Image-Based Browser for Portable Media Players
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Solution Overview
Problem
As media storage capacity increases, navigating through large collections of media on devices like media players becomes cumbersome due to extensive lists of songs, necessitating improved browsing methods.
Innovation Solution
An image-based browsing system for portable electronic devices, which displays visual representations of media assets, allowing users to navigate and select content through a graphical user interface with dynamic transitions and orientation-dependent layouts, using touch screens and rotational/user inputs for efficient content traversal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If storage capacity of media players increases, then the number of songs stored increases, but the list through which users must navigate becomes extensive and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional linear list view to a two-dimensional grid view where media items are displayed as thumbnail images arranged in columns and rows. This dimensional change allows users to perceive and navigate large collections of media more efficiently by seeing multiple items simultaneously in a spatial arrangement rather than sequentially in a long list.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual representations (cover art thumbnails) as copies or avatars of the actual media files. These visual copies provide intuitive information about the media content without requiring users to read or process text metadata, enabling faster recognition and selection of desired media items from large collections.
2Quantity of substance
If users navigate through extensive lists to select media, then media collections can be large, but the time required for selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
By organizing media items in a grid layout with multiple columns and rows, users can scan and identify desired media items more quickly than in a linear list. The spatial arrangement allows parallel perception of multiple items simultaneously, reducing the time needed to locate and select media from large collections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual differentiation through color and imagery in the thumbnail representations. Distinct cover art images and color coding help users rapidly identify and distinguish between different media items, accelerating the selection process by making media items more visually distinguishable and recognizable.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems that improve the way media is played, sorted, modified, stored and cataloged on a portable media player are disclosed. One aspect relates to an image based browser that allows a user to navigate through and select images that are related to media items.