Motion Picture Preview Icons for Multimedia Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for computers do not provide users with quick and effective visual feedback about the subject matter of multimedia content such as motion pictures, videos, and documents, relying on generic icons or static images that do not adequately represent the content.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a preview of a set of images by selecting a subset of images based on specified criteria, displaying them as thumbnails within the GUI, allowing for immediate visual representation of the content, with options for dynamic motion-picture previews and playback controls, which can be integrated into icons or displayed separately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a generic icon is used to represent motion picture content, then the device complexity is reduced and the interface is simpler, but the user cannot quickly ascertain the subject matter of the content
Solution Approach 1:
The icon is segmented into multiple components: a graphical component displaying multiple frames from the video content, and a text component displaying the video title. This segmentation allows the icon to provide both visual information about the content subject matter and maintain a structured, manageable format.
Solution Approach 2:
The icon transitions from a two-dimensional static image to a composite structure that represents temporal progression. By displaying multiple frames in sequence within the graphical component, the icon adds a temporal dimension that conveys motion and subject matter information without requiring full video playback.
2Loss of information
If the first frame of the video clip is used as the graphical component, then more visual information is provided, but the first frame might not be representative of the clip's subject matter
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple frames from different parts of the video clip are merged into a single graphical component. This combination provides a more comprehensive and representative visual summary of the video's subject matter, capturing key moments and scenes that a single frame would miss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the video content to select representative frames before displaying them in the icon. This preliminary action ensures that the displayed frames accurately reflect the video's subject matter and key moments, improving representativeness.
3Productivity
If a video preview window is displayed next to the icon, then the user can review the subject matter quickly, but the user does not receive immediate visual data without formal media player opening
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary rendering of video frames into a condensed graphical representation within the icon itself. This preliminary action allows users to access visual information about the video content immediately by viewing the icon, without needing to open a full preview window or media player.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring users to view the original video through a media player, the system creates a condensed visual copy of the video content by displaying multiple representative frames within the icon. This copy provides sufficient information for quick content identification without the overhead of formal playback.
4Loss of information
If multiple frames are displayed in the icon, then more information about the video content is provided, but the icon size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The icon is segmented into distinct functional areas: a graphical component for displaying frames and a text component for the title. This segmentation organizes information efficiently within the available space, allowing multiple frames to be displayed without excessive increase in overall icon area.
Solution Approach 2:
The icon utilizes temporal dimension by displaying multiple frames that represent different moments in the video. This approach provides rich content information without proportionally increasing spatial area, as the frames are arranged to convey temporal progression rather than requiring equal spatial distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method that presents a preview of a set of images in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a device. The method presents a GUI element to represent the set of images in the GUI, where the GUI element is moveable within the GUI. The method then displays within said GUI element a sequence of the images in the set of images to provide a preview of the set of images.