Browsing or Searching User Interfaces and Other Aspects

Abstract

User interfaces for browsing and/or searching are described. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a first display area for display representations of documents matching a search query, the first display area configured to display content of the documents which can have a plurality of different types of content including at least one of text-based content and a folder, and displaying a second display area for selecting a selected document to be displayed in the first display area. Other embodiments are also described, and computer readable media and apparatuses are also described.

1 . A computer readable storage medium storing executable program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method comprising:
 displaying a set of files of a list of files using a first display area having a center section for displaying a selected file containing content in an animated form, a first side section for displaying a first file adjacent to the selected file, and a second side section for displaying a second file adjacent to the selected file;   selecting either the first file or second file to designate the selected file;   displaying the selected file in the center section in response to the selecting; and   displaying a different first top file in the first side section or a different second top file in the second side section in response to the selecting.   
     
     
         2 . The medium as in  claim 1  wherein the list of files comprises the result of a search query. 
     
     
         3 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising accessing the list of files with a web browser. 
     
     
         4 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising displaying the selected file automatically in an animated form after selecting either the first file or second file. 
     
     
         5 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising displaying the selected file automatically in an animated form when the selected file is activated in the center section. 
     
     
         6 . The medium as in  claim 1  wherein a user interface object is displayed with the selected file and comprises a set of command buttons including at least one of: fast forward, rewind, pause, play and stop. 
     
     
         7 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising zooming the selected file to an enlarged view in an animated form. 
     
     
         8 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising selecting the selected file by scrolling in the first display area. 
     
     
         9 . The medium as in  claim 8  wherein the selected file is configured to be displayed in an animated form after the selection of files. 
     
     
         10 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying the first side section in a first stack fashion such that a first top most stack section displays a first file that precedes the selected file; and 
 displaying the second side section in a second stack fashion such that a second top most stack section displays a second file that follows the selected file. 
 
     
     
         11 . The medium as in  claim 10  wherein the first side section or the second side section displays only one file. 
     
     
         12 . The medium as in  claim 10  further comprising:
 displaying the first file which is most adjacent to the selected file the closest to the center section; and 
 displaying the first file which is next adjacent to the selected file the next closest to the center section. 
 
     
     
         13 . The medium as in  claim 12  further comprising:
 displaying the second file which is most adjacent to the selected file the closest to the center section; and 
 displaying the second file which is next adjacent to the selected file the next closest to the center section. 
 
     
     
         14 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying a series of first side sections in a first stack fashion such that the first side section is displayed as a first top most stack section; and 
 displaying a series of second side sections in a second stack fashion such that the second side section is displayed as a second top most stack section. 
 
     
     
         15 . The medium as in  claim 14  further comprising:
 selecting either the first file or second file to designate the selected file; and 
 displaying the selected file in the center section and displaying a different first file in the first side section or a different second file in the second side section. 
 
     
     
         16 . A machine-implemented method comprising:
 displaying a set of files of a list of files using a first display area having a center section for displaying a selected file containing content in an animated form, a first side section for displaying a first file adjacent to the selected file, and a second side section for displaying a second file adjacent to the selected file;   selecting either the first file or second file to designate the selected file;   displaying the selected file in the center section in response to selecting; and   displaying a different first top file in the first side section or a different second top file in the second side section in response to the selecting.   
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16  wherein the list of files comprises the result of a search query. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising accessing the list of files with a web browser. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising displaying the selected file automatically in an animated form after selecting either the first file or second file. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising displaying the selected file automatically in an animated form when the selected file is activated in the center section. 
     
     
         21 . The method as in  claim 16  wherein a user interface object is displayed with the selected file and comprises a set of command buttons including at least one of: fast forward, rewind, pause, play and stop. 
     
     
         22 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising zooming the selected file to an enlarged view in an animated form. 
     
     
         23 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising selecting the selected file by scrolling in the first display area. 
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 23  wherein the selected file is configured to be displayed in an animated form after the selection of files. 
     
     
         25 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising:
 displaying the first side section in a first stack fashion such that a first top most stack section displays a first file that precedes the selected file; and 
 displaying the second side section in a second stack fashion such that a second top most stack section displays a second file that follows the selected file. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method as in  claim 25  wherein the first side section or the second side section displays only one file. 
     
     
         27 . The method as in  claim 25  further comprising:
 displaying the first file which is most adjacent to the selected file the closest to the center section; and 
 displaying the first file which is next adjacent to the selected file the next closest to the center section. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method as in  claim 27  further comprising:
 displaying the second file which is most adjacent to the selected file the closest to the center section; and 
 displaying the second file which is next adjacent to the selected file the next closest to the center section. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising:
 displaying a series of first side sections in a first stack fashion such that the first side section is displayed as a first top most stack section; and 
 displaying a series of second side sections in a second stack fashion such that the second side section is displayed as a second top most stack section. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method as in  claim 25  further comprising:
 selecting either the first file or second file to designate the selected file; and 
 displaying the selected file in the center section and displaying a different first file in the first side section or a different second file in the second side section. 
 
     
     
         31 . A data processing system comprising:
 means for displaying a set of files of a list of files using a first display area having a center section for displaying a selected file containing content in an animated form, a first side section for displaying a first file adjacent to the selected file, and a second side section for displaying a second file adjacent to the selected file;   means for selecting either the first file or second file to designate the selected file;   means for displaying the selected file in the center section in response to the selection; and   means for displaying a different first top file in the first side section or a different second top file in the second side section in response to the selection.