User interface to enable users to scroll through a large list of items
View Patent ↗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.
1. A method for scrolling a list of items on a display screen of a portable device with a user interface for scrolling by user touch, the method comprising:
showing on the display screen the list of items, the list of items representing a selection of items for playback at a playback device separate from and controlled by the portable device via a wireless interface;
displaying on the display screen an indexing display that comprises a plurality of grouped indexes, each of the grouped indexes corresponding to items in the list of items that share one or more common characteristics, wherein the indexing display is displayed in relation to the list of items;
facilitating a user scrolling on the user interface through the indexing display to select a desired grouped index; and
responsive to selecting the desired grouped index, displaying on the display screen an updated list of items based on the desired grouped index to show items in the list of items corresponding to the desired grouped index and at least one item corresponding to an unselected grouped index;
wherein displaying the updated list of items includes highlighting either a first item or a last item in the desired grouped index, wherein when the first item in the desired index is highlighted, then the at least one item corresponding to an unselected grouped index includes a last item in a preceding index, and, when the last item in the desired grouped index is highlighted, then the at least one item corresponding to an unselected grouped index includes a first item in a following grouped index, and wherein selection of an item is used by a portable device to configure the playback device to play the selected item.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising displaying the list of items in a display screen of the portable device, wherein an item is locatable when a user scrolls though the list one at a time but the user lands closer to the item by the desired grouped index.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the showing of the indexing display comprises associating the user interface with the indexing display such that a movement on the user interface causes scrolling in the indexing display.
4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the indexing display is on one side of the list.
5. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the indexing display is activated by a user.
6. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the indexing display is activated via a soft key.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the user interface and the predefined key are both disposed adjacent to the display screen.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein an item indexed by the desired grouped index is indexed by any one of the one or more indexes associated with the desired grouped index.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the list is sorted and an item indexed by the desired grouped index is a first one or a last one of a group of items indexed by the desired grouped index.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the group of items is indexed by an artist, an album, a composer, a genre, or a type.
11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the list is not sorted, and an item indexed by the desired grouped index is a first one in the list that is indexed by the desired grouped index.
12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein a next item scrolled on is not immediately following the item indexed by the desired grouped index.
13. A remote controller for scrolling a large list of items, the remote controller comprising:
a display screen;
a user interface to scroll by a user touch;
a screen driver configured to display the list on the display screen;
a memory for storing code;
a network interface for wirelessly controlling another device;
a processor executing the code to perform operations of:
displaying on the display screen an indexing display that includes a plurality of grouped indexes, each of the grouped indexes corresponding to items in the list of items that share one or more common characteristics, wherein the indexing display is displayed in relation to the list of items;
facilitating a user scrolling on the user interface through the indexing display to select a desired grouped index; and
responsive to selecting the desired grouped index, displaying on the display screen an updated list of items based on the desired grouped index to show items in the list of items corresponding to the desired grouped index and at least one item corresponding to an unselected grouped index,
wherein displaying the updated list of items includes highlighting either a first item or a last item in the desired grouped index, and wherein, when the first item in the desired grouped index is highlighted, then the at least one item corresponding to an unselected grouped index includes a last item in a preceding grouped index, and, when the last item in the desired grouped index is highlighted, then the at least one item corresponding to an unselected grouped index includes a first item in a following index, and wherein selection of an item is used by the remote controller to configure the playback device to play the selected item.
14. The remote controller as recited in claim 13 , wherein an item indexed by the desired grouped index is indexed by any one of the one or more indexes associated with the desired grouped index.
15. The remote controller as recited in claim 13 , wherein the list is sorted and an item indexed by the desired grouped index is a first one of a group of items indexed by the desired grouped index.
16. The remote controller as recited in claim 15 , wherein a next item scrolled on is immediately following the item indexed by the desired grouped index.
17. The remote controller as recited in claim 13 , wherein the list is not sorted, and an item indexed by the desired grouped index is a first one in the list that is indexed by the desired grouped index.
18. The remote controller as recited in claim 17 , wherein a next item scrolled on is not immediately following an item indexed by the desired grouped index.