WO2010045681A1

WO2010045681A1 - Electronic document display

Info

Publication number: WO2010045681A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/001385
Authority: WO
Inventors: J. Frank Shaffer
Original assignee: Fabtale Productions Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-24
Filing date: 2009-10-22
Publication date: 2010-04-29
Also published as: AU2009307042A1

Abstract

A method of displaying an electronic document, such as a multimedia file, etc., to a user is disclosed. The method includes displaying an electronic document which has one or more separate pages to a user via a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface includes an indicator component, such as a visual or an audio cue, for executing an indicator function of a software application used for displaying the electronic document if the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone, and then signifying to the user via the indicator component on the graphical user interface that the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone. The milestone may be the amount of time elapsed since a page of the electronic document was displayed.

Description

ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT DISPLAY

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to the display of electronic documents. In particular, the present invention relates to electronic documents which include multimedia for display on computers and hand held devices including mobile telephones, PDA's etc.

Background Art Reading books, paper documents and other printed matter is linear in nature and the widespread use of electronic documents has allowed users to easily navigate documents, search documents, disseminate documents (e.g. via email or via the internet) and view documents (e.g. on mobile telephones, computers, media players and the like). In recent times, the use of electronic documents has increased and audio and video together with text have been used to enhance the user's experience in reading the document. Even traditional static pictures or photographs in electronic documents have been improved by including transitions panning across them. However, a problem with the use of audio, video and pictures (including transitions panning across pictures) is that they tend to govern the rate at which the user views the document. As a result, navigation controls have been included so that the user can stop, pause, forward or rewind when viewing the electronic document. However, when viewing electronic documents which include audio, video, pictures and text, it can be difficult for a user to gauge when a particular page or slide in an electronic document will end so that the next page can be viewed. Further, some users have short attention spans while others like to take time to read and absorb the information being presented to them. The problem is exacerbated with the use of smaller handheld devices such as mobile phones and portable media players in which the environment in which they are being used may dictate the user's attention span (e.g. viewing an electronic document while on a short commute etc).

Therefore there exists a need for an electronic document display which allows a user to have an indication as to when a particular page or slide in an electronic document will conclude or, if it not concluded if they can safely skip the page.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a method of displaying an electronic document to a user including the steps of:

(a) displaying an electronic document having one or more separate pages in a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including: an indicator component for executing an indicator function of a software application used for displaying the electronic document;

(b) determining via the indicator function of the software application used for displaying the electronic document if the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone; and (c) signifying to the user via the indicator component on the graphical user interface that the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone.

A milestone is preferably the point in the page of the document being displayed where the user can safely navigate to the next page without missing critical information. The milestone is determined by the author of the electronic document.

Advantageously, this allows the user to know when a milestone has been reached and they can safely navigate to the next page without missing critical information. There may be a milestone for each page. Preferably the milestone of the one or more pages is defined by a predetermined event in the software application used for displaying the electronic document.

Preferably the predetermined event is the amount of time elapsed since a page of the electronic document was displayed. Preferably the indicator component is a visual cue on the graphical user interface.

Preferably, the visual cue is a change in colour on the graphical user interface. Alternatively, the visual cue may be a change in colour on a portion of the graphical user interface. In another alternative, the visual cue may be a repeated change in colour on the graphical user interface. Advantageously, depending on the colour used, the repeated change in colour or "flashing" subtly provides the user with a visual cue that they can safely view the next page and does not detract too much from the electronic document being displayed.

In an alternative, the indicator component may be an audio cue. Preferably the audio cue is a sound which emanates via the graphical user interface.

In a preferred embodiment, the graphical user interface preferably includes one or more selectable navigation controls for executing one or more navigation functions of a software application used for displaying the electronic document.

Preferably, the indicator component is included in one or more of the navigation controls such that the navigation control acts as both a navigation control and an indicator component. Advantageously, this keeps the controls on the graphical user interface to a minimum and assists in avoiding detracting from the electronic document being displayed.

Preferably the navigation controls include any of forward control, backward control, pause control and play control. Preferably the indicator component is a visual cue included on the forward control.

Preferably the visual cue is a change of colour on the forward control.

More preferably, the visual cue is a repeated change of colour on the forward control. Advantageously, this keeps the controls on the graphical user interface to a minimum, assists in avoiding detracting from the electronic document being displayed and is intuitive.

In another embodiment, the indicator component includes the first visual cue to indicate a first milestone of a page and a second visual cue to indicate a second milestone of an electronic document. Advantageously, this allows a user to be informed when the page has concluded and they can navigate to the next page and in this case of a second visual cue to know when, for example, an electronic document has ended. In an alternative, the second visual cue can be used with the first visual cue to provide a comparative cue or to communicate a form of measurement through sequential presentation of the first and second visual cues.

The present invention provides software for use with a computer including a processor and associated memory device for storing the software, the software including a series of instructions to cause the processor to carry out a method according to the method of the invention.

The present invention further provides a system for of displaying an electronic document to a user, the system including:

(a) a processor;

(b) a memory; (c) a user interface including one or more output devices; and

(d) a software program resident in memory accessible to the processor, the program executable by the processor to:

(e) display an electronic document having one or more separate pages in a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including: an indicator component for executing an indicator function of a software application used for displaying the electronic document;

(f) determine via the indicator function of the software application used for displaying the electronic document if the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone; and (g) signify to the user via the indicator component on the graphical user interface that the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone.

The present invention also provides a computer readable media containing a sequence of instructions in the form of a software program, the software program executable by a processor to: (a) display an electronic document having one or more separate pages in a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including: an indicator component for executing an indicator function of a software application used for displaying the electronic document; (b) determine via the indicator function of the software application used for displaying the electronic document if the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone; and

(c) signify to the user via the indicator component on the graphical user interface that the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone.

Brief Description of Figures

An example embodiment of the present invention should become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, described in connection with the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of an example processing system that can be utilised to employ or give effect to a particular embodiment;

Figure 2 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3A to 3E illustrate an example electronic document display according to an embodiment of the invention.

Modes for Carrying out the Invention The following modes, given by way of example only, are described in order to provide a more precise understanding of the subject matter of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Example of a Processing System Embodiments of the present invention can be realised using a processing system, an example of which is shown in Figure 1. The illustrated processing system 100 can be used as a client processing system and/or a server processing system.

The processing system 100 typically includes at least one processor 102 (or processing unit), a memory 104, at least one input device 106 and at least one output device 108. As is shown, the processor 102, memory 104, input device 104 and output device 108 are typically coupled together via a bus or group of buses 110. In certain embodiments, input device 106 and output device 108 could be the same device such as in the case of, for example, a computer graphics display or handheld device that incorporates a touch-screen.

An interface 1 12 can also be provided for coupling the processing system 100 to one or more peripheral devices. For example interface 1 12 could be a PCI card or PC card. At least one storage device 1 14 which houses at least one database 1 16 can also be provided.

The memory 104 can be any suitable memory device and may include, for example, volatile or non-volatile memory, solid state storage devices, magnetic devices, etc. The memory 104 will typically store an operating system that provides functionality to the processing system 100. A file system and files are also typically stored on the storage device 1 14 and/or the memory 104. The memory 104 may also include one or more software applications or program data.

According to embodiments of the invention, the applications running in memory 104 preferably include electronic document presentation programs, such as Impress™, PowerPoint™, Flash™, Silverlight™, Keynote™, Acrobat™, Mobipocket™ or any other suitable application for displaying electronic documents for reading or reviewing.

As explained above, the processor 102 could include more than one processing device, for example to handle different functions within the processing system 100.

Input device 106 receives input data 1 18 and may include, for example, a keyboard, a pointer device such as a pen-like device or a mouse, a tracker- ball, joystick or touch-screen, audio receiving device for voice controlled activation, such as a microphone, data receiver or antenna such as a modem or wireless data adaptor, data acquisition card, etc. Thus, an input device 1 18 may be operable by a user to enter input data 1 18, or it may receive data from another input data source. Thus, the input data 1 18 could be provided by different input devices 106. For example, in an embodiment the input data 18 may include keyboard or mouse instructions entered by a user, in conjunction with data received via a network. Output device 108 produces or generates output data 120. In one embodiment, the output device 108 includes a display device (such as a computer graphics display) for providing output data 120 in a visual form.

In another embodiment, the output device 108 includes a display device or monitor together with a set of audio speakers in which case the output data 120 may be provided in an audio-visual form.

In another embodiment, the output device 108 may include a printer in which case output data 120 is provided in a printed form. It will be appreciated that other types of output devices 108 may also be used, such as, a port (for example a USB port), a peripheral component adaptor, a data transmitter or antenna such as a modem or wireless network adaptor, etc.

It will also be appreciated that the output data 120 could be output from a variety of different output devices 108 such as, for example, a visual display on a monitor in conjunction with data transmitted to a network. In such an embodiment a user could view data output, or an interpretation of the data output, on, for example, a monitor or using a printer.

The storage device 1 14 can be any form of data or information storage means, for example, volatile or non-volatile memory, solid state storage devices, magnetic devices, etc.

In use, the processing system 100 can be adapted to allow data or information to be stored in and/or retrieved from, via wired or wireless communication means, the at least one database 1 16. The interface 1 12 may allow wired and/or wireless communication between the processing unit 102 and peripheral components that may serve a specialized purpose. The processor 102 may receive instructions as input data 118 via input device 106 and can display processed results or other output to a user by utilising output device 108. Multiple input devices 106 and/or output devices 108 can be provided.

In terms of the processing system 100, it should be appreciated that the processing system 100 may be any form of terminal, server processing system, specialised hardware, computer, computer system or computerised device, personal computer (PC), mobile or cellular telephone, mobile data terminal, portable computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), pager or any other similar type of device.

The processing system 100 may be a part of a networked communications system. The processing system 100 could connect to network, for example the Internet or a WAN. The network can include one or more client processing systems and one or more server processing systems, wherein the one or more client processing systems and the one or more server processing systems are forms of processing system 100. Input data 1 18 and output data 120 could be communicated to other devices via the network. The transfer of information and/or data over the network can be achieved using wired communications means or wireless communications means. The server processing system can facilitate the transfer of data between the network and one or more databases. Figure 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 200 of displaying an electronic document to a user.

At step 205 the electronic document having one or more separate pages is displayed to a user in a graphical user interface via an output device 108. The graphical user interface represents an associated software application such as an electronic document presentation application or any other suitable application for displaying electronic documents for reading or reviewing. In a typical embodiment the electronic document is selected from the database 1 16 on the storage device 1 14 for visual communication to a user. The storage device 114 may be located on a computer, mobile telephone, PDA or internet server. The visual communication of the electronic document to the user involves the processing system 100 (or processor 102) decoding information contained in the electronic document and displaying the information on an output device 108 via software stored in memory 104. The graphical user interface allows a user to interact with the electronic document and includes an indicator component which executes an indicator function of a software application in memory 104 used for displaying the electronic document. The graphical user interface also includes one or more selectable navigation controls for executing one or more navigation functions of a software application used for displaying the electronic document. The software application used for displaying the electronic document may be stored on the storage device 1 14 and/or in the memory 104 and run by the processor 102.

At step 210 the method determines if the display of the one or more pages of the electronic document has reached a milestone via the indicator function of the software application used for displaying the electronic document. Typically, the milestone of the one or more pages is defined by a predetermined event in the software application used for displaying the electronic document. In the preferred embodiment, the predetermined event is the amount of time elapsed since a page of the electronic document was displayed. In this step, it is still possible for a user to use the navigation controls to navigate through the electronic document if they wish. However, this may mean that they miss critical information.

At step 215, the method signifies to the user via the indicator component on the graphical user interface that the display of the one or more pages has reached the milestone. As noted above, the milestone is defined by a predetermined event in the software application used for displaying the electronic document. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined event is the amount of time elapsed since a page of the electronic document was displayed.

Preferably the indicator component is a visual cue on the graphical user interface. This may be an icon appearing on the graphical user interface. Alternatively, the visual cue may be a change in colour on the graphical user interface. In an alternative, the visual cue may be a change in colour on a portion of the graphical user interface. For example, the top left hand corner of the graphical user interface may change colour. In a preferred embodiment, the visual cue is a repeated change in colour on the graphical user interface. This would involve a flashing type effect to indicate to the user that a milestone has been reached. As will be appreciated, many other types of visual cues could be used such as glowing, rotating, blurring, colour changing, resizing, bevelling, shadowing, shape distorting, animating, tinting, bending, rippling, strobing, flipping, tiling, replicating, twirling. In an alternative embodiment, the indicator component may be an audio cue in which a sound emanates via the graphical user interface and an output device 108 such as a speaker.

In a preferred embodiment, the indicator component is included in one or more of the navigation controls such that the navigation control access both a navigation control and an indicator component. Advantageously, this minimises the footprint of the graphical user interface on the output display 108. Preferably the forward control acts as an indicator component having a visual cue. Preferably the visual cue is a change of colour and more preferably the visual cue is a repeated change of colour on the forward control such that it gives a flashing type effect.

The milestone is determined by the author of the electronic document and the milestone is implemented via an indicator function of a software application running in the memory 104 of the system 100 used for displaying an electronic document. The milestone may be chosen to indicate to a user when the minimum amount of time has passed before the user may turn the page or navigate the electronic document without missing critical information. This information may be transmitted through either visual, textual and/or auditory mediums. Advantageously this accommodates a variety of reading speeds and attention spans in a way that film, text or audio alone will not.

In a second embodiment, the indicator component includes a first visual cue to indicate a first milestone of a page and a second visual cue to indicate a second milestone of an electronic document. The first milestone may be when the page has concluded and the user can navigate to the next page and in this case of a second visual cue to know when, for example, an electronic document has ended. In an alternative, the second visual cue can be used with the first visual cue to provide a comparative cue or to communicate a form of measurement through sequential presentation of the first and second visual cues. The method 200 is preferably repeated for each of the pages in the electronic document.

The method of the present invention can be implemented in software in various ways, and using various development tools. In the present embodiment, the method is delivered from a storage device 1 14 to an output device 108. Alternatively, the method may be delivered over the internet by a user accessing a universal resource locator (URL). The method may be delivered to the user over the internet through scripting mechanism such as Flash, Java, PHP or the like. Alternatively, the method may be implemented as a stand alone application written in a programming language such as C++.

Figures 3A to 3E illustrate snapshots in time of a sequence of screen shots of one page of the electronic document 300 that results when used with the method according to the invention. The method is as described in Figure 2. The electronic document 300 may be represented on an output device 108 and includes a graphical user interface 305 for navigation control and providing the indicator component. In Figure 3A the electronic document 300 is communicating to a user the events leading up to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. In telling the story, a first picture 325 is displayed on the electronic document 300. Also shown is a graphical user interface 305 which includes a navigation control 310 having forward navigation control 315 and backward navigation control 320. The navigation control 310 (and indicator component 335 described below) are displayed in the graphical user interface 305 for accessing functionality of the displayed software application running in the memory 104 of the system 100 (e.g. electronic document presentation software).

The first picture 325 shows a picture of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. At this point the electronic document 300 does not provide much information to the user. It is possible at this point for the user to skip the entire page of the electronic document 300 by selecting either the forward navigation control 315 or backward navigation control 320. However, if the user does this, they will miss critical information regarding the following events as defined by the author of the electronic document 300. This will result in the user missing information and not completely understanding the following page (not shown) of the electronic document 300. At this point, a milestone is yet to be reached and therefore the indicator component 335 is not active. The milestone in this case is the timing of the appearance of animated text 330 which will be described below.

Figure 3B continues on from Figure 3A and is the same page of electronic document 300 but this time including animated text 330 which includes a transition from transparent (Figure 3B) to opaque (Figure 3C). The animated text 330 at this stage is difficult to read and therefore, while the user can use navigation control 310 to navigate to the next page or previous page in the electronic document 300, the indicator component 335 is yet to be activated as the user will still miss critical information.

Figure 3C is similar to Figure 3B except that the animated text 330 has now turned to opaque so that it is easy to read. At this point, the indicator component 335 signifies to the user on the graphical user interface 305 that the display on this page has reached a milestone. In this case, the milestone is the predetermined time since the present page of the electronic document 300 was displayed. The milestone is selected by the author of the electronic document 300 such that at this point, if the user uses the forward navigation control 315 to navigate to the next page, the user will not miss any critical information. This is evidenced by Figure 3D in which a second picture 340 is displayed which moves from transparent (Figure 3D) to opaque (Figure 3E).

In Figure 3D, the indicator component 335 is still signifying to the user that they may select forward navigation control 315 and not miss any critical information. However, if the user wishes, they may elect not to select the forward navigation control 315 and watch the remainder of the page of the electronic document 300.

Figure 3E shows the second picture 340 in its opaque form which shows another picture of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie to provide more context for the story being told in the electronic document 300. However, the author of the electronic document 300 has determined that it is not critical that the user sees the second picture 340. Again, the indicator component 335 remains to signify to the user that the display of the page has reached the milestone.

It will be appreciated that further audio, video or text (animated or otherwise) could be shown but may be of no consequence to the story being told by the page defined by Figure 3A to 3E of the electronic document 300. Therefore, if the user wishes to study the electronic document or, for example, is a slower reader or has a longer attention span then they can wait to view the page as long as is needed and change the page accordingly by selecting the forward navigation control 315 safe in the knowledge that they are not missing any information due to the indicator component 335 on the graphical user interface 305 providing a visual cue. It will be appreciated that in an alternative, an audio cue may be provided.

Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said to broadly consist in the paths, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the paths, elements or features and wherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalence in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Although a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method of displaying an electronic document to a user including the steps of: (a) displaying an electronic document having one or more separate pages in a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including: an indicator component for executing an indicator function of a software application used for displaying the electronic document;

(b) determining via the indicator function of the software application used for displaying the electronic document if the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone; and

(c) signifying to the user via the indicator component on the graphical user interface that the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the milestone of the one or more pages is defined by a predetermined event in the software application used for displaying the electronic document.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event is the amount of time elapsed since a page of the electronic document was displayed.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator component is a visual cue on the graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the visual cue is a change in colour on the graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the visual cue is a change in colour on a portion of the graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the visual cue is a repeated change in colour on the graphical user interface.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator component is an audio cue.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio cue is a sound which emanates via the graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface further includes one or more selectable navigation controls for executing one or more navigation functions of a software application used for displaying the electronic document.

1 1. The method of claim 10, wherein the indicator component is included in one or more of the navigation controls such that the navigation control acts as both a navigation control and an indicator component.

12. The method of claim 1 1 , wherein the navigation controls include any of forward control, backward control, pause control and play control.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the indicator component is a visual cue included on the forward control.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the visual cue is a change of colour on the forward control.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the visual cue is a repeated change of colour on the forward control.

16. The method of claim 1 1 , wherein the indicator component includes a first visual cue to indicate a first milestone of a page and a second visual cue to indicate a second milestone of an electronic document.

17. Software for use with a computer including a processor and associated memory device for storing the software, the software including a series of instructions to cause the processor to carry out a method according to claim 1.

18. A system for of displaying an electronic document to a user, the system including:

(a) a processor; (b) a memory;

(c) a user interface including one or more output devices; and

(f) determine via the indicator function of the software application used for displaying the electronic document if the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone; and

(g) signify to the user via the indicator component on the graphical user interface that the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone.

19. A computer readable media containing a sequence of instructions in the form of a software program, the software program executable by a processor to:

(a) display an electronic document having one or more separate pages in a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including: an indicator component for executing an indicator function of a software application used for displaying the electronic document; and

(b) determine via the indicator function of the software application used for displaying the electronic document if the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone; and (c) signify to the user via the indicator component on the graphical user interface that the display of the one or more pages has reached a milestone.