User interface methods and systems for device-independent media transactions

A method in a single computing device for interacting with a user operating a media transaction system installed on the single computing device, comprising:

• generating a graphical representation of a quilt-based user interface comprising multiple panels, each panel being connected to at least one other of the multiple panels and having at least one associated action that initiates invocation of at least one of multiple functions provided by the media transaction system;
• presenting a first one of the multiple panels as a current panel, the first panel displaying indicators of multiple categories of media items associated with the first panel, and the first panel substantially obscuring a second one of the multiple panels, the second panel having an associated selected category of media items;
• in response to a first received input event that selects one of the indicated multiple categories of media items associated with the first panel,
• identifying a third one of the multiple panels as the current panel, the third panel displaying indicators of multiple media items that are each included in both the selected category of media items associated with the first panel and the selected category of media items associated with the second panel;
• and
• animating a transition from the first panel to the third panel to cause the third panel to be displayed, the third panel displaying a connector to the first panel and a connector to the second panel, the connector to the first panel indicating the selected category of media items associated with the first panel, and the connector to the second panel indicating that the first panel substantially obscures the second panel;
• and
• in response to a second received input event that selects a media item from indicators of multiple media items displayed by the third panel,
• presenting a fourth panel of the multiple panels;
• and
• initiating performance of the at least one action associated with the fourth panel, the action relating to at least one of acquiring the selected media item, performing a transaction related to the selected media item, or presenting a portion of the selected media item.

A computer readable memory medium whose contents enable a single computing device to interact with a user operating a media transaction system installed on the single computing device, by performing a method comprising:

• generating a representation of a quilt-based user interface comprising multiple panels, each panel being connected to at least one other of the multiple panels and having at least one associated action for initiating invocation of at least one of a plurality of media transaction functions;
• presenting a first one of the multiple panels, the first panel displaying indicators of multiple categories of media items associated with the first panel, and the first panel substantially obscuring a second one of the multiple panels, the second panel having an associated selected category of media items;
• in response to a first received input event, that selects one of the indicated multiple categories of media items associated with the first panel,
• identifying a third one of the multiple panels as the current panel, the third panel displaying indicators of multiple media items that are each included in both the selected category of media items associated with the first panel and the selected category of media items associated with the second panel;
• and
• animating a transition from the first panel to the third panel to cause the third panel to be displayed, the third panel displaying a connector to the first panel and a connector to the second panel, the connector to the first panel indicating the selected category of media items associated with the first panel, and the connector to the second panel indicating that the first panel substantially obscures the second panel;
• and
• in response to a second received input event that selects a media item from indicators of multiple media items displayed by the third panel,
• presenting a fourth panel of the multiple panels;
• and
• initiating performance of the at least one action associated with the fourth panel, the action relating to at least one of acquiring the selected media item, performing a transaction related to the selected media item, or presenting a portion of the selected media item.

A graphical user interface that enables a single computing device to interact with a user operating a media transaction system installed on the single computing device, the user interface comprising:

• an arrangement of multiple panels that together present a quilt metaphor, each connected to at least one other of the multiple panels, each panel having at least one associated action that causes invocation of at least one of a plurality of functions provided by the media transaction system;
• a dispatcher configured to, in response to a received input event associated with an identified panel, initiate performance of the action associated with the identified panel, the action relating to at least one of determining a selected media, performing a transaction related to the selected media, or presenting a portion of the selected media;
• and
• a display mechanism configured to present the at least the identified panel in response to an indication from the dispatcher by animating a smooth transition from a prior presented panel to the identified panel.