising:

displaying, on the display, an icon that represents a file that contains content;

detecting a first input that corresponds to the icon that represents the file that contains content;

in response to detecting the first input, displaying a preview that graphically illustrates at least a portion of the content of the file;

while displaying the preview, detecting a second input that corresponds to the preview, and,

in response to detecting the second input;

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to display the content in an application associated with the file, opening the application associated with the file; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request to manipulate the preview, manipulating the preview in accordance with the second input.

18. The computer readable program storage device of claim 10, wherein the second input is detected on the preview.

19. The computer readable program storage device of claim 10, wherein, in response to detecting the first input, the preview is displayed without opening the application associated with the file.

20. The computer readable program storage device of claim 10, wherein the method includes:

in accordance with a determination that the second input corresponds to a request close the preview, ceasing to display the preview.

21. The computer readable program storage device of claim 10, wherein the first input includes a cursor contacting or rolling over the icon.

22. The computer readable program storage device of claim 10, wherein the method includes:

ceasing to display the preview in response to detecting activation of a key or a space bar on a keyboard.

23. The computer readable program storage device of claim 10, wherein the preview is generated by a preview process that is separate from the application associated with the file.

24. The computer readable program storage device of claim 10, wherein the preview is generated without launching the application associated with the content.