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 visual indicator to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back; and
displaying a mode indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, the mode indicator visually indicating a mode the user has selected, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of: play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a position indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, wherein the position indicator visually indicates a current playback position within the program material;
wherein the position indicator moves in the vicinity of the visual indicator.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator and the mode indicator are displayed for a predetermined period of time.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
5. An apparatus for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
a module for displaying a visual indicator to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back; and
a module for displaying a mode indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, the mode indicator visually indicating a mode the user has selected, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of: play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
a module for displaying a position indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, the position indicator visually indicating a current playback position within the program material;
wherein the position indicator moves in the vicinity of the visual indicator.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the visual indicator and the mode indicator are displayed for a predetermined period of time.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a module for displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
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 visual indicator to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back; and
displaying a mode indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, the mode indicator visually indicating a mode the user has selected, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of: play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
10. The medium of claim 9 , further comprising:
displaying a position indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, the position indicator visually indicating a current playback position within the program material;
wherein the position indicator moves in the vicinity of the visual indicator.
11. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the visual indicator and the mode indicator are displayed for a predetermined period of time.
12. The medium of claim 9 , further comprising displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
13. A method for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
displaying a visual indicator to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
displaying a mode indicator that moves in a vicinity of the visual indicator, the mode indicator visually indicating a mode selected by the user, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of: play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
displaying a position indicator that moves in the vicinity of the visual indicator, the position indicator visually indicating to the user a current playback position within the program material.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the mode indicator moves in conjunction with the position indicator.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the visual indicator and the mode indication are displayed for a predetermined period of time.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
18. An apparatus for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
displaying a visual indicator to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
displaying a mode indicator that moves in a vicinity of the visual indicator, the mode indicator visually indicating a mode selected by the user, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of: play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
displaying a position indicator that moves in the vicinity of the visual indicator, the position indicator visually indicating to the user a current playback position within the program material.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the mode indicator moves in conjunction with the position indicator.
21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the visual indicator and the mode indication are displayed for a predetermined period of time.
22. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a module for displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.
23. 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 visual indicator to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
displaying a mode indicator that moves in a vicinity of the visual indicator, the mode indicator visually indicating a mode selected by the user, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of: play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
24. The medium of claim 23 , further comprising:
displaying a position indicator that moves in the vicinity of the visual indicator, the position indicator visually indicating to the user a current playback position within the program material.
25. The medium of claim 24 , wherein the mode indicator moves in conjunction with the position indicator.
26. The medium of claim 23 , wherein the visual indicator and the mode indicator are displayed for a predetermined period of time.
27. The medium of claim 23 , further comprising displaying a numeric time indicator in a vicinity of the visual indicator, wherein the numeric time indicator visually indicates a numeric time reference of a current playback position of the program material.