Direct manipulation of displayed content

Abstract

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

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A method for controlling presentation of content, the content having alternative channels of information available for presentation, the method comprising:
 presenting a current channel of information;   receiving an indication that a visual representation of the presented information has been dragged; and   selecting an alternate channel of information for presentation based on the dragging.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein a cursor displayed during the dragging resembles a human hand. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein a distance of the dragging represents a distance of the alternate channel from the current channel. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the dragging is in a vertical direction. 
   
   
       32 . A method for controlling presentation of content at one of multiple amplitudes, the method comprising:
 presenting the content at a current amplitude;   receiving an indication that a visual representation of the presented information has been dragged so as to modify a size of the visual representation; and   selecting an alternate amplitude for presentation of the content based on the modified size.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein a cursor displayed during the dragging resembles a human hand. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein a distance of the dragging represents a difference in size of the alternate amplitude from the current amplitude. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the dragging modifies a size of a container in which the content is presented. 
   
   
       36 - 43 . (canceled) 
   
   
       44 . A method for controlling content displayed in a window, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the displayed content in the window, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication that the displayed content in the window has been directly manipulated;   when the direct manipulation corresponds to scrolling the window in order to display a non-displayed portion of the content, scrolling the window so that the non-displayed portion of the content is displayed; and   when the direct manipulation corresponds to modifying what content is displayed, modifying the displayed content based on the direct manipulation.   
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein when the direct manipulation corresponds to modifying how the displayed content is displayed, modifying the display of the content in a corresponding manner. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein when the direct manipulation corresponds to modifying where the displayed content is displayed, modifying the display of the content in a corresponding manner. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the direct manipulation is a dragging of the displayed content. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 44  wherein a length of the direct manipulation represents an amount of the modifying of the displayed content. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44  wherein a cursor displayed during the direct manipulation resembles a human hand. 
   
   
       50 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed on a computer will perform the steps of  claim 44 . 
   
   
       51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 50  wherein the computer-readable medium is a transmission medium on which is transmitted a generated data signal containing the instructions. 
   
   
       52 . A computer system for controlling content displayed in a window, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the displayed content in the window by a user, comprising:
 a content manipulation detector that receives an indication that the displayed content in the window has been directly manipulated by the user; and   a content property modifier that, when the direct manipulation corresponds to scrolling the window in order to display a non-displayed portion of the content, scrolls the window so that the non-displayed portion of the content is displayed, and that, when the direct manipulation corresponds to modifying what content is displayed, modifies the displayed content in a corresponding manner.   
   
   
       53 - 65 . (canceled) 
   
   
       66 . A computer system for controlling display of content displayed in a container, the controlling based on direct manipulation of the container, comprising:
 a manipulation detector that receives an indication that the container has been directly manipulated; and   a modifier component that, when the direct manipulation of the container corresponds to modifying a property of the displayed content, modifies the property based on the direct manipulation, and that, when the direct manipulation of the container corresponds to modifying how the container is displayed, modifies the container based on the direct manipulation.   
   
   
       67 . A method for controlling display of content based on direct manipulation of a separate displayed control, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication that the separate control has been directly manipulated; and   modifying the displayed content based on the direct manipulation.   
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein a plurality of groups of content are displayed, and including, before the receiving of the indication that the separate control has been directly manipulated, associating the control with displayed content to be modified. 
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 67  wherein a cursor displayed during the direct manipulation resembles a human hand. 
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the direct manipulation is a rotation of the displayed control. 
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 67  wherein a length of the direct manipulation represents an amount of the modifying. 
   
   
       72 - 75 . (canceled)