USOO7681141B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`T
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,681,141 B2
`Mar. 16, 2010
`
`(54) FASTSCROLLING IN A GRAPHICAL USER
`INTERFACE
`
`(75) Inventor: Edgar A. Tu, Castro Valley, CA (US)
`(73) Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment
`America Inc., Foster City, CA (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 795 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/874,863
`(22) Filed:
`Jun. 22, 2004
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2005/O2571 66A1
`Nov. 17, 2005
`O
`O
`Related U.S. Application Dat
`e
`pplication Uata
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/570,266, filed on May
`11, 2004.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 3/048
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 715,784. 715/786,715/763.
`715/835; 715/853; 72.5/52; 72.5/59
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`725/52
`725/59: 71.5/784 853.763.719. 786 78
`See application file for com lete search histo
`s
`p
`ry.
`pp
`References Cited
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`
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner Ba Huynh
`Assistant Examiner Eric Wiener
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Frommer Lawrence & Haug
`LLP; William S. Frommer; Paul A. Levy
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method of scrolling in a graphical user interface includes:
`receiving a command to scroll a plurality of contents icons
`displayed in the graphical user interface; and retrieving an
`appropriate number of additional contents icons from a con
`tents icon database to provide a scrolled display in the graphi
`cal user interface, wherein the contents icon database is
`divided into a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of
`entries including at least data for a contents icon of the plu
`rality of contents icons and a link to a contents file, each entry
`of the database is configured to be fixed in size so that the data
`for the contents icon can be quickly accessed, and the con
`tents icon can be scrolled in the graphical user interface at a
`relatively high speed.
`
`56 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
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`108
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`110
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`Roku EX1011
`U.S. Patent No. 10,334,311
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`US 7,681,141 B2
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`ck
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`* cited by examiner
`
`
`
`p.
`wo
`wo
`wo
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2002-543487
`12/2002
`WOOOf 65429
`11, 2000
`WOO3,OO318O
`1, 2003
`WOO3/021916
`3, 2003
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`4 - W
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`-
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`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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`20021018112605/http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/
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`

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`Sheet 8 of 8
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`CONFIGURE A CONTENTS CON DATABASE DIVIDED
`INTO A PLURALITY OF ENTRIES, WHEREINEACH
`ENTRY INCLUDES DATA FOR AT LEAST A CONTENTS
`ICON AND A LINK TO A CONTENTS FILE
`
`CONFIGURE EACHENTRY OF THE DATABASE TO BE
`FIXED IN SIZE
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`JUMP THROUGH THE DATABASE IN MULTIPLES OF
`THE FIXED SIZE TO ACCESS THE CONTENTS ICONS
`
`CONFIGURE THE DATABASE USNGA CACHE
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`ENABLE SCROLLING OF THE CONTENTS CONS BY
`UPDATING THE CONS ON THE MENUSCREEN WITH
`THE NEWLY-ACCESSED CONTENTS ICONS
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`US 7,681,141 B2
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`1.
`FAST SCROLLING IN A GRAPHICAL USER
`INTERFACE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims the benefit of priority of co-pend
`ing U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/570,266,
`entitled “Fast Scrolling in A Graphical User Interface', filed
`May 11, 2004. Benefit of priority of the filing date of May 11,
`2004 is hereby claimed, and the disclosure of the Provisional
`Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Graphical user interfaces simplify end user interaction
`with computer programs and are designed Such that knowl
`edge of specific commands and/or combinations of key
`strokes is not required to efficiently and effectively use the
`computer program. Thus, a function can be carried out by the
`computer application, which owns the graphical user inter
`face (GUI), by selecting or clicking with a mouse, a particular
`selection available in a GUI.
`Graphical user interfaces often attempt to provide as much
`information as possible to a user. However, space is limited by
`the size of a display device that a user utilizes, such as a
`monitor, and/or by the size of an element within the GUI in
`which information is displayed to the user. Accordingly, tech
`niques have been developed to convey to the end user that
`additional information logically exists beyond the edges of a
`window or other elements of the GUI being displayed at any
`given time. The techniques include a GUI action referred to as
`“scrolling in which the displayed information is scrolled to
`show additional information previously not displayed. In
`computer terms, scrolling is the ability to move the element,
`displayed within the GUI, left and right or up and down on the
`display in order to view the element that cannot be included
`within a single display image.
`In a typical window-based GUI System, a group of visually
`distinct display objects are provided on the display screen,
`and are commonly referred to as "icons'. Each of the icons
`represents a function or object, and may be configured as a
`pointer or symbol connecting the function or object to a file or
`contents. Presenting the file or contents to a user with a
`computer using multiple windows on a display device with a
`GUI is known in the art. The technique of using a pointing
`device. Such as a mouse or a trackball to select data within the
`file before a function is applied to the data is also known in the
`art. Further, the method of using the pointing device to pro
`vide graphical input to the window is also well known.
`However, as discussed above, these techniques present
`various difficulties including the fact that the information
`contained in the file is greater than what can be displayed in
`the window at one time. Similarly, the user may want to
`provide graphical input that exceeds the window size. Thus,
`some method must be employed to allow the user to use the
`pointing device to selector input information that exceeds the
`window boundaries.
`One possible solution is to enlarge the window. However,
`this is useful only when the amount of data is less than the
`available window size. Another solution is to provide a visual
`device known as a scroll bar, which permits the user to navi
`gate beyond the edges of the window boundaries.
`These prior art solutions, however, are often limited and
`may not fully utilize the capabilities of the GUI system. For
`example, in situations where a sequence of images is to be
`
`2
`scrolled, the GUI System may be incapable of processing the
`images fast enough to scroll and visually smoothly display all
`the images.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The present invention provides method and apparatus for
`enabling high speed scrolling in a graphical user interface. In
`one implementation, a method of Scrolling in a graphical user
`interface includes: receiving a command to scroll a plurality
`of contents icons displayed in the graphical user interface;
`and retrieving an appropriate number of additional contents
`icons from a contents icon database to provide a scrolled
`display in the graphical user interface, wherein the contents
`icon database is divided into a plurality of entries, each entry
`of the plurality of entries including at least data for a contents
`icon of the plurality of contents icons and a link to a contents
`file, each entry of the database is configured to be fixed in size
`so that the data for the contents icon can be quickly accessed,
`and the contents icon can be scrolled in the graphical user
`interface at a relatively high speed.
`In another implementation, a contents icon database
`includes: a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of
`entries including at least data for a contents icon and a link to
`a contents file, wherein each entry is fixed in size such that the
`data for the contents icon can be quickly accessed to allow the
`contents icon to be scrolled in a graphical user interface at a
`relatively high speed.
`In another implementation, a graphical user interface
`accessible to a user Suitable for receiving user-supplied inputs
`that facilitate selecting a multimedia icon stored therein,
`includes: a medium icon array arranged in a first direction,
`and including a plurality of user selectable medium icons; and
`a contents icon array arranged in a second direction, and
`including a plurality of user selectable contents icons,
`wherein the plurality of user selectable contents icons is
`accessed from a database divided into a plurality of entries,
`each entry configured to be fixed in size and including at least
`data for each contents icon of the plurality of user selectable
`contents icons, such that the contents icons can be quickly
`accessed and Scrolled in the graphical user interface at a
`relatively high speed.
`In another implementation, a computer program, stored in
`a tangible storage medium, for use in identifying a source of
`media, the program comprising executable instructions that
`cause a computer to: receive a command to scroll a plurality
`of contents icons displayed in the graphical user interface;
`and
`retrieve an appropriate number of additional contents icons
`from a contents icon database to provide a scrolled dis
`play in the graphical user interface,
`wherein the contents icon database is divided into a plural
`ity of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries includ
`ing at least data for a contents icon of the plurality of
`contents icons and a link to a contents file, each entry of
`the database is configured to be fixed in size so that the
`data for the contents icon can be quickly accessed, and
`the contents icon can be scrolled in the graphical user
`interface at a relatively high speed.
`In another implementation, a multimedia processing appa
`ratus includes: a memory configured as a contents icon data
`base, including a plurality of entries including data for a
`plurality of contents icons and links to multimedia contents,
`wherein each entry of said plurality of entries is fixed in size
`Such that the plurality of contents icons can be quickly
`accessed to allow the contents icons to be scrolled in a graphi
`cal user interface at a relatively high speed; and a processor
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`configured to load the plurality of contents icons to allow a
`user to Scroll and select a particular contents icon from the
`plurality of contents icons.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows one implementation of a multimedia process
`ing system including a composite apparatus capable of pro
`cessing a plurality of contents.
`FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing one imple
`mentation of the multimedia processing apparatus.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a display of a menu screen generated by
`the multimedia processing apparatus.
`FIG. 4 shows the menu screen superimposed on top of the
`currently playing video associated with the selected video
`icon.
`FIG. 5 shows one configuration of the menu screen when
`contents icons in a contents icon array are scrolled up from the
`configuration of FIG. 3.
`FIG. 6 illustrates one implementation of a viewing mode of
`a currently playing video.
`FIG. 7 illustrates one implementation of a multimedia con
`tents icon database.
`FIG. 8 is a method for enabling fast scrolling in a GUI
`illustrated as a flowchart.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`ous instructions related to multimedia processing, and to
`control functions of the multimedia processing apparatus
`102.
`FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing one imple
`mentation of the multimedia processing apparatus 102. In the
`illustrated implementation, the multimedia processing appa
`ratus 102 includes the controller 114, a data input/output (I/O)
`unit 200, a display output unit 202, a display control unit 204,
`a storage unit 208, and a game processor 206. The multimedia
`processing apparatus 102 further includes programs and
`instructions for performing various functions, such as a data
`input function, a data retaining function, an image processing
`function, a rendering function, and other related functions.
`The controller 114 includes a direction-determining unit
`222 for determining one or a combination of four directions
`(i.e., an upward direction, a downward direction, a left direc
`tion, and a right direction) from the user input; and an instruc
`tion-determining unit 224 for determining an instruction from
`the user input. The instruction may include a command to
`presenta multimedia content, to terminate the presentation, to
`invoke a menu screen, and to issue other related commands
`and/or instructions. Output of the controller 114 is directed to
`the display output unit 202, the display control unit 204, and
`the game processor 206.
`In the illustrated implementations of FIGS. 1 and 2, the
`direction-determining unit 222 and the instruction-determin
`ing unit 224 are configured with a combination of buttons,
`circuits, and programs to actuate, sense, and determine the
`direction and the instruction. The buttons can include cross
`shaped keys or joysticks. The button associated with an
`instruction for invoking a menu screen can be set in a toggle
`manner so that the menu screen can be toggled between a
`display mode and a non-display mode each time the button is
`pressed.
`In one implementation, the direction-determining unit 222
`may determine the diagonal movements of the button as a
`binary command in which the movement is ascertained to be
`in one of two directions. Thus, a diagonal movement between
`the up direction and the right direction can be ascertained to
`be in either the up or the right direction. In another imple
`mentation, the direction-determining unit 222 may determine
`the diagonal movements of the button as an analog command
`in which the movement is ascertained to be in a particular
`direction up to the accuracy of the measurement. Thus, a
`diagonal movement between the up direction and the right
`direction can be ascertained to be in a northwesterly direction.
`The data I/O unit 200 includes a broadcast input unit 212
`for inputting broadcast contents via the television line 106; a
`network communication unit 214 for inputting and outputting
`data such as web contents via the Internet line 108; a disk
`reading unit 216 for inputting data stored on a disk 110; and
`a memory card reading unit 218 for inputting and outputting
`data to/from a memory card 112. Output of the data I/O unit
`200 is directed to the display output unit 202, the display
`control unit 204, the game processor 206, and the storage unit
`208.
`The display output unit 202 includes a decoder 232, a
`synthesizer 234, an output buffer 236, and an on-screenbuffer
`238. The decoder 232 decodes input data received from the
`data I/O unit 200 or the storage unit 208. Thus, the input data
`may include broadcast contents, movie, and music. The Syn
`thesizer 234 processes the decoded input databased on user
`direction/instruction received from the controller 114. The
`output of the synthesizer 234 is stored in the output buffer
`236. The on-screen buffer 238 stores image data of the menu
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`As used in this disclosure, the term “contents' can refer to
`multimedia contents including moving images, audio, and
`text. The term “media' can refer to means for carrying or
`transmitting information, Such as hard disks, optical disks,
`memory cards, and broadcast lines, and can represent data
`formats Such as compression formats.
`This disclosure describes systems and methods that enable
`high speed scrolling in a graphical user interface (GUI). In
`particular, various implementations of the high-speed Scroll
`ing systems and methods are described for multimedia appa
`ratuses, such as game consoles and media controllers. How
`40
`ever, the described systems and methods are applicable for
`other devices and apparatuses employing a GUI. These
`implementations also describe how icons representing mul
`timedia contents can be scrolled at a relatively high speed
`while providing visually Smooth display of the icons.
`FIG. 1 shows one implementation of a multimedia process
`ing system 100, which includes a composite apparatus
`capable of processing a plurality of contents, such as still
`images, moving images, music, broadcasts, and games,
`spread over a plurality of media. The processing of a plurality
`of contents includes presentation, recording, and other related
`tasks performed by the multimedia processing system 100.
`The multimedia processing system 100 includes a multime
`dia processing apparatus 102, a display 104 (e.g., a monitor or
`television), and a controller 114.
`The multimedia processing apparatus 102 receives multi
`media contents from various media Sources, such as broad
`cast media, the Internet media, an optical disk 110, and a
`memory card 112. Contents from the broadcast media can be
`received through line 106, while contents from the Internet
`media can be received through line 108. The contents from
`the broadcast media and the Internet media can be recorded
`and stored by the multimedia processing apparatus 102. The
`received contents can also be used by various functions (e.g.,
`a game) of the multimedia processing apparatus 102.
`The received multimedia contents are displayed on the
`display 104. The controller 114 allows the user to input vari
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`screen generated by the display control unit 204. The output
`of the display output unit 202 is transmitted to the display
`104.
`The display control unit 204 includes a menu manager 242,
`an effects processor 244, a contents controller 246, and an
`image generator 248. The menu manager 242 manages media
`items and multimedia contents received from the storage unit
`208 and the data I/O unit 200, and shown on the menu screen.
`The effects processor 244 processes operation of icons and
`icon arrays on the menu screen. The effects processor 244
`also manages various actions and effects to be displayed on
`the menu screen. The contents controller 246 controls pro
`cessing of media items and multimedia contents, and han
`dling of data from the data I/O unit, the storage unit 208, and
`the game processor 206. The image generator 248 operates to
`generate a menu screen including a medium icon array and a
`contents icon array.
`The game processor 206 executes a game program using
`data read from the data I/O unit 200 or from the storage unit
`208. The game processor 206 executes the game program
`based on user instructions received from the controller 114.
`The display data of the executed game program is transmitted
`to the display output unit 202.
`FIG. 3 illustrates one implementation of a display 300 of a
`menu screen 302 generated by the multimedia processing
`apparatus 102. The display 300 illustrates the menu screen
`302 in a two-dimensional array. In the illustrated implemen
`tation, the menu screen 302 is displayed as a cross shape. In
`other implementations, the menu screen can be displayed in
`any shape and in any number of dimensions.
`The two-dimensional array includes a medium icon array
`304 arranged in a horizontal direction, and a contents icon
`array 306 arranged in a vertical direction. In other implemen
`tations, the arrays 304,306 can be arranged in different direc
`tions. Thus, the medium icon array 304 and the contents icon
`array 306 intersect near the center area 308 of the menu screen
`302. The medium icon array 304 includes a plurality of
`medium icons. The contents icon array 306 includes a plural
`ity of contents icons. The icons can be provided by the appa
`ratus, selected by a user, or retrieved from media.
`In FIG. 3, the medium icon array 304 includes a photo
`graph icon 312, a music icon 314, a moving image icon 316,
`abroadcasticon 318, an optical disk icon320, a web icon322,
`and a game icon 324. In other implementations, the medium
`icon array 304 can include other related icons, such as a
`streaming media icon or a network icon. These icons repre
`sent types of multimedia contents available for processing in
`the multimedia processing apparatus 102.
`The medium icons 312-324 can be moved or scrolled
`across the menu screen 302 (e.g., see 330) by horizontally
`moving the button/joystick on the controller 114. A particular
`medium icon, for example, a video icon 316 in FIG.3, can be
`selected by moving the icon 316 into the center area 308 of the
`menu screen 302. The medium icon 316 is enlarged when the
`icon 316 is moved into the center area 308 indicating the
`selection of a type of multimedia contents, which in this case
`is video. In another implementation, the selection can be
`made by moving the icon to an area other than the center area
`or by moving a pointer over the icon and clicking a button to
`select the icon. In a further implementation, the color of the
`selected medium icon can be changed to a color different
`from those of other medium icons in the medium icon array.
`In another implementation, the selected medium icon can be
`made to flash so that the selected icon can be easily distin
`guished from other icons.
`The effects processor 244 in the display control unit 204
`manipulates the medium icon array 304 in the menu screen
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`302 by scrolling the medium icons in a horizontal direction.
`Since the medium icons 312-324 in the medium icon array
`304 are organized in a circular database, every medium icon
`in the medium icon array 304 can be selected and displayed
`by the effects processor 244 by continuously scrolling in one
`direction. For example, although the photo icon 312 is to the
`left of the center area 308 of the menu screen, the icon 312 can
`be moved into the center area 308 by continuously scrolling
`left. Alternatively, the medium icons can be arranged in a
`linear list.
`As described above, the effects processor 244 displays the
`medium icons with the same display parameters while the
`icons are being scrolled. However, when a medium icon is
`moved into and fixed in the center area 308 of the menu screen
`302, the effects processor 244 may change the display param
`eters for easy viewing. The display parameters can include
`color, size, lightness, Saturation, and/or hue. The display
`parameters can also include special effects, such as a flashing
`or blinking action.
`In FIG. 3, the video contents array is selected by moving
`the video icon 316 into the center area 308 of the menu screen
`302. The selection of other medium icons displays contents
`icon arrays for other multimedia contents files. In FIG. 3, the
`selection triggers display of the video contents icon array 306,
`which includes thumbnail icons of video contents files stored
`in the storage unit 208. Thus, by moving a particular medium
`icon into or out of the center area 308, a full set of the
`multimedia contents icons relating to that particular medium
`icon can be fully extended or retracted.
`Although FIG. 3 shows the video icon 316 as the selected
`icon, other medium icons 312-314, 318-324 can be selected
`to process/view other types of multimedia contents. For
`example, the photo icon 312 can be selected when a stored
`image is to be processed or viewed. Thus, the contents icon
`array may include thumbnail icons of still images or Small
`moving images taken with a digital camera. The music icon
`314 can be selected when audio files are played or processed.
`The audio files are typically read in from the optical disk 110
`in a specific compression format. Thus, the contents icon
`array may include thumbnail icons of songs or albums. Infor
`mation Such as a title of the Song or album can be displayed
`adjacent to the selected icon. Other attributes that can be
`displayed include the duration of the song or album.
`The TV icon 318 can be selected when a television pro
`gram received from the TV line 106 is to be viewed or pro
`cessed. Thus, the contents icon array may include thumbnail
`icons of broadcast channels and/or programs. Attributes of
`the television program Such as a name/number of the broad
`cast channel, a title of the program, and a broadcast time can
`be displayed. The DVD icon 320 can be selected when video
`and/or audio stored on the optical disk 110 is to be viewed
`and/or listened to. When the optical disk 110 is recognized as
`a DVD, a legend “DVD is displayed on the medium icon
`320. Otherwise, when the optical disk is recognized as a CD,
`a legend “CD is displayed on the medium icon 320. In one
`implementation, when a moving image is stored on the DVD
`or the CD, a thumbnail of a short video clip can be used as a
`contents icon. In another implementation, when music is
`stored on the DVD or the CD, a short audio clip of the music
`can be used as a contents icon.
`The Web icon 322 can be selected when data from the
`Internet line 108 is to be processed or displayed. Thus in this
`case, the contents icon array may include thumbnail icons of
`Web sites or links. Attributes of the Web sites such as a URL
`of the Web site can be displayed adjacent to the selected icon.
`The game icon 324 can be selected when a game program is
`to be played or executed. Thus in this case, the contents icon
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`US 7,681,141 B2
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`7
`array may include thumbnail icons of different game pro
`grams. Attributes of the game program Such as a title of the
`game can be displayed adjacent to the selected icon.
`In general, the thumbnail contents icons are still images
`representing the linked multimedia contents files. However,
`the thumbnail icons can be a sequence of animated images,
`which may provide better representation of the contents files.
`In one implementation, the contents icons are retrieved from
`data of the contents files (e.g., from thumbnail data stored
`with the contents data).
`In FIG. 3, when the video contents icon array 306 is in a
`fully extended mode, the array 306 includes eight visible
`Video contents icons representing eight video contents files.
`In some implementations, the number of visible contents
`icons can be appropriately varied. Additional video contents
`icons representing other video contents files can be made
`visible by scrolling the icons up or down, as shown at 332.
`Similar to the medium icon processing, the effects processor
`244 displays the video contents icons with the same display
`parameters while the icons are being scrolled. However, when
`a particular video contents icon 340 is positioned into an
`attention area 310, below the center area 308, the effects
`processor 244 changes the display parameters of the particu
`lar video contents icon 340 for easy viewing. In other imple
`mentations, the attention area 310 can be positioned at any
`where in the contents icon array 306.
`The effects processor 244 enlarges the icon 340 when the
`icon is positioned into the attention area 310. The display
`parameters can include color, size, lightness, Saturation, and/
`or hue. The display parameters can also include special
`effects, such as a flashing or blinking action. Further, when
`the video contents icon 340 is positioned into the attention
`area 310, attributes 350 associated with the icon 340 are
`displayed adjacent to the icon. For example, in one imple
`mentation, the attributes 350 can include a title and a record
`ing date.
`When the controller 114 provides a command/instruction
`to select a particular contents icon orthumbnail 340 (e.g., by
`entering a select or play command while the icon 340 is
`positioned in the attention area.310), the image generator 248
`in the display control unit 204 removes the menu screen 302
`from the display 300. Substantially simultaneously, the con
`tents controller 246 in the display control unit 204 initiates the
`display of the contents file linked to the selected contents icon
`340. In the illustrated implementation, the selected contents
`file is the Singing Quartet video.
`Once the selected video is playing, a command/instruction
`from the controller 114 to bring the menu screen 302 back up
`invokes the menu screen to be Superimposed on top of the
`currently playing video, as shown in FIG. 4. The attention
`area 310 of the displayed menu screen 302 shows the video
`contents icon 340 of the currently playing video shown in the
`background 330. In the illustrated implementation of FIG. 4,
`the currently playing video shown in the background 330 is
`dimmed to highlight the menu screen 302.
`FIG. 5 shows one configuration of the menu screen 500
`when the contents icons in the contents icon array 306 a