Direct manipulation of displayed content

Abstract

The disclosed information describes a method, system, and computer-readable medium for performing direct manipulation of displayed content (e.g., dragging the displayed content in a particular direction or dragging a particular part of the displayed content). In particular, content is displayed to a user, and a variety of direct manipulations of the displayed content are provided to allow the user to modify display of the content without the use of separate displayed content manipulation controls. The disclosed direct manipulation techniques are used to modify the display of content by altering the value of a content properties affecting the display. Such properties can include an amplitude affecting the size or level with which the information is presented (e.g., a volume level at which audio information is played, or a size at which visual information is displayed), an information history property that refers to a series of distinct groups of information that are related to each other over time, and a channel property that can specify one of multiple alternate groups of information that can be displayed. When the user selects the displayed content and performs a direct manipulation of the content, the value of a corresponding property is modified accordingly, and the display of the content is updated to reflect the new value of the property. Also, the user can map what direct manipulations correspond to what properties.

1 . A computer-implemented method for controlling display of information based on direct manipulation of the displayed information without use of separate manipulation controls, the information having multiple channels each representing an alternative stream of groups of information available for display, having a history including a series of previously displayed groups of information, and having multiple amplitudes at which the information can be displayed, the method comprising: 
 receiving an indication of the information to be displayed;    determining a current channel of the information, a current group of information from the stream associated with the current channel, and a current amplitude;    displaying the current portion of the information at the current amplitude; and    for each of a series of received indications that a user has dragged the displayed information, 
 when the user has dragged the displayed information in a predefined direction associated with the channels, displaying a group of information from the stream associated with a new channel, the new channel selected based on the dragging;  
 when the user has dragged the displayed information in a predefined manner associated with the amplitudes, displaying the current group of information at a new amplitude, the new amplitude selected based on the dragging; and  
 when the user has dragged the displayed information in a predefined direction associated with the history, displaying a new group of information from the series of groups of information, the new group selected based on the dragging, so that the user can directly manipulate the display of information without the use of separate manipulation controls.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a distance of the dragging of the displayed information determines the selection of the new channel, new amplitude, or new group.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an indication of a distinct output device is displayed, and including: 
 receiving an indication that the user has dragged the displayed information to the displayed indication of the output device; and  
 in response, displaying the displayed information on the output device.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein when a previously displayed group of information from the series for the history is selected as the current group of information, groups of information later in the series are removed from the history.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the direction of the dragging that is associated with the history is a lateral direction.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the direction of the dragging that is associated with the channels is a vertical direction.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dragging of the displayed information that is associated with the amplitude involves modifying a size of a window in which the information is displayed.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each channel is a video stream consisting of a series of images and wherein the amplitude at which the information is displayed corresponds to a size of the displayed images for the current channel.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each channel is an audio stream and wherein the amplitude at which the information is displayed corresponds to an audio level at which the audio information is played.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the information is displayed inside a displayed container, and including: 
 receiving an indication that the user has dragged a portion of the container; and  
 modifying a visual representation of the container based on the dragging.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the container is a window.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the dragging of the container modifies the size of the container, and including displaying the displayed content in the modified container at a new amplitude corresponding to the modified size.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the dragging of the container modifies the size of the container such that the modified size is below a threshold, and including closing the container based of the modifying of the size.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a separate content control is displayed, and including: 
 receiving an indication that the user has dragged the separate content control; and  
 modifying the displayed information based on the dragging.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  including, before the receiving of the indication that the user has dragged the separate content control, receiving an indication that the separate content control is associated with the displayed information.  
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed on a computer will perform the steps of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the computer-readable medium is a transmission medium on which is transmitted a generated data signal containing the instructions.  
     
     
         18 . A computer system comprising components that when executed will perform the steps of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling presentation of content, the content having a time-based sequence of groups of information, the method comprising: 
 presenting a current group of the content;    receiving an indication that a visual representation of the presented current group has been dragged in such a manner as to indicate a group of information of the sequence that is adjacent to the current group; and    based on a direction of the dragging, selecting either a next earlier or a next later group of information of the sequence for presentation.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein a cursor displayed during the dragging resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein a distance of the dragging indicates a group of information of the sequence that is not adjacent to the current group, and including selecting the indicated group of information for presentation.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the dragging is in a lateral direction.  
     
     
         23 . A method for controlling presentation of a sequence of related independent groups of information, the method comprising: 
 presenting a current group of the information;    receiving an indication that a visual representation of the presented current group has been dragged; and    determining an alternate group of the information of the sequence for presentation based on a direction of the dragging representing whether the alternate group is earlier or later in the sequence than the current group.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein a cursor displayed during the dragging resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein a distance of the dragging represents a position of the alternate group in the sequence relative to a position of the current group.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the dragging is in a lateral direction.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the groups of information are pages of a document.  
     
     
         28 . A method for controlling presentation of content, the content having alternative channels of information available for presentation, the method comprising: 
 presenting a current channel of information;    receiving an indication that a visual representation of the presented information has been dragged; and    selecting an alternate channel of information for presentation based on the dragging.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein a cursor displayed during the dragging resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein a distance of the dragging represents a distance of the alternate channel from the current channel.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the dragging is in a vertical direction.  
     
     
         32 . A method for controlling presentation of content at one of multiple amplitudes, the method comprising: 
 presenting the content at a current amplitude;    receiving an indication that a visual representation of the presented information has been dragged so as to modify a size of the visual representation; and    selecting an alternate amplitude for presentation of the content based on the modified size.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein a cursor displayed during the dragging resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein a distance of the dragging represents a difference in size of the alternate amplitude from the current amplitude.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the dragging modifies a size of a container in which the content is presented.  
     
     
         36 . A method for controlling display of content having a modifiable property affecting the display, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the displayed content, the method comprising: 
 receiving an indication that the displayed content has been directly manipulated; and    when all of the content is displayed before the direct manipulating, modifying the property based on the direct manipulation.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein a cursor displayed during the direct manipulation resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the direct manipulation is a dragging of the displayed content.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein a length of the direct manipulation represents an amount of the modification of the property.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36  wherein when all of the content is not displayed before the direct manipulating, scrolling the content based on the direct manipulation so as to display non-visible portions of the content.  
     
     
         41 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed on a computer will perform the steps of  claim 36 .  
     
     
         42 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 41  wherein the computer-readable medium is a transmission medium on which is transmitted a generated data signal containing the instructions.  
     
     
         43 . A computer system for controlling display of content having a modifiable property affecting the display, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the displayed content, comprising: 
 a content manipulation detector that receives an indication that the displayed content has been directly manipulated; and    a content property modifier that, when all of the content is displayed before the direct manipulating, modifies the property based on the direct manipulation.    
     
     
         44 . A method for controlling content displayed in a window, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the displayed content in the window, the method comprising: 
 receiving an indication that the displayed content in the window has been directly manipulated;    when the direct manipulation corresponds to scrolling the window in order to display a non-displayed portion of the content, scrolling the window so that the non-displayed portion of the content is displayed; and    when the direct manipulation corresponds to modifying what content is displayed, modifying the displayed content based on the direct manipulation.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein when the direct manipulation corresponds to modifying how the displayed content is displayed, modifying the display of the content in a corresponding manner.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein when the direct manipulation corresponds to modifying where the displayed content is displayed, modifying the display of the content in a corresponding manner.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the direct manipulation is a dragging of the displayed content.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44  wherein a length of the direct manipulation represents an amount of the modifying of the displayed content.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44  wherein a cursor displayed during the direct manipulation resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         50 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed on a computer will perform the steps of  claim 44 .  
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 50  wherein the computer-readable medium is a transmission medium on which is transmitted a generated data signal containing the instructions.  
     
     
         52 . A computer system for controlling content displayed in a window, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the displayed content in the window by a user, comprising: 
 a content manipulation detector that receives an indication that the displayed content in the window has been directly manipulated by the user; and    a content property modifier that, when the direct manipulation corresponds to scrolling the window in order to display a non-displayed portion of the content, scrolls the window so that the non-displayed portion of the content is displayed, and that, when the direct manipulation corresponds to modifying what content is displayed, modifies the displayed content in a corresponding manner.    
     
     
         53 . A method for controlling display of content, the method comprising: 
 displaying the content on a first output device;    receiving an indication that the displayed content has been dragged to a displayed indication of another output device; and    based on the dragging, displaying the content on the another output device.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein a cursor displayed during the direct manipulation resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         55 . A method for controlling display of content displayed in a container, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the container, the method comprising: 
 receiving an indication that the container has been directly manipulated;    when the direct manipulation of the container corresponds to modifying a property of the displayed content, modifying the property based on the direct manipulation; and    when the direct manipulation of the container corresponds to modifying how the container is displayed, modifying the container based on the direct manipulation.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the container is a window in which the content is displayed.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55  wherein a cursor displayed during the direct manipulation resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the direct manipulation is a dragging of a portion of the container.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55  wherein a length of the direct manipulation represents an amount of the modifying.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the direct manipulation of the container includes modifying the size of the container, and wherein the property of the displayed content that is modified is an amplitude of the displayed content.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the direct manipulation of the container indicates that the container is to be displayed in a diminished form, and wherein the modifying of the container includes displaying the container in the diminished form.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the direct manipulation of the container indicates that the container is to be displayed in an expanded form, and wherein the modifying of the container includes displaying the container in the expanded form.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the direct manipulation of the container indicates that the container is to be closed, and wherein the modifying of the container includes closing the container.  
     
     
         64 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed on a computer will perform the steps of  claim 55 .  
     
     
         65 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 64  wherein the computer-readable medium is a transmission medium on which is transmitted a generated data signal containing the instructions.  
     
     
         66 . A computer system for controlling display of content displayed in a container, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the container, comprising: 
 a manipulation detector that receives an indication that the container has been directly manipulated; and    a modifier component that, when the direct manipulation of the container corresponds to modifying a property of the displayed content, modifies the property based on the direct manipulation, and that, when the direct manipulation of the container corresponds to modifying how the container is displayed, modifies the container based on the direct manipulation.    
     
     
         67 . A method for controlling display of content based on direct manipulation of a separate displayed control, the method comprising: 
 receiving an indication that the separate control has been directly manipulated; and    modifying the displayed content based on the direct manipulation.    
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein a plurality of groups of content are displayed, and including, before the receiving of the indication that the separate control has been directly manipulated, associating the control with displayed content to be modified.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67  wherein a cursor displayed during the direct manipulation resembles a human hand.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the direct manipulation is a rotation of the displayed control.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67  wherein a length of the direct manipulation represents an amount of the modifying.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67  wherein, before the receiving of the indication, the control is associated with a container holding displayed content, and including modifying the container based on the direct manipulation.  
     
     
         73 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed on a computer will perform the steps of  claim 67 .  
     
     
         74 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 73  wherein the computer-readable medium is a transmission medium on which is transmitted a generated data signal containing the instructions.  
     
     
         75 . A computer system for controlling display of content based on direct manipulation of a separate displayed control, comprising: 
 a manipulation detector that receives an indication that the separate control has been directly manipulated; and    a modifier component that modifies the displayed content based on the direct manipulation.