Patent Overview

The embodiments presented in Apple's patent relate to a method and an apparatus for selecting an item of content on one of Apple's media players (mainly the iPhone, though it would be a cool application to have on a future iPad) by rotating the unit from portrait to landscape.

In a traditional portable computing device, a simple list of items are displayed to a user, and the user navigates through the items by selecting an item, and then pressing the "back" button to return to the simple list. If the user wants to find an item in the list, but isn't sure which item he or she is looking for, the user might review a dozen or more items by selecting individual items from the simple list, and selecting back after each item.

In contrast to the simple list method of navigating content, embodiments of the present invention provide an easier technique for browsing and selecting content. At any time, the user could rotate their Apple media player to view a detailed list view that displays the content of each item in a way that allows the user to quickly flip through the items to find the desired item. Once the focus is on the desired item, the user simply rotates the portable computing device to select the desired item.

By using rotation as a selection tool, a user could simply rotate the portable computing device to view the list, browse to the desired item, and then rotate the portable computing device to make the selection, thus eliminating the need to constantly select an item, hit the back button, and select another item in search of the desired item.

The Simple List View

In a traditional selection environment for a typical social-networking application, a user is presented with a simple list of entries for various users. An example of a simple list based UI could be seen on a networking app such as Foursquare or Apple's FIG. 4A – as shown below.

Typically a user will tap the entry that he or she wishes to view, as illustrated by user tap 404 above-left. In response to this user tap, the system displays the detailed entry that the user selected with user tap 404, as illustrated in FIG. 4B.

Cover Flow-Like UI: Content-Selection Process

Apple's patent FIGS. 4D and 4E shown below illustrate an improved method of navigating and selecting items beyond the traditional process described above. The patent figures illustrate an improved content-selection process on a portable computing device (400) – which for example sake is that of an iPhone. The patent illustrates a Cover Flow-Like UI with subtle differences.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the content is stacked along a simulated Z-axis, which the user could navigate by moving his or her finger along a vector collinear to the simulated Z-axis. 
 

In some embodiments of the present invention, the systems presentation mechanism displays scrollbar 403 beside the detailed list of items, as illustrated in FIG. 4D. The system also displays on the scrollbar a position of an item of content that has the focus, as is indicated by selection indicator 405.

Using Touch Gesture Accuracy

In some embodiments of the present invention, the system receives from the user a touch gesture on the scrollbar. In response to the touch gesture, the system shifts the focus to an item in the detailed list of items most closely related to a location of the touch gesture on the scrollbar. In some embodiments of the present invention, it may be useful for a user to scroll through the content by manipulating the content itself when the user is close to the desired content that he or she is looking for. However, if the user is a long way off from the desired content, the user may wish to use the scrollbar to quickly navigate to the area of the desired content.

Apple's patent states that "the system may indicate on the scrollbar a selected region 406, which indicates the range of all of the items visible on display 402 at the current time." That could allow a user to leap back and forth in precise increments such as 5 or 10 contacts at a time instead of just scrolling aimlessly - Though it's obviously the users choice as to which method is appropriate at any given time within a given search.

Using the Pinch Gesture to Reduce or Expand Your List Size

In some embodiments of the present invention, the system receives from the user a pinch gesture on the scrollbar. In response to the pinch gesture, the system adjusts a number of items currently displayed in the detailed list of items. For example, if the user pinches his or her fingers together, the system may display less content to the user. In contrast, if the user spreads his or her fingers apart on the scrollbar, the system may display more content to the user.

Other Applications

Apple credits Martin Murrett, Christopher Rudolph, Richard Cave, Kevin Smyth and Glyn Raemon as the inventors of this March 18, 2010 patent application titled "Selecting an Item of Content in a GUI for a portable Device," originally filed in Q3 2008. 

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