Touchscreen Media Scrolling via Thumbnail Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for advancing through media content on touchscreen devices, such as mobile devices, lack fine control and precision, making it difficult for users to navigate to specific scenes or parts of media files, especially in longer content like movies.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to initiate playback of a media file, enter a navigation mode by displaying thumbnails representing different portions of the media file, and resume playback at the desired portion using scroll gestures on a touch-sensitive display, enabling precise navigation through the media content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current methods for advancing through media content are used, then the operation is simple, but the navigation precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media content navigation into discrete thumbnail representations, where each thumbnail corresponds to a specific portion of the media file. This segmentation allows users to precisely navigate to desired sections by selecting individual thumbnails, thereby improving navigation precision without significantly increasing interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a visual dimension to media navigation by displaying thumbnails as a scrollable list alongside the media player. This transforms the traditional linear seek bar into a two-dimensional interface where users can visually scan and select specific content portions, enhancing precision while maintaining intuitive operation.
2Ease of operation
If traditional playback control methods are used, then the device operation is simple, but the control precision over media playback is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies of media content portions in the form of thumbnails, which are displayed in a scrollable list. Users can easily scroll through these thumbnail copies to locate desired content sections, then select them to jump to the corresponding position in the actual media playback, combining ease of operation with precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thumbnails as an intermediary layer between the user and the media playback. Instead of directly controlling playback through abstract seek bar positions, users interact with visual thumbnail representations that mediate the navigation process, making it both easier and more precise.
3Measurement precision
If users want to navigate to specific scenes in longer media content, then the navigation precision improves, but the time required to locate desired content increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-generating and displaying multiple thumbnails representing different portions of the media file before the user needs to navigate. This allows users to immediately scan and select desired scenes without waiting for processing or searching, thereby improving both precision and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables users to quickly skip through media content by scrolling through the thumbnail list and selecting target scenes. This skipping mechanism allows rapid navigation past unwanted content to reach desired scenes, significantly reducing the time required to locate specific portions compared to linear playback or traditional seek bar navigation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for scrolling through a media file is presented. Playback of a media file is initiated. An instruction is received an instruction to enter a navigation mode. A set of one or more thumbnails is displayed. Each of the set of one or more thumbnails represents a portion of the media file. An input is received from a user indicating a desire to view a portion of the media file represented by one of the set of one or more thumbnails on the display. Playback of the media file is resumed at the portion of the media file represented by one of the set of one or more thumbnails on the display. The input from the user indicating a desire to view a portion of the media file comprises using scroll gestures on the set of one or more thumbnails to display a desired portion of the media file. The input can be made using a touch-sensitive device. The touch-sensitive device can be a touchscreen display.