Current art methods of graphical representation use display images that correspond to media selected by a user. However, current methods do not represent a large local collection in a small screen area with images from a user's library or external metadata, and often require a virtual screen larger than the display screen. Current methods often require a user to scroll or control the movement of the array elements in some way. There are also problems associated with song selection associated with graphical representation.
One problem with selecting songs is that listeners sometimes have extensive libraries of songs they might wish to hear from time to time, but do have a detailed recollection of those songs. For a first example, a listener might have a large number of classical songs, but might not recall just which ones of those songs are the listener's particular favorites. For a second example, a listener might have developed a recent interest in songs by Kelly Clarkson, but not realize that the listener already has songs by that performer in the listener's library, possibly as part of an omnibus package of songs supplied with the listener's music player.
Another problem with selecting songs is that distinct listeners might have differing ways in which they divide up the set of possible playable songs. For a first example, some listeners might have a well-defined set of songs they prefer, such as classical music, while other listeners might have a fuzzier set of songs they are interested in, such as songs “like those” by Billy Joel. For a second example, some listeners might have interest in only some particular subcategories of a well-known set of songs, such as having interest in classical music, while having little interest in one of its particular subcategories, such as chamber music. For a third example, some listeners might have interest in classical music, while distinguishing between various types of classical music, such as etudes, operas, and symphonies.
Aspects of the invention attempt to address the above problems.
One aspect of the invention includes techniques, embodied for example in apparatus and methods, for presentation of metadata about media elements, for example as part of a user interface by which listeners might select some of those media elements for presentation.
Another aspect of the invention includes techniques, embodied for example in apparatus and methods, for presentation of metadata about media elements in association with presentation of those media elements themselves.
In one embodiment of the invention, a presentation device, such as a screen viewable by a listener, presents images associated with media elements, such as DVD covers associated with individual songs to be played, using serial collage. Serial collage is a method for representing a large set completely in a small screen area.
Serial collage uses a spatial display that changes over time. On a flat screen, the representation may be two dimensional or might use visual effects to emulate a three-dimensional representation (e.g., perspective, stacking). Alternatively, an actual three dimensional display such as a stereo-optical device (e.g., glasses that project two different images to a user's eyes to generate a three dimensional view) or 3D active hologram can be used. In any case, the representation of set elements cycles over time so that more elements can be represented in the same area. Thus, serial collage does not depend on scrolling, since the collage is already in motion.
Serial collage may be passive, like a slideshow, or selectable by a user. For example, serial collage can be used to represent collections of albums by their cover art. On a descriptive page for a genre or an artist, cover art is displayed in a small square or rectangular array, i.e. 2×2, 3×2, or 3×3, and the array elements or cover art images cycle dynamically through the cover art of the set of albums. The images preferably change slowly with fading, for example in a clockwise or counter-clockwise pattern. Enough time preferably is given so that each element in a set will appear in the array eventually, and each appearance preferably lasts as long as possible.
In a preferred embodiment, plural serial collages that represent plural different genres or groupings of media elements can be presented at once. The user preferably can select a set being represented in a collage. The listener might select one or more of the serial collage images, with the effect of instructing the presentation device regarding the media elements associated with those images. As those skilled in the art would see, the number of ways the listener might instruct the presentation device is broad and varied.
Similarly, a presentation device, such as a screen viewable by a listener, can select a set of one or more media elements, and images associated with those media elements, in response to taxonomy of media elements available to the listener. This genre taxonomy preferably is responsive to some or all of the following: (1) a natural genre taxonomy in common use among a broad group of listeners, (2) a set of information about the listener, such as demographic information, listener preferences, and the like, (3) a set of information about the listener's library, such as a number of media elements in particular groups or subgroups of a natural genre taxonomy, (4) a set of information about the listener's history, such as frequency or recency of particular media elements having been played, frequency or recency of media elements in a genre taxonomy having been purchased, or rejected for purchase, and the like. Again, each genre or grouping preferably can be represented by its own serial collage, and one or more of these collages can be displayed at once.
In some embodiments, a genre taxonomy particular to the listener includes (1) coarser genres when the listener does not prefer media elements of that type, when the listener has fewer media elements of that type represented in the listener's library, and the like, (2) finer genres when the listener does prefer media elements of that type, when the listener has more media elements of that type represented in the listener's library, and the like, and (3) finer genres when the listener distinguishes between media elements of distinct types in the listener's library, and the like.
For one example, a listener who has no particular preference between distinct types of classical music would have all classical music grouped under a single category. For a second example, a listener who has specific preferences for distinct types of classical music would have those distinct types represented as subgroups under the category for classical music. This would have the effect that a listener who likes most classical music, but not chamber music, would have classical music represented as subgroups, with chamber music as a subgroup designated as not preferred by the listener. Similarly, this would have the effect that a listener who has a particular preference for media elements from West Mali, would have that form of music represented as a subgroup of world music, with distinct preference parameters associated with that subgroup, in contrast with the “world music” group.
In the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement that media elements (such as “songs”) are restricted to only audio components, that media elements are restricted to only linear sequences of presentable material, that “listeners” are restricted to only individual human beings or even to human beings at all, and the like. After reading this application, those skilled in the art would recognize that the scope and spirit of the invention includes wide variation in the many possibilities of embodiments of the invention.
These techniques can be performed using a computing device, preferably having access to information about a set of possible songs or other items, information about one or more taxonomies applicable to that set of possible songs or other items, information about a set of listener preferences, information about a set of metadata about songs, about the listener, and information about other aspects of the embodiment in use by the listener (e.g., a number of possible songs available for presentation, a physical position of the embodiment, a set of types of presentation elements available to the embodiment, and the like). In one or more embodiments, at least some of that information is available to the embodiment from an external database.
This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the attached drawings.
This application should be read in the most general possible form. This includes, without limitation, the following:
After reading this application, those skilled in the art would see the generality of this description.
The general meaning of each of these following terms is intended to be illustrative and not in any way limiting.
The scope and spirit of the invention is not limited to any of these definitions, or to specific examples mentioned therein, but is intended to include the most general concepts embodied by these and other terms.
User interface 100 includes elements shown in the figure, including at least a screen 110 with an active portion 120. In a preferred embodiment, the active portion 120 includes as much of the screen 110 as can be allocated to the user interface 100. The active portion includes at least one serial collage 130 that each includes a set of visual array elements 135. Serial collages are discussed in more detail below under “Serial Collage.”
The active portion also preferably includes a set of controls 140. These controls can include controls 141 that can be used in many different ways to control presentation of media elements, display of images such as cover art associated with the media elements, and the like. The following examples are merely exemplary of the many possibilities available to the listener:
Although the term “listener” is used in the foregoing discussion, the concepts are equally applicable to viewers and other users of media elements of different types.
Controls 140 can also include controls 142 that might be manipulated by the user to effect functions of generic value in playing media elements. In a preferred embodiment, these might include one or more of the following:
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing examples of controls 140 are merely exemplary. The listener might have a large number of alternative possibilities for (1) commands to the presentation device, (2) listening to media elements, (3) viewing images associated with media elements, and the like.
User interface 100 also preferably includes a set of media element play information 150 related to one or more media elements being played or selected to be played. This information can include some, all, or none of the following: dynamic sound frequency, duration, volume, bitrate of data encoding, any other information relating to performance aspects of the media element, information responsive to metadata for a media element that is being played, and the like. Play information 150 also can include information relating to how much time a media element will take to play, how long the media element has been playing and what percentage of it has been played, and how long the media element has left to play and what percentage of it has yet to be played.
In a preferred embodiment, this information is updated frequently, with the visual effect that a progress bar changes color over time from the beginning to the end of the media element.
In a preferred embodiment, metadata associated with each media element might include the artist, associated other titles, cover art, genre, physical box of originating media, physical side of originating media, publisher, media element length, title, track location or track number, year of release, and the like. There can be several different kinds of images representing metadata. For example, a media element might be associated with an image of the media element's composers or performers, an image of the album on which the media element appeared, an image of a corporate logo of the company that released or distributed the media element. A metadata library preferably is a relational database, so some items can have many related images and some images can be related to many items. Sometimes, an image serves as a distinct identifier, for example when a company has one logo associated with it.
Each serial collage 130 includes a set of visual array elements. The elements preferably include images 135 that represent or are associated with particular media elements, for example but not limited to CD or DVD cover art. Images 135 preferably are displayed in a small square array (e.g. 2×2 or 3×3), a small rectangular array (e.g. 2×3 or 3×2), another shaped array, or the like.
The array preferably cycles through plural of the images, thereby permitting more images than array elements to be displayed. In a preferred embodiment, the images change slowly with fading in a clockwise or counter-clockwise fade pattern in the serial collage. Cycling of the images in the serial collage is explained in more detail below.
Text, images, or both responsive to metadata and/or other data associated with media elements represented by images in a serial collage also can be displayed along with the serial collage. The text or images preferably are obtained from an optional metadata database, as discussed below.
Serial collage addresses the problem of displaying a complete set of images representing a set of media elements in a small screen area. Serial collage uses a spatial display that changes over time. On a flat screen, the representation may be two dimensional or might use visual effects to emulate a three-dimensional representation (e.g., perspective, stacking). Alternatively, an actual three dimensional display such as a stereo-optical device (e.g., glasses that project two different images to a user's eyes to generate a three dimensional view) or 3D active hologram can be used. In any case, the representation of set elements cycles over time so that more elements can be represented in the same area. Thus, serial collage does not depend on scrolling, since the collage is already in motion.
For example, serial collage can be used to represent collections of albums by their cover art. On a descriptive page or portion of displayed screen for a genre or an artist, cover art can be displayed in a small array, i.e. 2×2, 3×2, or 3×3 grid or some other pattern, and the visual array elements or cover art images cycle dynamically through the cover art of the set of albums. The images preferably change slowly with fading, for example in a clockwise or counter-clockwise pattern. Enough time preferably is given so that each element in a set will appear in the array eventually, and each appearance preferably lasts as long as possible.
In one embodiment of a 2×2 array, the first four serial collage cycles occur quickly in succession, followed by a pause with no changing, then the next four elements cycle quickly, and so on. In this example, the replacement pattern appears to occur in waves.
A serial collage 200 includes elements shown in the figure, including at least the following: visual array elements 210, array 220 of those elements, replacement pattern 230, and text and/or other images 240.
A serial collage 200 includes a graphical representation of a set of media elements. One or more serial collages can be displayed at once. A serial collage preferably includes a set of visual array elements 210 that represent or are associated with media elements in the set. The serial collage can also include text or images 220 responsive to metadata associated with the media elements.
The visual array elements 210 preferably are images, either static or active (e.g., a short loop of images or an animation). The images can be from local metadata associated with the media elements or can be from another source, for example but not limited to an internal database or external server or database. For example, visual array elements could be drawn from licensed icons and images or covered art. Furthermore, the visual array elements are not necessarily derived from the source data.
Each visual array element preferably represents one media element, although an element can represent plural media elements, for example but not limited to one or more media elements from an album, CD, or DVD, and plural images can represent one media element or different version of one media element.
Representation of the visual array elements 210 may be weighted according to their relative importance as members of a set. The representation of those elements may be responsive to this weighting by displaying elements with different frequency, size, duration, focus, resolution, opacity, distance from center, and the like. The representation may be responsive to similarity. Set elements may have groupwise or pairwise similarity relationships according to their metadata, and the representation may be responsive to this similarity by grouping elements near each other in time and space.
The representation can be responsive to type or rank. A set 240 to be represented may have elements of different types and their representations may be responsive to these types. Media elements, albums, and mix albums may have different cover art.
The visual array elements 210 for each serial collage preferably are arranged in array 220 when displayed. In a preferred embodiment, the array is a small square grid, e.g., 2×2 or 3×3 grid or a small rectangular grid, e.g., 2×3 or 3×2 grid. Alternatively, the array can have a different pattern or shape. The array can include fewer positions for visual array elements 210 than the number of media elements in the set of elements represented by the serial collage. Replacement pattern 230 (represented by an arrow in
In one embodiment, replacement pattern 230 involves changing the visual display elements slowly with fading in a clockwise or counter-clockwise pattern. Over time, each element 210 in the set will appear in the array eventually, and each appearance lasts as long as possible. In one embodiment in which the array includes a 2×2 format, a first four (2 times 2) replacement patterns 230 or cycles occur quickly in succession, there is a pause with no changing, then a next four elements cycle quickly, and so on, having the effect that the replacement pattern 230 appears to occur in waves. Other replacement patterns can be used.
Serial collage also can include text and/or other images 240 related to the media elements represented in the serial collage. This text and/or other images can include any information from metadata associated with the media elements, a description of the set of media elements represented by the collage, a description of a rule used to select the media elements for the collage, and the like. The text and/or other images can be responsive to local data including but not limited to a local metadata database, a local library of media elements, system settings, user selections, and the like. The text and/or other images also can be responsive to remote data, for example but not limited to a remote metadata database, a remote library of media elements, a remote web server, and the like.
Serial collage 200 is primarily a visual technique, but the collage 200 may include sound and other effects. However, it is understood that visual collages can be appealing and informative about media elements in a set represented by the collage, while sound collages can be unpleasantly cacophonous and confusing because listeners may not be able to recognize short sound clips even when played in sequence. Serial collage 200 may play sounds corresponding to displayed elements. Sound performance may be synchronized to the display of visual array elements 210 in serial collage 200, or the performance may be deliberately asynchronous. Sounds may be responsive to metadata associated with the media elements.
In a preferred embodiment, plural serial collages that represent plural different sets, genres or groupings of media elements can be presented at once, either on separate pages, windows, or screens, or on one page, window, or screen. Alternatively, only a single selected or specified serial collage might be displayed.
Serial collage may be passive, like a slideshow, or selectable by a user. Preferably, a user can select a set being represented in a collage. The listener might select one or more of the serial collage images, with the effect of instructing the presentation device regarding the media elements associated with those images. As the number of ways the listener might instruct the presentation device is broad and varied. Some of these are discussed above in the context of controls 140.
Furthermore, visual array elements within a serial collage might be selectable. A user may select collage elements as input to call other system features. In a preferred embodiment, one-click features or zero button philosophy is preferred over multiple options of an expert system. Selection may not change the representation of the collage 200. Selecting an item may do some other system action, such as performing a media element associated with a selected visual array element. Alternatively, selection may serve as a navigational method within a collage 200. For example, selecting one artist in the collage 200 can replace the display with a new collage of elements associated to that artist. Selection of a visual array element might perform some other function, for example but not limited to directing a browser to a web site for purchasing similar media elements or media elements by other authors, directing a browser to a web site identified in metadata for the media element, and other functions and operations.
As discussed above, each serial collage corresponds to a set of media elements. The process of forming such a set is referred to as “set formation” herein.
Set formation can be responsive to user selection, displaying detailed information about the set the user has selected. Set formation also can be in response to a user's library, wherein the represented set consists of items in a user's library. Forming sets in the local library can require that some metadata associated with media elements be characterized for filtered. For example, a user might select a set in their library by specifying a database filter rule.
Set formation also can be responsive to external data or metadata. For example, users could create and post data representing sets to a message board or file, allowing users to share sets.
Set formation can be responsive to system settings and user preferences. For example, selecting “all artists” may form a set of popular artists, where popularity is determined by a system or user cut-off rule. The collage structure may be responsive to system settings and user preferences. The system or the user may decide that a 2×2, 3×3, or other shaped collage 200 is best for a particular set.
In some embodiments, set formation can have commercial aspects. For example, a set can be expanded to include similar elements that are not in the user's library. Similarity can be determined by comparison to set elements or by applying the set formation rule to a larger external library. The representation of these items would be responsive to their status, e.g. visual array elements for media elements that are not available to a user by can be purchased might appear relatively gray, faded or transparent compared to availably set elements. In this case, there preferably would be some simple method for buying these new items. For example, selecting the gray, faded, or transparent visual array elements might open a window to an online retailer of the associated media element.
In a preferred embodiment, frames displaying visual array or media elements might be disposed in a 2D format, such as for example a 2×2, 3×3, 2×3, or 3×2 array of media elements. Serial collage 200 is not restricted to squares or rectangles for displaying the visual array elements. For example, non-rectilinear arrangements such as a 2-3-2 hexagonal arrangement can be used. In addition, three dimensional (either actual or emulated) can be used.
Serial collage 200 may give more importance to some elements by giving them more area or more time in the array. The total area used by the collage 200 may expand and contract. There may be many replacement patterns 230 for serial collages 200, not just the clockwise wave pattern discussed herein. The replacement pattern 230 may be easily recognizable, such as clockwise or top to bottom shift, with the intention that the user can follow and anticipate the replacement pattern 230 even if they cannot predict which elements in a large set will turn up in collage 200. The replacement pattern 230 may be random, pseudo-random, perceptually random, or non-random. While fading was discussed herein, it is understood that the replacement pattern 230 may include having visual array elements slide, stack, pop, rotate, and the like. The collage 200 may have a nested structure wherein the representation of a particular collage element may comprise a finer collage within itself.
It might occur that not all media element icons would fit into a displayed array. In such cases, the system might select, in addition or in lieu of distinguishing the array element, to rearrange the media element icons to place the media element icon in a particular position within a formatted array (such as, the upper left corner). The system might also select, in addition or in lieu of distinguishing the array element, to re-select a new visual array element to represent the media elements being played.
After reading this application, those skilled in the art will recognize that the possibilities for other and further techniques for application to display of visual array elements in a serial collage to represent a set of media elements.
A system includes elements shown in the figure, including at least the following: computing device 310, input/output elements 320, (optional) communication link 330, and (optional) metadata database 340.
In a preferred embodiment, a major physical portion of the system would be located in, or coupled to, a computer or laptop computer. This would include at least the computing device 310, the input/output elements 320, and preferably at least part of the communication link 330.
The computing device 310 includes elements not shown in the figure. A computing element includes a processor, memory, and mass storage, configured as in a known desktop, laptop, or server device. In a preferred embodiment, the mass storage might include both attached mass storage, such as a hard disk drive, and removable mass storage, such as a CD or DVD reader or writer. However, in the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement that the computing element include those elements, so long as the computing element is capable of performing the maintaining its state as described herein, and performing the method steps described herein. For a first example, there is no particular requirement that the computing element include any particular form of mass storage, although the inventors expect that a preferred embodiment will include both forms of mass storage described above. For a second example, there is no particular requirement that the computing element is structured as a deterministic device-nondeterministic devices, such as including parallel processing devices, would work as well.
In the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement that the computing element be configured as in a known desktop, laptop, or server device. For several alternative examples, the computing element might be configured as in a cellular telephone, a hand-held audio or video player, a hand-held computing device, a headsup display device for spectacles or contact lenses, a one-way or two-way, “Dick Tracy” communication wristwatch, a PDA, a sub-notebook, an ear-bud audio device, an ipod or equivalent device, and the like. After reading this application, those skilled in the art would recognize that the nature of the invention is broad enough to include, within its scope and spirit, virtually any form of input or output hardware or software, having a user interface as described herein.
Computing device 310 executes instructions to implement the user interface described above with respect to
The input/output elements 320 include elements not shown in the figure. In a preferred embodiment, a sound sequence input might include a reader for any particular physical media on which sound sequences can be stored, such as CD, DVD, or a set of memory or mass storage (e.g., in the latter case, hard disk drives). In alternative embodiments, the sound sequence input ay in addition or instead include a receiver for any particular communication of sound sequences, such as a radio, television, or computer network input. In the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement for any individual choice of physical devices for the sound sequence input, so long as the computing device 310 is capable of maintaining the information, and performing the methods, as described herein, with respect to those sound sequences. As noted above, in one embodiment, the sound sequence input might be included in a home theater or home entertainment system.
In one embodiment, a home theater or home entertainment system includes a sound sequence output. In the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement for the physical construction of the sound sequence output, so long as the computing device 310 is capable of presenting sound sequences to the user.
The input/output elements 320 include elements not shown in the figure. In a preferred embodiment, a user directives and information input might include a user input of any type coupled to the computing device 310, and is capable of receiving messages from the user on behalf of the computing device 310. For example, the user directives and information input might include a touch panel screen, a keyboard, a pointing device, or a remote control such as used for viewing television or movies.
In a preferred embodiment, the user directives and information output might include a user output of any type coupled to the computing device 310, and is capable of sending messages to the user on behalf of the computing device 310, e.g., as part of a user interface. For example, the user directives and information output might include any hardware devices for presenting visual screen elements, such as a flat panel screen or a touch panel screen. In a preferred embodiment, the output device is capable of presenting the screen elements in the user interface for using media elements (see
In the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement that either the information input or the information output comprise only a single device. In alternative embodiments, either one or both might include multiple such devices. For one example, the information input might include more than one device, operating in conjunction to provide a combined set of input information. For another example, the information input might again include more than one device, operating instead with distinct degrees of priority, with the effect that one such device might override commands or other input from another. Similarly, the information output might include multiple user interfaces. For one example, the information output might include more than one device, operating in conjunction to provide a combined set of output information; for another example, the information output might include more than one device, operating instead with distinct degrees of priority, with the effect that one user interface might override presentation or other information sent to another.
For some examples, the information input might receive information from the listener by a wide variety of other techniques, including one or more of:
Similarly, for some examples, the information output might provide information to the listener by a wide variety of other techniques, including one or more of:
In a preferred embodiment, a single hardware device might include both the user directives and information input and output. For example, a touch panel screen can both receive input from the user and send visual messages to the user.
In the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement that either the information input or the information output are hardware devices or have specific hardware interfaces. For example, the information output might include a server for an HTTP protocol (or one like it, such as SHTTP), and might be accessed using any web browser, FTP client, WSDL application, and the like.
In a preferred embodiment, an external message input might include an input of any type coupled to the computing device 310, and is capable of receiving external messages on behalf of the user. For example, the user command input might include a connection to the Internet.
In a preferred embodiment, the output external messages might include an output of any type coupled to the computing device 310, and is capable of sending external messages on behalf of the user.
For example, the user command output might include a connection to the Internet.
An (optional) communication link 330 preferably is coupled to the computing device 310, at a first end, and to an external communication network, such as the Internet, at a second end. In a preferred embodiment, the communication link 330 transfers messages between the computing device 310 and any external devices with which the computing device 310 communicates, including the (optional) metadata database 340.
In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a metadata database 340. The metadata database includes elements not shown in the figure. In a preferred embodiment, the system would obtain information, including metadata about media elements and media elements, from stored metadata, using a database interface. The database interface might be as simple as a memory register (with the database 340 accordingly being as simple as a reserved location in a memory), or might be a more complex element, such as a client/server query-and-response technique (with the database 340 accordingly possibly being a more complex element, such as an SQL database). The system manages licensed metadata. The system knows where to find different kinds of metadata from different sources and the system may cache significant portions of metadata.
In a preferred embodiment, the system would cache at least some information from the database 340 for rapid reference, particularly if the stored metadata is located at a relative distance or using the technique in which there is a relative cost to re-obtain that information. In some embodiments, the system might maintain a cache of stored metadata for those media and media elements currently being presented, or about to be presented, to a listener.
In a preferred embodiment, the metadata database 340 might include a relatively remote set of stored metadata, such as maintained using mass storage on a logically or physically remote server. However, in the context of the invention, there is no particular requirement that stored metadata is remote. In some alternative embodiments, the system may include a relatively complete set of metadata for all media elements in the listener's library, downloaded or otherwise maintained in storage for those media elements when those media elements are incorporated into that library. In some other alternative embodiments, the system may dynamically generate metadata in response to information available from the media element itself.
A method 400 includes techniques for presenting a visualization of media elements and data structures. This method 400 includes flow points and steps shown in the figure, including at least the following:
A flow point 410 defines a beginning of the method 400.
At a step 412, the method 400 displays media elements in a visual array. In a preferred embodiment, frames displaying media elements might be disposed in a 2D format, such as for example a 2×2 array or a 3×3 array of media elements, or even a non-rectilinear arrangement such as a 2-3-2 hexagonal arrangement. As described below, the frame representing the current structured media element may have a graphic design that clearly distinguishes it among the sequence of frames. In a preferred embodiment using such techniques, the system uses a 2×2 or 3×3 array to display media array elements or cover art dynamically. The cover art represents particular media elements or albums, movies, and the like. A database filter rule can be specified for selecting a set of array elements. The set of array elements can consist of items from a user's library. The set of array elements can include external information in response to external metadata. The set of array elements can be weighted according to relative importance. For example, elements could be displayed depending upon their frequency, size, duration, focus, resolution, opacity, or distance from center. Elements could be displayed responsive to similarity, type or rank. Set formation can be responsive to system setting, or user preferences. Collage structure can be responsive to system settings, or user preferences. In one embodiment, sound can be included responsive to metadata. However, it is understood that incorporating sound in a dynamically cycling collage can be confusing and frustrating to a user, who may have difficulty identifying a media element or album from a small sound byte. In such embodiments, the system causes the cover art to cross-fade, one fading out while the other fades in, rotating in a clockwise pattern.
It might occur that not all media element icons of the current media element would fit into the 2D formatted array. In such cases, the system might select, in addition or in lieu of distinguishing the current media element, to rearrange the media element icons to place the current media element icon in a particular position within the 2D formatted array (such as, the upper left corner). The system might also select, in addition or in lieu of distinguishing the current media element, to re-select a new set of media element icons to represent the current media elements being played.
At a step 414, the method 400 cycles array elements. In a preferred embodiment, elements are cycled by cross-fading in a clockwise pattern. This, and other possible patterns, are sometimes referred to herein as “replacement patterns”. It is understood that elements can be cycled or replaced in other ways than fading, e.g. sliding, stacking, popping, rotating, and the like. A user can make a selection of an array element for playing a selected item, purchasing a selected item, obtain more information about the selected item, or the like.
At a step 416, the method 400 receives a selection from a user for a media array element, as described above. In a preferred embodiment, the user selections include a set of generic user selections, such as those described above with reference to controls 140. A user could be given an option to select and purchase elements not already included in the user's library.
At a step 418, the method 400 preferably displays more information or options regarding the user's selection of a media array element. For example, if a user wants to make a purchase, information regarding the array elements and the user's options would be displayed here.
At a step 420, the user preferably can instruct a device to perform various other operations on or with the array, the media elements, or the like, for example through manipulation of controls such as controls 140.
A flow point 422 defines an end of the method 400.
This invention should be read in the most general possible form. This includes, without limitation, the following possibilities included within the scope of, or enabled by, the invention.
After reading this application, those skilled in the art would see the generality of this application.