Managing user interface control panels

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes displaying a user interface on a display device, the user interface displaying a content item, in response to receiving input, displaying a user interface control panel including a user interface control, the user interface control configured to enable modifying one or more attributes of the content item, and in response to detecting a first selection of the user interface control, displaying a portion of the user interface control panel and hiding a portion of the user interface control panel, the displayed portion of the user interface control panel including the user interface control.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying a user interface on a display device, the user interface displaying a content item; 
 in response to receiving input, displaying a first user interface control panel including a first user interface control and a second user interface control, the first user interface control configured to enable modifying one or more attributes having a plurality of states that correspond to different values for a first attribute of the content item; and 
 receiving an input directed to the first user interface control; and  
 in response to detecting a first selection of the first user interface control receiving the input directed to the first user interface control:
 hiding at least a portion of the first user interface control panel, including ceasing to display the second user interface control in the first user interface control panel to reveal content underneath the first user interface control panel, and 
 displaying a second user interface control panel including a second third user interface control, the second third user interface control configured to enable having a plurality of states that correspond to different values for an operation related to the first user interface control. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising detecting a location of a cursor on the display device; and in response to receiving the input, displaying the first user interface control panel at the location of the cursor. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , comprising, in response to detecting a first selection of the second third user interface control, hiding the second user interface control panel. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the input directed to the first user interface control comprises a first selection of the first user interface control, and  
 the first selection is active between detecting the first selection and detecting an end of the first selection. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein input comprises displaying the first user interface control panel is in response to a selection of a key on a keyboard. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first selection input directed to the first user interface control comprises selection of the first user interface control using a cursor controlled by a pointing device. 
     
     
       7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause a data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 displaying a user interface on a display device, the user interface displaying a content item; 
 in response to receiving input, displaying a first user interface control panel including a first user interface control and a second user interface control, the first user interface control configured to enable modifying one or more attributes having a plurality of states that correspond to different values for a first attribute of the content item; and 
 receiving an input directed to the first user interface control; and  
 in response to detecting a first selection of the first user interface control receiving the input directed to the first user interface control:
 hiding at least a portion of the first user interface control panel, including ceasing to display the second user interface control in the first user interface control panel to reveal content underneath the first user interface control panel, and 
 displaying a second user interface control panel including a second third user interface control, the second third user interface control configured to enable having a plurality of states that correspond to different values for an operation related to the first user interface control. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , the operations comprising detecting a location of a cursor on the display device; and in response to receiving the input, displaying the first user interface control panel at the location of the cursor. 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , the operations comprising, in response to detecting a first selection of the second third user interface control, hiding the second user interface control panel. 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the input directed to the first user interface control comprises a first selection of the first user interface control, and  
 the first selection is active between detecting the first selection and detecting an end of the first selection. 
 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein input comprises displaying the first user interface control panel is in response to a selection of a key on a keyboard. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the first selection input directed to the first user interface control comprises selection of the first user interface control using a cursor controlled by a pointing device. 
     
     
       13. A system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a computer-readable medium encoding instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising: 
 displaying a user interface on a display device, the user interface displaying a content item; 
 in response to receiving input, displaying a first user interface control panel including a first user interface control and a second user interface control, the first user interface control configured to enable modifying one or more attributes having a plurality of states that correspond to different values for a first attribute of the content item; and 
 receiving an input directed to the first user interface control; and  
 in response to detecting a first selection of the first user interface control receiving the input directed to the first user interface control:
 hiding at least a portion of the first user interface control panel, including ceasing to display the second user interface control in the first user interface control panel to reveal content underneath the first user interface control panel, and 
 displaying a second user interface control panel including a second third user interface control, the second third user interface control configured to enable having a plurality of states that correspond to different values for an operation related to the first user interface control. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , the operations comprising detecting a location of a cursor on the display device; and in response to receiving the input, displaying the first user interface control panel at the location of the cursor. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , the operations comprising, in response to detecting a first selection of the second third user interface control, hiding the second user interface control panel. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the input directed to the first user interface control comprises a first selection of the first user interface control, and  
 the first selection is active between detecting the first selection and detecting an end of the first selection. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 13 , wherein input comprises displaying the first user interface control panel is in response to a selection of a key on a keyboard. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first selection input directed to the first user interface control comprises selection of the first user interface control using a cursor controlled by a pointing device. 
     
     
       19. A method comprising:
 at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a display device:
 in response to receiving an input, displaying, with the display device, a control panel including a plurality of controls, wherein:
 displaying the control panel includes concurrently displaying a first control and a second control of the plurality of controls; and 
 the first control includes a moveable user interface element for adjusting a value associated with the first control; 
 
 while displaying the control panel including concurrently displaying the first control and the second control, receiving a sequence of one or more inputs associated with the first control, wherein the sequence of one or more inputs includes a holding portion and a releasing portion; 
 in response to receiving a respective input of the sequence of one or more inputs associated with the first control, hiding a first portion of the control panel, to reveal content underneath the first portion of the control panel, that includes at least the second control; 
 while the first portion of the control panel is hidden, detecting a respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs that corresponds to moving the moveable user interface element for adjusting the value associated with the first control; 
 in response to moving the moveable user interface element in the first control while the first portion of the control panel that includes the second control is hidden, adjusting the value associated with the first control in accordance with the respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs; and 
 in response to detecting the releasing portion of the sequence of one or more inputs that corresponds to a termination of the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs, redisplaying the first portion of the control panel. 
   
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein the value corresponds to a brightness level for displaying one or more user interface objects on the display device. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 19, wherein:
 prior to receiving the sequence of one or more inputs, the first portion of the control panel is displayed concurrently with the first control while the movable user interface element is displayed at a first location in the first control, and   after redisplaying the first portion of the control panel, the first portion of the control panel is displayed concurrently with the first control while the movable user interface element is displayed at a second location in the first control that is different from the first location in the first control.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 19, wherein:
 the sequence of one or more inputs comprises a specified input having a selection portion, the holding portion and the releasing portion.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, wherein the selection portion comprises a depression of a key on a keyboard, the holding portion comprises a continued depression of the key on the keyboard, and the releasing portion comprises a release of the key on the keyboard. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 19, wherein the value corresponds to an attribute associated with an appearance of a display item displayed by the display device. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 19, wherein:
 the first control comprises a slider having the moveable user interface element for adjusting the value associated with the slider, the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider corresponding to the value,   the sequence of one or more inputs comprises an input selecting the moveable user interface element in the slider, and an input changing a position of the moveable user interface element in the slider, and   adjusting the value associated with the first control is in accordance with the input changing the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, wherein:
 the slider is displayed along a first axis with respect to the display device, and   the input changing the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider comprises a movement along the first axis.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 19, wherein:
 adjusting the value associated with the first control comprises manipulating the first control in accordance with the respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs to adjust the value associated with the first control.   
     
     
       28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause a data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 in response to receiving an input, displaying, with the display device, a control panel including a plurality of controls, wherein:
 displaying the control panel includes concurrently displaying a first control and a second control of the plurality of controls; and 
 the first control includes a moveable user interface element for adjusting a value associated with the first control; 
   while displaying the control panel including concurrently displaying the first control and the second control, receiving a sequence of one or more inputs associated with the first control, wherein the sequence of one or more inputs includes a holding portion and a releasing portion;   in response to receiving a respective input of the sequence of one or more inputs associated with the first control, hiding a first portion of the control panel, to reveal content underneath the first portion of the control panel, that includes at least the second control;   while the first portion of the control panel is hidden, detecting a respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs that corresponds to moving the moveable user interface element for adjusting the value associated with the first control;   in response to moving the moveable user interface element in the first control while the first portion of the control panel that includes the second control is hidden, adjusting the value associated with the first control in accordance with the respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs; and   in response to detecting the releasing portion of the sequence of one or more inputs that corresponds to a termination of the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs, redisplaying the first portion of the control panel.   
     
     
       29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the value corresponds to a brightness level for displaying one or more user interface objects on the display device. 
     
     
       30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein:
 prior to receiving the sequence of one or more inputs, the first portion of the control panel is displayed concurrently with the first control while the movable user interface element is displayed at a first location in the first control, and   after redisplaying the first portion of the control panel, the first portion of the control panel is displayed concurrently with the first control while the movable user interface element is displayed at a second location in the first control that is different from the first location in the first control.   
     
     
       31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein:
 the sequence of one or more inputs comprises a specified input having a selection portion, the holding portion and the releasing portion.   
     
     
       32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the selection portion comprises a depression of a key on a keyboard, the holding portion comprises a continued depression of the key on the keyboard, and the releasing portion comprises a release of the key on the keyboard. 
     
     
       33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the value corresponds to an attribute associated with an appearance of a display item displayed by the display device. 
     
     
       34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein:
 the first control comprises a slider having the moveable user interface element for adjusting the value associated with the slider, the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider corresponding to the value,   the sequence of one or more inputs comprises an input selecting the moveable user interface element in the slider, and an input changing a position of the moveable user interface element in the slider, and   adjusting the value associated with the first control is in accordance with the input changing the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider.   
     
     
       35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein:
 the slider is displayed along a first axis with respect to the display device, and   the input changing the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider comprises a movement along the first axis.   
     
     
       36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein:
 adjusting the value associated with the first control comprises manipulating the first control in accordance with the respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs to adjust the value associated with the first control.   
     
     
       37. A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable medium encoding instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 in response to receiving an input, displaying, with the display device, a control panel including a plurality of controls, wherein:
 displaying the control panel includes concurrently displaying a first control and a second control of the plurality of controls; and 
 the first control includes a moveable user interface element for adjusting a value associated with the first control; 
 
 while displaying the control panel including concurrently displaying the first control and the second control, receiving a sequence of one or more inputs associated with the first control, wherein the sequence of one or more inputs includes a holding portion and a releasing portion; 
 in response to receiving a respective input of the sequence of one or more inputs associated with the first control, hiding a first portion of the control panel, to reveal content underneath the first portion of the control panel, that includes at least the second control; 
 while the first portion of the control panel is hidden, detecting a respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs that corresponds to moving the moveable user interface element for adjusting the value associated with the first control; 
 in response to moving the moveable user interface element in the first control while the first portion of the control panel that includes the second control is hidden, adjusting the value associated with the first control in accordance with the respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs; and 
 in response to detecting the releasing portion of the sequence of one or more inputs that corresponds to a termination of the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs, redisplaying the first portion of the control panel. 
   
     
     
       38. The system of claim 37, wherein the value corresponds to a brightness level for displaying one or more user interface objects on the display device. 
     
     
       39. The system of claim 37, wherein:
 prior to receiving the sequence of one or more inputs, the first portion of the control panel is displayed concurrently with the first control while the movable user interface element is displayed at a first location in the first control, and   after redisplaying the first portion of the control panel, the first portion of the control panel is displayed concurrently with the first control while the movable user interface element is displayed at a second location in the first control that is different from the first location in the first control.   
     
     
       40. The system of claim 37, wherein:
 the sequence of one or more inputs comprises a specified input having a selection portion, the holding portion and the releasing portion.   
     
     
       41. The system of claim 40, wherein the selection portion comprises a depression of a key on a keyboard, the holding portion comprises a continued depression of the key on the keyboard, and the releasing portion comprises a release of the key on the keyboard. 
     
     
       42. The system of claim 37, wherein the value corresponds to an attribute associated with an appearance of a display item displayed by the display device. 
     
     
       43. The system of claim 37, wherein:
 the first control comprises a slider having the moveable user interface element for adjusting the value associated with the slider, the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider corresponding to the value,   the sequence of one or more inputs comprises an input selecting the moveable user interface element in the slider, and an input changing a position of the moveable user interface element in the slider, and   adjusting the value associated with the first control is in accordance with the input changing the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider.   
     
     
       44. The system of claim 43, wherein:
 the slider is displayed along a first axis with respect to the display device, and   the input changing the position of the moveable user interface element in the slider comprises a movement along the first axis.   
     
     
       45. The system of claim 37, wherein:
 adjusting the value associated with the first control comprises manipulating the first control in accordance with the respective input corresponding to the holding portion of the sequence of one or more inputs to adjust the value associated with the first control.