Media player interface

Abstract

A computer readable medium contains media player application code which implements the procedures of generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame, displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files, displaying in a second one of said first selected information for said media files, and displaying in a third one of said panes second selected information for said media files.

1 - 66 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         67 . A user interface for a media player application comprising: 
 an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles that define:    a first pane that displays a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;    a second pane that displays first selected information for said media files; and    a third pane that displays second selected information for said media files.    
     
     
         68 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 67  wherein said first selected information includes an index of a plurality of artists associated with said media files.  
     
     
         69 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 67  wherein said second selected information includes an index of a plurality of albums associated with said media files.  
     
     
         70 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 67  further comprising a browse button in said frame which toggles said window between all of said panes being displayed and only a selected one of said panes being displayed.  
     
     
         71 . A user interface as set forth in claims  70  wherein said selected one of said panes is said first one of said panes.  
     
     
         72 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 67  further comprising a fourth pane that displays information relating to a plurality of selectable sources for said media files, one of said sources being a library source which when selected causes said first, second and said third ones of said panes to be displayed.  
     
     
         73 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 72  wherein a second source includes a radio tuner.  
     
     
         74 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 73  further comprising a fifth pane that displays an index of genre of said media files when said radio tuner source has been selected, said fifth pane being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third panes.  
     
     
         75 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 73  further comprising a user selectable refresh button in said frame that connects said media player application to the Internet to obtain refreshed information for said media files.  
     
     
         76 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 67  further including a plurality of user selectable control buttons disposed in a selected portion of said frame, said control buttons controlling execution of said media player reproducing content from said media files in said index.  
     
     
         77 . A user interface for a media player application, comprising: 
 an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles that define:    a first pane that displays a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;    a second pane that displays selected information for said media files;    a third pane that displays second selected information for said media files; and    a fourth pane that displays information relating to a plurality of user selectable sources for said media files, wherein a first one of said sources is a library source and a second one of said sources is a user definable playlist, said library source when selected causing said first, second and said third ones of said panes to be displayed.    
     
     
         78 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 77  further comprising a fifth pane that displays an index of media files contained in said playlist when said playlist has been selected, said fifth pane being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third panes.  
     
     
         79 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 77  wherein a third one of said sources is a radio tuner.  
     
     
         80 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 79  further comprising a fifth pane that displays an index of genre of said media files when said radio source has been selected, said fifth pane being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third panes.  
     
     
         81 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 79  further comprising a user selectable refresh button that is displayed in said frame when said radio tuner has been selected, which selectively connects said media player application to the Internet to obtain refreshed information for said media files.  
     
     
         82 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 81  wherein said refresh button changes state to a browse button when said library source is selected.  
     
     
         83 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 82  wherein said browse button toggles said window between all of said panes being displayed and only said first one and said fourth one of said panes being displayed.  
     
     
         84 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 81  wherein said refresh button changes state to a burn CD button when said playlist is selected, that selectively initiates a further procedure allowing media files indicated in said selected playlist to be recorded onto a compact disk.  
     
     
         85 . A user interface for media player application, comprising: 
 an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles that define a plurality of panes including:    a first pane that displays a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;    a second pane that displays first selected information for said media files; and    a third pane that displays second selected information for said media files;    said frame including a user selectable button that causes a visual effect to be displayed in said window in lieu of said panes.    
     
     
         86 . A user interface as set forth in  claim 85  wherein said visual effect is responsive to at least one parameter of one of said media files while used by said media player.