Media player interface
A computer readable medium contains media player application code which implements the procedures of generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame, displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files, displaying in a second one of said first selected information for said media files, and displaying in a third one of said panes second selected information for said media files.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to graphic user interfaces for computer application programs, and more particulary to a graphic user interface for a medial player on a personal computer or similar user device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Graphical users interfaces for media players are well known. Such interfaces typically provide a computer generated image that simulates a control panel of a hardware media player. In addition, the computer generated image may also include information not generally accessible in a hardware player. For example, the computer generated image may include an index of media files whose content is capable of being read by the media player. The index is generated by the media player usually by reading the entries of one or more directories of an operating system file system within a user computer. The media player may search all such directories such that only file types having an extension readable by the media player are displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the present invention, a computer readable medium contains media player application code which implements the procedures of generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame, displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files, displaying in a second one of said first selected information for said media files, and displaying in a third one of said panes second selected information for said media files.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a user selectable browse button may be displayed in the frame such that the user may toggle the window between displaying all of the panes, and only the pane containing the index of the media files. In another embodiment, a fourth pane displays an index of all the sources for the media files. A feature of this embodiment is that a single user selectable button displayed with the frame may change states in accordance with the particular source of media files selected. In still another embodiment, the frame may contain a user accessible search box. As the user enters each character into the search box, the content of each of the panes is automatically updated to reflect only those entries of the index which match the search character string. In yet another embodiment, a user selectable button allows the window to toggle between display of the panes and a visual effect to accompany the presentation of the content of the media files.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following Description of the Exemplary Preferred Embodiments when read in conjunction with the attached Drawing and appended Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Referring now to
As best seen in
In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a browse button 40a, selectable through the user interface, may be displayed. Selecting the browse button 40a toggles the window 10 between all of the panes 16 being displayed and only a selected one of the panes 16 being displayed. For example, the selected one of the panes 16 may be the first one 26 of the panes 16. As best seen in
As best seen in
In another embodiment of the present invention, the index 24 may further include a plurality of check boxes 46 also selectable through the user interface. As best seen in
In addition to the hereinabove described panes 16, a fourth one 50 of the panes 16 may contain information relating to a plurality of selectable sources 52 for the media files. For example, a first one 54 of the sources 52 may be a library source of all or selected ones of the media files stored in the disk 22 of the computer 20. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, when the library source is selected the first one 26, the second one 30 and the third one 34 of the panes 16 are displayed.
A second one 56 of the sources 52 may include a radio tuner. As best seen in
As also seen in
In another embodiment of the present invention, a third one 72 of the sources 52 may include a user definable playlist. Selected ones of the media files may be added to the playlist by dragging and dropping through the user interface from the index 24 of the media files to an icon 74 for the playlist in the fourth one 50 of the panes 16, as is known in the art. As best seen in
Similarly as described hereinabove, the index 76 of the selected playlist may also include columnar categories 80a-e for each of the media files contained in the playlist. Each of the categories 80a-e may also be sortable. Accordingly, a plurality of heading buttons 82a-e for each respective one of the categories 80a-e for the index 76 of the selected playlist are selectable through the user interface to sort this index 76.
As best seen in
In another embodiment of the present invention, a user selectable button 84 in a selected portion of the frame may also be displayed. Selecting of the button 84 through the user interface causes a new user definable playlist to be added to the sources 52.
As best seen in
Referring now to
In further reference to the flow chart 90 of
The flow process of
With reference to
There has been described hereinabove exemplary preferred embodiments of a graphic user interface for a media player. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of, and departures from, the hereinabove described exemplary preferred embodiments without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the present invention is to be described solely by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1-66. (Canceled).
67. A user interface for a media player application comprising:
- an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles that define:
- a first pane that displays a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
- a second pane that displays first selected information for said media files; and
- a third pane that displays second selected information for said media files.
68. A user interface as set forth in claim 67 wherein said first selected information includes an index of a plurality of artists associated with said media files.
69. A user interface as set forth in claim 67 wherein said second selected information includes an index of a plurality of albums associated with said media files.
70. A user interface as set forth in claim 67 further comprising a browse button in said frame which toggles said window between all of said panes being displayed and only a selected one of said panes being displayed.
71. A user interface as set forth in claims 70 wherein said selected one of said panes is said first one of said panes.
72. A user interface as set forth in claim 67 further comprising a fourth pane that displays information relating to a plurality of selectable sources for said media files, one of said sources being a library source which when selected causes said first, second and said third ones of said panes to be displayed.
73. A user interface as set forth in claim 72 wherein a second source includes a radio tuner.
74. A user interface as set forth in claim 73 further comprising a fifth pane that displays an index of genre of said media files when said radio tuner source has been selected, said fifth pane being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third panes.
75. A user interface as set forth in claim 73 further comprising a user selectable refresh button in said frame that connects said media player application to the Internet to obtain refreshed information for said media files.
76. A user interface as set forth in claim 67 further including a plurality of user selectable control buttons disposed in a selected portion of said frame, said control buttons controlling execution of said media player reproducing content from said media files in said index.
77. A user interface for a media player application, comprising:
- an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles that define:
- a first pane that displays a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
- a second pane that displays selected information for said media files;
- a third pane that displays second selected information for said media files; and
- a fourth pane that displays information relating to a plurality of user selectable sources for said media files, wherein a first one of said sources is a library source and a second one of said sources is a user definable playlist, said library source when selected causing said first, second and said third ones of said panes to be displayed.
78. A user interface as set forth in claim 77 further comprising a fifth pane that displays an index of media files contained in said playlist when said playlist has been selected, said fifth pane being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third panes.
79. A user interface as set forth in claim 77 wherein a third one of said sources is a radio tuner.
80. A user interface as set forth in claim 79 further comprising a fifth pane that displays an index of genre of said media files when said radio source has been selected, said fifth pane being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third panes.
81. A user interface as set forth in claim 79 further comprising a user selectable refresh button that is displayed in said frame when said radio tuner has been selected, which selectively connects said media player application to the Internet to obtain refreshed information for said media files.
82. A user interface as set forth in claim 81 wherein said refresh button changes state to a browse button when said library source is selected.
83. A user interface as set forth in claim 82 wherein said browse button toggles said window between all of said panes being displayed and only said first one and said fourth one of said panes being displayed.
84. A user interface as set forth in claim 81 wherein said refresh button changes state to a burn CD button when said playlist is selected, that selectively initiates a further procedure allowing media files indicated in said selected playlist to be recorded onto a compact disk.
85. A user interface for media player application, comprising:
- an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles that define a plurality of panes including:
- a first pane that displays a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
- a second pane that displays first selected information for said media files; and
- a third pane that displays second selected information for said media files;
- said frame including a user selectable button that causes a visual effect to be displayed in said window in lieu of said panes.
86. A user interface as set forth in claim 85 wherein said visual effect is responsive to at least one parameter of one of said media files while used by said media player.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 8, 2002
Publication Date: Apr 7, 2005
Inventor: Jeff Robbin (Los Altos, CA)
Application Number: 10/497,076