Dynamic scrolling
A method, system, and computer program product provide the ability to structure an interactive and dynamic display of hierarchically organized media content. A library of the media content is acquired. The hierarchical structure of the content is graphically represented utilizing text corresponding to the hierarchical levels with a child level represented below and indented from a parent level. The content is graphically represented using (thumbnail) images that are left justified with respect to a highest hierarchical level, and directly below the text corresponding to the containing level. As scrolling of the media content is performed, the display is dynamically updated by sliding the images until all of the representative images have slid off, at which point, the text for the containing level slides under its own parent, leaving text corresponding to sibling levels of the containing level displayed.
1. A computer-implemented method for structuring an interactive and dynamic display of hierarchically organized media content, comprising:
acquiring a library of media content, wherein the media content is hierarchically organized in a hierarchical structure having multiple levels, wherein one or more of the multiple levels contain multiple media content items;
graphically representing the hierarchical structure utilizing text corresponding to the multiple levels of the hierarchical structure, wherein a child level is represented below and indented from a parent level of the child level;
graphically representing the multiple media content items in the multiple levels utilizing representative images for each of the multiple media content items, wherein the representative images are left justified with respect to a highest level of the multiple hierarchies, and are displayed directly below the text corresponding to the level containing the media content items, wherein such graphically representing thereby maximizes screen real estate for the multiple media content items; and
scrolling the multiple media content items, wherein as the scrolling is performed:
the graphical representing is dynamically updated;
the representative images slide in the level containing the multiple media content items until all of the representative images have slid off; and
once all of the representative images have slid off, the text corresponding to the containing level slides under its own parent, leaving text corresponding to sibling levels of the containing level displayed.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein once all of the representative images have slid off, text representing a hierarchy corresponding to the containing level is the only text displayed for the hierarchical structure.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising as the scrolling is performed:
dynamically expanding the graphical representation of the hierarchical structure and the multiple media content items by:
displaying the text corresponding to the multiple levels; and
displaying the representative images for each of the multiple media content items directly under the text corresponding to the level containing the media content items.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing visual feedback that one of the multiple levels of the hierarchical structure has been hidden; and
utilizing the visual feedback to reveal the one level that has been hidden.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the visual feedback comprises a chevron that rotates to indicate whether the one level is hidden or is already expanded.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:
the library of media content comprises an internal media library that is displayed in first area of a computer window;
the steps of claim 1 are repeated for a generic file system that is displayed in a second area of the computer window; and
the first area and the second area are adjacent and simultaneously displayed.
7. A system for structuring an interactive and dynamic display of hierarchically organized media content comprising:
(a) a computer having a memory;
(b) an application executing on the computer;
(c) a library of media content, stored in the memory, that is hierarchically organized in a hierarchical structure having multiple levels, wherein one or more of the multiple levels contain multiple media content items;
(d) a display coupled to the computer, wherein:
(1) the hierarchical structure is graphically represented on the display, via the application, utilizing text corresponding to the multiple levels of the hierarchical structure, wherein a child level is represented below and indented from a parent level of the child level;
(2) the multiple media content items in the multiple levels are graphically represented on the display, via the application, utilizing representative images for each of the multiple media content items, wherein the representative images are left justified with respect to a highest level of the multiple hierarchies, and are displayed directly below the text corresponding to the level containing the media content items, wherein such graphical representation thereby maximizes screen real estate for the multiple media content items; and
(e) a scrolling device coupled to the computer, wherein the scrolling device scrolls the multiple media content items, wherein as the scrolling is performed:
(1) the display is dynamically updated;
(2) the representative images slide in the level containing the multiple media content items until all of the representative images have slid off; and
(3) once all of the representative images have slid off, the text corresponding to the containing level slides under its own parent, leaving text corresponding to sibling levels of the containing level displayed.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein once all of the representative images have slid off, text representing a hierarchy corresponding to the containing level is the only text displayed for the hierarchical structure.
9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising as the scrolling is performed:
dynamically expanding the graphical representation of the hierarchical structure and the multiple media content items by:
displaying the text corresponding to the multiple levels; and
displaying the representative images for each of the multiple media content items directly under the text corresponding to the level containing the media content items.
10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
providing visual feedback that one of the multiple levels of the hierarchical structure has been hidden; and
utilizing the visual feedback to reveal the one level that has been hidden.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the visual feedback comprises a chevron that rotates to indicate whether the one level is hidden or is already expanded.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the library of media content comprises an internal media library that is displayed in first area of a computer window;
the steps of claim 1 are repeated for a generic file system that is displayed in a second area of the computer window; and
the first area and the second area are adjacent and simultaneously displayed.