Circular UI Component for Media Playback and Ad Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media content playback controls on touchscreen devices are not intuitive or easy to use, requiring linear gestures and lacking integration of scrubber bars for playback and volume control, and fail to prevent users from bypassing advertisements during playback.
Innovation Solution
A circular user interface (UI) component for media content playback that includes elements for playing, pausing, fast forwarding, rewinding, displaying thumbnail snapshots, volume control, closed captioning, and bookmarking, with a feature that snaps back to advertisements when attempting to fast forward, conforming to natural hand gestures and enhancing user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If linear playback controls are used, then the interface is simple to implement, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must lift hand and drag fingers across screen in linear manner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by transforming the traditional linear scrubber bar into a circular progress indicator. The progress indicator is arranged in a circular pattern around a central play/pause button, allowing users to interact with the interface by rotating their finger in a natural circular motion rather than lifting and dragging across the screen. This curved layout better conforms to the natural gestures of a user's hand digits, improving ease of operation while maintaining implementation feasibility.
2Ease of operation
If separate scrubber bars are used for playback and volume control, then the control functions are distinct, but the ease of operation deteriorates as they must be separately manipulated in different areas of screen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the playback progress control and volume control into a single integrated circular interface component. The circular progress indicator serves as the primary interaction element for both playback position (by rotating to move the playhead) and volume adjustment (by rotating to adjust volume levels). This consolidation allows users to manipulate both functions through a single circular gesture in one area of the screen, eliminating the need to separately manage distinct scrubber bars in different locations.
3Reliability
If fast forward control is unrestricted, then the user experience is flexible, but the reliability deteriorates as users can bypass advertisement viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by detecting when a user attempts to fast forward past an advertisement and automatically preventing this action. The system monitors the playhead position and user interaction with the circular progress indicator, and when it detects an attempt to skip beyond the advertisement boundary, it blocks the fast-forward operation. This pre-emptive measure ensures advertisement viewing is maintained while still allowing flexible playback control for other portions of the content.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, computer program product, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to bookmark a frame of media content. A media content user interface component that controls playback of the media content in a media player is activated. The component includes a circular progress bar. A frame within the media content is identified and bookmarked. A bookmark is displayed on the circular progress bar and reflects the location of the bookmarked frame. The bookmark is selected to begin play from the bookmarked frame.