Multimedia visual progress indication system
AssigneeTiVo Inc.
InventorsRobert Vallone, Howard Look, Ain McKendrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a cache bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar indicates the length of a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands to the right when material is being recorded. Index and/or bookmark indicators are displayed next to the cache bar. A position indicator moves within the cache bar and tells the user visually where his current position is within the program material. Numeric time or counter mark of the current position is displayed in the vicinity of the cache bar. The trick play bar and its associated components are displayed for a predetermined time period.
Claims21
A method for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
- displaying a cache bar to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
- and
- displaying a mode indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a mode the user has selected, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of:
- play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
An apparatus for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
- a module for displaying a cache bar to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
- and
- a module for displaying a mode indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a mode the user has selected, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of:
- play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
A non-transitory program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
- displaying a cache bar to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
- and
- displaying a mode indicator in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a mode the user has selected, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of:
- play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
A method for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
- displaying a cache bar to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
- displaying a mode indicator that moves in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a mode selected by the user, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of:
- play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
An apparatus for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
- displaying a cache bar to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
- displaying a mode indicator that moves in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a mode selected by the user, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of:
- play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
A non-transitory program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for visually and interactively communicating information of audio or video program material to a user, comprising:
- displaying a cache bar to a user that visually indicates an available amount of program material through which the user is able to navigate and play back;
- displaying a mode indicator that moves in a vicinity of the cache bar that visually indicates a mode selected by the user, the mode indicator displaying a visual indication of at least one of:
- play, record, pause, slow play, fast play, fast forward, or reverse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.