Multimedia visual progress indication system
View Patent ↗A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period.
1. A method for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
displaying a cache bar, inside a first bar that begins at a first time, to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back, the cache bar beginning at a second time later than the first time; and
displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a position indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a current playback position within the program material; and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time reference of the position indicator.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a time of the current playback position with respect to current time.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the available amount of program material is a length of a recording session, and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time of the current playback position within a total time length of the recording session.
5. An apparatus for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
a module for displaying a cache bar, inside a first bar that begins at a first time, to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back, the cache bar beginning at a second time later than the first time; and
a module for displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
a module for displaying a position indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a current playback position within the program material; and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time reference of the position indicator.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a time of the current playback position with respect to current time.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the available amount of program material is a length of a recording session, and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time of the current playback position within a total time length of the recording session.
9. A non-transitory program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
displaying a cache bar, inside a first bar that begins at a first time, to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back, the cache bar beginning at a second time later than the first time; and
displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
10. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the method steps further comprise:
displaying a position indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a current playback position within the program material; and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time reference of the position indicator.
11. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a time of the current playback position with respect to current time.
12. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the available amount of program material is a length of a recording session, and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time of the current playback position within a total time length of the recording session.
13. A method for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
displaying a cache bar, inside a first bar that begins at a first time, to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back, the cache bar beginning at a second time later than the first time; and
displaying a numeric time indicator that moves in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
displaying a position indicator that moves in the vicinity of the cache bar and visually indicates to the user a current playback position within the program material;
wherein the numeric time indicator moves in conjunction with the position indicator, and
wherein the numeric time indicator indicates the numeric time reference of the position indicator.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a time of the current playback position with respect to current time.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the available amount of program material is a length of a recording session, and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time of the current playback position within a total time length of the recording session.
17. An apparatus for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
a module for displaying a cache bar, inside a first bar that begins at a first time, to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back, the cache bar beginning at a second time later than the first time; and
a module for displaying a numeric time indicator that moves in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising:
a module for displaying a position indicator that moves in the vicinity of the cache bar and visually indicates to the user a current playback position within the program material;
wherein the numeric time indicator moves in conjunction with the position indicator; and
wherein the numeric time indicator indicates the numeric time reference of the position indicator.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a time of the current playback position with respect to current time.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the available amount of program material is a length of a recording session, and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time of the current playback position within a total time length of the recording session.
21. A non-transitory program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
displaying a cache bar, inside a first bar that begins at a first time, to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back, the cache bar beginning at a second time later than the first time; and
displaying a numeric time indicator that moves in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
22. The medium of claim 21 , wherein the method steps further comprise:
displaying a position indicator that moves in the vicinity of the cache bar and visually indicates to the user a current playback position within the program material;
wherein the numeric time indicator moves in conjunction with the position indicator; and
wherein the numeric time indicator indicates the numeric time reference of the position indicator.
23. The medium of claim 21 , wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a time of the current playback position with respect to current time.
24. The medium of claim 21 , wherein the available amount of program material is a length of a recording session, and
wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates the numeric time of the current playback position within a total time length of the recording session.