PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10866718-B2
Application Number: US-201414174707-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Scrolling techniques for user interfaces

Abstract:
A device with one or more input devices receives a user input for scrolling through a representation of a set of assets, determines that an attribute associated with the received input is above a threshold value, and in response, sets a scrolling mode to be an accelerated navigation mode. While the scrolling mode is in the accelerated navigation mode and while scrolling through the representation of assets in accordance with the input, the device provides one or more asset subset identifiers that identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling in accordance with the input.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method performed by a device with one or more processors and one or more input devices, comprising:
 receiving, at the device with one or more processors and one or more input devices, from a user of the device, a user input for scrolling through a representation of a set of assets, the set including a plurality of subsets of the assets; 
 determining, by the device, that an attribute associated with the received input is above a threshold value; 
 setting a scrolling mode to be an accelerated navigation mode in response to determining that the attribute associated with the received input is above the threshold value; 
 while the scrolling mode is in the accelerated navigation mode and while scrolling through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input, providing, in addition to the scrolling representation of the set of assets, a plurality of asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling in accordance with the input, wherein a respective individual asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers corresponds to a plurality of the assets in the set of assets; 
 while continuing to scroll through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input, terminating the accelerated navigation mode; and 
 after terminating the accelerated navigation mode, continuing to scroll through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input without providing asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes superimposing over at least a portion of the representation of the set of assets an asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers that is superimposed over at least a portion of the representation of the set of assets includes textual information descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of the respective subset of the assets. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein an asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers is an audible output. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes providing first audio output when scrolling through a portion of the representation of the set of assets that corresponds to a first subset and providing second audio output, that is different from the first audio output, when scrolling through a portion of the representation of the set of assets that corresponds to a second subset. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of assets includes at least a first subset that includes assets with first metadata and a second subset that includes assets with second metadata that is different from the first metadata, and wherein the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes a first subset identifier, corresponding to the first subset, that includes text corresponding to at least a portion of the first metadata and a second subset identifier, corresponding to the second subset, that includes text corresponding to at least a portion of the second metadata. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein terminating the accelerated navigation mode comprises setting the scrolling mode to a non-accelerated navigation mode. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein setting the scrolling mode to the accelerated navigation mode includes causing the representation of the set of assets to scroll between a representation of an asset in a first subset of assets to an initial asset in a subset of assets selected from: (1) the first subset, and (2) a second subset that is consecutive with the first subset in the representation of the set of assets, and
 wherein one or more assets within at least one of the first subset or the second subset are concurrently displayed with the initial asset in the first subset or the initial asset in the second subset. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling are distinct from the representation of the set of assets through which the device is currently scrolling. 
     
     
       10. A device, comprising:
 one or more input devices; 
 one or more processors; and 
 one or more computer readable storage media including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the device to perform operations including:
 receiving at the device, from a user of the device, a user input for scrolling through a representation of a set of assets, the set including a plurality of subsets of the assets; 
 determining, by the device, that an attribute associated with the received input is above a threshold value; 
 setting a scrolling mode to be an accelerated navigation mode in response to determining that the attribute associated with the received input is above the threshold value; and 
 while the scrolling mode is in the accelerated navigation mode and while scrolling through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input, providing, in addition to the scrolling representation of the set of assets, a plurality of asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling in accordance with the input, wherein a respective individual asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers corresponds to a plurality of the assets in the set of assets; 
 while continuing to scroll through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input, terminating the accelerated navigation mode; and 
 after terminating the accelerated navigation mode, continuing to scroll through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input without providing asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein providing the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes superimposing over at least a portion of the representation of the set of assets an asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers that is superimposed over at least a portion of the representation of the set of assets includes textual information descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of the respective subset of the assets. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 10 , wherein an asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers is an audible output. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 10 , wherein providing the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes providing first audio output when scrolling through a portion of the representation of the set of assets that corresponds to a first subset and providing second audio output, that is different from the first audio output, when scrolling through a portion of the representation of the set of assets that corresponds to a second subset. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the set of assets includes at least a first subset that includes assets with first metadata and a second subset that includes assets with second metadata that is different from the first metadata, and wherein the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes a first subset identifier, corresponding to the first subset, that includes text corresponding to at least a portion of the first metadata and a second subset identifier, corresponding to the second subset, that includes text corresponding to at least a portion of the second metadata. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 10 , wherein terminating the accelerated navigation mode comprises setting the scrolling mode to a non-accelerated navigation mode. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 10 , wherein setting the scrolling mode to the accelerated navigation mode includes causing the representation of the set of assets to scroll between a representation of an asset in a first subset of assets to an initial asset in a subset of assets selected from: (1) the first subset, and (2) a second subset that is consecutive with the first subset in the representation of the set of assets, and
 wherein one or more assets within at least one of the first subset or the second subset are concurrently displayed with the initial asset in the first subset or the initial asset in the second subset. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling are distinct from the representation of the set of assets through which the device is currently scrolling. 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with a set of instructions that when executed causes a device having one or more processors to perform operations including:
 receiving at the device, from a user of the device, a user input for scrolling through a representation of a set of assets, the set including a plurality of subsets of the assets; 
 determining, by the device, that an attribute associated with the received input is above a threshold value; 
 setting a scrolling mode to be an accelerated navigation mode in response to determining that the attribute associated with the received input is above the threshold value; and 
 while the scrolling mode is in the accelerated navigation mode and while scrolling through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input, providing, in addition to the scrolling representation of the set of assets, a plurality of asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling in accordance with the input, wherein a respective individual asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers corresponds to a plurality of the assets in the set of assets; 
 while continuing to scroll through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input, terminating the accelerated navigation mode; and 
 after terminating the accelerated navigation mode, continuing to scroll through the representation of the set of assets in accordance with the input without providing asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein providing the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes superimposing over at least a portion of the representation of the set of assets an asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers. 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 20 , wherein the asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers that is superimposed over at least a portion of the representation of the set of assets includes textual information descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of the respective subset of the assets. 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein an asset subset identifier of the plurality of asset subset identifiers is an audible output. 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein providing the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes providing first audio output when scrolling through a portion of the representation of the set of assets that corresponds to a first subset and providing second audio output, that is different from the first audio output, when scrolling through a portion of the representation of the set of assets that corresponds to a second subset. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the set of assets includes at least a first subset that includes assets with first metadata and a second subset that includes assets with second metadata that is different from the first metadata, and wherein the plurality of asset subset identifiers includes a first subset identifier, corresponding to the first subset, that includes text corresponding to at least a portion of the first metadata and a second subset identifier, corresponding to the second subset, that includes text corresponding to at least a portion of the second metadata. 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein terminating the accelerated navigation mode comprises setting the scrolling mode to a non-accelerated navigation mode. 
     
     
       26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein setting the scrolling mode to the accelerated navigation mode includes causing the representation of the set of assets to scroll between a representation of an asset in a first subset of assets to an initial asset in a subset of assets selected from: (1) the first subset, and (2) a second subset that is consecutive with the first subset in the representation of the set of assets, and
 wherein one or more assets within at least one of the first subset or the second subset are concurrently displayed with the initial asset in the first subset or the initial asset in the second subset. 
 
     
     
       27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of asset subset identifiers that each identify a respective subset of the assets through which the device is currently scrolling are distinct from the representation of the set of assets through which the device is currently scrolling.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/008,322 filed Jan. 9, 2008 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/967,457, filed Sep. 4, 2007, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This can relate to systems and methods for improving the scrolling of user interfaces of electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     There is a need for improving the scrolling of user interfaces of various electronic devices. Specifically, there is a need for improving the ease and speed with which users may scroll through information using user interfaces of various electronic devices. 
     Some known electronic devices (e.g., personal computers and portable telephones) include a user interface that manipulates data transmitted via an output component based on instructions received from a user input component. Some known input components are conventional keyboards, mice, and the like that allow a user to move a selector and/or information displayed on a visual output component, such as a video monitor, for scrolling through a set of data. 
     However, the amount of data to be scrolled through is typically extensive as compared to the amount of data able to be easily displayed on the output component at any given time. Accordingly, what is needed are systems and methods for improving the ease and speed with which users may scroll through data using user interfaces of various electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Systems and methods for improving the scrolling of user interfaces of electronic devices are provided. 
     In some embodiments, a system for controlling the scrolling of information includes a first output component configured to display at least a portion of a list of listings, wherein the list of listings includes a plurality of sublists of listings. The system also includes an input component configured to receive a user movement, and an interface coupled to the input component and the first output component, wherein the interface is configured to monitor a first attribute of the user movement, and wherein the interface is configured to scroll through the list of listings on the first output component from an originating listing to a first scroll listing when the first attribute is below a first threshold. The originating listing is contained within an originating sublist of the plurality of sublists, wherein the first scroll listing is consecutive with the originating listing in the list, wherein the interface is configured to scroll through the list of listings on the first output component from the originating listing to a second scroll listing when the first attribute is above the first threshold, wherein the second scroll listing is the initial listing in a second scroll sublist of the plurality of sublists, and wherein the second scroll sublist is one of the sublists from the following group of sublists: (1) the originating sublist and (2) a sublist consecutive with the originating sublist in the list of listings. 
     In some embodiments, a method for controlling the scrolling of a list of listings on a first output component with an input component, wherein the list of listings includes a plurality of sublists of listings, includes monitoring a first attribute of a user movement of the input component. The method also includes scrolling on the first output component from an originating listing to a first scroll listing when the monitored first attribute is below a first threshold, wherein the originating listing is contained within ari originating sublist of the plurality of sublists, and wherein the first scroll listing is consecutive with the originating listing in the list. The method also includes scrolling on the first output component from the originating listing to a second scroll listing when the monitored first attribute is above the first threshold, wherein the second scroll listing is the initial listing in a second scroll sublist of the plurality of sublists, and wherein the second scroll .sublist is one of the sublists from the following group of sublists: (1) the originating sublist and (2) a sublist consecutive with the originating sublist in the list. 
     In some embodiments, a method includes detecting an accelerated navigation through a listing of assets and, while the accelerated navigation is detected, providing an asset list identifier along with the listing of assets to indicate where within the listing of assets a user is currently navigating, wherein the providing an asset list identifier comprises generating a first audible signal associated with the accelerated navigation. 
     In some embodiments, a method includes detecting an accelerated navigation through a listing of assets and, while the accelerated navigation is detected, providing an asset list identifier along with the listing of assets to indicate where within the listing of assets a user is currently navigating, wherein each asset in the listing of assets is related to an image file. 
     In some embodiments, a method includes detecting an accelerated navigation through a listing of assets and, while the accelerated navigation is detected, providing an asset list identifier along with the listing of assets to indicate where within the listing of assets a user is currently navigating, wherein each asset in the listing of assets is related to a geographic location file. 
     In some embodiments, a system for controlling the navigation of assets includes a first output component configured to provide a list of assets, a second output component, and an input component coupled to the first and second output components, wherein the input component is configured to detect an accelerated navigation through the list of assets, and wherein the second output component is configured to provide an audible asset list identifier to indicate where within the list of assets provided by the first output component a user is currently navigating when the accelerated navigation is detected. 
     In some embodiments, a system for controlling the navigation of assets includes an output component configured to provide a list of assets and an input component coupled to the output component, wherein the input component is configured to detect an accelerated navigation through the list of assets, wherein the output component is configured to provide an asset list identifier to indicate where within the list of assets a user is currently navigating when the accelerated navigation is detected, and wherein each asset in the list of assets is related to an image file. 
     In some embodiments, a system for controlling the navigation of assets includes an output component configured to provide a list of assets and an input component coupled to the output component, wherein the input component is configured to detect an accelerated navigation through the list of assets, wherein the output component is configured to provide an asset list identifier to indicate where within the list of assets a user is currently navigating when the accelerated navigation is detected, and wherein each asset in the list of assets is related to a geographic location file. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features of the present invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a simplified schematic diagram of an electronic device according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2F  show electronic devices with simplified interfaces at various stages according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a media library according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4A-4F  show electronic devices with simplified interfaces at various stages according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 5A-5F  show electronic devices with simplified interfaces at various stages according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a media library according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 7A-7F  show electronic devices with simplified interfaces at various stages according to some embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a data library according to some embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Systems and methods for improving the scrolling of user interfaces of electronic devices are provided and described with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of electronic device  100  including a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The term “electronic device” can include, but is not limited to, music players, video players, still image players, game players, other media players, music recorders, video recorders, cameras, other media recorders, radios, medical equipment, domestic appliances, transportation vehicle instruments, calculators, cellular telephones, other wireless communication devices, personal digital assistants, programmable remote controls, pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers, printers, and combinations thereof. In some cases, the electronic devices may perform a single function (e.g., a device dedicated to playing music) and, in other cases, the electronic devices may perform multiple functions (e.g., a device that plays music, displays video, stores pictures, and receives and transmits telephone calls). 
     Moreover, in some cases, these electronic devices may be any portable, mobile, hand-held, or miniature electronic device having a user interface constructed according to an embodiment of the invention that allows a user to use the device wherever the user travels. Miniature electronic devices may have a form factor that is smaller than that of hand-held electronic devices, such as an iPodp” available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Illustrative miniature electronic devices can be integrated into various objects that include, but are not limited to, watches, rings, necklaces, belts, accessories for belts, headsets, accessories for shoes, virtual reality devices, other wearable electronics, accessories for sporting equipment, accessories for fitness equipment, key chains, and combinations thereof. Alternatively, electronic devices that incorporate a user interface of the invention may not be portable at all, but may instead be generally stationary, such as a desktop computer or television. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  100  may include housing  101 , processor  102 , memory  104 , power supply  106 , communications circuitry  108 , bus  109 , input component  110 , and output component  120 . Bus  109  may provide a data transfer path for transferring data, to, from, or between at least processor  102 , memory  104 , communications circuitry  108 , input component  110 , and output component  120 . 
     One or more input components  110  may be provided to permit a user to interact or interface with device  100 . For example, input component  110  can take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, an electronic device pad, dial, click wheel, scroll wheel, touch screen, one or more buttons (e.g., a keyboard), mouse, joy stick, track ball, and combinations thereof. Input component  110  may include a multi-touch screen, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,846, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Input component  110  may emulate a rotary phone or a multi-button electronic device pad, which may be implemented on a touch screen or the combination of a click wheel or other user input device and a screen. A more detailed discussion of such a rotary phone interface may be found, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/591,752, filed Nov. 1, 2006, entitled “Touch Pad With Symbols Based On Mode,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Each input component  110  can be configured to provide one or more dedicated control functions for making selections or issuing commands associated with operating device  100 . 
     One or more output components  120  can be provided to present information (e.g., textual, graphical, audible, and/or tactile information) to a user of device  100 . Output component  120  may take various forms, including, but not limited, to audio speakers, headphones, audio line-outs, visual displays, antennas, infrared ports, rumblers, vibrators, or combinations thereof. 
     It should be noted that one or more input components and one or more output components may sometimes be referred to collectively herein as an I/O interface (e.g., input component  110  and output component  120  as I/O interface  180 ). It should also be noted that input component  110  and output component  120  may sometimes be a single I/O component, such as a touch screen that may receive input information through a user&#39;s touch of a display screen and that may also provide visual information to a user via that same display screen. 
     Communications circuitry  108  may be provided to allow device  100  to communicate with one or more other electronic devices using any suitable communications protocol. For example, communications circuitry  108  may support Wi-Fi (e.g., an 802.11 protocol), Ethernet, Bluetooth™, high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.6 GHz communication systems), infrared, TCP/IP (e.g., any of the protocols used in each of the TCP/IP layers), HTTP, BitTorrent, FTP, RTP, RTSP, SSH, any other communications protocol, or any combination thereof. Communications circuitry  108  can also include circuitry that enables device  100  to be electrically coupled to another device (e.g., a computer or an accessory device) and communicate with that other device. 
     Memory  104  may include one or more storage mediums, including for example, a hard-drive, flash memory, permanent memory such as ROM, semi-permanent memory such as RAM, any other suitable type of storage component, or any combination thereof. Memory  104  may include cache memory, which may be one or more different types of memory used for temporarily storing data for electronic device applications. Memory  104  may store media data (e.g., music, image, and video files), software (e.g., for implementing functions on device  100 ), firmware, preference information (e.g., media playback preferences), lifestyle information (e.g., food preferences), exercise information (e.g., information obtained by exercise monitoring equipment), transaction information (e.g., information such as credit card information), wireless connection information (e.g., information that may enable device  100  to establish a wireless connection), subscription information (e.g., information that keeps track of podcasts or television shows or other media a user subscribes to), contact information (e.g., telephone numbers and email addresses), calendar information, any other suitable data, or any combination thereof. 
     Power supply  106  may provide power to the components of device  100 . In some embodiments, power supply  106  can be coupled to a power grid (e.g., when device  100  is not a portable device, such as a desktop computer). In some embodiments, power supply  106  can include one or more batteries for providing power (e.g, when device  100  is a portable device, such as a cellular telephone). As another example, power supply  106  can be configured to generate power from a natural source (e.g., solar power using solar cells). 
     Housing  101  may at least partially enclose one or more of the components of device  100  for protecting them from debris and other degrading forces external to the device. In some embodiments, one or more of the components may be provided within its own housing (e.g., input component  110  may be an independent keyboard or mouse within its own housing that may wirelessly or through a wire communicate with processor  102 , which may be provided within its own housing). 
     Processor  102  of device  100  may control the operation of many functions and other circuitry included in the device. For example, processor  102  can receive input signals from input component  110  and/or drive output signals through output component  120 . Processor  102  may load a user interface program (e.g., a program stored in memory  104  or another device or server) to determine how instructions received via an input component  110  may manipulate the way in which information (e.g., information stored in memory  104  or another device or server) is provided to the user via an output component  120 . 
     As described above, a disadvantage of conventional electronic device user interfaces is that the amount of data that may be manipulated by a user via an input component is typically quite large as compared to the amount of data that may be easily provided to the user via an output component at any one point in time. Therefore, according to embodiments of the invention, systems and methods are provided for improving the ease and speed with which users may scroll through a large amount of data using user interfaces of various electronic devices. 
       FIGS. 2A-2F  show an electronic device  200  having a user interface that can selectively scroll through information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Device  200  may be a self-contained media player with an I/O interface that may include an input component  210  and an output component  220 . Device  200  may also include a housing  201  for at least partially surrounding input component  210  and output component  220 . In one embodiment, as shown, input component  210  may be a rotational input device, such as a click wheel, and output component  220  may be a video display, each of which may be found on certain iPods™ available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, device  200  can permit a user to load and browse through one or more large libraries of media or data. Each library may be stored in a memory component of the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) or may be downloaded to device  200  from another device or server (e.g., via communications circuitry  108  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. A library can contain a plurality of library entries and each library entry can include payload data and associated metadata. 
       FIG. 3 , for example, illustrates a media library  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, library  300  may be a library of songs. Library  300  may contain a plurality of song entries  326  (e.g., entries  326   a - 326   z ). Each library entry  326  may include payload data  340  (e.g., the actual audio recording of the song) and associated metadata  350  (e.g., textual information and/or graphical information related to that audio recording). As shown, each library entry  326  of library  300  includes payload data  340 . Payload data  340  for each entry  326  may be an audio recording or song file &lt;SONG_&gt; (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 , entry  326   a  may include an associated piece of payload data  340  that is song file &lt;SONG_a&gt;). This file may be a WAV file, an MP3 file, or any other type of audio file. All metadata  350  for each entry  326  is information associated with payload data  340  of that entry  326 . 
     For example, a particular piece of metadata  350  that may be associated with an audio recording file  340  of a particular song entry  326  in library  300  is textual information metadata. Such textual information may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the title of the song (e.g., song title metadata  351 ), the length of the song (e.g., song length metadata  352 ), the name of the song&#39;s artist (e.g., song artist metadata  353 ), the name of the album on which the song originally appears (e.g., song album metadata  354 ), or any other facet of the song, such as the lyrics of the song, for example. As shown, song title metadata  351  for each entry  326  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the title of the song (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 , &lt;SONG_a&gt; of entry  326   a  may have an associated piece of song title metadata  351  that is alphanumeric string “A BAD ONE”). 
     Similarly, song length metadata  352  for each entry  326  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the length of the song (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 , &lt;SONG_a&gt; of entry  326   a  may have an associated piece of song length metadata  352  that is alphanumeric string “03:22”). Likewise, song artist metadata  353  for each entry  326  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the song&#39;s artist (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 , &lt;SONG_a&gt; of entry  326   a  may have an associated piece of song artist metadata  353  that is alphanumeric string “ARTIST_a”), while song album metadata  354  for each entry  326  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the song&#39;s album (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 , &lt;SONG_a&gt; of entry  326   a  may have an associated piece of song album metadata  354  that is alphanumeric string “ALBUM a”). 
     Another particular piece of metadata  350  that may be associated with an audio recording file  340  of a particular song entry  326  in library  300  is graphical information. Such graphical information may be an image or video file depicting or descriptive of the cover art of the album on which the song originally appears (e.g., cover art metadata  355 ) or any other facet of the song, such as a picture of the song&#39;s artist, for example. As shown, cover art metadata  355  for each entry  326  may be an image file representing or descriptive of the cover art of the song&#39;s album (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 , &lt;SONG_a&gt; of entry  326   a  may have an associated piece of cover art metadata  355  that is image file &lt;ART_a&gt;). 
     Yet another particular piece of metadata  350  that may be associated with an audio recording file  340  of a particular song entry  326  in library  300  is additional audio information. Such additional audio information may be an additional audio file representative of at least a portion of the associated payload audio recording file  340 . For example, the additional audio information may be a condensed or smaller or shorter version of the payload audio recording file, such as a thirty-second clip of a much longer payload audio recording file, or a short recording enunciating the name of the song&#39;s title or first alphanumeric character of the song&#39;s album (e.g., audio clip metadata  356 ). As shown, audio clip metadata  356  for each entry  326  may be an audio file representative of a short portion of the associated payload audio recording file  340  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 , &lt;SONG_a&gt; of entry  326   a  may have an associated piece of audio clip metadata  356  that is audio file &lt;CLIP a&gt;). 
     There are many other various types of metadata  350  that can be associated with a particular payload audio file  340  of a particular song entry  326  in library  300 . For example, such a particular piece of metadata may include preference information (e.g., media playback preferences), exercise information (e.g., information obtained by exercise monitoring equipment), transaction information (e.g., information such as credit card information), subscription information (e.g., information that keeps track of podcasts or television shows or other media a user subscribes to), contact information (e.g., telephone numbers and email addresses), calendar information, or any other suitable type of information that a user or other entity may wish to associate with a particular payload audio file of a particular song entry in a library of songs (e.g., miscellaneous metadata  357 ). As shown, miscellaneous metadata  357  for each entry  326  may be any type of file or alphanumeric string representative of any facet of the associated payload audio recording file  340  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 , &lt;SONG_a&gt; of entry  326   a  may have an associated piece of miscellaneous metadata  357  that is miscellaneous &lt;MISC_a&gt;). 
     As mentioned, each library (e.g., library  300 ) or any particular portions of a library (e.g., cover art metadata  355 ) may be stored in any memory component of device  200  (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) or may be downloaded to device  200  from any another device or server (e.g., via communications circuitry  108  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. In one embodiment, most of library  300  may be stored locally on device  200  (e.g., in memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) but cover art metadata  355  for each entry  326  may be an image file (e.g., image file &lt;ART_a&gt;) stored on a separate server or device. When some portion of the library is stored locally on device  200  and other portions are stored on a separate server, the library portion on the device may store pointers (e.g., URLs) to the corresponding portions of the library stored on remote servers, for example. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, device  200  may include a user interface that allows a user to quickly and easily alternate between two or more modes of scrolling through a list of library entries. For example, the user interface of device  200  may quickly and easily switch between first and second scrolling modes in response to a particular type of user command generated by input component  210 . This can improve the speed and ease with which a user may search for a particular entry within an extensive library of entries. 
       FIGS. 2A-2F  illustrate a user interface  222  that may be displayed on output component  220  when a user is accessing a library of entries (e.g., library  300  of song entries  326 ) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A user interface can present the library of entries to the user as a list of descriptive entry listings, each of which may be associated with a particular entry of the library being accessed. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2A , user interface  222 A can present a set of five (5) descriptive entry listings  226  (e.g., entry listings  226   a ,  226   b ,  226   c ,  226   d , and  226   e ). Each particular listing  226  may be associated with a particular entry of the library and can include at least a portion of at least one piece of metadata associated with that particular library entry. 
     For example, in the embodiment where a user is accessing library  300  of song entries  326  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ), user interface  222 A can present the set of five (5) descriptive entry listings  226   a - 226   e  such that each particular listing  226  may be associated with a particular song entry  326  of library  300 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , for example, each particular listing  226  may include at least a portion of at least one piece of metadata  350  associated with the particular library entry  326  being presented by that listing  226 . Particularly, in the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , each one of descriptive entry listings  226   a - 226   e  includes song title metadata  351  for each of respective song entries  326   a - 326   e . Therefore, the alphanumeric string representative of the title of the song file  340  associated with each of entries  326   a - 326   e  to be displayed by user interface  222 A is included in a respective one of descriptive entry listings  226   a - 226   e . As shown in  FIG. 2A , for example, listing  226   a  may include the title metadata  351  associated with library entry  326   a  (i.e., “A BAD ONE”), listing  226   b  may include the title metadata  351  associated with library entry  326   b  (i.e., “ACCENT”), listing  226   c  may include the title metadata  351  associated with library entry  326   c  (i.e., “ADVENTURE”), listing  226   d  may include the title metadata  351  associated with library entry  326   d  (i.e., “AFTER DARK”), and listing  226   e  may include the title metadata  351  associated with library entry  326   e  (i.e., “AROUND US”). 
     User interface  222  may also include a highlighter or selector indicator  228  that can differentiate one or more specific descriptive entry listings  226  from the other listings  226  displayed on output component  220  at any given time (e.g., listing  226   c  in user interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A ). Indicator  228  may help to identify the listing that can be selected by the user using input component  210 . Indicator  228  may be a star-like icon, as shown, or it may simply be a different shading or coloring over part or all of the one or more listings to be differentiated, for example. 
     User interface  222  may also include a status portion  224  that can describe the status of device  200 . For example, as show in  FIG. 2A , status portion  224  of user interface  222 A can include a battery status indicator portion  221  that may present information indicative of the charge of the battery powering device  200  (e.g., power supply  106  of  FIG. 1 ). Status portion  224  of user interface  222 A can also include a library status indicator  223  that may be descriptive of the specific library being accessed by the user (e.g., “All Songs” when all the song entries  326  of library  300  are being accessed). Moreover, status portion  224  of user interface  222 A can include a scrolling status indicator  225  that may be descriptive of the specific library entry being highlighted relative to the entire library being accessed (e.g., “(3 of 26)” when listing  226   c  associated with third entry  326   c  of twenty-six (26) entries  326   a - 326   z  is being highlighted, as shown in  FIG. 2A ). Various other types of information may be provided by status portion  224  of user interface  222  according to the invention. 
     Rotational input component  210  may include a selector  212  surrounded by a curved track  214 , as shown in  FIG. 2A , for example. A user may interact with input component  210  to send various types of input signals to the user interface of device  200 . For example, a user may interact with input component  210  by gesturing in a rotational manner along curved track  214 , either in the direction of arrow L or in the direction of arrow R, or by clicking on selector  212 . In one embodiment, if the user desires to select the library entry associated with the descriptive entry listing  226  distinguished by indicator  228  of the user interface  222  on output component  220 , he or she may click on selector  212 . However, if the user desires to select a descriptive entry listing  226  other than the one distinguished by indicator  228 , he or she may gesture in a rotational manner along curved track  214  to scroll through the listings, for example. 
       FIGS. 2A-2F  illustrate how user interface  222  of device  200  can allow a user to scroll through listings  226  such that new listings may be distinguished by indicator  228  on display  220 . As a user indicates the desire to browse or scroll through the displayed listings  226  of a particular library (e.g., library  300 ), device  200  can update the user interface  222  on output component  220  by displaying one or more new listings  226  and/or by moving indicator  228  with respect to the displayed listings. 
     For example, a user may gesture or impart a movement in the direction of arrow R along track  214  in such a way that user interface  222  scrolls downwardly through one additional listing  226 . For example, user interface  222  may monitor an attribute of the user movement and update user interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A  on output component  220  such that a single new listing  226   f  is displayed at the bottom of the interface, as shown in updated user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B . As shown, this also may shift indicator  228  with respect to the listings such that a new listing (e.g., listing  226   d  of  FIG. 2B ) is highlighted. Alternatively, a user may gesture in the direction of arrow L along track  214  in such a way that user interface  222  scrolls upwardly through one additional listing  226 . For example, user interface  222  may monitor an attribute of the user movement and update user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B  on output component  220  such that a single new listing  226   a  is displayed at the top of the list, as shown in user interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A . As shown, this also may shift indicator  228  with respect to the listings such that a new listing (e.g., listing  226   c  of  FIG. 2A ) is highlighted. 
     As well as handling various gesture types (e.g., user movement in the direction of arrows L and R), input component  210  may generate different instructions to the user interface of device  200  based on various attributes of a particular gesture type. The user interface may monitor at least a first attribute of a particular type of user movement received by the input component and thereby vary the way in which listings are scrolled. For example, user interface  222  may monitor an attribute of a user&#39;s movement on input component  210 , such as the speed, length, or frequency of a user&#39;s movement in the direction of arrow R along track  214 , and may vary the way in which listings  226  are scrolled with respect to indicator  228  based on that monitored attribute. In one embodiment, the listings  226  may be scrolled upwardly or downwardly one listing at a time when a monitored attribute of a user movement is below a certain threshold (e.g., when the speed of the movement is below a certain threshold velocity) and may be scrolled differently than one listing at a time when the monitored attribute of the user movement is above a certain threshold (e.g., when the speed of the movement is above a certain threshold velocity). 
     As described, a user may gesture in the direction of arrow R along track  214  in such a way that user interface  222  is updated with a single new listing  226  displayed at the bottom of the list (e.g., as shown in the update of user interface  222  between interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A  and interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B ). This may occur, for example, if a monitored attribute of the user movement is below a certain threshold. Alternatively, the user may gesture in the direction of arrow R along track  214  in such a way that user interface  222  may be updated differently than with just a single new listing at the bottom of the list (e.g., as shown in the update of user interface  222  between interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B  and interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C ). This may occur, for example, if a monitored attribute of the user movement is above a certain threshold. 
     There are various ways in which a user interface may scroll through a list of listings other than one listing at a time. For example, rather than simply scrolling from an original listing to a new listing that is consecutive with the original listing in the list, the list may be broken down into several sublists and a user interface may scroll from an original listing in a first sublist of the list to a new listing that is either the initial listing in the first sublist or the initial listing in a sublist that is consecutive with the first sublist in the list. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-3 , for example, user interface  222  may provide a list of listings  226  on output component  220 . This list of listings  226  may include a plurality of sublists of listings  226 , as described in more detail below. 
     Moreover, as described above, each one of listings  226  in the list of listings may be associated with an entry  326  in library  300 , and each entry  326  in library  300  may include at least a first piece of metadata  350 , such as song title metadata  351 . 
     Each listing  226  in the list of listings on user interface  222  may be included in one of the plurality of sublists of listings  226  based on a first characteristic of this first piece of metadata. For example, each listing  226  in the list of listings on user interface  222  may be included in one of a plurality of sublists of listings  226  based on a first characteristic of the song title metadata  351  associated with that listing. Song title metadata  351  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters (e.g., “A BAD ONE” or “ACCENT” or “BALLOON” or “CLAM BAKE”). Therefore, each listing  226  in the list of listings on user interface  222  may be included in one of a plurality of sublists of listings  226  based on a first characteristic of the alphanumeric string, such as the first alphanumeric character of the string (e.g., “A” for “A BAD ONE”, or “A” FOR “ACCENT”, or “B” for “BALLOON”, or “C” for “CLAM BAKE”). As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , for example, each one of listings  226   a - 226   g  may therefore be considered to be in a first sublist of the plurality of sublists in the list of listings  226  on user interface  222  because the first alphanumeric character of the song title metadata  351  for each of those listings  226   a - 226   g  is an “A”. Similarly, as shown in  FIGS. 2C and 2D , for example, each one of listings  226   h - 226   j  may therefore be considered to be in a second sublist of the plurality of sublists in the list of listings  226  on user interface  222  because the first alphanumeric character of the song title metadata  351  for each of those listings  226   h - 226   j  is a “B”. 
     The listings  226  in each one of the plurality of sublists may be ordered within a particular sublist based on a second characteristic of the first piece of metadata. For example, each one of listings  226   a - g  in the first sublist on user interface  222  may be ordered within that sublist based on a second characteristic of the song title metadata  351 . Song title metadata  351  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters. Therefore, each one of listings  226   a - g  in the first sublist on user interface  222  may be ordered within that sublist based on a second characteristic of the alphanumeric string, such as the alphanumerical order of the string. For example, each one of listings  226   a - g  in the first sublist on user interface  222  may therefore be ordered within that sublist as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  because “A BAD ONE” alphanumerically precedes “ACCENT”, which alphanumerically precedes “ADVENTURE”, which alphanumerically precedes “AFTER DARK”, which alphanumerically precedes “AROUND US”, which alphanumerically precedes “AT LAST”, which alphanumerically precedes “AZTECS”. Similarly, each one of listings  226   h - j  in the second sublist on user interface  222  may therefore be ordered within that sublist as shown in  FIGS. 2D and 2E  because “BALLOON” alphanumerically precedes “BEST GIRL”, which alphanumerically precedes “BUD”. 
     Finally, the plurality of sublists of listings  226  may be ordered within the list of listings  226  provided by user interface  222  based on the first characteristic of the first piece of metadata. For example, the first sublist containing listings  226   a - g  and the second sublist containing listings  226   h - j  may be ordered within the list of listings  226  provided by user interface  222  based on the first characteristic of the first piece of metadata (e.g., based on the alphanumerical order of the first alphanumeric character of the song title metadata  351 ). For example, the first sublist containing listings  226   a - g  and the second sublist containing listings  226   h - j  may be ordered within the list of listings  226  provided by user interface  222  as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  because the first alphanumeric character “A” of the song title metadata  351  associated with the first sublist alphanumerically precedes the first alphanumeric character “B” of the song title metadata  351  associated with the second sublist. Similarly, the second sublist containing listings  226   h - j  and a third sublist containing listings  226   k - 1  may be ordered within the list of listings  226  provided by user interface  222  as shown in  FIGS. 2C-2F  because the first alphanumeric character “B” of the song title metadata  351  associated with the second sublist alphanumerically precedes the first alphanumeric character “C” of the song title metadata  351  associated with the third sublist. 
     A list of listings that is broken down into several sublists of listings, such as listings  226  of  FIGS. 2A-3 , may be scrolled by a user interface in various ways. In one embodiment, user interface  222  may simply scroll from an original listing to a new listing that is consecutive with the original listing in the list, regardless of the original listing&#39;s sublist (i.e., “elementally-scroll”). For example, as described above, user interface  222  may simply scroll downwardly from an original listing  226   c  in user interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A  to a new listing  226   d  that is downwardly consecutive with original listing  226   c  in the list of listings  226 , as shown in user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B . User interface  222  may provide this downward “elemental-scrolling” from original listing  226   c  to downwardly consecutive new listing  226   d  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow R along track  214  that is below a certain threshold, for example. Likewise, as described above, user interface  222  may simply scroll upwardly from an original listing  226   d  in user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B  to a new listing  226   c  that is upwardly consecutive with original listing  226   d  in the list of listings  226 , as shown in user interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A . User interface  222  may provide this upward “elemental-scrolling” from original listing  226   d  to upwardly consecutive new listing  226   c  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  214  that is below a certain threshold, for example. 
     Alternatively, user interface  222  may scroll from an original listing in a first sublist of the list to a new listing that is either (1) the initial listing in a second sublist that is consecutive with the first sublist in the list or (2) the initial listing in the first sublist (i.e., “quickly-scroll”). For example, user interface  222  may scroll downwardly from an original listing  226   d  in a first sublist containing listings  226   a - g , as shown in user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B , to a new listing  226   h  that is the initial listing in a second sublist (e.g., the initial listing in the sublist containing listings  226   h - j ) that is downwardly consecutive with the first sublist in the list, as shown in user interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C . User interface  222  may provide this downward “quick-scrolling” from original listing  226   d  to new listing  226   h  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  214  that is above a certain threshold, for example. 
     Somewhat likewise, user interface  222  may scroll upwardly from an original listing  226   l  in a first sublist containing listings  226   k  and  226   l , as shown in user interface  222 E of  FIG. 2E , to a new listing  226   k  that is the initial listing in the first sublist, as shown in user interface  222 D of  FIG. 2D . User interface  222  may provide this upward “quick-scrolling” from original listing  226   l  to new listing  226   k  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  214  that is above a certain threshold, for example. Although it is to be noted that user interface  222  may also provide this upward scrolling from original listing  226   l  to new listing  226   k  through “elemental-scrolling,” by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  214  that is below a certain threshold, for example, because listings  226   k  and  226   l  are the only two listings in their sublist. User interface  222  of the invention may provide quick-scrolling or any other mode of scrolling independently of any sublists that may categorize certain listings of a list of listings being accessed by a user. For example, a first mode of scrolling may be “elemental” in that it scrolls from one listing to a new consecutive listing, while a second mode of scrolling may jump to a new listing that is ten (10) listings removed from the original listing. 
     These thresholds of various attributes of various user movements that may be monitored by user interface  222  to determine whether to “elementally-scroll” or “quickly-scroll” through the listings  226  provided on output component  220  may be determined by a user of device  200  or the manufacturer of device  200 . For example, a user may select a threshold based on how many entries are in the library through which he or she wishes to scroll. Alternatively, a user may select a threshold based on his or her dexterity using the input component. These thresholds may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     Therefore, according to an embodiment of the invention, user interface  222  of device  200  may quickly and easily switch between a first “elemental-scrolling” mode and a second “quick-scrolling” mode for updating the displayed portion of a list of descriptive entry listings  226  on output component  220  in response to a monitored attribute of a particular type of user movement of input component  210 . This can improve the speed and ease with which a user may search for a particular entry within an extensive library of entries. The user interface of the invention may provide more than two modes of scrolling by monitoring an attribute of a user movement with respect to more than one threshold or by monitoring more than one attribute of a user movement. Moreover, a quick-scrolling mode of the user interface may scroll through a list of listings in various other ways, such as immediately to the end of the list, or immediately to the middle of the list, for example. 
     In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  226  are scrolled on output component  220  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  210 , user interface  222  may also change the type of information transmitted to the user in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  210 . For example, when user interface  222  quick-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  226   d  in a first sublist to a new listing  226   h  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive second sublist, user interface  222  may also enhance itself by providing a visual enhancer  230  along with the updated set of listings  226  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B  to user interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C ). 
     Visual enhancer  230  may be any additional information, such as an icon or image or string of one or more alphanumerical characters, that is descriptive or related to at least one characteristic of the new listing or the second sublist (i.e., the sublist that contains the new listing). For example, as shown in  FIG. 2C , visual enhancer  230  may be a block of textual information superimposed over the rest of user interface  222 C so that it may be easily seen by the user. Visual enhancer  230  may include a string of one or more alphanumerical characters representative of the characteristic of the piece of metadata that is the basis for the differentiation between sublists in the list of listings  226  (e.g., the first alphanumeric character of the song title metadata  351 , which is “B” for the sublist containing new listing  226   h ), as shown in  FIG. 2C , for example. Alternatively, visual enhancer  230  may include an image representative of the new listing (e.g., image file &lt;ART in &gt; of cover art metadata  355  associated with library entry  326   m , and thus new listing  226   m ). 
     In one embodiment, user interface  222  may continuously show visual enhancer  230  as long as the user interface continues to quick-scroll through the listings. For example, if user interface  222  continues to quick-scroll downwardly from listing  226   h  in a first sublist to a new listing  226   k  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive second sublist, as shown in the update from user interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C  to user interface  222 D of  FIG. 2D , user interface  222  may continue to provide visual enhancer  230  along with the updated set of listings  226 . However, the textual information within visual enhancer  230  may be changed to reflect the new sublist containing the new listing (e.g., “C” for the sublist containing new listing  226   k ). 
     When user interface  222  terminates quick-scrolling and begins elemental-scrolling, for example, visual enhancer  230  may also be terminated. For example, if user interface  222  stops quick-scrolling but continues to update the listings  226  displayed on output component  220  by elementally-scrolling downwardly from listing  226   k  to downwardly consecutive listing  226   l , as shown in the update from user interface  222 D of  FIG. 2D  to user interface  222 E of  FIG. 2E , user interface  222  may stop providing visual enhancer  230 . User interface  222  may continue to not provide visual enhancer  230  as the interface continues to elementally-scroll through the listings, as shown in the update from user interface  222 E of  FIG. 2E  to user interface  222 F of  FIG. 2F . 
     It is to be noted, however, that in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, user interface  222  may provide visual enhancer  230  along with an updated set of listings  226  even when it is not quick-scrolling. For example, user interface  222  may once again provide visual enhancer  230  if the interface elementally-scrolls upwardly through the listings from listing  226   l  to listing  226   k , as shown in the update from user interface  222 E of  FIG. 2E  to user interface  222 D of  FIG. 2D . 
     The situations in which user interface may provide a visual enhancer, such as visual enhancer  230  of  FIGS. 2C and 2D , may be determined by a user of device  200  or the manufacturer of device  200 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with a visual enhancer only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with a visual enhancer whenever he or she scrolls to a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     As an alternative or in addition to visually enhancing an updated set of listings  226  with a visual enhancer  230 , user interface may enhance itself aurally. As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F , device  200  may also include an audio output component  240 . Audio output component  240  may be any output component suitable for transmitting audible information to a user, such as a speaker, headphones, or the like. In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  226  are scrolled on output component  220  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  210 , user interface  222  may also change the type of audio information transmitted to the user via output component  240  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  210 . 
     For example, when user interface  222  elementally-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  226   c  to downwardly consecutive listing  226   d  in the list of listings, user interface may enhance itself aurally by transmitting a first sound  241  via output component  240  while also updating the set of listings  226  on output component  220  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A  to user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B ). On the other hand, when user interface  222  quick-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  226   d  to a new listing  226   h  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  222  may enhance itself aurally by transmitting a second sound  242  via output component  240  while also updating the set of listings  226  on output component  220  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 B of  FIG. 213  to user interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C ), for example. 
     First sound  241  and second sound  242  may each be a single tone or a much more complex sound, such as a song. In one embodiment, first sound  241  may be a single short “clicking” sound indicative of the short scrolling between consecutive listings  226   c  and  226   d  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A  to user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B ), while second sound  242  may be a longer “clunking” sound indicative of the quick-scrolling between listings  226   d  and  226   h  of different sublists (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B  to user interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C ). The same first sound  241  may be transmitted by user interface  222  every time it elementally-scrolls between two listings and the same second sound  242  may be transmitted by user interface  222  every time it quickly-scrolls between two listings. This may help a user to more quickly and more easily realize how he or she is scrolling through the listings. 
     For example, when user interface  222  continues to quick-scroll downwardly from an original listing  226   h  to a new listing  226   k  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  222  may enhance itself aurally by once again transmitting second sound  242  via output component  240  while also updating the set of listings  226  on output component  220  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C  to user interface  222 D of  FIG. 2D ). Then, when user interface  222  begins to once again elementally-scroll downwardly, such as from an original listing  226   k  to downwardly consecutive listing  226   l , the user interface may enhance itself aurally by once again transmitting the first sound  241  via output component  240  while also updating the set of listings  226  on output component  220  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 D of  FIG. 2D  to user interface  222 E of  FIG. 2E ). 
     However, there are various other ways in which user interface  222  can transmit different sounds via output component  240  for increasing the ease and speed with which a user may scroll through a list of listings  226 . For example, in another embodiment, the sound transmitted by user interface  222  via output component  240  may be specifically associated with the listing being highlighted by indicator  228 . For example, when user interface  222  scrolls to a new listing  226   m  (e.g., by elementally scrolling downwardly from an original listing  226   l ), the user interface may enhance itself aurally by transmitting via output  240  a third sound  243  that is in some way related to new listing  226   m  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 E of  FIG. 2E  to user interface  222 F of  FIG. 2F ). Therefore, according to one embodiment, when interface  222  is updated to highlight listing  226   m , third sound  243  may be audio clip &lt;CLIP_m&gt; (i.e., audio clip metadata  356  associated with library entry  326   m ). 
     The situations in which user interface may provide an aural enhancement via output component  240 , may be determined by a user of device  200  or the manufacturer of device  200 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with aural enhancement only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with aural enhancement whenever he or she scrolls to a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     As an alternative or in addition to visually enhancing an updated set of listings  226  with a visual enhancer  230  and/or aurally enhancing an updated set of listings  226  with sounds via an audio output component  240 , user interface may enhance itself haptically or tactilely. As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F , device  200  may also include a haptic output component  250 . Haptic output component  250  may be any output component suitable for transmitting haptic or tactile information to a user, such as a rumble pack, vibration generator, or the like. In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  226  are scrolled on output component  220  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  210 , user interface  222  may also change the type of haptic information transmitted to the user via output component  250  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  210 . 
     For example, when user interface  222  elementally-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  226   c  to downwardly consecutive listing  226   d , user interface may enhance itself haptically by transmitting a first haptic signal  251  via output component  250  while also updating the set of listings  226  on output component  220  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 A of  FIG. 2A  to user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B ). On the other hand, when user interface  222  quick-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  226   d  to a new listing  226   h  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  222  may enhance itself haptically by transmitting a second haptic signal  252  via output component  250  while also updating the set of listings  226  on output component  220  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 B of  FIG. 2B  to user interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C ), for example. 
     First haptic signal  251  and second haptic signal  252  may each be a single force or a much more complex motion, such as a steady beat. In one embodiment, first haptic signal  251  may provide a single short vibrating sensation to the user that is indicative of the short scrolling between consecutive listings  226   c  and  226   d , while second haptic signal  252  may provide a longer and more powerful vibrating sensation to the user that is indicative of the quick-scrolling between listings  226   d  and  226  of different sublists. The same first haptic signal  251  may be transmitted by user interface  222  every time it elementally-scrolls between two listings and the same second haptic signal  252  may be transmitted by user&#39; interface  222  every time it quickly-scrolls between two listings. This may help a user to more quickly and more easily realize how he or she is scrolling through the listings. 
     For example, when user interface  222  continues to quick-scroll downwardly from an original listing  226   h  to a new listing  226   k  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  222  may enhance itself haptically by once again transmitting second haptic signal  252  via output component  250  while also updating the set of listings  226  on output component  220  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 C of  FIG. 2C  to user interface  222 D of  FIG. 2D ). Then, when user interface  222  begins to once again elementally-scroll downwardly, such as from an original listing  226   k  to downwardly consecutive listing  226   l , the user interface may enhance itself haptically by once again transmitting the first haptic signal  251  via output component  250  while also updating the set of listings  226  on output component  220  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 D of  FIG. 2D  to user interface  222 E of  FIG. 2E ). 
     However, there are various other ways in which user interface  222  can transmit different haptic signals via output component  250  for increasing the ease and speed with which a user may scroll through a list of listings  226 . For example, in another embodiment, the haptic signal transmitted by user interface  222  via output component  250  may be specifically associated with the listing being highlighted by indicator  228 . For example, when user interface  222  scrolls to a new listing  226   m  (e.g., by elementally scrolling downwardly from an original listing  226   l ), the user interface may enhance itself haptically by transmitting via output  250  a third haptic signal  253  that is in some way related to new listing  226   m  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  222 E of  FIG. 2E  to user interface  222 F of  FIG. 2F ). Therefore, according to one embodiment, when interface  222  is updated to highlight listing  226   m , third haptic signal  253  may be miscellaneous signal &lt;MISC_m&gt; (i.e., miscellaneous metadata  356  associated with library entry  326   m ). 
     The situations in which user interface may provide haptic or tactile enhancement via output component  250 , may be determined by a user of device  200  or the manufacturer of device  200 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with haptic enhancement only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with haptic enhancement whenever he or she scrolls to a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     There are various other ways in which descriptive entry listings may be provided on a user interface to allow a user to scroll through library  300  of song entries  326  than as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F . For example,  FIGS. 4A-4F  illustrate various other ways in which a user interface may provide descriptive entry listings when a user is accessing library  300  in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , user interface  422  of device  400  can present a set of five (5) descriptive entry listings  426 , each of which may be associated with a particular entry  326  of library  300 , similarly to user interface  222  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . However, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , each one of descriptive entry listings  426   a - 426   f  may include not only song title metadata  351 , but also song artist metadata  353  and cover art metadata  355  for each of respective song entries  326   a - 326   f  (e.g. song title metadata  351  “ADVENTURE”, song artist metadata  353  “ARTIST_c”, and cover art metadata  355  &lt;ART c&gt; for listing  226   c  of  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). 
     Moreover, user interface  422  of device  400  may also include a highlighter or selector indicator  428  that can differentiate one or more specific descriptive entry listings  426  from the other listings  426  displayed on output component  420  at any given time (e.g., listing  426   c  in user interface  422 A of  FIG. 4A ). Indicator  428  may help to identify the listing that can be selected by the user using input component  410 , similarly to indicator  228  of  FIG. 2A . However, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , indicator  428  may be highlighted border about the listing to be differentiated. 
     Device  400  may include an input component  410  with which a user may interact to send various types of input signals to the user interface, similarly to input component  210  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . However, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , input component  410  may be a set of buttons including upward button  414 U, downward button  414 D, and selector button  412 . A user may interact with input component  410  to send various types of input signals to the user interface of device  400 . In one embodiment, if the user desires to select the library entry associated with the descriptive entry listing  426  distinguished by indicator  428  of the user interface  422  on output component  420 , he or she may click on selector button  412 . However, if the user desires to select a descriptive entry listing  426  other than the one distinguished by indicator  428 , he or she may provide a user input by pressing upward button  414 U or downward button  414 D to scroll through the listings, for example. One or more attributes of a user&#39;s interaction with buttons  414 U and  414 D may be monitored with respect to one or more thresholds to vary the way in which user interface  422  scrolls through listings  426  (e.g., the frequency of button presses within a certain period of time or the duration of a button push). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , for example, a user interface  422 ′ of a device  400 ′ can present a set of five (5) descriptive entry listings  426 ′, each of which may be associated with a particular entry  326  of library  300 , similarly to user interface  222  of  FIGS. 2C and 2D . However, as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , user interface  422 ′ may provide on output component  420 ′ not only the set of listings  426 ′ and a status portion  424 ′, but also a visual enhancement portion  429 ′. 
     Visual enhancement portion  429 ′ may include one or more visual enhancers  430 ′. Each of the one or more visual enhancers  430 ′ may be any additional information, such as an icon or image or string of one or more alphanumerical characters, that is descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of a listing  426 ′ or its sublist. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , visual enhancement portion  429 ′ may include a vertical list of visual enhancers  430 ′ running parallel to the set of listings  426 ′ on output component  420 ′ of user interface  422 ′. This list may include a top visual enhancer  430 _ 1 ′, a middle visual enhancer  430 _ 2 ′, and a bottom visual enhancer  430 _ 3 ′. 
     Middle visual enhancer  430 _ 2 ′ may be any additional information that is descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of the highlighted listing or the sublist containing that highlighted listing (e.g., listing  426   h ′ of  FIG. 4C  and listing  426   k ′ of  FIG. 4D , as highlighted by indicator  428 ′). For example, as shown in  FIG. 4C , middle visual enhancer  430 _ 2 ′ may be a block of textual information within visual enhancement portion  429 ′ of user interface  422 C′. Middle visual enhancer  430 _ 2 ′ may include a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative of the characteristic of the piece of metadata that is the basis for the differentiation between sublists in the list of listings  426 ′ (e.g., the first alphanumeric character of the song title metadata  351 , which is “B” for the sublist containing highlighted listing  426   h ′ of user interface  422 C′), as shown in  FIG. 4C , for example. 
     In one embodiment, top visual enhancer  430 _ 1 ′ may be any additional information that is descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of the sublist upwardly consecutive from the sublist containing the highlighted listing. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4C , top visual enhancer  430 _ 1 ′ may include a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative of the characteristic of the piece of metadata that is the basis for the differentiation between sublists in the list of listings  426 ′ (e.g., the first alphanumeric character of the song title metadata  351 , which is “A” for the sublist upwardly consecutive from the sublist containing highlighted listing  426   h ′ of user interface  422 C′). Similarly, bottom visual enhancer  430 _ 3 ′ may be any additional information that is descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of the sublist downwardly consecutive from the sublist containing the highlighted listing. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4D , bottom visual enhancer  430 _ 3 ′ may include a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative of the characteristic of the piece of metadata that is the basis for the differentiation between sublists in the list of listings  426 ′ (e.g., the first alphanumeric character of the song title metadata  351 , which is “D” for the sublist downwardly consecutive from the sublist containing highlighted listing  426   k ′ of user interface  422 D′). In one embodiment, the visual enhancer  430 ′ that is associated with the listing  426 ′ highlighted by indicator  428 ′ may also be highlighted by its own indicator. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , middle visual enhancer  430 _ 2 ′ may be highlighted by an indicator  438 ′ such that it is differentiated from top visual enhancer  430   1 ′ and bottom visual enhancer  430   3 ′. 
     Device  400 ′ may include an input component  410 ′ with which a user may interact to send various types of input signals to the user interface, similarly to input component  210  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . However, as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , input component  410 ′ may be combined with output component  420 ′ to be a touch screen display that can provide textual and graphic information to the user as well as accept input instructions from the user. 
     In one embodiment, if the user desires to select the library entry associated with any of the descriptive entry listings  426 ′ of user interface  422 ′ displayed on output component  420 ′, he or she may simply tap that portion of the interface  422 . However, if the user desires to select a descriptive entry listing  426 ′ other than the ones currently displayed on output component  420 ′, he or she may impart either an upward flicking motion on the display in the direction of arrow FU (e.g., for scrolling from the listings of user interface  422 C′ of  FIG. 4C  to the listings of user interface  422 D′ of  FIG. 4D ) or a downward flicking motion on the display in the direction of arrow FD (e.g., for scrolling from the listings of user interface  422 D′ of  FIG. 4D  to the listings of user interface  422 C′ of  FIG. 4C ). One or more attributes of a user&#39;s interaction with interface  422 ′ for sending input signals (e.g., flicking motions on the display in the direction of arrows FU or FD) may be monitored with respect to one or more thresholds to vary the way in which user interface  422 ′ scrolls through listings  426 ′ (e.g., the frequency of flicking motions within a certain period of time or the duration of a flicking motion). 
       FIGS. 4E and 4F  illustrate yet another example of the various ways in which descriptive entry listings may be provided on a user interface to allow a user to scroll through library  300  of song entries  326 , A user interface  422 ″ of a device  400 ″ can present a status portion  424 ″ and a set of five (5) descriptive entry listings  426 ″, each of which may be associated with a particular entry  326  of library  300 , similarly to user interface  222  of  FIGS. 2E and 2F . However, as shown in  FIGS. 4E and 4F , user interface  422 ″ may provide each one of descriptive entry listings  426   j ″- 426   o ″ to include cover art metadata  355  and may display listings  426 ″ in an apparently three-dimensional environment on output component  420 ″. For example, in one embodiment, listings  426 ″ may be provided in a horizontal array such that an innermost listing in the array is facing the user and is partially superimposed over other listings extending away from the innermost listing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4E , innermost listing  426   l ″ may include image &lt;ART_1&gt; (i.e., the piece of cover art metadata  355  associated with library entry  326   l ) as well as the title metadata  351  (i.e., “CLAM BAKE”) and the artist metadata  353  (i.e., “ARTIST 1”) associated with library entry  326   l . However, each of the other listings  426 ″ of user interface  422 E″ of  FIG. 4E  may only include the cover art metadata  355  image file of its associated library entry  326 . 
     Moreover, user interface  422 ″ of device  400 ″ may not include a highlighter or selector indicator, such as indicator  228  of  FIGS. 2A-2F . Instead, the placement or orientation of a particular listing  426 ″ as the innermost listing of the horizontal array of listings on output component  420 ″ may be enough to adequately differentiate that listing from the others. Alternatively or additionally, the inclusion of the title metadata  351  and/or artist metadata  353  along with the cover art metadata  355  for a single particular listing  426 ″ in the three-dimensional array of listings may be enough to adequately differentiate that listing from the others. 
     Device  400 ″ may include an input component  410 ″ with which a user may interact in order to send various types of input signals to the user interface, similarly to input component  210  of  FIGS. 2E and 2F . However, as shown in  FIGS. 4E and 4F , input component  410 ″ may be a rectangular trackpad. A user may interact with trackpad  410 ″ to send various types of input signals to user interface  422 ″ of device  400 ″. In one embodiment, if the user desires to select the library entry associated with the innermost descriptive entry listing  426 ″ of the horizontal array on output component  420 ″, he or she may tap on the middle  412 ″ of the trackpad, for example. However, if the user desires to select a descriptive entry listing  426 ″ other than the innermost listing currently displayed by user interface  422 ″, he or she may impart a leftward user movement along the track pad in the direction of arrow SL (e.g., for scrolling from the listings of user interface  422 E″ of  FIG. 4E  to the listings of user interface  422 F″ of  FIG. 4F ) or a rightward user movement along the track pad in the direction of arrow SR (e.g., for scrolling from the listings of user interface  422 F″ of  FIG. 4F  to the listings of user interface  422 E″ of  FIG. 4E ). 
       FIGS. 5A-5F  show an electronic device  500 , which may be similar to device  200  of  FIGS. 2A-2F , that has a user interface for selectively scrolling through information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Device  500  may be a self-contained media player with an I/O interface that may include an input component  510  and an output component  520 . Device  500  may also include a housing  501  for at least partially surrounding input component  510  and output component  520 . In one embodiment, as shown, input component  510  may be a rotational input device, such as a click wheel, and output component  520  may be a video display, each of which may be found on certain iPodsn&#39; available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, device  500  can permit a user to load and browse through one or more large libraries of media or data. Each library may be stored in a memory component of the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) or may be downloaded to device  500  from another device or server (e.g., via communications circuitry  108  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. A library can contain a plurality of library entries and each library entry can include payload data and associated metadata. 
       FIG. 6 , for example, illustrates a media library  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Library  600  may be somewhat similar to library  300  of  FIG. 3 , however, library  600  may be a library of pictures. Library  600  may contain a plurality of picture entries  626  (e.g., entries  626   a - 626   z ). Each library entry  626  may include payload data  640  (e.g., the actual full image of the picture) and associated metadata  650  (e.g., textual information and/or graphical information related to that picture). As shown, each library entry  626  of library  600  includes payload data  640 . Payload data  640  for each entry  626  may be an image or picture file &lt;PIC_&gt; (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 6 , entry  626   a  may include an associated piece of payload data  640  that is picture file &lt;PIC_a&gt;). This file may be a JPEG file, a PNG file, or any other type of image file. All metadata  650  for each entry  626  is information associated with payload data  640  of that entry  626 . Alternatively, the library may be a library of video files rather than image files. 
     For example, a particular piece of metadata  650  that may be associated with a picture file  640  of a particular picture entry  626  in library  600  is textual information metadata. Such textual information may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the picture (e.g., picture description metadata  651 ), the date and time at which the picture was captured (e.g., timestamp metadata  652 ), the name of the photo album to which the picture belongs (e.g., photo album metadata  654 ), or any other facet of the picture, such as a journal entry describing any events surrounding the picture, for example. As shown, picture description metadata  651  for each entry  626  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the picture (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 6 , &lt;PIC_a&gt; of entry  626   a  may have an associated piece of picture description metadata  651  that is alphanumeric string “NAKED”). 
     Similarly, timestamp metadata  652  for each entry  626  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the date and time at which the picture was captured (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 6 , &lt;PIC_a&gt; of entry  626   a  may have an associated piece of timestamp metadata  652  that is alphanumeric string “2001-03-01 09:22:06”). Likewise, photo album metadata  654  for each entry  626  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the picture&#39;s album (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 6 , &lt;PIC_a&gt; of entry  626   a  may have an associated piece of photo album metadata  654  that is alphanumeric string “ALBUM_1”). 
     Another particular piece of metadata  650  that may be associated with an image file  640  of a particular picture entry  626  in library  600  is additional graphical information. Such graphical information may be a thumbnail (i.e., compressed) version of the image file (e.g., thumbnail metadata  655 ) or may be related to any other facet of the picture, such as a picture of the photographer, for example. As shown, thumbnail metadata  655  for each entry  626  may be a thumbnail of the picture (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 6 , &lt;PIC_a&gt; of entry  626   a  may have an associated piece of thumbnail metadata  655  that is image file &lt;TN_a&gt;). Alternatively, if payload data file  640  is a video file, thumbnail metadata  655  for each video entry  626  may be a thumbnail picture of a frame of the video. 
     Yet another particular piece of metadata  650  that may be associated with an image file  640  of a particular picture entry  626  in library  600  is audio information. Such audio information may be an audio file related to the associated payload image file  640 , such as a recorded account of the events surrounding the picture (e.g., audio clip metadata  656 ). As shown, audio clip metadata  656  for each entry  626  may be an audio file related to the associated payload picture file  640  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 6 , &lt;PIC_a&gt; of entry  626   a  may have an associated piece of audio clip metadata  656  that is audio file &lt;CLIP a&gt;). 
     As described above with respect to song library  300  of  FIG. 3 , there are many other various types of metadata  650  that can be associated with a particular payload image file  640  of a particular picture entry  626  in library  600 . For example, such a particular piece of metadata may include preference information (e.g., media viewing preferences), contact information (e.g., telephone numbers and email addresses), calendar information, or any other suitable type of information that a user or other entity may wish to associate with a particular payload image file of a particular picture entry in a library of pictures (e.g., miscellaneous metadata  657 ). As shown, miscellaneous metadata  657  for each entry  626  may be any type of file or alphanumeric string representative of any facet of the associated payload picture file  640  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 6 , &lt;PIC_a&gt; of entry  626   a  may have an associated piece of miscellaneous metadata  657  that is miscellaneous &lt;MISC_a&gt;). 
     As mentioned, each library (e.g., library  600 ) or any particular portions of a library (e.g., thumbnail metadata  655 ) may be stored in any memory component of device  500  (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) or may be downloaded to device  500  from any another device or server (e.g., via communications circuitry  108  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. In one embodiment, most of library  600  may be stored locally on device  500  (e.g., in memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) but thumbnail metadata  655  for each entry  626  may be an image file (e.g., image file &lt;TN_a&gt;) stored on a separate server or device. When some portion of the library is stored locally on device  500  and other portions are stored on a separate server, the library portion on the device may store pointers (e.g., URLs) to the corresponding portions of the library stored on remote servers, for example. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, device  500  may include a user interface that allows a user to quickly and easily alternate between two or more modes of scrolling through a list of library entries. For example, like electronic device  200  of  FIGS. 2A-2F , the user interface of device  500  may quickly and easily switch between first and second scrolling modes in response to a particular type of user command generated by input component  510 . This can improve the speed and ease with which a user may search for a particular entry within an extensive library of entries. 
       FIGS. 5A-5F  illustrate a user interface  522  that may be displayed on output component  520  when a user is accessing library  600  of picture entries  626  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A user interface can present the library of entries to the user as a grid of descriptive entry listings, each of which may be associated with a particular entry of the library being accessed. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5A , user interface  522 A can present a set of nine (9) descriptive entry listings  526  (e.g., entry listings  526   a - 526   i ). Each particular listing  526  may be associated with a particular picture entry  626  of library  600  and can include at least a portion of at least one piece of metadata associated with that particular library entry. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , for example, each particular listing  526  may include at least a portion of at least one piece of metadata  650  associated with the particular library entry  626  being presented by that listing  526 . Particularly, in the embodiment of  FIG. 5A , each one of descriptive entry listings  526   a - 526   i  may display the condensed image file of thumbnail metadata  655  for each of respective picture entries  626   a - 626   i . Therefore, the condensed thumbnail image representative of the payload data picture file  640  associated with each of entries  626   a - 626   i  to be displayed by user interface  522 A is included in a respective one of descriptive entry listings  526   a - 526   i.    
     User interface  522  may also include a highlighter or selector indicator  528  that can differentiate one or more specific descriptive entry listings  526  from the other listings  526  displayed on output component  520  at any given time (e.g., listing  526   a  in user interface  522 A of  FIG. 5A ). Indicator  528  may help to identify the listing that can be selected by the user using input component  510 . Indicator  528  may be a thick border, as shown, or it may simply be an icon (see, e.g., indicator  228  of  FIG. 2A ). 
     User interface  522  may also include a status portion  524  that can describe the status of device  500 . For example, as show in  FIG. 5A , status portion  524  of user interface  522 A can include a battery status indicator portion  521  that may present information indicative of the charge of the battery powering device  500  (e.g., power supply  106  of  FIG. 1 ). Status portion  524  of user interface  522 A can also include a library status indicator  523  that may be descriptive of the specific library being accessed by the user (e.g., “All Pictures” when all the picture entries  626  of library. 600 are being accessed). Moreover, status portion  524  of user interface  522 A can include a scrolling status indicator  525  that may be descriptive of the specific library entry being highlighted relative to the entire library being accessed (e.g., “1 of 26=“NAKED”” when listing  526   a  associated with first entry  626   a  of twenty-six (26) entries  626   a - 626   z  entitled “NAKED” is being highlighted, as shown in  FIG. 5A ). Various other types of information may be provided by status portion  524  of user interface  522  according to the invention. 
     As described above with respect to rotational input component  210  of  FIGS. 2A-2F , rotational input component  510  may include a selector  512  surrounded by a curved track  514 , as shown in  FIG. 5A , for example. A user may interact with input component  510  to send various types of input signals to the user interface of device  500 . For example, a user may interact with input component  510  by gesturing in a rotational manner along curved track  514 , either in the direction of arrow L or in the direction of arrow R, or by clicking on selector  512 . In one embodiment, if the user desires to select the library entry associated with the descriptive entry listing  526  distinguished by indicator  528  of the user interface  522  on output component  520 , he or she may click on selector  512 . However, if the user desires to select a descriptive entry listing  526  other than the one distinguished by indicator  528 , he or she may gesture in a rotational manner along curved track  514  to scroll through the listings, for example. 
       FIGS. 5A-5F  illustrate how user interface  522  of device  500  can allow a user to scroll through listings  526  such that new listings may be distinguished by indicator  528  on display  520 . As a user indicates the desire to browse or scroll through the displayed listings  526  of a particular library (e.g., library  600 ), device  500  can update the user interface  522  on output component  520  by displaying one or more new listings  526 . 
     For example, a user may gesture or impart a movement in the direction of arrow R along track  514  in such a way that user interface  522  scrolls forward through one additional listing  526  in the grid of listings  526 . For example, user interface  522  may monitor an attribute of the user movement and update user interface  522 A of  FIG. 5A  on output component  520  such that indicator  528  highlights a new listing  526   b  of the interface, as shown in updated user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B . As shown, in this example, this may not shift listings  526  with respect to display  520 . Alternatively, a user may gesture in the direction of arrow L along track  514  in such a way that user interface  522  scrolls backward through one additional listing  526 . For example, user interface  522  may monitor an attribute of the user movement and update user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B  on output component  520  such that indicator  528  highlights a new listing  526   a  of the interface, as shown in user interface  522 A of  FIG. 5A . 
     As well as handling various gesture types (e.g., user movement in the direction of arrows L and R), input component  510  may generate different instructions to the user interface of device  500  based on various attributes of a particular gesture type, similarly to device  200 . The user interface may monitor at least a first attribute of a particular type of user movement received by the input component and thereby vary the way in which listings are scrolled. For example, user interface  522  may monitor an attribute of a user&#39;s movement on input component  510 , such as the speed, length, or frequency of a user&#39;s movement in the direction of arrow R along track  514 , and may vary the way in which listings  526  are scrolled with respect to indicator  528  based on that monitored attribute. In one embodiment, the listings  526  may be scrolled forwards or backwards one listing at a time (e.g., “elementally”) when a monitored attribute of a user movement is below a certain threshold (e.g., the speed of the movement is below a certain velocity) and may be scrolled differently than one listing at a time when the monitored attribute of the user movement is above a certain threshold. 
     As described, a user may gesture in the direction of arrow R along track  514  in such a way that user interface  522  is updated with indicator  528  highlighting the forwardly consecutive listing  526  (e.g., as shown in the update of user interface  522  between interface  522 A of  FIG. 5A  and interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B ). This may occur, for example, if a monitored attribute of the user movement is below a certain threshold. Alternatively, the user may gesture in the direction of arrow R along track  514  in such a way that user interface  522  may be updated differently than with indicator  528  simply highlighting the forwardly consecutive listing  526  (e.g., as shown in the update of user interface  522  between interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B  and interface  522 C of  FIG. 5C ). This may occur, for example, if a monitored attribute of the user movement is above a certain threshold. 
     There are various ways in which a user interface may scroll through a list of listings other than one listing at a time. For example, rather than simply scrolling from an original listing to a new listing that is consecutive with the original listing in the list, the list may be broken down into several sublists and a user interface may scroll from an original listing in a first sublist of the list to a new listing that is either the initial listing in the first sublist or the initial listing in a sublist that is consecutive with the first sublist in the list. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5A-6 , for example, user interface  522  may provide a list of listings  526  on output component  520 . This list of listings  526  may include a plurality of sublists of listings  526 , as described in more detail below. Moreover, as described above, each one of listings  526  in the list of listings may be associated with an entry  626  in library  600 , and each entry  626  in library  600  may include at least a first piece of metadata  650 , such as photo album title metadata  654 . 
     Each listing  526  in the list of listings on user interface  522  may be included in one of the plurality of sublists of listings  526  based on a first characteristic of this first piece of metadata. For example, each listing  526  in the list of listings on user interface  522  may be included in one of a plurality of sublists of listings  526  based on a first characteristic of the photo album title metadata  654  associated with that listing. Photo album title metadata  654  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters (e.g., “ALBUM_1” or “ALBUM_2” or “ALBUM_3” or “ALBUM_4”). Therefore, each listing  526  in the list of listings on user interface  522  may be included in one of a plurality of sublists of listings  526  based on a first characteristic of the alphanumeric string, such as the entire string itself. As may be seen in  FIG. 5A  in conjunction with library  600  of  FIG. 6 , each one of the first seven (7) listings  526  displayed in the grid of interface  522 A (e.g., listings  526   a - 526   g ) may therefore be considered to be in a first sublist of the plurality of sublists in the list of listings  526  on user interface  522 . This is because the entire alphanumeric string of the photo album title metadata  654  for each of those listings  526   a - 526   g  is an “ALBUM_1”. Similarly, as may be seen in  FIG. 5C  in conjunction with library  600  of  FIG. 6 , each one of the fifth, sixth, and seventh listings  526  displayed in the grid of interface  522 C (e.g., listings  526   h - 526   j ) may therefore be considered to be in a second sublist of the plurality of sublists in the list of listings  526  on user interface  522 . This is because the entire alphanumeric string of the photo album title metadata  654  for each of those listings  526   h - 526   j  is an “ALBUM_2”. 
     The listings  526  in each one of the plurality of sublists may be ordered within that sublist based on a first characteristic of a second piece of metadata. For example, each one of listings  526   a - 526   g  in the first sublist on user interface  522  may be ordered within that sublist based on a first characteristic of timestamp metadata  652 . Timestamp metadata  652  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters. Therefore, each one of listings  526   a - 526   g  in the first sublist on user interface  522  may be ordered within that sublist based on a first characteristic of the alphanumeric string, such as the alphanumerical order of the string. For example, each one of listings  526   a - 526   g  in the first sublist on user interface  522  may therefore be ordered within that sublist as shown in  FIG. 5A  because the alphanumeric string of timestamp metadata  652  associated with listing  526   a  (i.e., “2001-03-01 09:22:06”) alphanumerically precedes the alphanumeric string of timestamp metadata  652  associated with listing  526   b  (i.e., “2001-03-01 09:22:45”), and so on with respect to each of listings  526   a - 526   g . Similarly, each one of listings  526   h - 526   j  in the second sublist on user interface  522  may therefore be ordered within that sublist as shown in  FIG. 5C  because the alphanumeric string of timestamp metadata  652  associated with listing  526   h  (i.e., “2002-04-20 12:12:03”) alphanumerically precedes the alphanumeric string of timestamp metadata  652  associated with listing  526   i  (i.e., “2002-04-20 12:12:06”), which alphanumerically precedes the alphanumeric string of timestamp metadata  652  associated with listing  526   j  (i.e., “2002-04-20 12:12:09”). 
     Finally, the plurality of sublists of listings  526  may be ordered within the list of listings  526  provided by user interface  522  based on the first characteristic of the first piece of metadata. For example, the first sublist containing listings  526   a - 526   g  and the second sublist containing listings  526   h - 526   j  may be ordered within the list of listings  526  provided by user interface  522  based on the first characteristic of the first piece of metadata (e.g., based on the alphanumerical order of the entire alphanumeric string of the photo album title metadata  654 ). For example, the first sublist containing listings  526   a - 526   g  and the second sublist containing listings  526   h - 526   j  may be ordered within the list of listings  526  provided by user interface  522  as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C  because the entire alphanumeric string “ALBUM_1” of the photo album title metadata  654  associated with the first sublist alphanumerically precedes the entire alphanumeric string “ALBUM_2” of the photo album title metadata  654  associated with the second sublist. Similarly, the second sublist containing listings  526   h - 526   j  and a third sublist containing listings  526   k - 526   l  may be ordered within the list of listings  526  provided by user interface  522  as shown in  FIG. 5C  because the entire alphanumeric string “ALBUM_2” of the photo album title metadata  654  associated with the second sublist alphanumerically precedes the entire alphanumeric string “ALBUM_3” of the photo album title metadata  654  associated with the third sublist. 
     A list of listings, such as listings  526  of  FIGS. 5A-6 , may be scrolled by a user interface in various ways. In one embodiment, user interface  522  may simply scroll from an original listing to a new listing that is consecutive with the original listing in the gridded list, regardless of the original listing&#39;s sublist (i.e., “elementally-scroll”). For example, as described above, user interface  522  may simply scroll forwardly from an original listing  526   a  in user interface  522 A of  FIG. 5A  to a new listing  526   b  that is forwardly consecutive with original listing  526   a  in the gridded list, as shown in user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B . User interface  522  may provide this forward “elemental-scrolling” from original listing  526   a  to forwardly consecutive new listing  526   b  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow R along track  514  that is below a certain threshold, for example. Likewise, as described above, user interface  522  may simply scroll backwardly from an original listing  526   b  in user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B  to a new listing  526   a  that is backwardly consecutive with original listing  526   a  in the gridded list, as shown in user interface  522 A of  FIG. 5A . User interface  522  may provide this backward “elemental-scrolling” from original listing  526   b  to backwardly consecutive new listing  526   a  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  514  that is below a certain threshold, for example. 
     Alternatively, user interface  522  may scroll from an original listing in a first sublist of the list to a new listing that is either (1) the initial listing in a second sublist that is consecutive with the first sublist in the list or (2) the initial listing in the first sublist (i.e., “quickly-scroll”). For example, user interface  522  may scroll forwardly from an original listing  526   b  in a first sublist containing listings  526   a - 526   g , as shown in user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B , to a new listing  526   h  that is the initial listing in a second sublist (e.g., the initial listing in the sublist containing listings  526   h - 526   j ), which is forwardly consecutive with the first sublist in the list, as shown in user interface  522 C of  FIG. 5C . User interface  522  may provide this forward “quick-scrolling” from original listing  526   b  to new listing  526   h  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  514  that is above a certain threshold, for example. 
     Somewhat likewise, user interface  522  may scroll backwardly from an original listing  526   l  in a first sublist containing listings  526   k  and  526   l , as shown in user interface  522 E of  FIG. 5E , to a new listing  526   k  that is the initial listing in the first sublist, as shown in user interface  522 D of  FIG. 5D . User interface  522  may provide this backward “quick-scrolling” from original listing  526   l  to new listing  526   k  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  514  that is above a certain threshold, for example. Although it is to be noted that user interface  522  may also provide this backward scrolling from original listing  526   l  to new listing  526   k  through “elemental-scrolling,” by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  514  that is below a certain threshold, for example, because listings  526   k  and  526   l  are the only two listings in their sublist. User interface  522  of the invention may provide quick-scrolling or any other mode of scrolling independently of any sublists that may categorize certain listings of a list of listings being accessed by a user. For example, a first mode of scrolling may be “elemental” in that it scrolls from one listing to a new consecutive listing, while a second mode of scrolling may jump to a new listing that is ten (10) listings removed from the original listing. 
     These thresholds of various attributes of various user movements that may be monitored by user interface  522  to determine whether to “elementally-scroll” or “quickly-scroll” through the listings  526  provided on output component  520  may be determined by a user of device  500  or the manufacturer of device  500 . For example, a user may select a threshold based on how many entries are in the library through which he or she wishes to scroll. Alternatively, a user may select a threshold based on his or her dexterity using the input component. These thresholds may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     Therefore, according to an embodiment of the invention, user interface  522  of device  500  may quickly and easily switch between a first “elemental-scrolling” mode and a second “quick-scrolling” mode for updating the displayed portion of a list of descriptive entry listings  526  on output component  520  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  510 . This can improve the speed and ease with which a user may search for a particular entry within an extensive library of entries. 
     In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  526  are scrolled on output component  520  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  510 , user interface  522  may also change the type of information transmitted to the user in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  510 , similarly to user interface  222  of  FIGS. 2A-2F . For example, when user interface  522  quick-scrolls forwardly from an original listing  526   b  in a first sublist to a new listing  526   h  that is the initial listing in a forwardly consecutive second sublist, user interface  522  may also enhance itself by providing a visual enhancer  530  along with the updated set of listings  526  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B  to user interface  522 C of  FIG. 5C ). 
     Visual enhancer  530  may be any additional information, such as an icon or image or string of one or more alphanumerical characters, that is descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of the new listing or the second sublist (i.e., the sublist that contains the new listing). For example, as shown in  FIG. 5C , visual enhancer  530  may be a block of textual information superimposed over the rest of user interface  522 C so that it may be easily seen by the user. Visual enhancer  530  may include a string of one or more alphanumerical characters representative of the characteristic of the piece of metadata that is the basis for the differentiation between sublists in the list of listings  526  (e.g., the entire alphanumeric string of the photo album title metadata  654 , which is “ALBUM_2” for the sublist containing new listing  526   h ), as shown in  FIG. 5C , for example. Additionally, visual enhancer  530  may include additional information descriptive of or related to at least one other characteristic of the new listing or the second sublist. As shown in  FIG. 5C , for example, visual enhancer  530  may also include description of how many listings are in the second sublist (e.g., “(3 Pictures)”). 
     In one embodiment, user interface  522  may continuously show visual enhancer  530  as long as the user interface continues to quick-scroll through the listings. For example, if user interface  522  continues to quick-scroll forwardly from listing  526   h  in a first sublist to a new listing  526   k  that is the initial listing in a forwardly consecutive second sublist, as shown in the update from user interface  522 C of  FIG. 5C  to user interface  522 D of  FIG. 5D , user interface  522  may continue to provide visual enhancer  530  along with the updated set of listings  526  and indicator  528 . However, the information within visual enhancer  530  may be changed to reflect the new sublist containing the new listing (e.g., “ALBUM_3” for the sublist containing new listing  526   k ). 
     When user interface  522  terminates quick-scrolling and begins elemental-scrolling, for example, visual enhancer  530  may also be terminated. For example, if user interface  522  stops quick-scrolling but continues to update the listings  526  displayed on output component  520  by elementally-scrolling forwardly from listing  526   k  to downwardly consecutive listing  526   l , as shown in the update from user interface  522 D of  FIG. 5D  to user interface  522 E of  FIG. 5E , user interface  522  may stop providing visual enhancer  530 . User interface  522  may continue to not provide visual enhancer  530  as the interface continues to elementally-scroll through the listings, as shown in the update from user interface  522 E of  FIG. 5E  to user interface  522 F of  FIG. 5F . 
     It is to be noted, however, that in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, user interface  522  may provide visual enhancer  530  along with an updated set of listings  526  even when it is not quick-scrolling. For example, user interface  522  may once again provide visual enhancer  530  if the interface elementally-scrolls forwardly through the listings from listing  526   l  to listing  526   k , as shown in the update from user interface  522 E of  FIG. 5E  to user interface  522 D of  FIG. 5D . 
     The situations in which user interface may provide a visual enhancer, such as visual enhancer  530  of  FIGS. 5C and 5D , may be determined by a user of device  500  or the manufacturer of device  500 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with a visual enhancer only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with a visual enhancer whenever he or she scrolls to a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     As an alternative or in addition to visually enhancing an updated set of listings  526  with a visual enhancer  530 , user interface may enhance itself aurally. As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5F , device  500  may also include an audio output component  540 . Audio output component  540  may be any output component suitable for transmitting audible information to a user, such as a speaker, headphones, or the like. In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  526  are scrolled on output component  520  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  510 , user interface  522  may also change the type of audio information transmitted to the user via output component  540  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  510  or to a particular change in a characteristic of the highlighted listing, as described above with respect to user interface  222  and audio output component  240  of  FIGS. 2A-2F . 
     For example, when user interface  522  elementally-scrolls forwardly from an original listing  526   a  to forwardly consecutive listing  526   b , user interface may enhance itself aurally by transmitting a first sound  541  via output component  540  while also updating the set of listings  526  on output component  520  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 A of  FIG. 5A  to user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B ). On the other hand, when user interface  522  quick-scrolls forwardly from an original listing  526   b  to a new listing  526   h  that is the initial listing in a forwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  522  may enhance itself aurally by transmitting a second sound  542  via output component  540  while also updating the set of listings  526  on output component  530  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B  to user interface  522 C of  FIG. 5C ), for example. 
     First sound  541  and second sound  542  may each be a single tone or a much more complex sound, such as a song. In one embodiment, first sound  541  may be a single short clicking sound indicative of the short scrolling between consecutive listings  526   a  and  526   b , while second sound  542  may be a longer clunking sound indicative of the quick-scrolling between listings  526   b  and  526   h  of different sublists. The same first sound  541  may be transmitted by user interface  522  every time it elementally-scrolls between two listings and the same second sound  542  may be transmitted by user interface  522  every time it quickly-scrolls between two listings. This may help a user to more quickly and more easily realize how he or she is scrolling through the listings. 
     For example, when user interface  522  continues to quick-scroll downwardly from an original listing  526   h  to a new listing  526   k  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  522  may enhance itself aurally by once again transmitting second sound  542  via output component  540  while also updating the set of listings  526  on output component  530  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 C of  FIG. 5C  to user interface  522 D of  FIG. 5D ). Then, when user interface  522  begins to once again elementally-scroll forwardly, such as from an original listing  526   k  to forwardly consecutive listing  526   l , the user interface may enhance itself aurally by once again transmitting the first sound  541  via output component  540  while also updating the set of listings  526  on output component  520  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 D of  FIG. 5D  to user interface  522 E of  FIG. 5E ). 
     However, there are various other ways in which user interface  522  can transmit different sounds via output component  540  for increasing the ease and speed with which a user may scroll through a list of listings  526 . For example, in another embodiment, the sound transmitted by user interface  522  via output component  540  may be specifically associated with the listing being highlighted by indicator  528 . For example, when user interface  522  scrolls to a new listing  526   m  (e.g., by elementally scrolling forwardly from an original listing  526   l ), the user interface may enhance itself aurally by transmitting via output  540  a third sound  543  that is in some way related to new listing  526   m  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 E of  FIG. 5E  to user interface  522 F of  FIG. 5F ). Therefore, according to one embodiment, when interface  522  is updated to highlight listing  526   m , third sound  543  may be audio clip &lt;CLIP_m&gt; (i.e., audio clip metadata  656  associated with library entry  626   m ). 
     The situations in which user interface may provide an aural enhancement via output component  640 , may be determined by a user of device  500  or the manufacturer of device  500 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with aural enhancement only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with aural enhancement whenever he or she scrolls to, a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     As an alternative or in addition to visually enhancing an updated set of listings  526  with a visual enhancer  530  and/or aurally enhancing an updated set of listings  526  with sounds via an audio output component  540 , user interface may enhance itself haptically or tactilely. As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5F , device  500  may also include a haptic output component  550 . Haptic output component  550  may be any output component suitable for transmitting haptic or tactile information to a user, such as a rumble pack, vibration generator, or the like. In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  526  are scrolled on output component  520  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  510 , user interface  522  may also change the type of haptic information transmitted to the user via output component  550  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  510 . 
     For example, when user interface  222  elementally-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  526   a  to forwardly consecutive listing  526   b , user interface may enhance itself haptically by transmitting a first haptic signal  551  via output component  550  while also updating the set of listings  526  on output component  520  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 A of  FIG. 5A  to user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B ). On the other hand, when user interface  522  quick-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  526   b  to a new listing  526   h  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  522  may enhance itself haptically by transmitting a second haptic signal  552  via output component  550  while also updating the set of listings  526  on output component  520  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 B of  FIG. 5B  to user interface  522 C of  FIG. 5C ), for example. 
     First haptic signal  551  and second haptic signal  552  may each be a single force or a much more complex motion, such as a steady beat. In one embodiment, first haptic signal  551  may provide a single short vibrating sensation to the user that is indicative of the short scrolling between consecutive listings  526   a  and  526   b , while second haptic signal  552  may provide a longer and more powerful vibrating sensation to the user that is indicative of the quick-scrolling between listings  526   b  and  526   h  of different sublists. The same first haptic signal  551  may be transmitted by user interface  522  every time it elementally-scrolls between two listings and the same second haptic signal  552  may be transmitted by user interface  522  every time it quickly-scrolls between two listings. This may help a user to more quickly and more easily realize how he or she is scrolling through the listings. 
     For example, when user interface  522  continues to quick-scroll downwardly from an original listing  526   h  to a new listing  526   k  that is the initial listing in a forwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  522  may enhance itself haptically by once again transmitting second haptic signal  552  via output component  550  while also updating the set of listings  526  on output component  520  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 C of  FIG. 5C  to user interface  522 D of  FIG. 5D ). Then, when user interface  522  begins to once again elementally-scroll downwardly, such as from an original listing  526   k  to forwardly consecutive listing  526   l , the user interface may enhance itself haptically by once again transmitting the first haptic signal  551  via output component  550  while also updating the set of listings  526  on output component  520  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 D of  FIG. 5D  to user interface  522 E of  FIG. 5E ). 
     However, there are various other ways in which user interface  522  can transmit different haptic signals via output component  550  for increasing the ease and speed with which a user may scroll through a list of listings  526 . For example, in another embodiment, the haptic signal transmitted by user interface  522  via output component  550  may be specifically associated with the listing being highlighted by indicator  528 . For example, when user interface  522  scrolls to a new listing  526   m  (e.g., by elementally scrolling forwardly from an original listing  526   l ), the user interface may enhance itself haptically by transmitting via output  550  a third haptic signal  553  that is in some way related to new listing  526   m  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  522 E of  FIG. 5E  to user interface  522 F of  FIG. 5F ). Therefore, according to one embodiment, when interface  522  is updated to highlight listing  526   m , third haptic signal  553  may be miscellaneous signal &lt;MISC_m&gt; (i.e., miscellaneous metadata  656  associated with library entry  626   m ). 
     The situations in which user interface may provide haptic or tactile enhancement via output component  550 , may be determined by a user of device  500  or the manufacturer of device  500 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with haptic enhancement only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with haptic enhancement whenever he or she scrolls to a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
       FIGS. 7A-7F  show an electronic device  700 , which may be similar to device  500  of  FIGS. 5A-5F , that has a user interface for selectively scrolling through information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Device  700  may be a self-contained media player with an I/O interface that may include an input component  710  and an output component  720 . Device  700  may also include a housing  701  for at least partially surrounding input component  710  and output component  720 . In one embodiment, as shown, input component  710  may be a rotational input device, such as a click wheel, and output component  720  may be a video display, each of which may be found on certain iPods™ available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, device  700  can permit a user to load and browse through one or more large libraries of media or data. Each library may be stored in a memory component of the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) or may be downloaded to device  700  from another device or server (e.g., via communications circuitry  108  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. A library can contain a plurality of library entries and each library entry can include payload data and associated metadata. 
       FIG. 8 , for example, illustrates a data library  800  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Library  800  may be somewhat similar to library  600  of  FIG. 6 , however, library  800  may be a library of geographical data. Library  800  may contain a plurality of geographical entries  826  (e.g., entries  826   a - 826   z ). Each library entry  826  may include geographical payload data  840  (e.g., the actual file containing specific data of interest for a particular geographical location) and associated metadata  850  (e.g., supplemental textual information and/or graphical information related to that geographical location). Payload data  840  for each entry  826  may be a geographical location file &lt;GEO_&gt; (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 , entry  826   a  may include an associated piece of payload data  840  that is geographic file &lt;GEO_a&gt;). This file may be any type of data file containing specific data of interest for a particular geographical location. All metadata  850  for each entry  826  is information associated with payload data  840  of that entry  826 . 
     For example, a particular piece of metadata  850  that may be associated with a geographic file  840  of a particular geographic entry  826  in library  800  is textual information metadata. Such textual information may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the geographic location (e.g., geographic description metadata  851 ), the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of the geographic location (e.g., coordinate metadata  852 ), the local standard time of the geographic location (e.g., time zone metadata  854 ), or any other facet of the location, such as the name of the dominant language spoken in that location, for example. As shown, geographic description metadata  851  for each entry  826  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the geographic location (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 , &lt;GEO_a&gt; of entry  826   a  may have an associated piece of geographic description metadata  851  that is alphanumeric string “VANCOUVER, BC (CAN)”). 
     Similarly, coordinate metadata  852  for each entry  826  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of the geographic location (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 , &lt;GEO_a&gt; of entry  826   a  may have an associated piece of coordinate metadata  852  that is alphanumeric string “49°15′″N 123°6″W”). Likewise, time zone metadata  854  for each entry  826  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters representative or descriptive of the local standard time of the geographic location (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 , &lt;GEO a&gt; of entry  826   a  may have an associated piece of time zone metadata  854  that is alphanumeric string “-08:00 GMT (PST)”). 
     Another particular piece of metadata  850  that may be associated with a geographic location file  840  of a particular geographic entry  826  in library  800  is graphical information. Such graphical information may be a small image file (e.g., thumbnail metadata  855 ) related to any facet of the location, such as a picture of that location, for example. As shown, thumbnail metadata  855  for each entry  826  may be a thumbnail image file (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 , &lt;GEO_a&gt; of entry  826   a  may have an associated piece of thumbnail metadata  855  that is image file &lt;TN a&gt;). 
     Yet another particular piece of metadata  850  that may be associated with a geographic location file  840  of a particular geographic entry  826  in library  800  is audio information. Such audio information may be an audio file related to the associated payload geographic location file  840 , such as a recorded description of the location or a pronunciation of the location in its native tongue (e.g., audio clip metadata  856 ). As shown, audio clip metadata  856  for each entry  826  may be an audio file related to the associated payload geographic location file  840  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 , &lt;GEO_a&gt; of entry  826   a  may have an associated piece of audio clip metadata  856  that is audio file &lt;CLIP a&gt;). 
     As described above with respect to metadata  650  in a media library  600  of  FIG. 6 , there are many other various types of metadata  850  that can be associated with a particular payload geographic location file  840  of a particular geographic entry  826  in library  800 . For example, such a particular piece of metadata may include preference information (e.g., language viewing preferences), contact information (e.g., telephone numbers and email addresses), calendar information, or any other suitable type of information that a user or other entity may wish to associate with a particular payload geographic location file of a particular geographic entry in a library of geographic entries (e.g., miscellaneous metadata  857 ). As shown, miscellaneous metadata  857  for each entry  826  may be any type of file or alphanumeric string representative of any facet of the associated payload geographic location file  840  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 , &lt;GEO_a&gt; of entry  826   a  may have an associated piece of miscellaneous metadata  857  that is miscellaneous &lt;MISC_a&gt;). 
     As mentioned, each library (e.g., library  800 ) or any particular portions of a library (e.g., metadata  855 ) may be stored in any memory component of device  700  (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) or may be downloaded to device  700  from any another device or server (e.g., via communications circuitry  108  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. In one embodiment, most of library  800  may be stored locally on device  700  (e.g., in memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) but thumbnail metadata  855  for each entry  826  may be an image file (e.g., image file &lt;TN_a&gt;) stored on a separate server or device. When some portion of the library is stored locally on device  700  and other portions are stored on a separate server, the library portion on the device may store pointers (e.g., URLs) to the corresponding portions of the library stored on remote servers, for example. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, device  700  may include a user interface that allows a user to quickly and easily alternate between two or more modes of scrolling through a list of library entries. For example, like electronic device  500  of  FIGS. 5A-5F , the user interface of device  700  may quickly and easily switch between first and second scrolling modes in response to a particular type of user command generated by input component  710 . This can improve the speed and ease with which a user may search for a particular entry within an extensive library of entries. 
       FIGS. 7A-7F  illustrate a user interface  722  that may be displayed on output component  720  when a user is accessing library  800  of geographic entries  826  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A user interface can present the library of entries to the user as location-based map of descriptive entry listings, each of which may be associated with a particular entry of the library being accessed. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7A , user interface  722 A can present on output component  720  a map  727  of an area related to at least a portion of the geographic entries  826  of library  800 . Moreover, user interface  722 A can also present on output component  720  (e.g., superimposed on map  727 ) a set of seven (7) descriptive entry listings  726  (e.g., entry listings  726   a - 726   g ). Each particular listing  726  may be associated with a particular geographic entry  826  of library  800  and can include at least a portion of at least one piece of metadata associated with that particular library entry. 
     Particularly, in the embodiment of  FIG. 7A , each one of descriptive entry listings  726   a - 726   g  may be displayed as a dot or any other symbol at an appropriate spot on map  727  as based on the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of coordinate metadata  852  associated with the listing&#39;s respective geographic entry  826 . Therefore, the coordinate metadata  852  representative of the payload geographic file  840  associated with each of entries  826   a - 826   g  to be displayed by user interface  722 A is determinative of the placement of descriptive entry listings  726   a - 726   g  on map  727 , as shown in  FIG. 7A . 
     User interface  722  may also include a highlighter or selector indicator  728  that can differentiate one or more specific descriptive entry listings  726  from the other listings  726  displayed on output component  720  at any given time (e.g., listing  726   a  in user interface  722 A of  FIG. 7A ). Indicator  728  may help to identify the listing that can be selected by the user using input component  710 . Indicator  728  may be a push pin or thumbtack icon, as shown, or it may any other differentiating technique (see, e.g., indicator  228  of  FIG. 2A ). Moreover, indicator  728  may also provide additional information related to the highlighted listing. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7F , indicator  728  may display location description metadata  851  that is associated with the highlighted listing  726  portion. 
     User interface  722  may also include a status portion  724  that can describe the status of device  700 . For example, as show in  FIG. 7A , status portion  724  of user interface  722 A can include a battery status indicator portion  721  that may present information indicative of the charge of the battery powering device  700  (e.g., power supply  106  of  FIG. 1 ). Status portion  724  of user interface  722 A can also include a library status indicator  723  that may be descriptive of the specific library being accessed by the user (e.g., “Geography” when all the geographic entries  826  of library  800  are being accessed). Moreover, status portion  724  of user interface  722 A can include a scrolling status indicator  725  that may be descriptive of the specific library entry being highlighted relative to the entire library being accessed or a portion thereof (e.g., “-08:00 GMT (PST) 1 of 7” when listing  726   a  associated with first entry  826   a  of seven (7) displayed entries  826   a - 826   g  time zone metadata  854  “-08:00 GMT (PST)”, as shown in  FIG. 7A ). Various other types of information may be provided by status portion  724  of user interface  722  according to the invention. 
     As described above with respect to rotational input component  510  of  FIGS. 5A-5F , rotational input component  710  may include a selector  712  surrounded by a curved track  714 , as shown in  FIG. 7A , for example. A user may interact with input component  710  to send various types of input signals to the user interface of device  700 . For example, a user may interact with input component  710  by gesturing in a rotational manner along curved track  714 , either in the direction of arrow L or in the direction of arrow R, or by clicking on selector  712 . In one embodiment, if the user desires to select the library entry associated with the descriptive entry listing  726  distinguished by indicator  728  of the user interface  722  on output component  720 , he or she may click on selector  712 . However, if the user desires to select a descriptive entry listing  726  other than the one distinguished by indicator  728 , he or she may gesture in a rotational manner along curved track  714  to scroll through the listings, for example. 
       FIGS. 7A-7F  illustrate how user interface  722  of device  700  can allow a user to scroll through listings  726  such that new listings may be distinguished by indicator  728  on display  720 . As a user indicates the desire to browse or scroll through listings  726  associated with a particular library (e.g., library  800 ), device  700  can update the user interface  722  on output component  720  by displaying one or more new listings  726 . 
     For example, a user may gesture or impart a movement in the direction of arrow R along track  714  in such a way that user interface  722  scrolls downward through one additional listing  726  of the location-based map of listings  726 . For example, user interface  722  may monitor an attribute of the user movement and update user interface  722 A of  FIG. 7A  on output component  720  such that indicator  728  highlights a new listing  726   b  of the interface, as shown in updated user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B . As shown, in this example, this may not shift or add new listings  726  with respect to display  720 . Alternatively, a user may gesture in the direction of arrow L along track  714  in such a way that user interface  722  scrolls upward through one additional listing  726 . For example, user interface  722  may monitor an attribute of the user movement and update user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B  on output component  720  such that indicator  728  highlights a new listing  726   a  of the interface, as shown in user interface  722 A of  FIG. 7A . 
     As well as handling various gesture types (e.g., user movement in the direction of arrows L and R), input component  710  may generate different instructions to the user interface of device  700  based on various attributes of a particular gesture type, similarly to device  500 . The user interface may monitor at least a first attribute of a particular type of user movement received by the input component and thereby vary the way in which listings are scrolled. For example, user interface  722  may monitor an attribute of a user&#39;s movement on input component  710 , such as the speed, length, or frequency of a user&#39;s movement in the direction of arrow R along track  714 , and may vary the way in which listings  726  are scrolled with respect to indicator  728  based on that monitored attribute. In one embodiment, listings  726  may be scrolled downwards or upwards one listing at a time (e.g., “elementally”) when a monitored attribute of a user movement is below a certain threshold (e.g., the speed of the movement is below a certain velocity) and may be scrolled differently than one listing at a time when the monitored attribute of the user movement is above a certain threshold. 
     As described, a user may gesture in the direction of arrow R along track  714  in such a way that user interface  722  is updated with indicator  728  highlighting the downwardly consecutive listing  726  (e.g., as shown in the update of user interface  722  between interface  722 A of  FIG. 7A  and interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B ). This may occur, for example, if a monitored attribute of the user movement is below a certain threshold. Alternatively, the user may gesture in the direction of arrow R along track  714  in such a way that user interface  722  may be updated differently than with indicator  728  simply highlighting the downwardly consecutive listing  726  (e.g., as shown in the update of user interface  722  between interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B  and interface  722 C of  FIG. 7C ). This may occur, for example, if a monitored attribute of the user movement is above a certain threshold. 
     There are various ways in which a user interface may scroll through a list of listings other than one listing at a time. For example, rather than simply scrolling from an original listing to a new listing that is consecutive with the original listing in the list, the list may be broken down into several sublists and a user interface may scroll from an original listing in a first sublist of the list to a new listing that is either the initial listing in the first sublist or the initial listing in a sublist that is consecutive with the first sublist in the list. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 7A-8 , for example, user interface  722  may provide a list of listings  726  on output component  720 . This list of listings  726  may include a plurality of sublists of listings  726 , as described in more detail below. Moreover, as described above, each one of listings  726  in the list of listings may be associated with an entry  826  in library  800 , and each entry  826  in library  800  may include at least a first piece of metadata  850 , such as time zone metadata  854 . 
     Each listing  726  in the list of listings on user interface  722  may be included in one of the plurality of sublists of listings  726  based on a first characteristic of this first piece of metadata. For example, each listing  726  in the list of listings on user interface  722  may be included in one of a plurality of sublists of listings  726  based on a first characteristic of the time zone metadata  854  associated with that listing. Time zone metadata  854  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters (e.g., “-08:00 GMT (PST)” or “-07:00 GMT (MST)” or “-06:00 GMT (CST)” or “-05:00 GMT (EST)”). Therefore, each listing  726  in the list of listings on user interface  722  may be included in one of a plurality of sublists of listings  726  based on a first characteristic of the alphanumeric string, such as the entire string itself. As may be seen in  FIG. 7A  in conjunction with library  800  of  FIG. 8 , each one of the seven (7) listings  726  displayed in the location-based map of interface  722 A (e.g., listings  726   a - 726   g ) may therefore be considered to be in a first sublist of the plurality of sublists in the list of listings  726  on user interface  722 . This is because the entire alphanumeric string of the time zone metadata  854  for each of those listings  726   a - 726   g  is “-08:00 GMT (PST)”. Similarly, as may be seen in  FIG. 7C  in conjunction with library  800  of  FIG. 8 , each one of the three (3) listings  726  displayed in the location-based map of interface  722 C (e.g., listings  726   h - 726   j ) may therefore be considered to be in a second sublist of the plurality of sublists in the list of listings  726  on user interface  722 . This is because the entire alphanumeric string of the time zone metadata  854  for each of those listings  726   h - 726   j  is “-07:00 GMT (MST)”. 
     Listings  726  in each one of the plurality of sublists may be ordered within that sublist based on a first characteristic of a second piece of metadata. For example, each one of listings  726   a - 726   g  in the first sublist on user interface  722  may be ordered within that sublist based on a first characteristic of coordinates metadata  852 . Coordinates metadata  852  may be a string of one or more alphanumeric characters. Therefore, each one of listings  726   a - 726   g  in the first sublist on user interface  722 A may be ordered within that sublist based on a first characteristic of the alphanumeric string, such as the alphanumerical order of the string. For example, each one of listings  726   a - 726   g  in the first sublist on user interface  722 A may therefore be ordered within that sublist as shown in  FIG. 7A  because the alphanumeric string of coordinates metadata  852  associated with listing  726   a  (i.e., “49°15′″N 123°6′″W”) alphanumerically precedes the alphanumeric string of coordinates metadata  852  associated with listing  726   b  (i.e., “47°36′″N 122°19′″W”), and so on with respect to each of listings  726   a - 726   g . Similarly, each one of listings  726   h - 726   j  in the second sublist on user interface  722  may therefore be ordered within that sublist as shown in  FIG. 7C  because the alphanumeric string of coordinates metadata  852  associated with listing  726   h  (i.e., “53°34′″N 113°32″W”) alphanumerically precedes the alphanumeric string of coordinates metadata  852  associated with listing  726   i  (i.e., “39°44′21″N 104°59′5″W”), which alphanumerically precedes the alphanumeric string of coordinates metadata  852  associated with listing  726   j  (i.e., “33°26′54″N 112°04′26″W”). 
     Finally, the plurality of sublists of listings  726  may be ordered within the list of listings  726  provided by user interface  722  based on the first characteristic of the first piece of metadata. For example, the first sublist containing listings  726   a - 726   g  and the second sublist containing listings  726   h - 726   j  may be ordered within the location-based map of listings  726  provided by user interface  722  based on the first characteristic of the first piece of metadata (e.g., based on the alphanumerical order of the entire alphanumeric string of the time zone metadata  854 ). For example, the first sublist containing listings  726   a - 726   g  and the second sublist containing listings  726   h - 726   j  may be ordered within the location-based map of listings  726  provided by user interface  722  as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C  because the entire alphanumeric string “-08:00 GMT (PST)” of the time zone metadata  854  associated with the first sublist alphanumerically precedes the entire alphanumeric string “-07:00 GMT (MST)” of the time zone title metadata  854  associated with the second sublist. Similarly, the second sublist containing listings  726   h - 726   j  and a third sublist containing listings  726   k - 726   l  may be ordered within the location-based map of listings  726  provided by user interface  722  as shown in  FIGS. 7C-7D  because the entire alphanumeric string “-07:00 GMT (MST)” of the time zone metadata  854  associated with the second sublist alphanumerically precedes the entire alphanumeric string “-06:00 GMT (CST)” of the time zone metadata  854  associated with the third sublist. 
     As shown, this location-based map of listings  726  provided by user interface  722  may display each sublist within a separate substantially vertical column on map  727  (e.g., one of columns  727 _ 1 ,  727 _ 2 ,  727 _ 3 , and  727 _ 4  of  FIGS. 7A-7F ). These columns may be appropriately defined based on the location of time zone boundaries of the geographical area represented by the map. More generally, these distinct portions  727 _ of background  727  of user interface  722  may be chosen based at least in part on information serving as the basis for distinguishing between sublists in a list of entries to be displayed. In one embodiment, the particular one of columns  727 _ 1 ,  727 _ 2 ,  727 _ 3 , and  727 _ 4  containing the currently highlighted listing (e.g., the listing  726  highlighted by indicator  728 ) may be differentiated from the other columns. As shown in  FIGS. 7A-7F , the columns  727 _ not containing the highlighted listing are darker than the column  727 _ containing the highlighted listing. This may allow the user to more quickly and more easily determine where on user interface  722  the currently highlighted listing  726  is located. 
     A list of listings that is broken down into several sublists of listings, such as listings  726  of  FIGS. 7A-8 , may be scrolled by a user interface in various ways, similarly to listings  526  of  FIGS. 5A-6 . In one embodiment, user interface  722  may simply scroll from an original listing to a new listing that is consecutive with the original listing in the gridded list, regardless of the original listing&#39;s sublist (i.e., “elementally-scroll”). For example, as described above, user interface  722  may simply scroll downwardly from an original listing  726   a  in user interface  722 A of  FIG. 7A  to a new listing  726   b  that is downwardly consecutive with original listing  726   a  in the location-based map of listings, as shown in user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B . User interface  722  may provide this downward “elemental-scrolling” from original listing  726   a  to downwardly consecutive new listing  726   b  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow R along track  714  that is below a certain threshold, for example. Likewise, as described above, user interface  722  may simply scroll upwardly from an original listing  726   b  in user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B  to a new listing  726   a  that is upwardly consecutive with original listing  726   a  in the location-based map of listings, as shown in user interface  722 A of  FIG. 7A . User interface  722  may provide this upward “elemental-scrolling” from original listing  726   b  to upwardly consecutive new listing  726   a  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  714  that is below a certain threshold, for example. 
     Alternatively, user interface  722  may scroll from an original listing in a first sublist of the list to a new listing that is either (1) the initial listing in a second sublist that is consecutive with the first sublist in the list or (2) the initial listing in the first sublist (i.e., “quickly-scroll”). For example, user interface  722  may scroll forwardly from an original listing  726   b  in a first sublist containing listings  726   a - 726   g , as shown in user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B , to a new listing  726   h  that is the initial listing in a second sublist (e.g., the initial listing in the sublist containing listings  726   h - 726   j ), which is forwardly consecutive with the first sublist in the list, as shown in user interface  722 C of  FIG. 7C . User interface  722  may provide this forward “quick-scrolling” from original listing  726   b  to new listing  726   h  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  714  that is above a certain threshold, for example. 
     Somewhat likewise, user interface  722  may scroll backwardly from an original listing  726   l  in a first sublist containing listings  726   k  and  726   l , as shown in user interface  722 E of  FIG. 7E , to a new listing  726   k  that is the initial listing in the first sublist, as shown in user interface  722 D of  FIG. 7D . User interface  722  may provide this backward “quick-scrolling” from original listing  726   l  to new listing  726   k  by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  714  that is above a certain threshold, for example. Although it is to be noted that user interface  722  may also provide this backward scrolling from original listing  726   l  to new listing  726   k  through “elemental-scrolling,” by monitoring an attribute of a user movement in the direction of arrow L along track  714  that is below a certain threshold, for example, because listings  726   k  and  726   l  are the only two listings in their sublist. A user interface of the invention may provide quick-scrolling or any other mode of scrolling independently of any sublists that may categorize certain listings of a list of listings being accessed by a user. For example, a first mode of scrolling may be “elemental” in that it scrolls from one listing to a new consecutive listing, while a second mode of scrolling may jump to a new listing that is ten (10) listings removed from the original listing. 
     These thresholds of various attributes of various user movements that may be monitored by user interface  722  to determine whether to “elementally-scroll” or “quickly-scroll” through the listings  726  provided on output component  720  may be determined by a user of device  700  or the manufacturer of device  700 . For example, a user may select a threshold based on how many entries are in the library through which he or she wishes to scroll. Alternatively, a user may select a threshold based on his or her dexterity using the input component. These thresholds may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     Therefore, according to an embodiment of the invention, user interface  722  of device  700  may quickly and easily switch between a first “elemental-scrolling” mode and a second “quick-scrolling” mode for updating the displayed portion of a list of descriptive entry listings  726  on output component  720  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  710 . This can improve the speed and ease with which a user may search for a particular entry within an extensive library of entries. 
     In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  726  are scrolled on output component  720  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  710 , user interface  722  may also change the type of information transmitted to the user in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  710 , similarly to user interface  722  of  FIGS. 7A-7F . For example, when user interface  722  quick-scrolls forwardly from an original listing  726   b  in a first sublist to a new listing  726   h  that is the initial listing in a forwardly consecutive second sublist, user interface  722  may also enhance itself by providing a new or updated visual enhancer  730  along with the updated set of listings  726  (e.g., as shown in the update of a device clock  730  from “04:15” within user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B  to “05:15” within user interface  722 C of  FIG. 7C ). 
     Visual enhancer  730  may be any additional or updated information, such as an icon or image or string of one or more alphanumerical characters, that is descriptive of or related to at least one characteristic of the new listing or the second sublist (i.e., the sublist that contains the new listing). For example, as shown in  FIG. 7C , visual enhancer  730  may be a block of textual information superimposed over the rest of user interface  722 C so that it may be easily seen by the user. Visual enhancer  730  may include a string of one or more alphanumerical characters representative of the characteristic of the piece of metadata that is the basis for the differentiation between sublists in the list of listings  726  (e.g., time zone metadata  854 , which is “-07:00 GMT (MST)” for the sublist containing new listing  726   h ), as shown in  FIG. 7C , for example. As shown in this embodiment, visual enhancer  730  may be representative of a clock of device  700  and may be updated to represent what the time would be if the user were to select one of the listings contained in the sublist of the newly highlighted listing (e.g., one of the listings in the second sublist that has an associated piece of time zone metadata  854  equal to “-07:00 GMT (MST)”). 
     In one embodiment, user interface  722  may continuously show visual enhancer  730  as long as the user interface continues to quick-scroll through the listings. For example, if user interface  722  continues to quick-scroll forwardly from listing  726   h  in a first sublist to a new listing  726   k  that is the initial listing in a forwardly consecutive second sublist, as shown in the update from user interface  722 C of  FIG. 7C  to user interface  722 D of  FIG. 7D , user interface  722  may continue to update visual enhancer  730  along with the updated set of listings  726  and indicator  728 . However, the information within visual enhancer  730  may be changed to reflect the new sublist containing the new listing (e.g., device clock may be updated to read “06:15” to reflect “-06:00 GMT (CST)” for the sublist containing new listing  726   k ). 
     When user interface  722  terminates quick-scrolling and begins elemental-scrolling, for example, visual enhancer  730  may also terminated. For example, if user interface  722  stops quick-scrolling but continues to update the listings  726  displayed on output component  720  by elementally-scrolling forwardly from listing  726   k  to downwardly consecutive listing  726   l , as shown in the update from user interface  722 D of  FIG. 7D  to user interface  722 E of  FIG. 7E , user interface  722  may stop providing visual enhancer  730 . User interface  722  may continue to not provide visual enhancer  730  as the interface continues to elementally-scroll through the listings, as shown in the update from user interface  722 E of  FIG. 7E  to user interface  722 F of  FIG. 7F . 
     It is to be noted, however, that in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, user interface  722  may provide visual enhancer  730  along with an updated set of listings  726  even when it is not quick-scrolling. For example, user interface  722  may once again provide visual enhancer  730  if the interface elementally-scrolls backwardly through the listings from listing  726   l  to listing  726   k , as shown in the update from user interface  722 E of  FIG. 7E  to user interface  722 D of  FIG. 7D . 
     The situations in which user interface may provide a visual enhancer, such as visual enhancer  730  of  FIGS. 7C and 7D , may be determined by a user of device  700  or the manufacturer of device  700 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with a visual enhancer only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with a visual enhancer whenever he or she scrolls to a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     As an alternative or in addition to visually enhancing an updated set of listings  726  with a visual enhancer  730 , user interface may enhance itself aurally. As shown in  FIGS. 7A-7F , device  700  may also include an audio output component  740 . Audio output component  740  may be any output component suitable for transmitting audible information to a user, such as a speaker, headphones, or the like. In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  726  are scrolled on output component  720  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  710 , user interface  722  may also change the type of audio information transmitted to the user via output component  740  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  710  or to a particular change in a characteristic of the highlighted listing, as described above with respect to user interface  522  and audio output component  540  of  FIGS. 5A-5F . 
     For example, when user interface  722  elementally-scrolls forwardly from an original listing  726   a  to forwardly consecutive listing  726   b , user interface may enhance itself aurally by transmitting a first sound  741  via output component  740  while also updating the set of listings  726  on output component  720  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 A of  FIG. 7A  to user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B ). On the other hand, when user interface  722  quick-scrolls forwardly from an original listing  726   b  to a new listing  726   h  that is the initial listing in a forwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  722  may enhance itself aurally by transmitting a second sound  742  via output component  740  while also updating the set of listings  726  on output component  720  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B  to user interface  722 C of  FIG. 7C ), for example. 
     First sound  741  and second sound  742  may each be a single tone or a much more complex sound, such as a song. In one embodiment, first sound  741  may be a single short clicking sound indicative of the short scrolling between consecutive listings  726   a  and  726   b , while second sound  742  may be a longer clunking sound indicative of the quick-scrolling between listings  726   b  and  726   h  of different sublists. The same first sound  741  may be transmitted by user interface  722  every time it elementally-scrolls between two listings and the same second sound  742  may be transmitted by user interface  722  every time it quickly-scrolls between two listings. This may help a user to more quickly and more easily realize how he or she is scrolling through the listings. 
     For example, when user interface  722  continues to quick-scroll downwardly from an original listing  726   h  to a new listing  726   k  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  722  may enhance itself aurally by once again transmitting second sound  742  via output component  740  while also updating the set of listings  726  on output component  720  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 C of  FIG. 7C  to user interface  722 D of  FIG. 7D ). Then, when user interface  722  begins to once again elementally-scroll forwardly, such as from an original listing  726   k  to forwardly consecutive listing  726   l , the user interface may enhance itself aurally by once again transmitting the first sound  741  via output component  740  while also updating the set of listings  726  on output component  720  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 D of  FIG. 7D  to user interface  722 E of  FIG. 7E ). 
     However, there are various other ways in which user interface  722  can transmit different sounds via output component  740  for increasing the ease and speed with which a user may scroll through a list of listings  726 . For example, in another embodiment, the sound transmitted by user interface  722  via output component  740  may be specifically associated with the listing being highlighted by indicator  728 . For example, when user interface  722  scrolls to a new listing  726   m  (e.g., by elementally scrolling forwardly from an original listing  726   l ), the user interface may enhance itself aurally by transmitting via output  740  a third sound  743  that is in some way related to new listing  726   m  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 E of  FIG. 7E  to user interface  722 F of  FIG. 7F ). Therefore, according to one embodiment, when interface  722  is updated to highlight listing  726   m , third sound  743  may be audio clip &lt;CLIP_m&gt; (i.e., audio clip metadata  856  associated with library entry  826   m ). 
     The situations in which user interface may provide an aural enhancement via output component  740 , may be determined by a user of device  700  or the manufacturer of device  700 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with aural enhancement only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with aural enhancement whenever he or she scrolls to a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     As an alternative or in addition to visually enhancing an updated set of listings  726  with a visual enhancer  730  and/or aurally enhancing an updated set of listings  726  with sounds via an audio output component  740 , user interface may enhance itself haptically or tactilely. As shown in  FIGS. 7A-7F , device  700  may also include a haptic output component  750 . Haptic output component  750  may be any output component suitable for transmitting haptic or tactile information to a user, such as a rumble pack, vibration generator, or the like. In addition to changing the way in which descriptive entry listings  726  are scrolled on output component  720  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  710 , user interface  722  may also change the type of haptic information transmitted to the user via output component  750  in response to a particular type of user movement of input component  710 . 
     For example, when user interface  722  elementally-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  726   a  to forwardly consecutive listing  726   b , user interface may enhance itself haptically by transmitting a first haptic signal  751  via output component  750  while also updating the set of listings  726  on output component  720  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 A of  FIG. 7A  to user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B ). On the other hand, when user interface  722  quick-scrolls downwardly from an original listing  726   b  to a new listing  726   h  that is the initial listing in a downwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  722  may enhance itself haptically by transmitting a second haptic signal  752  via output component  750  while also updating the set of listings  726  on output component  720  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 B of  FIG. 7B  to user interface  722 C of  FIG. 7C ), for example. 
     First haptic signal  751  and second haptic signal  752  may each be a single force or a much more complex motion, such as a steady beat. In one embodiment, first haptic signal  751  may provide a single short vibrating sensation to the user that is indicative of the short scrolling between consecutive listings  726   a  and  726   b , while second haptic signal  752  may provide a longer and more powerful vibrating sensation to the user that is indicative of the quick-scrolling between listings  726   b  and  726   h  of different sublists. The same first haptic signal  751  may be transmitted by user interface  722  every time it elementally-scrolls between two listings and the same second haptic signal  752  may be transmitted by user interface  722  every time it quickly-scrolls between two listings. This may help a user to more quickly and more easily realize how he or she is scrolling through the listings. 
     For example, when user interface  722  continues to quick-scroll downwardly from an original listing  726   h  to a new listing  726   k  that is the initial listing in a forwardly consecutive sublist, user interface  722  may enhance itself haptically by once again transmitting second haptic signal  752  via output component  750  while also updating the set of listings  726  on output component  720  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 C of  FIG. 7C  to user interface  722 D of  FIG. 7D ). Then, when user interface  722  begins to once again elementally-scroll downwardly, such as from an original listing  726   k  to forwardly consecutive listing  726   l , the user interface may enhance itself haptically by once again transmitting the first haptic signal  751  via output component  750  while also updating the set of listings  726  on output component  720  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 D of  FIG. 7D  to user interface  722 E of  FIG. 7E ). 
     However, there are various other ways in which user interface  722  can transmit different haptic signals via output component  750  for increasing the ease and speed with which a user may scroll through a list of listings  726 . For example, in another embodiment, the haptic signal transmitted by user interface  722  via output component  750  may be specifically associated with the listing being highlighted by indicator  728 . For example, when user interface  722  scrolls to a new listing  726   m  (e.g., by elementally scrolling forwardly from an original listing  726   l ), the user interface may enhance itself haptically by transmitting via output  750  a third haptic signal  753  that is in some way related to new listing  726   m  (e.g., as shown in the update from user interface  722 E of  FIG. 7E  to user interface  722 F of  FIG. 7F ). Therefore, according to one embodiment, when interface  722  is updated to highlight listing  726   m , third haptic signal  753  may be miscellaneous signal &lt;MISC_m&gt; (i.e., miscellaneous metadata  856  associated with library entry  826   m ). 
     The situations in which user interface may provide haptic or tactile enhancement via output component  750 , may be determined by a user of device  700  or the manufacturer of device  700 . For example, a user may wish to be provided with haptic enhancement only when he or she is quick-scrolling. Alternatively, a user may wish to be provided with haptic enhancement whenever he or she scrolls to a listing that is an initial listing in a sublist of the list of listings. These preferences may be fully customizable and may be stored locally on the device (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ), for example. 
     While there have been described systems and methods for improving the scrolling of user interfaces of electronic devices, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, many other types of payload data may be scrolled according to the invention, such as video files, contact information, word processing documents, and the like. It will also be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as “up” and “down,” “left” and “right,” “top” and “bottom,” “side” and “edge” and “corner,” “height” and “width” and “depth,” “horizontal” and “vertical,” and the like are used herein only for convenience, and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these words. For example, the devices of this invention can have any desired orientation. If reoriented, different directional or orientational terms may need to be used in their description, but that will not alter their fundamental nature as within the scope and spirit of this invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20140206
Publication Date: 20201215
Grant Date: 20201215
Priority Date: 20070904
Inventors: BULL, WILLIAM
HICKS, KOURTNY MINH
WOOD, POLICARPO
HOPE, ERIC JAMES
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0481", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/167", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/167", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0481", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 40409471