User interface for presenting media information
A user interface and methods for using a user interface for controlling processing of time-based media files. In one exemplary method, a graphical representation of a time line for a time-based media is displayed along with a graphical representation of a current time along the graphical representation of the time line. A start graphical indicator and a stop graphical indicator is also displayed along the graphical representation of the time line. A portion of the time-based media may be selected for presentation by dragging or positioning at least one of the start graphical indicator and the stop graphical indicator along the graphical representation of the time line. In another aspect of the invention, an exemplary method allows for the adaptive control of a portion of the interface which indicates time relating to a time-based media. An input speed is determined where this input is to change the portion and the rate at which the change to this portion occurs is dependent upon the input speed. Other aspects of the present invention relating to the interface for controlling the processing of time-based media files are also described.
1 . A method for selecting a presentation of a time-based media, said method comprising:
displaying a graphical representation of a time line for said time-based media;
displaying a graphical representation of a current time along said graphical representation of said time line;
displaying a start graphical indicator and a stop graphical indicator along said graphical representation of said time line;
dragging at least one of said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator along said graphical representation of said time line to select a portion of said time-based media for presentation.
2 . A method as in claim 1 further comprising:
presenting only said portion of said time-based media, and wherein said current time represents a current frame and wherein said current frame is updated in response to said dragging and said current frame is displayed in response to said dragging.
3 . A method as in claim 2 wherein said dragging comprises associating a cursor with said at least one of said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator and moving said cursor while said cursor is associated with said at least one of said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator.
4 . A method as in claim 3 wherein said graphical representation of said current time is capable of being dragged along said graphical representation of said time line and said current frame is updated in response to said graphical representation of said current time being dragged.
5 . A method as in claim 4 wherein said graphical representation of said time line comprises an overall start indicator which represents the beginning in time of the entire stream of said time-based media and comprises an overall end indicator which represents the end in time of said entire stream and wherein said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator may be dragged to positions along said graphical representation of said time line between said overall start indicator and said overall end indicator.
6 . A method as in claim 5 wherein said time-based media comprises a time sequential series of visual displays and said presenting displays a portion of said visual displays.
7 . A method as in claim 6 wherein said dragging comprises dragging both said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator in separate dragging operations.
8 . A method as in claim 3 further comprising:
displaying an indicator of a section of said time-based media and updating said indicator in response to said dragging.
9 . A method as in claim 8 wherein said section represents a chapter in said time-based media.
10 . A method as in claim 3 further comprising:
displaying a numerical representation of said current time and updating said numerical representation of said current time in response to said dragging.
11 . A method as in claim 10 further comprising:
displaying an indicator of a section of said time-based media and updating said indicator in response to said dragging; modifying a presentation of said graphical representation of said time line in response to said dragging.
12 . A machine readable medium having stored thereon executable program code which, when executed, causes a machine to perform a method for selecting a presentation of a time-based media, said method comprising:
displaying a graphical representation of a time line for said time-based media;
displaying a graphical representation of a current time along said graphical representation of said time line;
displaying a start graphical indicator and a stop graphical indicator along said graphical representation of said time line;
dragging at least one of said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator along said graphical representation of said time line to select a portion of said time-based media for presentation.
13 . A machine readable medium as in claim 12 , said method further comprising:
presenting only said portion of said time-based media, and wherein said current time represents a current frame and wherein said current frame is updated in response to said dragging and said current frame is displayed in response to said dragging.
14 . A machine readable medium as in claim 13 , wherein said dragging comprises associating a cursor with said at least one of said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator and moving said cursor while said cursor is associated with said at least one of said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator.
15 . A machine readable medium as in claim 14 , wherein said graphical representation of said current time is capable of being dragged along said graphical representation of said time line and said current frame is updated in response to said graphical representation of said current time being dragged.
16 . A machine readable medium as in claim 15 wherein said graphical representation of said time line comprises an overall start indicator which represents the beginning in time of the entire stream of said time-based media and comprises an overall end indicator which represents the end in time of said entire stream and wherein said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator may be dragged to positions along said graphical representation of said time line between said overall start indicator and said overall end indicator.
17 . A machine readable medium as in claim 16 wherein said time-based media comprises a time sequential series of visual displays and said presenting displays a portion of said visual displays.
18 . A machine readable medium as in claim 17 wherein said dragging comprises dragging both said start graphical indicator and said stop graphical indicator in separate dragging operations.
19 . A machine readable medium as in claim 14 , said method further comprising:
displaying an indicator of a section of said time-based media and updating said indicator in response to said dragging.
20 . A machine readable medium as in claim 19 wherein said section represents a chapter in said time-based media.