WO2019229438A1 - Apparatus and method for displaying media - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for displaying media Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019229438A1
WO2019229438A1 PCT/GB2019/051472 GB2019051472W WO2019229438A1 WO 2019229438 A1 WO2019229438 A1 WO 2019229438A1 GB 2019051472 W GB2019051472 W GB 2019051472W WO 2019229438 A1 WO2019229438 A1 WO 2019229438A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
media
link
display
viewing region
user
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2019/051472
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ross BIRKBECK
Original Assignee
Alkhamware Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB1809062.1A external-priority patent/GB201809062D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB1809063.9A external-priority patent/GB201809063D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB1809061.3A external-priority patent/GB201809061D0/en
Application filed by Alkhamware Limited filed Critical Alkhamware Limited
Publication of WO2019229438A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019229438A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0481—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0484—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F40/00—Handling natural language data
    • G06F40/10—Text processing
    • G06F40/12—Use of codes for handling textual entities
    • G06F40/134—Hyperlinking
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0484—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
    • G06F3/0486—Drag-and-drop

Abstract

The present disclosure provides apparatus (10) for displaying media. The apparatus comprises an electronic display (16) for displaying a graphical user interface (100) comprising a viewing region (102, 104) for displaying a portion of the media therein. The apparatus comprises a user input interface (18) for receiving a link creation request from a user of the apparatus. The link creation request is a request from the user to create a two- way link between two different portions of the media. The apparatus comprises at least one processor (12), and at least one memory (14) having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: in dependence on receipt of a request to create a two-way link from the user, the two-way link having a first link which, when activated, causes the display to display a first portion of the media instead of a second portion of the media in the viewing region and a second link which, when activated, causes the display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region, control the display to: display a first link creator (150a, 150b, 156, 158) to allow the user to set a selected portion as the second portion; and display a second link creator (160a, 160b, 164, 166) to allow the user to set a further portion of the media as the first portion.

Description

Apparatus and Method For Displaying Media
[0001] This invention relates to apparatus and a method for displaying scrollable media. The invention extends to a computer program and a computer-readable data carrier.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Displaying media, for example scrollable media, such as a document comprising a plurality of pages, on an electronic device can be performed by a number of different computer programs. For example, Adobe (RTM) Acrobat Reader allows a user to display a PDF document in a viewing window on an electronic display of an electronic device. It is also known to display a list of bookmarks for the document. A user can open another window showing the same document. In this case, the list of bookmarks for the document will be shown again. In this way, the same list of bookmarks is displayed twice on the electronic display, with each list being associated with one of the two separate windows. It is also known to split the viewing window into two sub-regions and display a separate portion of the document in each of the sub-regions. In this case, the list of bookmarks may be displayed only once, though there is no indication in the list of bookmarks of which section of the document is displayed in which sub-region.
[0003] It is possible to provide a virtual bookmark associated with a portion of the media, such as a word in the media. When the bookmark is activated, for example by selection on the bookmark by the user in a list of bookmarks, the viewing window is updated to display the portion of the media associated with the bookmark. The virtual bookmark can sometimes be referred to as a link to the portion of the media. In an example, the virtual bookmark or link can be additionally associated with a further portion of the media. In this way, when the user is viewing a first portion of the media, containing the link, activation of the link allows the user to view a second portion of the media instead of the first portion. Of course, it is possible for the user to create several different bookmarks or links associated with the media, all associated with different portions of the media.
[0004] When a user wants to display a new document, being a combination of two or more original documents, the computer program can open and combine the original documents into the new document, save the new document to a memory, and re-open the new document from memory for display in the viewing window on the electronic display of the electronic device. The new document must be combined and saved to memory before it can be displayed.
[0005] Viewed another way, displaying media, for example a document comprising a plurality of pages, on an electronic device can be performed by a number of different computer programs. For example, Adobe (RTM) Acrobat Reader allows a user to display a PDF document in a viewing window on an electronic display of an electronic device.
[0006] It is possible to provide a virtual bookmark associated with a portion of the media, such as a word in the media. When the bookmark is activated, for example by selection on the bookmark by the user in a list of bookmarks, the viewing window is updated to display the portion of the media associated with the bookmark. The virtual bookmark can sometimes be referred to as a link to the portion of the media. In an example, the virtual bookmark or link can be additionally associated with a further portion of the media. In this way, when the user is viewing a first portion of the media, containing the link, activation of the link allows the user to view a second portion of the media instead of the first portion. Of course, it is possible for the user to create several different bookmarks or links associated with the media, all associated with different portions of the media.
[0007] Viewed yet another way, displaying scrollable media, for example a document comprising a plurality of pages, on an electronic device can be performed by a number of different computer programs. For example, Adobe (RTM) Acrobat Reader allows a user to display a PDF document in a viewing window on an electronic display of an electronic device.
[0008] When a user wants to display a new document, being a combination of two or more original documents, the computer program opens and combines the original documents into the new document, saves the new document to memory, and re-opens the new document from memory for display in the viewing window on the electronic display of the electronic device. The new document must be combined and saved to memory before it can be displayed.
[0009] The present invention provides one or more alternatives to the methods of displaying media of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] Navigation Indicators
[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided apparatus for displaying scrollable media. The apparatus comprises an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface comprises a first viewing region, a second viewing region and a navigation region. The navigation region includes a list area. The apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to control the display to: display a first portion of the scrollable media in the first viewing region; display a second portion of the scrollable media in the second viewing region; display a list indicative of a plurality of portions of the scrollable media in the list area of the navigation region, the plurality of portions including the first portion and the second portion; display a first navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying the first portion; and display a second navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the second viewing region displaying the second portion.
[0012] Thus, the apparatus can display only a single list of the plurality of portions of the scrollable media, even though different portions of the scrollable media are being displayed in the first viewing region and the second viewing region. Furthermore, the navigation indicators can provide information to the user to enable them to see which portion of the scrollable media is displayed in each view, without the requirement for two separate lists. This can save space on the display, allowing more room for display of the portions of scrollable media themselves. Displaying only a single list of the plurality of portions can also have memory usage advantages, as only one copy of the list need be cached in memory, allowing for a more efficient use of the computer memory.
[0013] Although the presently described apparatus and method has included description of a first viewing region and a second viewing region, it will be understood that the graphical user interface may comprise more than two viewing regions, each for displaying different portions of the scrollable media, in which case each viewing region has associated therewith a navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list, and each indicative of the displayed portion of the scrollable media in the respective viewing region.
[0014] The first portion of the scrollable media may be different from the second portion of the scrollable media. Thus, different portions of the scrollable media may be displayed in the first and second viewing regions.
[0015] The scrollable media may comprise text media. The text media may comprise a plurality of documents. The scrollable media may comprise a PDF document. The scrollable media may comprise a plurality of elements, for example pages.
[0016] The list may include a plurality of text portions, each text portion indicative of a respective portion amongst the plurality of portions of the scrollable media. The plurality of text portions may comprise at least one section heading. The plurality of text portions may comprise at least one subsection heading. Each of the plurality of text portions may be less than ten words. The list may be arranged vertically. Although not presently preferred, the list may be arranged horizontally. The list may comprise a first plurality of text portions arranged at a first indent position, and at least one second text portion, arranged at a second indent position, different to the first indent position. In this way, the list can denote subsections within section of the scrollable media, for example chapters within an article, the article being one among several articles in the scrollable media.
[0017] The apparatus may further comprise a user input interface for receiving a navigation input from a user of the apparatus. The instructions may cause the at least one processor to determine a third portion of the scrollable media in dependence on the navigation input. The instructions may cause the at least one processor to display the third portion of the scrollable media in the first viewing region. The instructions may cause the at least one processor to display a third navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying the third region. Thus, the navigation region can be updated when the portion of the scrollable media displayed in either of the viewing regions changes.
[0018] The third navigation indicator may replace the first navigation indicator. In some examples, it will be understood that the third navigation indicator is identical to the first navigation indicator, but displayed in a different position in the navigation region to the first navigation indicator.
[0019] The navigation input may be associated with the navigation region. In other words, the navigation input may indicative of a selection by the user within the navigation region. The navigation input may be from a mouse, a keyboard or a touchscreen interface.
[0020] The user input interface may be part of the electronic display, for example where the user input interface is a touchscreen interface.
[0021] The navigation input may be indicative of a selection by the user at a coordinate location within the navigation region. A location of the third navigation indicator in the navigation region may correspond to the coordinate location. Thus, the user can select the portion of the scrollable media to be displayed in the first viewing region. The third navigation indicator can be displayed to indicate to the user that the third portion of the scrollable media is displayed in the first viewing region.
[0022] The navigation input may be associated with the first viewing region. Thus, the user can navigate away from the first portion of the scrollable media by interacting with the first viewing region, for example selecting a navigation button in the first viewing region. The third navigation indicator will be displayed to indicate that the first viewing region is displaying the third portion of the scrollable media.
[0023] The navigation input may be a scrolling input. The scrolling input may be a user input on a scroll wheel of a mouse. The scrolling input may be a user input on a scroll bar associated with the first viewing region. The scrolling input may be a swipe input on a touchscreen interface. Thus, the term scrolling input will be understood to mean any input from the user which changes the portion of the scrollable media displayed in the first viewing region. In some embodiments, the first portion of the scrollable media may change to the third portion of the scrollable media via display in the first viewing region of a fourth portion of the scrollable media, between the first portion and the third portion.
[0024] The navigation region may further include a first indicator area separate from the list area and for displaying the first navigation indicator therein. Therefore, in some examples, the first navigation indicator is displayed separately from the list of the plurality of portions of the scrollable media. The first indicator area may be alongside the list area. The first indicator area may be adjacent to the list area.
[0025] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to control the display to display a first plurality of indicators in the first indicator area, each indicator of the first plurality of indicators different from the first navigation indicator. Each of the first plurality of indicators may be associated with an item in the list. Each of the first plurality of indicators may be indicative of the first viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list. The first plurality of indicators may be aligned with the items in the list. The first plurality of indicators may each be identical in shape and colour. The first navigation indicator may be a filled version of each of the first plurality of indicators. The first navigation indicator may be substantially the same shape as each of the first plurality of indicators. The first navigation indicator may be substantially the same colour as each of the first plurality of indicators. The first navigation indicator may be in a line with the first plurality of indicators.
[0026] The navigation region may further include a second indicator area separate from the list area and the first indicator area, and for displaying the second navigation indicator therein. The second indicator area may be substantially as described in relation to the first indicator area. The second indicator area may be alongside the list area. The second indicator area may be alongside the first indicator area. The first indicator area may be between the second indicator area and the list area. Thus, the first indicator area and the second indicator area may each correspond to rows or columns associated with the list area.
[0027] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to control the display to display a second plurality of indicators in the second indicator area, each indicator of the second plurality of indicators different from the second navigation indicator. Each indicator of the second plurality of indicators may be associated with an item in the list. Each indicator of the second plurality of indicators may be indicative of the second viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list. The second plurality of indicators may be aligned with the items in the list. The second plurality of indicators may each be identical in shape and colour. The second navigation indicator may be a filled version of each of the second plurality of indicators. The second navigation indicator may be substantially the same shape as each of the second plurality of indicators. The second navigation indicator may be substantially the same colour as each of the second plurality of indicators. The second navigation indicator may be in a line with the second plurality of indicators.
[0028] In some examples, the navigation indicators may be overlaid on the list, for example a highlight over the list.
[0029] The list area may occupy more than half of the navigation region. Therefore, the area of the electronic display available for the first viewing region and the second viewing region is larger than if two lists were displayed.
[0030] The present disclosure extends to an electronic device comprising the apparatus.
[0031] The present disclosure extends to a computer-implemented method of displaying scrollable media on an electronic display. The method comprises displaying a first portion of the scrollable media in a first viewing region of the electronic display. The method comprises displaying a second portion of the scrollable media in a second viewing region of the electronic display. The method comprises displaying a list indicative of a plurality of portions of the scrollable media in a list area of a navigation region of the electronic display, the plurality of portions including the first portion and the second portion. The method comprises displaying a first navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the first portion being displayed in the first viewing region. The method comprises displaying a second navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the second portion being displayed in the second viewing region. Thus, only a single list of the plurality of portions of the scrollable media need be displayed, even though different portions of the scrollable media are being displayed in each of the first viewing region and the second viewing region. The navigation indicators provide information to the user to enable them to see which portion of the scrollable media is displayed in each view, without the requirement for two separate lists. This can save space on the display, allowing more room for display of the portions of scrollable media themselves.
[0032] The method may further comprise determining a third portion of the scrollable media in dependence on a navigation input, displaying the third portion of the scrollable media in the first viewing region, and displaying a third navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the third region being displayed in the first viewing region.
[0033] The method may further comprise displaying a first plurality of indicators in a first indicator area of the navigation region, each indicator of the first plurality of indicators different from the first navigation indicator, associated with an item in the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list, and displaying the first navigation indicator in the first indicator area.
[0034] The method may further comprise displaying a second plurality of indicators in a second indicator area of the navigation region, each indicator of the second plurality of indicators different from the second navigation indicator, associated with an item in the list and indicative of the second viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list, and displaying the second navigation indicator in the second indicator area.
[0035] The present disclosure extends to an electronic device for displaying scrollable media, the electronic device comprising: an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface having a first viewing region, a second viewing region and a navigation region, the navigation region including a list area; and a controller to control the display to display a first portion of the scrollable media in the first region, display a second portion of the scrollable media in the second viewing region, display a list indicative of a plurality of portions of the scrollable media in the list area, the plurality of portions including the first portion and the second portion, display a first navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying the first portion and display a second navigation indicator in navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the second viewing region displaying the second portion.
[0036] Contiguous display of separate data files
[0037] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided apparatus for displaying a plurality of media to a user. The apparatus comprises an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface comprises a viewing region. The apparatus comprises a user input interface for receiving a scrolling input from the user of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: display at least an end portion of a first media of the plurality of media in the viewing region of the electronic display; and in dependence on receipt of a scrolling input associated with the viewing region while the end portion of the first media is being displayed in the viewing region, display in the viewing region at least a start portion of a second media of the plurality of media. The first media and the second media are each associated with separate data files.
[0038] Thus, the apparatus can contiguously scroll from the first media to the second media, even though each of the first media and the second media are associated with separate data files. The user need not have saved the combination of the first media and the second media as a combined data file prior to being able to scroll between the first media and the second media. In this way, fewer processing steps are required to display the combined media and/or less memory is required to store the combination of the first media and the second media in addition to the separate storage in memory of the first media and the second media. It will be understood that the first media can be opened or loaded from a first data file and the second media can be opened or loaded from a second data file. In particular, the end portion of the first media may be opened from the first data file and the start portion of the second media may be opened from the second data file.
The first data file is different to the second data file. The first data file can be stored in a different location, for example a different folder, to the second data file. Either or both of the first data file and the second data file may be stored on the, or a further, memory, or on cloud storage in data communication with the apparatus.
[0039] The start portion of the second media may be displayed in the viewing region adjacent to the end portion of the first media. In other words, it can appear to the user that the first media and the second media are part of a single, contiguous media, such as a single document, collected together in a single file. The start portion of the second media may be displayed in the viewing region spatially after the end portion of the first media. Therefore, the scrolling input can cause the end portion of the first media to be scrolled out of the viewing region to be replaced by the scrolling in of the start portion of the second media. The start portion of the second media may be displayed in the viewing region vertically below the end portion of the first media.
[0040] In dependence on the, or a further, scrolling input associated with the viewing region, the start portion of the second media may be displayed in the viewing region instead of the end portion of the first media. Thus, the display of the second media in the viewing region can completely replace any portion of the first media in the viewing region.
[0041] The plurality of media may comprise text media. In embodiments, each of the plurality of media may comprise text. The text media may include one or more elements other than text, for example image elements.
[0042] The first media may be a first document. The second media may be a second document. Either or both of the first document and the second document may comprise a plurality of pages. The first document and the second document may be PDF documents. Thus, the apparatus may be for viewing a plurality of PDF files, each stored in different file locations, as if the files were combined into a single file.
[0043] The user input interface may be a touchscreen interface. In this way, the scrolling input may be a swipe gesture on the touchscreen interface. It will be understood that the term swipe includes any sliding gesture on or at the touchscreen interface, of the type usually associated with navigation around a document on an electronic display having a touchscreen interface. Furthermore, where the user input interface is a touchscreen interface, it will be understood that the touchscreen may be provided at the electronic display. The swipe gesture may be any of a swipe up gesture, a swipe down gesture, a swipe left gesture or a swipe right gesture. In one embodiment, the user input interface may be an interface for interfacing with a computer mouse, such that a computer mouse can be used to provide the scrolling input.
[0044] The scrolling input may be indicative of selection by the user of a navigation button associated with the viewing region. In other words, the user may have selected a button of the apparatus, for example a virtual button displayed on the electronic display. The virtual button may be provided outside the viewing region. The virtual button may be provided at an edge of the viewing region. The selection of the button of the apparatus causes navigation of the viewing region to a different portion of the plurality of media.
[0045] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to create a data collection having a first object based on a first data file associated with the first media and a second object based on a second data file associated with the second media. The start portion of the second media may be displayed in the viewing region based on the data collection.
The data collection may be an array of objects. The data collection may be in the form of a dictionary of objects. In other words, the apparatus causes the first data file and the second data file to both be referenced in the data collection, without combining the first data file and the second data file into a single data file representative of the first media and the second media combined and stored in a single file. [0046] The first object and the second object may each be of a first object type. The data collection is of a second object type. The second object type is different from the first object type. Each instance of the first object type may have associated therewith a first plurality of fields. Each instance of the second object type may have associated therewith a second plurality of fields. The first plurality of fields may be at least partially different to the second plurality of fields.
[0047] The data collection may have associated therewith a parent data extraction function, configured to return a requested portion of the plurality of media, based on at least one object of the first object type of the data collection. In other words, the parent data extraction function of the data collection can be executed to return the requested portion of the plurality of media. The start portion of the second media may be displayed in the viewing region based on the parent data extraction function of the data collection. In particular, the parent data extraction function may return the start portion of the second media for display by the electronic display in the viewing region of the electronic display.
[0048] The data collection may be assigned to a further data collection, having associated therewith a further parent data extraction function configured to execute the parent data extraction function of the data collection to return the requested portion of the plurality of media. In other words, the relationship may be recursive, such that there may be one or more further data collections, each having associated therewith a respective parent data extraction function for extracting a requested portion of the data collection or further data collection assigned thereto. The further data collection may be of the same object type as the data collection, or may be of a further object type. It will be understood that there may be two, three, four, five, or more levels of recursion of the data collections.
In this way, the plurality of media can be arranged in hierarchical groups.
[0049] Each object of the first object type may have associated therewith a data extraction function, configured to return a requested portion of the media. The parent data extraction function may be configured to return the requested portion of the plurality of media, by executing the data extraction function of at least one of the objects of the data collection. Thus, the data collection can be used to return the requested portion of the plurality of media, without storing the plurality of media in a single data file.
[0050] The second object type may be configured to spoof the first object type, such that a function arranged to call the data extraction function of an object of the first object type when passed the object of the first object type will call the parent data extraction function of the data collection of the second object type when passed the data collection of the second object type. In this way, software code designed to manipulate and/or render objects of the first object type need not be changed when applied to objects of the second object type. This is particularly advantageous where the software code is part of a software library, such as an open-source software library, for example the JavaScript library pdf.js. The open-source software library may be a display library for rendering an object of the first object type.
[0051] To display the start portion of the second media in the viewing region, the instructions may cause the at least one processor to execute a rendering function of a display library, the rendering function to cause display of the start portion of the second media on the electronic display based on the execution of the parent data extraction function.
[0052] In some embodiments, the instructions, when executed, may cause the at least one processors to receive a re-order request from the user. The re-order is typically a request from the user to swap an order of the first media and the second media in the plurality of media. The instructions may cause the at least one processor to, in
dependence on the re-order request being received and in dependence on receipt of the scrolling input while an end portion of the second media is being displayed in the viewing region, control the display to display in the viewing region a start portion of the first media. The start portion of the first media may be displayed instead of the end portion of the second media. Thus, the first media and the second media of the plurality of medias can be re-ordered without creating and saving a new data file including the first media and the second media.
[0053] The present disclosure extends to a computer-implemented method of displaying a plurality of media to a user. The plurality of media comprises a first media and a second media. The method comprises displaying at least an end portion of a first media in a viewing region of an electronic display. The method comprises receiving a scrolling input from the user and associated with the viewing region. The method comprises, in dependence on receipt of the scrolling input while the end portion of the first media is being displayed in the viewing region, displaying at least a start portion of the second media in the viewing region. The first media and the second media are each associated with separate data files. Thus, a plurality of media, each from different data files, are be displayed as if they were a single data file.
[0054] The method may include any of the feature described herein.
[0055] The present disclosure extends to an electronic device for displaying a plurality of media to a user, the electronic device comprising: an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface having a viewing region; a user input interface for receiving a scrolling input from the user of the electronic device; and a controller to control the display to display at least an end portion of a first media of the plurality of media in the viewing region, and, in dependence on receipt of the scrolling input associated with the viewing region while the end portion of the first media is being displayed in the viewing region, display in the viewing region at least a start portion of a second media of the plurality of media, wherein the first media and the second media are each associated with separate data files.
[0056] Two-way Links
[0057] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided apparatus for displaying media. The apparatus comprises an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface comprising a viewing region for displaying a portion of the media therein. The apparatus comprises a user input interface for receiving a link creation request from a user of the apparatus. The link creation request is a request from the user to create a two-way link between two different portions of the media. The apparatus comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: in dependence on receipt of a request to create a two-way link from the user, the two-way link having a first link which, when activated, causes the display to display a first portion of the media instead of a second portion of the media in the viewing region and a second link which, when activated, causes the display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region, control the display to: display a first link creator to allow the user to set a selected portion as the second portion; and display a second link creator to allow the user to set a further portion of the media as the first portion.
[0058] Thus, the apparatus can create the required two-way link in a particularly efficient manner, requiring very few user inputs, therefore involving fewer processing steps. The further portion is different to the selected portion.
[0059] Typically, the instructions will cause the at least one processor to control the display to display a portion of the media in the viewing region and the selected portion will be the displayed portion of the media.
[0060] It will be understood that the term“two-way link” means a link which is bi directional, that is that it can link a first part of the media to a second part of the media, and also link the second part of the media back to the first part of the media. The two different portions of the media linked by the two-way link may be two different files of the media, or may be two different portions of the same file. [0061] It will be understood that the first link creator may be displayed to indicate that the user has set the displayed portion as the second portion. Similarly, the second link creator may be displayed to indicate that the user has set the further portion as the first portion.
[0062] The portion of the media to be displayed in the viewing region can be at least one of a line of text, a word, an image, a diagram and a paragraph. In some embodiments, the portion of the media to be displayed in the viewing region may be a position in the media, for example a y-position in a document. A y-position will be understood to be a position in the viewing region in only one dimension, for example a position in the vertical direction of the viewing region. The request to create a two-way link from the user may be indicative of a selection of a link button. Alternative ways of requesting creation of the two-way link from the user will be apparent to the skilled person, for example in response to a keyboard input.
[0063] It will be understood that activation of the first link and the second link may be selection by the user, for example using the user input interface. The user input interface may be a touchscreen interface. In some embodiments, a preliminary user input associated with the first link, for example a mouseover event, may display a preview image on the electronic display showing the first portion of the media. The preview image may be overlaid on a portion of the second portion of the media currently displayed in the viewing region. The preview image may be displayed in a further region of the graphical user interface, different from the viewing region, for example separate from the viewing region.
[0064] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to, in dependence on an activation of the first link of the two-way link, control the display to display the first portion instead of the second portion in the viewing region, and in dependence on an activation of the second link of the two-way link, control the display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region.
[0065] The first link creator, when associated with the displayed portion, may be displayed as a first link indicator in-line with the displayed portion, such that when the displayed portion is scrolled in the viewing region, the first link indicator scrolls therewith. Similarly, the second link creator, when associated with the further portion, may be displayed as a second link indicator in-line with the further portion, such that when the further portion is scrolled in the viewing region, the second link indicator scrolls therewith. On activation of the first link by activation of the first link indicator, the second link indicator is displayed in the viewing region (along with the first portion of the media), in substantially the same location as the first link indicator. In this way, the user can provide a plurality of activation inputs associated with substantially the same location in the viewing region and toggle between displaying the first portion and the second portion in the viewing region.
[0066] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to control the display to display the further portion subsequent to displaying the first link creator. The further portion could be scrolled to by the user in the viewing region. The further portion may be displayed in the viewing region instead of the displayed portion. In another embodiment, the further portion may be displayed in a further viewing region of the electronic display. Thus, the user can still view the displayed portion of the media at the same time as setting the further portion of the media as the first portion.
[0067] The graphical user interface may further comprise a link region. The link region may be separate from the viewing region. When the display is controlled to display the first link creator, the second link creator may be displayed in the link region. Thus, the user can be notified that a second part of the two-way link can be assigned.
[0068] In dependence on the further portion of the media being set as the first portion, the second link creator may be removed from the link region. Thus, the link region can be updated when there is no longer a free end to the two-way link. The link region may be at a side of the viewing region. The link region may be overlaid on the viewing region. [0069] When the second link creator is displayed in the link region, the first portion may have assigned thereto no portion of the media other than the displayed portion. In other words, the second link creator of the two-way link, when activated, will either display the displayed portion in the viewing region, or will not change the portion of the media displayed in the viewing region.
[0070] The user input interface may be provided by a touchscreen interface of the electronic display.
[0071] The media may comprise a plurality of media files. The media may be scrollable media. The scrollable media may comprise at least one document. The document may comprise a plurality of pages. The scrollable media may comprise a plurality of documents. Each of the plurality of documents may comprise a plurality of pages.
[0072] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to control the display to display the further portion subsequent to display of the first link creator. The instructions may cause the at least one processor to control the display to scroll the media in the viewing region from the displayed portion to the further portion subsequent to display of the first link creator. The instructions may cause the at least one processor to control the display to display the further portion subsequent to display of the second link creator. The instructions may cause the at least one processor to control the display to scroll the media in the viewing region from the displayed portion to the further portion subsequent to display of the second link creator. Thus, the second link creator can already be displayed on the electronic display before the further portion is displayed in the viewing region.
[0073] The scrollable media may be scrolled in response to a scrolling input from the user. The scrolling input may be received at the user input interface. The scrolling input may be received at a further user input interface.
[0074] When the display is controlled to display the displayed portion in the viewing region, the instructions may cause the at least one processor to control the display to display at least one other portion of the media in the viewing region. Thus, the displayed portion is only one of at least two portions of the media displayed in the viewing region.
The at least two portions are contiguous. The displayed portion may be a paragraph. The displayed portion may be an element of the media. The displayed portion may be a line. The displayed portion may be a word.
[0075] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to associate the first link creator with the displayed portion of the media to set the displayed portion as the second portion, in response to a first association request from the user. The link creation request may comprise the first association request.
[0076] The first association request may comprise a sliding gesture to the displayed portion of the media in the viewing region. In an example, the sliding gesture may be a “drag and drop” gesture to move the first link creator to the displayed portion of the media. The sliding gesture may be from the link region.
[0077] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to associate the second link creator with the further portion of the media in response to a second association request. The second association request may comprise a sliding gesture to the further portion of the media in the viewing region. The sliding gesture may be from the link region.
[0078] The instructions may cause the at least one processor to, in dependence on receipt of at least one further request to create a two-way link from the user, control the display to display at least one further first link creator and at least one further second link creator. Thus, multiple two-way links can be created by the apparatus.
[0079] The first link creator may share a shape with the second link creator. The first link creator may share a colour with the second link creator. Thus, the user can associate the first and second link creators to each other, and to that particular two-way link. It will be understood that where the apparatus can create multiple two-way links, each of the associated first and second link creators may be a different shape or a different colour, to allow the user to distinguish between the different two-way links.
[0080] It will be understood that the first link creator and the second link creator are each graphical representations in the graphical user interface which are arranged to indicate to the user that the displayed portion of the media can be set as the first portion, or that the further portion of the media can be set as the second portion.
[0081] The present disclosure extends to a computer-implemented method of configuring navigation of media by a user. The method comprises displaying a portion of the media in a viewing region of an electronic display. The method comprises receiving a link creation request from a user. The link creation request is a request from the user to create a two- way link between two different portions of the media. The two-way link has a first link which, when activated, causes the electronic display to display a first portion of the media instead of a second portion of the media in the viewing region, and a second link which, when activated, causes the electronic display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region. The method comprises displaying a first link creator on the electronic display to allow the user to set the displayed portion as the second portion. The method comprises displaying a second link creator on the electronic display to allow the user to set a further portion of the media as the first portion. The method comprises, in response to subsequent activation of the second link, displaying the second portion in the viewing region. The method comprises, in response to activation of the first link, displaying the first portion in the viewing region. Thus, two-way links can be easily created.
[0082] The present disclosure extends to an electronic device for displaying media, the electronic device comprising: an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface comprising a viewing region for displaying a portion of the media therein; a user input interface for receiving a link creation request from a user of the apparatus, the link creation request being a request from the user to create a two-way link between two different portions of the media; and a controller to: control the display to display a portion of the media in the viewing region; and, in dependence on receipt of a request to create a two- way link from the user, the two-way link having a first link which, when activated, causes the display to display a first portion of the media instead of a second portion of the media in the viewing region and a second link which, when activated, causes the display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region, control the display to: display a first link creator to allow the user to set the displayed portion as the second portion; and display a second link creator to allow the user to set a further portion of the media as the first portion.
[0083] The present invention extends to an apparatus for displaying media. The apparatus comprises an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface comprising a viewing region for displaying a portion of the media therein. The apparatus comprises a user input interface for receiving a link activation request from a user of the apparatus. The link activation request is a request from the user to activate a two-way link between two different portions of the media. The apparatus comprises at least one processor. The apparatus comprises at least one memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to receive two-way link data associated with the media. The two-way link data comprises a first link location set to a first portion of the media and a second link location set to a second portion of the media. The instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to, in dependence on receipt of the first link location and the second link location, control the display to, when the first portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region, display a first link indicator in the viewing region. When the first link indicator is activated by receipt of the link activation request, the second portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region. The instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to, in dependence on receipt of the first link location and the second link location, control the display to, when the second portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region, display a second link indicator in the viewing region. When the second link indicator is activated by receipt of the link activation request, the first portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region. Thus, the first link indicator providing the first link and the second link indicator providing the second link, are both defined by the first link location and the second link location of the two-way link data. In other words, the two links that form the two-way link need not be defined by a repetition of the same data, but can instead both be defined using the same instance of the location data. The present disclosure extends to a computer-implemented method of displaying media, carrying out the instructions stored on the memory.
[0084] Common Elements
[0085] The media may be a bundle for use in legal proceedings.
[0086] Each of the plurality of media may be a different document.
[0087] The present disclosure extends to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out any of the methods described hereinbefore.
[0088] In uncompiled software code, the function name for the data extraction function described herein may be the same as the function name for the parent data extraction function described herein. In other words, a software function which calls a function of the name of the data extraction function on an object of the second object type will, in reality, be calling the parent data extraction function.
[0089] The present disclosure extends to a computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program. The present disclosure extends to a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon the computer program.
[0090] As used herein, the term“portion” means any part of the media, including a one or more words, one or more sentences, one or more paragraphs, one or more images, or only a portion of any of the preceding options. In some examples, the portion may be a spatial position in the media, a spatial range in the media. In some examples, the“portion” may be the whole of a part of the media, for example a whole document in a plurality of documents. Although the portion of the media may be displayed in a viewing window of the display, the viewing window may also display neighbouring portions of the media at the same time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0091] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to the present disclosure;
Figures 2 to 4 are flowcharts, each illustrating a method according to the present disclosure; and
Figure 5 to 10 illustrate a graphical user interface according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0092] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of apparatus 10 in the form of an electronic device 10 for displaying and navigating media as described herein. The electronic device 10 comprises processing means 12 in the form of at least one processor 12, memory means 14 in the form of at least one memory 14, display means in the form of an electronic display 16. Typically, the electronic device 10 comprises user input means 18 in the form of a user input interface 18. The electronic device 10 is for display of media, for example scrollable media as described herein. The electronic device 10 can be any of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal electronic device, a portable electronic device, or any other electronic device 10 for displaying the media on the electronic display 16 thereof.
[0093] The at least one processor 12 can be a multi-core processor 12, having a plurality of processing cores. The plurality of processing cores can be implemented physically or virtually. In particular, the at least one processor 12 executes instructions stored on the at least one memory 14. The at least one memory 14 comprises RAM, ROM, or any other suitable form of memory. In some examples, the at least one memory 14 comprises several different types of memory. The at least one memory 14 can have stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor 12 to carry out functions of the electronic device 12, such as control of the electronic display 16. The instructions, when executed, can cause the at least one processor 12 to carry out any of the methods described herein. The memory 14 or a further memory (not shown in Figure 1) may also comprise one or more data files encoding the media. In some examples, the memory 14 or the further memory have stored thereon a plurality of data files, each separately encoding different portions of the media. The electronic display 16 is generally a display screen for displaying a graphical user interface thereon. The graphical user interface is for displaying the media therein. In this example, the graphical user interface is arranged in a plurality of different regions, each region having a different function. The electronic display 16 can utilise any suitable display technology for displaying the media, including any of TFT, LCD, LED, OLED, and CRT display technology. In some examples, the electronic display 16 can be a projector for projecting the media onto a screen surface.
[0094] Most devices will also include the user input interface 18 for receiving user inputs from a user of the electronic device 10. The user inputs received via the user input interface 18 are for controlling the electronic device 10, in particular the electronic display 16, to display one or more portions of the media thereon.
[0095] Although not shown in Figure 1 , it will be understood that the electronic device 10 may include further components or modules, for example relating to the display of the media on the electronic display 16, relating to a cloud storage interface for receiving data stored on a cloud storage service, or relating to other functions of the electronic device 10, such as mobile telephony functions. In an example, the electronic device 10 includes a communication unit, such as a wireless communication unit, for receiving one or more portions of the media for display on the electronic display 16.
[0096] Although the electronic device 10 described herein comprises a processor 12 and a memory 14, it will be understood that the electronic device 10 may be considered to comprise a controller to control the operation of the electronic device 10, in any of the ways described herein.
[0097] Although not described herein, it will be understood that the electronic device 10 may comprise a display output configured to be connected to an electronic display, separate from the electronic device 10. In this case, it is possible that the electronic device 10 does not include the electronic display 16, instead outputting display control instructions to the external electronic display via the display output.
[0098] Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 20 of displaying scrollable media on an electronic display, for example the electronic display 16 described hereinbefore with reference to Figure 1. In particular, the method 20 is a method of displaying navigation indicators associated with a list of a plurality of portions of scrollable media to indicate which portion of the scrollable media is being displayed in each of a plurality of viewing regions of the electronic display. The list is displayed only once on the electronic display.
[0099] The method 20 broadly comprises steps of displaying 21 a first portion of the scrollable media in a first viewing region of an electronic display, displaying 22 a second portion of the scrollable media in a second viewing region of the electronic display, displaying 23 a list of a plurality of portions of the scrollable media in a navigation region of the electronic display, displaying 24 a first navigation indicator in the navigation region, indicative of the first portion being displayed in the first viewing region and displaying 25 a second navigation indicator in the navigation region, indicative of the second portion being displayed in the second viewing region.
[00100] Referring to Figure 2, the illustrated embodiment of the method 20 comprises a step of displaying 21 a first portion of a scrollable media in a first viewing region of an electronic display. In some embodiments, the method 20 comprises receiving the first portion of the scrollable media prior to displaying the first portion in step 21. The method 20 may comprise receiving the whole of the scrollable media. The scrollable media is any media, for example a collection of images, or a document which for which only a portion of the media is to be displayed in the first viewing region. In this way, scrolling of the scrollable media is required to display portions of the scrollable media other than the first portion in the first viewing region.
[00101] In step 22, a second portion of the scrollable media is displayed in a second viewing region of the electronic display. The second viewing region is different to the first viewing region. The second portion is different to the first portion. In this way, each of the first viewing region and the second viewing region are displaying different parts of the scrollable media. The first viewing region and the second viewing region are displaying the same scrollable media. In other words, the first viewing region and the second viewing region can each be separately navigated to point to any portion of the scrollable media.
[00102] In step 23, a list is displayed in a navigation region of the electronic display. The navigation region is typically separate from the first viewing region and the second viewing region. The list is indicative of a plurality of portions of the scrollable media, for example, the list can be a text list including a portion name for each of the plurality of portions of the scrollable media. The list is displayed in a list area of the navigation region. The plurality of portions include the first portion and the second portion. It will be understood that even if the first viewing region displays only part of the first portion, the first viewing region of the electronic display can still be considered to be displaying the first portion. Similarly, it will be understood that even if the second viewing region displays only part of the second portion, the second viewing region of the electronic display can still be considered to be displaying the second portion.
[00103] In step 24, a first navigation indicator is displayed in the navigation region. The first navigation indicator is associated with the list and is indicative of the first portion being displayed in the first viewing region. The first navigation indicator typically does not comprise the same item from the list associated with the first portion. In other words, the first navigation indicator is typically a simple indicator, occupying less space than a repetition of the list on the electronic display.
[00104] The method can comprise displaying a first plurality of indicators, each different from the first navigation indicator. The first plurality of indicators can be displayed in a first indicator area of the navigation region. Each indicator of the first plurality of indicators is associated with an item in the list, and is indicative of the first viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list. In other words, the first plurality of indicators can be considered to be null indicators, showing that the first viewing region is not displaying each associated item in the list. The first navigation indicator can also be displayed in the first indicator area. In this way, the user can easily identify which item is being displayed in the first viewing region, and where to select in the first indicator area to change the portion of the scrollable media displayed in the first viewing region.
[00105] In step 25, a second navigation indicator is displayed in the navigation region. The second navigation indicator is associated with the list and is indicative of the second portion being displayed in the second viewing region. The second navigation indicator typically does not comprise the same item from the list associated with the second portion. In other words, the second navigation indicator is typically a simple indicator, occupying less space than a repetition of the list on the electronic display. [00106] The method can comprise displaying a second plurality of indicators, each different from the second navigation indicator. The second plurality of indicators can be displayed in a second indicator area of the navigation region. Each indicator of the second plurality of indicators is associated with an item in the list, and is indicative of the second viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list. In other words, the second plurality of indicators can be considered to be null indicators, showing that the second viewing region is not displaying each associated item in the list. The second navigation indicator can also be displayed in the second indicator area. In this way, the user can easily identify which item is being displayed in the second viewing region, and where to select in the second indicator area to change the portion of the scrollable media displayed in the second viewing region.
[00107] The first navigation indicator and the second navigation indicator are, for example, visually associated with the list, for example located adjacent an item in the list
corresponding to the respective first portion and second portion of the scrollable media.
[00108] The method can comprise receiving a navigation input from a user. The navigation input is indicative of a request from the user to display a third portion of the scrollable media in the first viewing region, for example, instead of the first portion. In dependence on the navigation input being received, the third portion of the scrollable media can be displayed in the first viewing region, and a third navigation indicator can be displayed in the navigation region. In a similar way to the first navigation indicator and the second navigation indicator, the third navigation indicator is associated with the list and is indicative of the third region being displayed in the viewing region.
[00109] Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 30 of displaying a plurality of media on an electronic display, for example the electronic display 16 described
hereinbefore with reference to Figure 1. In particular, the method 30 is a method of displaying a plurality of media each associated with separate data files as if they were a single contiguous media, associated with a single data file. The plurality of media are displayed as a contiguous collection of media, without saving the plurality of media together as a single combined file.
[00110] The method 30 broadly comprises steps of displaying 31 an end portion of a first media, receiving 32 a scrolling input and, in dependence thereon, displaying 33 a start portion of a second media, the first media and the second media each being associated with separate data files.
[00111] Referring to Figure 3, the illustrated embodiment of the method 30 comprises a step 31 of displaying at least an end portion of a first media in a viewing region of an electronic display. The first media is associated with a first data file.
[00112] In step 32, a scrolling input is received from the user. The scrolling input is associated with the viewing region. In other words, the scrolling input is to cause the scrolling of the end portion of the first media being displayed in the viewing region.
[00113] In step 33, at least a start portion of a second media is displayed in the viewing region. The second media is associated with a second data file. The start portion of the second media is displayed in the viewing region in dependence on the scrolling input being received while the end portion of the first media is being displayed in the viewing region. Typically, the start portion of the second media is displayed instead of the end portion of the first media.
[00114] The method 30 can comprise creating a data collection having a first and a second object, each of a first object type. The data collection is of a second object type. The first object is based on the first data file associated with the first media. The second object is based on the second data file associated with the second media. Displaying the start portion of the second media in the viewing region in step 33 is based on the data collection. The data collection can have associated therewith a parent data extraction function, that is a function configured to return a requested portion of the plurality of media based on at least one object of the first object type of the data collection. In this way, displaying the start portion of the second media in the viewing region in step 33 is based on the parent data extraction function of the data collection. Each object of the first object type can have associated therewith a data extraction function, that is a function configured to return a requested portion of the media associated with the object of the first object type. The parent data extraction function can be configured to execute the data extraction function of at least one of the objects of the data collection. In this way, the process for extracting the requested portion of the plurality of media of the data collection is recursive.
[00115] Figure 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 40 of displaying media on an electronic display, for example the electronic display 16 described hereinbefore with reference to Figure 1. In particular, the method 40 is a method of creating a two-way link between two different portions of the media. The two-way link can be created easily and can allow the media to be navigated reversibly between two different portions of the media.
[00116] The method 40 broadly comprises steps of displaying 41 a portion of the media in a viewing region, receiving 42 a link creation request for creation of a two-way link, displaying 43 a first link creator to allow the user to set the displayed portion as a second portion, displaying 44 a second link creator to allow the user to set a further portion as a first portion, in response to activation of a second link of the two-way link, displaying 45 the second portion, and in response to activation of a first link of the two-way link, displaying 46 the first portion.
[00117] Referring to Figure 4, the illustrated embodiment of the method 40 comprises a step 41 of displaying a portion of a media in a viewing region of an electronic display. The media can be a document, or any other media, including a plurality of media, as described hereinbefore.
[00118] In step 42, a link creation request is received from a user. The link creation request is a request from the user to create a two-way link between two different portions of the media. The two-way link has a first link and a second link. When activated, the first link causes the electronic display to display a first portion of the media instead of a second portion of the media in the viewing region. When activated, the second link causes the electronic display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region.
[00119] In step 43, a first link creator is displayed on the electronic display. The first link creator is to allow the user to set the displayed portion as the second portion. In some examples, the first link creator is displayed to indicate that the displayed portion has been set as the second portion. The method can comprise setting the displayed portion as the second portion.
[00120] In step 44, a second link creator is displayed on the electronic display. The second link creator is to allow the user to set a further portion of the media as the first portion. In some examples, the second link creator is displayed to indicate that the further portion has been set as the first portion. The method can comprise setting the further portion as the first portion.
[00121] In step 45, the second portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region. The second portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region in response to subsequent activation of the second link.
[00122] In step 46, the first portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region. The first portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region in response to activation of the first link.
[00123] Therefore, the method 40 provides an efficient way to generate a two-way link. It will be appreciated that the method 40, in some examples, includes steps 41 to 44, without necessarily including steps 45 and 46. In this way, the two-way link can be created, but may not be used until a later time. In some examples, the two-way link may be created by a first user using a first apparatus, but may be used by a second user, viewing the media. The second user can be viewing the media on the first apparatus, or on a separate apparatus.
[00124] Further features of the methods described hereinbefore will be described hereinafter with reference to Figures 5 to 10.
[00125] An example of an application implementing the methods described hereinbefore will now be explained with reference to Figures 5 to 10, showing schematic diagrams illustrative of screenshots of the application.
[00126] Figure 5 shows a graphical user interface 100, as would be displayed on an electronic display, for example the electronic display 16 described hereinbefore with reference to Figure 1. The graphical user interface 100 is an interface for display of media to a user. The graphical user interface 100 comprises one or more viewing regions 102, 104. In this particular example, the one or more viewing regions 102, 104 comprise a first viewing region 102 and a second viewing region 104. The first viewing region 102 and the second viewing region 104 are arranged side-by-side and are each for displaying a portion of the media therein. The graphical user interface 100 also comprises a navigation region 106. The navigation region 106 is separate from the one or more viewing regions 102, 104 and is used to indicate to the user the portions of the media being displayed in the one or more viewing regions 102, 104. The navigation region 106 comprises a list area 108, having displayed therein a list displaying titles for a plurality of portions of the media.
[00127] In Figure 5, the media is a document in the form of a legal bundle of the type which might be used by a barrister or other legal professional to prepare for court proceedings. As can be seen from the list displayed in the list area 108, the bundle includes two main sections, the first being“Pleadings”, followed by a section entitled “LAW’. Within“Pleadings”, three documents are provided. The first document is entitled “Claim Form - Part 7”. The second document is entitled“Smith v Jones Particulars”. The third and final document within the“Pleadings” section in this example is entitled“Defence and Counterclaim”. Within the“LAW’ section, the documents have been split into three sub-sections, entitled“Legislation”,“Cases” and“Books”. Within the“Legislation” sub section of the“LAW’ section is provided a document entitled“Consumer Rights Act 2015”. Within the“Cases” sub-section is provided a first document entitled“Chaplair v Kumari CA 2015” and a second document entitled“Brown v Raphael”. Finally, the“Books” sub-section contains a document entitled“CHITTY Ed32_MER_chap_2”. For simplicity, any
documents displayed in either the first viewing region 102 or the second viewing region 104 will be shown only schematically, without faithful reproduction of the contents of these precise documents. For example, in Figure 5, it can be seen that the first viewing region 102 has displayed therein a portion of the“Defence and Counterclaim” document from the “Pleadings” section. The displayed portion of the“Defence and Counterclaim” document in this example is an end portion of page 1 as well as a start portion of page 2 of the “Defence and Counterclaim” document. The second viewing region 104 has displayed therein page 5 of the“Consumer Rights Act 2015”, from the“Legislation” sub-section of the “LAW’ section. The second viewing region 104 is also displaying a start portion of page 6 of the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” document as well as an end portion of page 4 of the “Consumer Rights Act 2015” document. It will be understood that any of the viewing regions 102, 104 can be navigated to other parts of the document, or to other documents referred to in the list area 108 by scrolling, or any other navigation input associated with the respective viewing regions 102, 104. The inventors have realised that where the one or more viewing regions 102, 104 includes at least two viewing regions 102, 104, as in Figure 5, it would be unclear to the user which of the viewing regions 102, 104 might be updated were a user to select simply an item from the list displayed in the list area 108.
Furthermore, it would waste space on the screen to display a dedicated list area 108 for each viewing region 102, 104. This is especially the case where users are adapting to work from remote locations, away from a desk-based environment. In such situations, the available electronic display may be relatively space-restricted, for example on a tablet computer. The inventors have devised indicators 120 which can be used to unambiguously control navigation of the media displayed in the first viewing region 102 and the second viewing region 104, as well as to indicate to the user the portion of the media displayed in each of the first navigation region 102 and the second navigation region 104. In this example, the indicators 120 are displayed within the navigation region 106, adjacent the list area 108. The indicators 120 will be described more fully in relation to Figure 6 hereinafter. As described hereinbefore, it will be understood that one or more of the documents in the bundle can be associated with, for example stored in, separate data files. In other words, the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” document is in a different data file to the “Defence and Counterclaim” document. However, to the user of the application, the bundle of documents are navigable in either the first viewing region 102 or the second viewing region 104 as if all of the documents in the bundle were combined into a single document. In other words, the user can scroll contiguously from the end portion, such as the last page of a first document to the start portion, such as the first page, of a second document. The order of the documents in the bundle can also be changed without requiring a new data file containing all the documents to be created each time. It will be understood that the order of the documents can be changed in the application in a number of ways, for example using a“drag and drop” method of moving one document in the list area 108 from a first position in the list to a second position in the list. Similarly, documents can be added to or removed from the bundle of documents.
[00128] Figure 6 is a reproduction of the list area 108 and the indicators 120 shown in Figure 5, shown in an enlarged view for clarity. In particular, the indicators 120 include a first navigation indicator 122 represented by a filled circle in a first column of indicators 124. The first navigation indicator 122 is aligned with the“Defence and Counterclaim” document in the“Pleadings” section of the list displayed in the list area 108. Therefore, the first navigation indicator 122 indicates that the first navigation region 102 (see Figure 5) is displaying a portion of the“Defence and Counterclaim” document within the“Pleadings” of the bundle of documents. In a similar way, the indicators 120 include a second navigation indicator 126 represented by a filled circle in a second column of indicators 128. The second navigation indicator 126 is aligned with the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” document in the“Legislation” sub-section of the“LAW’ section of the list displayed in the list area 108. Therefore, the second navigation indicator 126 indicates that the second navigation region 104 (see Figure 5) is displaying a portion of the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” document within the“Legislation” sub-section of the“LAW’ section of the bundle. As can be seen, the first column of indicators 124 includes a first plurality of indicators 130a, 130b, 130d, 130e, 130f, 130g in addition to the first navigation indicator 122. Each of the first plurality of indicators 130a, 130b, 130d, 130e, 130f, 130g are represented by an unfilled circle and are aligned with an item in the list in the list area 108. Similarly, the second column of indicators 128 includes a second plurality of indicators 132a, 132b, 132c, 132e, 132f, 132g in addition to the second navigation indicator 126. Each of the second plurality of indicators 132a, 132b, 132c, 132e, 132f, 132g are represented by an unfilled circle and are aligned with an item in the list in the list area 108. It will be understood that the unfilled circle in this example indicates that the first or second respect viewing regions 102, 104 are displaying a portion of the bundle other than a portion within any of the list items aligned with the first plurality of indicators 130a, 130b, 130d, 130e, 130f, 130g or the second plurality of indicators 132a, 132b, 132c, 132e, 132f, 132g. In response to selection of any of the first plurality of indicators 130a, 130b, 130d, 130e, 130f, 130g, the first viewing region 102 is updated to display at least a portion of the item aligned with the selected indicator. In response to selection of any of the second plurality of indicators 132a, 132b, 132c, 132e, 132f, 132g, the second viewing region 104 is updated to display at least a portion of the item aligned with the selected indicator. In this way, the display of portions of media within the viewing regions 102, 104 can be intuitively and unambiguously controlled. [00129] In Figures 6, it can also be seen that a first highlight region 134 is overlaid on the “Defence and Counterclaim” item in the list in the list area 108. The first highlight region 134 is indicative of a portion of the“Defence and Counterclaim” document being displayed in the first viewing region 102. A second highlight region 136 is overlaid on the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” item in the list in the list area 108. The second highlight region 136 is indicative of a portion of the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” document being displayed in the second viewing region 104.
[00130] Figure 7 shows the graphical user interface 100 shown in Figures 5 and 6, where both the first viewing region 102 and the second viewing region 104 are showing different portions of the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” document. As can be seen in the navigation region 106, the first navigation indicator 122 is aligned with the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” item in the list in the list area 108. Therefore, the navigation region 106 is indicating that both the first viewing region 102 and the second viewing region 104 are displaying the “Consumer Rights Act 2015” documents. Furthermore, it can be seen that both the first highlight region 134 and the second highlight region 136 are associated with the “Consumer Rights Act 2015” item in the list in the list area 108. In particular, it can be seen that the first highlight region 134 is applied to only a first part of the list area 108 aligned with the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” item in the list, and that the second highlight region 136 is applied to only a second part of the list area 108 aligned with the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” item in the list. Therefore, the user is provided with further confirmation that both the first viewing region and the second viewing region are displaying the“Consumer Rights Act 2015” document. The first highlight region 134 can be a different colour to the second highlight region 136. In particular, a colour of the first highlight region 134 can substantially match a colour associated with the first viewing region 102, for example a background colour of the first viewing region 102. A colour of the second highlight region 136 can substantially match a colour associated with the second viewing region 104, for example a background colour of the second viewing region 104.
[00131] Figure 8 shows the graphical user interface 100 shown in Figures 5 to 7. In Figure 8, the first viewing region 102 is showing a first page of the“Claim Form - Part 7” document from the“Pleadings” section of the bundle. The second viewing region 104 is showing a fifth page of the“Chaplair v Kumari CA 2015” document. As described previously, the portions of the bundle displayed in the first viewing region 102 and the second viewing region 104 are indicated within the navigation region 106. The graphical user interface 100 comprises a first link creation button 150a provided in a first link region 152a. The first link region 152a is associated with the first viewing region 102. In this example, the first link region 152a is within the first viewing region 102. The graphical user interface 100 comprises a second link creation button 150b provided in a second link region 152b. The second link region 152b is associated with the second viewing region 104. In this example, the second link region 152b is within the second viewing region 104. The first link creation button 150a and the second link creation button 150b are each for receiving a link creation request from the user. The link creation request is a request from the user to create a two-way link between two different portions of the media. The two-way link has a first link and a second link. The first link, when activated, causes a first portion of the media to be displayed in the viewing region in which the fist link is activated. The second link, when activated, causes a second portion of the media to be displayed in the viewing region in which the second link is activated.
[00132] In this example, the user provides a drag and drop user input starting at the first link creation button 150a, and proceeding along drag line 154. As can be seen in Figure 8, a first link creator 156, sometimes referred to as a link icon 156 can be displayed on the graphical user interface 100, in this case in the first viewing region 102 to indicate that the user is creating a two-way link. When the user drops the first link creator 156 on a portion of the media displayed in the first viewing region 102, the first link creator 156 is displayed associated with the portion of the media displayed in the first viewing region 102. [00133] Figure 9 shows an example of the graphical user interface 100 shown in Figures 5 to 8, showing the next steps in the process of creating the two-way link. After the first link creator 156 has been dropped on the portion of the media displayed in the first viewing region 102, the first link creator 156 is displayed in the form of the first link indicator 158. The first link indicator 158 is a selectable icon which indicates the portion of the media with which the first link of the two-way link is associated. In other words, the portion of the media in the view viewing region 102, aligned with the first link indicator 158 is set as the second portion of the two-way link. The first link indicator 158 also serves as the first link as described hereinbefore. At this stage, second link creators 160a, 160b associated with the two-way link are displayed in each of the first link region 152a and the second link region 152b. The second link creators 160a, 160b allow the user to set a further portion of the media as the first portion. The second link creators 160a, 160b are each selectable. When the second link creator 160a associated with the first link region 152a for the first viewing region 102 is activated, the first viewing region 102 will display the portion of the media associated with the first link indicator 158, if not currently displayed in the first viewing region 102. When the second link creator 160b associated with the second link region 152b for the second viewing region 104 is activated, the second viewing region 104 will display the portion of the media associated with the first link indicator 158, if not currently displayed in the second viewing region 104. As with the first link creation button 150a, the second link creators 160a, 160b can be assigned to a further portion of the media using a drag and drop user input. In this particular example, the user provides a drag and drop user input starting at the second link creator 160a associated with the first viewing region 102 and proceeding along drag line 162. As can be seen in Figure 9, the user can drag the second link creator 160a, in the form of the second link icon 164 over either of the first viewing region 102 or the second viewing region 104. When the user drops the second link icon 164 on a portion of the media displayed in the second viewing region 104, the second link creator 164 is displayed associated with the portion of the media displayed in the second viewing region 104. In this way, a further portion of the media, for example the portion of the media displayed in the second viewing region 104 can be set as the second portion of the media for the two-way link.
[00134] Figure 10 shows an example of the graphical user interface 100 shown in Figures 5 to 9, showing further steps in the process of creating the two-way link. After the second link creator 164 has been dropped on the portion of the media displayed in the second viewing region 104, the first link indicator 158, when visible in either the first viewing region 102 or the second viewing region 104 will be displayed as a first link icon, for example a filled icon, to indicate that both ends of the two-way link have been assigned. Furthermore, it can be seen in Figure 10 that both of the second link creators 160a, 160b have been removed from the link regions 152a, 152b. In Figure 10, the second link creator 164 has become a second link icon 166. It will be understood that the second link icon 166 and the first link icon can have substantially the same design. In this way, the second link icon 166 can become the second link 166 of the two-way link, in a similar way to the first link described hereinbefore. Therefore, when the user selects the first link icon in the first viewing region 102, which is set to a portion of the“Claim Form - Part 7” document (approximately two fifths of the way down page 1) in Figure 9, the first viewing region 102 is updated, as shown in Figure 10, to display instead the“Chaplair v Kumari CA 2015” document. In particular, page 5 of the“Chaplair v Kumari CA 2015” is displayed in the first viewing region 102. Therefore, a further second link icon 166a is displayed in the first viewing region 102 in substantially the same vertical position as the first link icon was previously displayed in the first viewing region 102. Subsequently, the user can navigate back to page 1 of the“Claim Form - Part 7” document by activating the second link icon 166a, now displayed in the first viewing region 102. Similarly, when the user activates the second link icon 166, page 1 of the“Claim Form - Part 7” document is displayed in the second viewing region 104. The second link icon 166 is created in the second viewing region 104 when the user drops the second link creator 164. [00135] Although only a single two-way link has been described with reference to the graphical user interface 100 of Figures 5 to 10 hereinbefore, it will be understood that multiple two-way links can be added to the media. The user can create further two-way links, even before earlier two-way links are fully created, for example the user can create multiple first links of multiple two-way links without completing the second link of the two- way links. This ensures that the user can easily create multiple two-way links in a document as they navigate around the document.
[00136] Although the graphical user interface 100 has been described as having the first viewing region 102 and the second viewing region 104, it will be understood that in some examples there could be only the first viewing region 102. In other examples, there may be three or more viewing regions. Where there are a different number of viewing regions, there will typically be the same number of columns of indictors.
[00137] Although the two-way links have been described as linking two different portions of the same bundle of documents, the bundle displayed as a single, scrollable document, it will be understood that the two-way link, in some examples, can link between two different portions of media, each portion in a different document, such that it is not possible to otherwise scroll from one portion of the document to the other portion.
[00138] It will be understood that two-way links can be deleted as well as created, either by deleting both the first link and the second link of the two-way link, or by deleting one of the first link and the second link of the two-way link. After only one of the first link and the second link has been deleted, a further second link or a further first link can be created to change the two-way link.
[00139] Although one particular method has been described for creating a two-way link, it will be understood that different user actions may be used to create the two-way link, for example using a right click, or a long-press user input.
[00140] In summary, there is provided apparatus (10) for displaying scrollable media. The apparatus (10) comprises an electronic display (16) for displaying a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface (100) comprises a first viewing region (102), a second viewing region (104) and a navigation region (106). The navigation region includes a list area (108). The apparatus comprises at least one processor (12) and at least one memory (14) having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to control the display to: display a first portion of the scrollable media in the first viewing region; display a second portion of the scrollable media in the second viewing region; display a list indicative of a plurality of portions of the scrollable media in the list area of the navigation region, the plurality of portions including the first portion and the second portion; display a first navigation indicator (122) in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying the first portion; and display a second navigation indicator (126) in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the second viewing region displaying the second portion.
[00141] It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure can be realised in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a ROM, whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, RAM, memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are embodiments of machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a program or programs that, when executed, implement embodiments of the present inventions. The storage device can be a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium. Accordingly, embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing a system or method as described herein and a machine readable storage storing such a program. Still further, embodiments of the present inventions may be conveyed electronically via any medium such as a communication signal carried over a wired or wireless connection and embodiments suitably encompass the same.
[00142] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words“comprise” and“contain” and variations of them mean“including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
[00143] Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
[00144] The present disclosure extends to the following first set of numbered clauses:
1. Apparatus for displaying scrollable media, the apparatus comprising:
an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface comprising a first viewing region, a second viewing region and a navigation region, the navigation region including a list area;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to control the display to:
display a first portion of the scrollable media in the first viewing region; display a second portion of the scrollable media in the second viewing region;
display a list indicative of a plurality of portions of the scrollable media in the list area of the navigation region, the plurality of portions including the first portion and the second portion;
display a first navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying the first portion; and
display a second navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the second viewing region displaying the second portion.
2. The apparatus as defined in clause 1 , wherein the first portion of the scrollable media is different from the second portion of the scrollable media.
3. The apparatus as defined in clause 1 or clause 2, wherein the scrollable media comprises text media.
4. The apparatus as defined in clause 3, wherein the text media comprises a plurality of documents.
5. The apparatus as defined in any preceding clause, wherein the list includes a plurality of text portions, each text portion indicative of a respective portion amongst the plurality of portions of the scrollable media. 6. The apparatus as defined in any preceding clause, further comprising a user input interface for receiving a navigation input from a user of the apparatus, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to determine a third portion of the scrollable media in dependence on the navigation input, display the third portion of the scrollable media in the first viewing region and display a third navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying the third region.
7. The apparatus as defined in clause 6, wherein the third navigation indicator replaces the first navigation indicator.
8. The apparatus as defined in clause 6 or clause 7, wherein the navigation input is associated with the navigation region.
9. The apparatus as defined in clause 8, wherein the navigation input is indicative of a selection by the user at a coordinate location within the navigation region and wherein a location of the third navigation indicator in the navigation region corresponds to the coordinate location.
10. The apparatus as defined in clause 6 or clause 7, wherein the navigation input is associated with the first viewing region.
11. The apparatus as defined in clause 10, wherein the navigation input is a scrolling input.
12. The apparatus as defined in any preceding clause, wherein the navigation region further includes a first indicator area separate from the list area and for displaying the first navigation indicator therein.
13. The apparatus as defined in clause 12, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to control the display to display a first plurality of indicators in the first indicator area, each indicator of the first plurality of indicators different from the first navigation indicator, associated with an item in the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list.
14. The apparatus as defined in clause 12 or clause 13, wherein the navigation region further includes a second indicator area separate from the list area and the first indicator area, and for displaying the second navigation indicator therein.
15. The apparatus as defined in clause 14, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to control the display to display a second plurality of indicators in the second indicator area, each indicator of the second plurality of indicators different from the second navigation indicator, associated with an item in the list and indicative of the second viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list.
16. The apparatus as defined in any preceding clause, wherein the list area occupies more than half of the navigation region.
17. The apparatus as defined in any preceding clause, wherein the list is displayed as a vertical list.
18. An electronic device comprising the apparatus of any preceding clause.
19. A computer-implemented method of displaying scrollable media on an electronic display, the method comprising:
displaying a first portion of the scrollable media in a first viewing region of the electronic display;
displaying a second portion of the scrollable media in a second viewing region of the electronic display; displaying a list indicative of a plurality of portions of the scrollable media in a list area of a navigation region of the electronic display, the plurality of portions including the first portion and the second portion;
displaying a first navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the first portion being displayed in the first viewing region; and
displaying a second navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the second portion being displayed in the second viewing region.
20. The method of clause 19, further comprising determining a third portion of the scrollable media in dependence on a navigation input, displaying the third portion of the scrollable media in the first viewing region, and displaying a third navigation indicator in the navigation region, associated with the list and indicative of the third region being displayed in the first viewing region.
21. The method of clause 19 or clause 20, further comprising displaying a first plurality of indicators in a first indicator area of the navigation region, each indicator of the first plurality of indicators different from the first navigation indicator, associated with an item in the list and indicative of the first viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list, and displaying the first navigation indicator in the first indicator area.
22. The method of clause 21 , further comprising displaying a second plurality of indicators in a second indicator area of the navigation region, each indicator of the second plurality of indicators different from the second navigation indicator, associated with an item in the list and indicative of the second viewing region displaying a portion of the scrollable media other than the portion associated with the item in the list, and displaying the second navigation indicator in the second indicator area.
23. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any of clauses 19 to 22.
24. A computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program of clause 23.
[00145] The present disclosure further extends to the following second set of numbered clauses:
1. Apparatus for displaying a plurality of media to a user, the apparatus comprising: an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface having a viewing region;
a user input interface for receiving a scrolling input from the user of the apparatus; at least one processor; and
at least one memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
display at least an end portion of a first media of the plurality of media in the viewing region of the electronic display; and
in dependence on receipt of a scrolling input associated with the viewing region while the end portion of the first media is being displayed in the viewing region, display in the viewing region at least a start portion of a second media of the plurality of media,
wherein the first media and the second media are each associated with separate data files.
2. The apparatus as defined in clause 1 , wherein the start portion of the second media is displayed in the viewing region adjacent to the end portion of the first media. 3. The apparatus as defined in clause 1 or clause 2, wherein, in dependence on the or a further scrolling input associated with the viewing region, the start portion of the second media is displayed in the viewing region instead of the end portion of the first media.
4. The apparatus as defined in any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of media comprises text media.
5. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first media is a first document and wherein the second media is a second document.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first document and the second document are PDF documents.
7. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user input interface is a touchscreen interface, and the scrolling input is a swipe gesture on the touchscreen interface.
8. The apparatus as defined in any of clauses 1 to 6, wherein the scrolling input is indicative of selection by the user of a navigation button associated with the viewing region.
9. The apparatus as defined in any preceding clause, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to create a data collection having a first object based on a first data file associated with the first media and a second object based on a second data file associated with the second media, wherein the start portion of the second media is displayed in the viewing region based on the data collection.
10. The apparatus as defined in clause 9, wherein the first object and the second object are each of a first object type, and wherein the data collection is of a second object type.
11. The apparatus as defined in clause 10, wherein the data collection has associated therewith a parent data extraction function, configured to return a requested portion of the plurality of media, based on at least one object of the first object type of the data collection, wherein the start portion of the second media is displayed in the viewing region based on the parent data extraction function of the data collection.
12. The apparatus as defined in clause 11 , wherein the data collection is assigned to a further data collection, having associated therewith a further parent data extraction function configured to execute the parent data extraction function of the data collection to return the requested portion of the plurality of media.
13. The apparatus as defined in any of clauses 10 to 12, wherein each object of the first object type has associated therewith a data extraction function, configured to return a requested portion of the media.
14. The apparatus as defined in clause 13, when dependent on clause 11 or clause 12, wherein the parent data extraction function is configured to return the requested portion of the plurality of media, by executing the data extraction function of at least one of the objects of the data collection.
15. The apparatus as defined in any of clauses 10 to 14, wherein second object type is configured to spoof the first object type, such that a function arranged to call the data extraction function of an object of the first object type when passed the object of the first object type will call the parent data extraction function of the data collection of the second object type when passed the data collection of the second object type.
16. The apparatus as defined in any clause dependent, directly or indirectly on clause 13, wherein to display the start portion of the second media in the viewing region, the instructions cause the at least one processor to execute a rendering function of a display library, the rendering function to cause display of the start portion of the second media on the electronic display based on the execution of the parent data extraction function.
17. The apparatus as defined in clause 16, wherein the display library is an open- source library.
18. The apparatus as defined in any of clauses 9 to 17, wherein the data collection is a dictionary.
19. A computer-implemented method of displaying a plurality of media to a user, the plurality of media comprising a first media and a second media, the method comprising: displaying at least an end portion of a first media in a viewing region of an electronic display;
receiving a scrolling input from the user and associated with the viewing region; in dependence on receipt of the scrolling input while the end portion of the first media is being displayed in the viewing region, displaying at least a start portion of a second media in the viewing region,
wherein the first media and the second media are each associated with separate data files.
20. The method of clause 19, further comprising:
creating a data collection having a first object of a first object type, based on a first data file associated with the first media and a second object of the first object type, based on a second data file associated with the second media, the data collection being of a second object type;
wherein displaying the start portion of the second media in the viewing region is based on the data collection.
21. The method of clause 20, wherein the data collection has associated therewith a parent data extraction function, configured to return a requested portion of the plurality of media, based on at least one object of the first object type of the data collection, wherein displaying the start portion of the second media in the viewing region is based on the parent data extraction function of the data collection.
22. The method of clause 21 , wherein each object of the first object type has associated therewith a data extraction function, configured to return a requested portion of the media, and wherein the parent data extraction function is configured to execute the data extraction function of at least one of the objects of the data collection.
23. The method of clause 21 or clause 22, wherein displaying the start portion of the second media in the viewing region further comprises executing a rendering function of a display library, the rendering function to cause display of the start portion of the second media on the electronic display based on the execution of the parent data extraction function.
24. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any of clauses 19 to 23.
25. A computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program of clause 24.

Claims

1. Apparatus for displaying media, the apparatus comprising:
an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface comprising a viewing region for displaying a portion of the media therein;
a user input interface for receiving a link creation request from a user of the apparatus, the link creation request being a request from the user to create a two-way link between two different portions of the media;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
control the display to display a portion of the media in the viewing region; and in dependence on receipt of a request to create a two-way link from the user, the two-way link having a first link which, when activated, causes the display to display a first portion of the media instead of a second portion of the media in the viewing region and a second link which, when activated, causes the display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region, control the display to:
display a first link creator to allow the user to set the displayed portion as the second portion; and
display a second link creator to allow the user to set a further portion of the media as the first portion.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to, in dependence on an activation of the first link of the two-way link, control the display to display the first portion instead of the second portion in the viewing region, and in dependence on an activation of the second link of the two-way link, control the display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to control the display to display the further portion subsequent to displaying the first link creator.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the further portion is displayed in the viewing region instead of the displayed portion.
5. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a link region, and wherein when the display is controlled to display the first link creator, the second link creator is displayed in the link region.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein, in dependence on the further portion of the media being set as the first portion, the second link creator is removed from the link region.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein, when the second link creator is displayed in the link region, the first portion has assigned thereto no portion of the media other than the displayed portion.
8. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user input interface is provided by a touchscreen interface of the electronic display.
9. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the media comprises a plurality of media files.
10. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the media is scrollable media.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to control the display to scroll the media in the viewing region from the displayed portion to the further portion subsequent to display of the first link creator.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the scrollable media is scrolled in response to a scrolling input from the user.
13. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the scrollable media comprises at least one document.
14. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein when the display is controlled to display the displayed portion in the viewing region, the instructions cause the at least one processor to control the display to display at least one other portion of the media in the viewing region.
15. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to associate the first link creator with the displayed portion of the media to set the displayed portion as the second portion, in response to a first association request from the user.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the link creation request comprises the first association request.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the first association request comprises a sliding gesture from the user to the displayed portion of the media in the viewing region.
18. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to associate the second link creator with the further portion of the media in response to a second association request.
19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 3, wherein the second association request comprises a sliding gesture from the user to the further portion of the media in the viewing region.
20. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the instructions cause the at least one processor to, in dependence on receipt of at least one further request to create a two-way link from the user, control the display to display at least one further first link creator and at least one further second link creator.
21. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first link creator shares at least one of a shape and a colour with the second link creator.
22. A computer-implemented method of configuring navigation of media by a user, the method comprising:
displaying a portion of the media in a viewing region of an electronic display;
receiving a link creation request from a user, the link creation request being a request from the user to create a two-way link between two different portions of the media, the two-way link having a first link which, when activated, causes the electronic display to display a first portion of the media instead of a second portion of the media in the viewing region, and a second link which, when activated, causes the electronic display to display the second portion instead of the first portion in the viewing region;
displaying a first link creator on the electronic display to allow the user to set the displayed portion as the second portion;
displaying a second link creator on the electronic display to allow the user to set a further portion of the media as the first portion;
in response to subsequent activation of the second link, displaying the second portion in the viewing region; and in response to activation of the first link, displaying the first portion in the viewing region.
23. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of claim 22.
24. A computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program of claim 23.
25. Apparatus for displaying media, the apparatus comprising:
an electronic display for displaying a graphical user interface comprising a viewing region for displaying a portion of the media therein;
a user input interface for receiving a link activation request from a user of the apparatus, the link activation request being a request from the user to activate a two-way link between two different portions of the media;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
receive two-way link data associated with the media, the two-way link data comprising a first link location set to a first portion of the media and a second link location set to a second portion of the media;
in dependence on receipt of the first link location and the second link location, control the display to, when the first portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region, display a first link indicator in the viewing region, wherein, when the first link indicator is activated by receipt of the link activation request, the second portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region; and
in dependence on receipt of the first link location and the second link location, control the display to, when the second portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region, display a second link indicator in the viewing region, wherein, when the second link indicator is activated by receipt of the link activation request, the first portion of the media is displayed in the viewing region.
PCT/GB2019/051472 2018-06-01 2019-05-30 Apparatus and method for displaying media WO2019229438A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1809061.3 2018-06-01
GBGB1809062.1A GB201809062D0 (en) 2018-06-01 2018-06-01 Apparatus and method for displaying media
GB1809063.9 2018-06-01
GB1809062.1 2018-06-01
GBGB1809063.9A GB201809063D0 (en) 2018-06-01 2018-06-01 Apparatus and method for displaying media
GBGB1809061.3A GB201809061D0 (en) 2018-06-01 2018-06-01 Apparartus and method for displaying media

Publications (1)

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WO2019229438A1 true WO2019229438A1 (en) 2019-12-05

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0973105A2 (en) * 1998-05-18 2000-01-19 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Document management system with link function and document management method
US20170060829A1 (en) * 2015-09-01 2017-03-02 Branchfire, Inc. Method and system for annotation and connection of electronic documents

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0973105A2 (en) * 1998-05-18 2000-01-19 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Document management system with link function and document management method
US20170060829A1 (en) * 2015-09-01 2017-03-02 Branchfire, Inc. Method and system for annotation and connection of electronic documents

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