Patent ID: 7761812
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: outputting a user interface having a plurality of representations of media items horizontally arranged, one next to another, to form a horizontal list, the list being arranged in the user interface such that the plurality of representations are horizontally aligned to form one or more horizontal rows and vertically aligned to form a plurality of vertical columns, the user interface defining a center-locking region partially covering the horizontal list, wherein at least two or more of the plurality of columns are positioned within the center-locking region and at least one of the plurality of columns is positioned outside the center-locking region, wherein the center-locking region is a pre-determined area of the user interface that is less than a total area of the user interface, wherein a user is not able to move a focus of the user interface horizontally outside of the center-locking region, wherein the center-locking region is configured such that: each representation is capable of receiving the focus and being selected when positioned within the center-locking region, and each representation is disabled from being focused or selected in the user interface when positioned outside the center-locking region; and navigating the plurality of representations of media items in the user interface by a user input to shift the focus to a different representation of the plurality of representations of media items having at least a first representation and a second representation, the navigation comprising: in an event that horizontal navigation is attempted from the first representation within the center-locking region to the second representation outside the center-locking region: scrolling, along a horizontal direction, causing a first column of the plurality of representations outside the center-locking region to be positioned within the center-locking region on a first side of the center-locking region and the scrolling causing a second column of the plurality of representations within the center-locking region to be positioned outside the center-locking region on a second side of the center-locking region, wherein the first column includes the second representation and the first column is positioned adjacent to the center-locking region before being positioned into the center-locking region; and shifting the focus from the first representation to the second representation when the second representation has entered the center-locking region, the shifting comprising: de-highlighting the first representation to a normal presentation, wherein brightness and size of the normal presentation are equivalent to those of other representations that are displayed in the user interface; and highlighting, upon the second representation being positioned within the center-locking region, the second representation, the highlighting comprising brightening and enlarging the second representation while maintaining the other representations with the normal presentation in the user interface; wherein the list is arranged in a horizontally-oriented carousel in the user interface, wherein a gap is provided between two particular columns of the plurality of columns, wherein one of the particular columns adjacent to the gap indicates a beginning of the list represented in the carousel, and the other particular column adjacent to the gap indicates an end of the list, and wherein when, as a result of the scrolling along the horizontal direction, the gap is located within the center-locking region, the user interface scrolls the list additionally to move the gap out of the center-locking region.