Graphical user interface with improved media presentation

Abstract

Improved graphical user interfaces and techniques for providing remote media content to users are disclosed. According to one aspect, an application window display on a display device can expose a user not only to local media content but also to remote media content that is associated with the local media content. The local media content is stored locally, while the remote media content is stored remotely and available from a remote media server. According to another aspect, the remote media content to be displayed can be determined in a manner that is dependent on a user interaction with the local media content. According to still a further aspect, the manner by which the remote media content is displayed can be dependent on the availability of remote media content at the remote media server.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A is a screen shot of a conventional media display window.

FIG. 1B is a screen shot of another conventional media display window.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a media presentation system according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a media presentation process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow diagrams of a media presentation process according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a media presentation format determination process according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a media presentation format determination process according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a representative media presentation window according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8A is a screen shot of a media presentation window according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8B is a screen shot of a media presentation window according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8C is a screen shot of a media presentation window according to still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary computer system suitable for use with the invention.

Claims

1. A method for displaying local media information and remote media information on a display screen associated with a computing device, said method comprising: (a) obtaining local media information pertaining to local media items stored on a local media source;(b) displaying the local media information on a first part of the display screen;(c) determining an appropriate remote media presentation format;(d) acquiring remote media information pertaining to remote media items stored on a remote media source; and(e) displaying the remote media information on a second part of the display screen, wherein the remote media information and the local media information are concurrently displayed on the display screen.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the appropriate remote media presentation format is determined based on a user selection corresponding to at least one of the local media items.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the appropriate remote media presentation format is dependent on availability of media items from the remote media source that match the selected at least one of the local media items.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote media source is a remote media store.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the local media source is integral with or proximate to the computing device.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media items pertain to one or more of songs, audiobooks, podcasts, and videos.

7. A method for displaying local media information and remote media information on a display screen associated with a computing device, said method comprising: (a) obtaining local media information pertaining to local media items stored on a local media source;(b) displaying the local media information on a first part of the display screen;(c) receiving a user selection of one of the local media items by interacting with the local media information being displayed on the first part of the display screen;(d) distinguishably displaying at least a portion of the local media information corresponding to the one of the local media items selected by the user selection;(e) determining an appropriate remote media presentation format based on the user selection;(f) acquiring remote media information pertaining to remote media items stored on a remote media source; and(g) displaying the remote media information on a second part of the display screen in accordance with the appropriate remote media presentation format.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said determining (e) comprises: (e1) determining a media type for the one of the local media items selected by the user selection; and(e2) determining the appropriate remote media presentation format based on the determined media type.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said determining (e) comprises: (e1) determining whether the remote media source stores media content corresponding to the one of the local media items selected by the user selection; and(e2) determining the appropriate remote media presentation format based on said determining (e1).

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein when the one of the local media items selected by the user selection is a song, said determining (e1) at least determines whether the remote media source stores an album associated to the song, andwherein said determining (e2) determines that the appropriate remote media presentation format is a first media presentation format when the remote media source is determined to store an album associated to the song.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said determining (e1) at least determines whether the remote media source stores media content from an artist associated to the song, andwherein said determining (e2) determines that the appropriate remote media presentation format is a second media presentation format when the remote media source is determined to store media content from the artist associated to the song.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein when the one of the local media items selected by the user selection is a song, said determining (e1) at least determines whether the remote media source stores media content associated to the song,wherein said determining (e2) determines that the appropriate remote media presentation format is first media presentation format when the remote media source is determined to store media content associated to the song, andwherein said determining (e2) determines that the appropriate remote media presentation format is a second media presentation format when the remote media source is determined not to store any media content associated to the song.

13. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the remote media source is an online media store.

14. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the remote media information and the local media information are concurrently displayed on the display screen.

15. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said acquiring (f) operates to acquire the remote media information from the remote media source based on the user selection.

16. A computing system capable of displaying media information, said computing device comprising: a data storage device that stores media content;a display device; anda processor for storing, accessing and presenting the stored media content from said data storage device, said processor being configured to: (i) obtain local media information pertaining to local media items stored on a local media source; (ii) display the local media information on a first part of the display device; (iii) determine an appropriate remote media presentation format; (iv) acquire remote media information pertaining to remote media items stored on a remote media source; and (v) display the remote media information on a second part of the display device, wherein the remote media information and the local media information are concurrently displayed on the display device.

17. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for displaying local media information and remote media information on a display screen associated with a computing device, said computer readable medium comprising: computer program code for obtaining local media information pertaining to local media items stored on a local media source;computer program code for displaying the local media information on a first part of the display screen;computer program code for receiving a user selection of one of the local media items by interacting with the local media information being displayed on the first part of the display screen;computer program code for distinguishably displaying at least a portion of the local media information corresponding to the one of the local media items selected by the user selection;computer program code for determining an appropriate remote media presentation format based on the user selection;computer program code for acquiring remote media information pertaining to remote media items stored on a remote media source; andcomputer program code for displaying the remote media information on a second part of the display screen in accordance with the appropriate remote media presentation format.

18. A system for displaying media information on a display screen associated with a computing device, said system comprising: means for obtaining local media information pertaining to local media items stored on a local media source;means for displaying the local media information on a first part of the display screen;means for receiving a user selection of one of the local media items by interacting with the local media information being displayed on the first part of the display screen;means for distinguishably displaying at least a portion of the local media information corresponding to the one of the local media items selected by the user selection;means for determining an appropriate remote media presentation format based on the user selection;means for acquiring remote media information pertaining to remote media items stored on a remote media source; andmeans for displaying the remote media information on a second part of the display screen in accordance with the appropriate remote media presentation format.