What is claimed as the invention is:
1. A computer readable medium containing media player application code which implements the following procedures:
generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame;
displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
displaying in a second one of said panes first selected information for said media files; and
displaying in a third one of said panes second selected information for said media files.
2. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said displaying said first selected information includes displaying an index of a plurality of artists associated with said media files.
3. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 2 wherein selecting through said user interface one of said artists limits display of said index to selected ones of said media files associated with said one of said artists.
4. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said displaying said second selected information includes displaying an index of a plurality of albums associated with said media files.
5. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 4 wherein selecting through said user interface one of said albums limits display of said index to selected ones of said media files associated with said one of said albums.
6. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 further comprising displaying a browse button in said frame wherein selecting said button through said user interface toggles said window between all of said panes being displayed and only a selected one of said panes being displayed.
7. A computer readable medium as set forth in claims 6 wherein said selected one of said panes is said first one of said panes.
8. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 6 wherein said selected one of said panes is displayed in said window in lieu of the other ones of said panes when said window is toggled to display only said selected one of said panes.
9. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stiles are movable in said window to change selectively through said user interface dimensions of said panes.
10. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said index includes columnar categories for each of said media files.
11. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 10 wherein said index is sortable by each of said categories.
12. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 further comprising displaying a plurality of heading buttons for each respective one of said categories wherein each of said heading buttons are selectable through said user interface to sort said index by said respective one of said categories.
13. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said index further includes a plurality of check boxes selectable through said user interface, each of said check boxes being associated with a respective one of each of said media files in said index.
14. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 13 further comprising displaying in a selected portion of said frame status information concerning said media files for which said associated one of said check boxes has been selected.
15. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 further comprising displaying in a fourth one of said panes information relating to a plurality of selectable sources for said media files, a first one of said sources being a library source which when selected causes said first, second and said third ones of said panes to be displayed.
16. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein a second one of said sources includes a user definable playlist.
17. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16 further comprising adding selected ones of said media files to said playlist by dragging and dropping through said user interface from said index to an icon for said playlist in said fourth one of said panes.
18. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 18 further comprising displaying in a fifth one of said panes an index of media files contained in said playlist when said playlist has been selected, said fifth one of said panes being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third ones of said panes.
19. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 18 wherein said index displayed in said fifth one of said frames includes columnar categories for each of said media files.
20. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 19 wherein said index in said fifth one of said panes is sortable by each of said categories.
21. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 20 further comprising displaying a plurality of heading buttons for each respective one of said categories for said index displayed in said fifth one of said panes wherein each of said heading buttons are selectable through said user interface to sort said index by said respective one of said categories.
22. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16 further comprising displaying a user selectable button in a selected portion of said frame wherein selecting of said button through said user interface causes a new user definable playlist to be added to said sources.
23. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein a second one of said sources includes a radio tuner.
24. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 23 further comprising displaying in a fifth one of said panes an index of genre of said media files when said radio button has been selected, said fifth one of said panes being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third ones of said panes.
25. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 24 wherein said index displayed in said fifth one of said frames includes columnar categories for each of said media files.
26. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 25 wherein said index in said fifth one of said panes is sortable by each of said categories.
27. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 25 further comprising displaying a plurality of heading buttons for each respective one of said categories for said index displayed in said fifth one of said panes wherein each of said heading buttons are selectable through said user interface to sort said index by said respective one of said categories.
28. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 23 further comprising displaying in said frame a user selectable refresh button when said radio tuner has been selected wherein selection of said refresh button connects a user computer to the Internet to obtain refreshed information for said media files.
29. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 further comprising displaying in said frame a user selectable button wherein selection of said button develops a visual effect in said window in lieu of said panes.
30. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 29 wherein said visual effect is developed responsive to at least one parameter of one of said media files while used by said media player.
31. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a search box disposed in a selected portion of said frame adapted to receive through said user interface successive characters of a search term.
32. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 31 further comprising automatically searching said index upon entry of each one of said successive characters, and, in response to said searching being performed, refreshing said first one of said panes such that only selected ones of said media files in said index matching said successive ones of said characters are displayed.
33. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 further including displaying a plurality of user selectable control buttons disposed in a selected portion of said frame, said control buttons controlling execution of said media player calling content from said media files in said index.
34. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 33 wherein media player calls content from only user selected ones of said media files.
35. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 33 further comprising displaying at least one user selectable slider in association with said control buttons, said slider controlling at least one parameter of content of said media files.
36. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 33 further comprising displaying a status pane in a selected portion of said frame, said status frame displaying status of content of one of said media files when called by said media player.
37. A computer readable medium containing media player application code which implements the following procedures:
generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame;
displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
displaying in a second one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of artists associated with said media files;
displaying in a third one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of albums associated with said media files; and
displaying a browse button in said frame wherein selecting said button through said user interface toggles said window between all of said panes being displayed and only a said first one of said panes being displayed.
38. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 37 wherein selecting through said user interface one of said artists limits display of said index of said media files to selected ones of said media files associated with said one of said artists.
39. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 37 wherein selecting through said user interface one of said albums limits display of said index of said media files to selected ones of said media files associated with said one of said albums.
40. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 39 wherein said first one of said panes is displayed in said window in lieu of the other ones of said panes when said window is toggled to display only said selected one of said panes.
41. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 37 wherein said stiles are movable in said window to change selectively through said user interface dimensions of said panes.
41. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 37 wherein said index of said media files includes columnar categories for each of said media files.
42. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 41 wherein said index of said media files is user sortable by each of said categories.
43. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 42 further comprising displaying a plurality of user selectable heading buttons for each respective one of said categories wherein each of said heading buttons is selectable through said user interface to sort said index by said respective one of said categories.
44. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 37 wherein said index of said media files further includes a plurality of check boxes selectable through said user interface, each of said check boxes being associated with a respective one of each of said media files.
45. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 44 further comprising displaying in a selected portion of said frame status information concerning said media files for which said associated one of said check boxes has been selected.
46. A computer readable medium containing media player application code which implements the following procedures:
generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame;
displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
displaying in a second one of said first selected information for said media files;
displaying in a third one of said panes second selected information for said media files; and
displaying in a fourth one of said panes information relating to a plurality of user selectable sources for said media files, wherein a first one of said sources is a library source and a second one of said sources is a user definable playlist, said library source when selected causes said first, second and said third ones of said panes to be displayed.
47. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 46 further comprising adding selected ones of said media files to said playlist by dragging and dropping through said user interface from said index to an icon for said playlist in said fourth one of said panes.
48. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 47 further comprising displaying in a fifth one of said panes an index of media files contained in said playlist when said playlist has been selected, said fifth one of said panes being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third ones of said panes.
49. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 48 wherein said index displayed in said fifth one of said frames includes columnar categories for each of said media files.
50. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 49 wherein said index in said fifth one of said panes is sortable by each of said categories.
51. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 50 further comprising displaying a plurality of heading buttons for each respective one of said categories for said index displayed in said fifth one of said panes wherein each of said heading buttons are selectable through said user interface to sort said index by said respective one of said categories.
52. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 46 further comprising displaying a user selectable button in a selected portion of said frame wherein selecting of said button through said user interface causes a new user definable playlist to be added to said sources.
53. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 36 wherein a third one of said sources is a radio tuner.
54. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 53 further comprising displaying in a fifth one of said panes an index of genre of said media files when said radio button has been selected, said fifth one of said panes being displayed in lieu of said first, second and third ones of said panes.
55. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 54 wherein said index displayed in said fifth one of said frames includes columnar categories for each of said media files.
56. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 55 wherein said index in said fifth one of said panes is sortable by each of said categories.
57. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 55 further comprising displaying a plurality of heading buttons for each respective one of said categories for said index displayed in said fifth one of said panes wherein each of said heading buttons are selectable through said user interface to sort said index by said respective one of said categories.
58. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 53 further comprising displaying in said frame a user selectable refresh button when said radio tuner has been selected wherein selection of said refresh button connects a user computer to the Internet to obtain refreshed information for said media files.
59. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 58 wherein said refresh button changes state to a browse button when said library source is selected.
60. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 59 wherein selecting said browse button through said user interface toggles said window between all of said panes being displayed and only a said first one and said fourth one of said panes being displayed.
61. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 58 wherein said refresh button changes state to a burn CD button when said playlist is selected.
62. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 61 wherein selecting said burn CD through said user interface initiates a further procedure allowing media files indicated in said selected playlist to be recorded onto a compact disk.
63. A computer readable medium containing media player application code which implements the following procedures:
generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame;
displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
displaying in a second one of said first selected information for said media files;
displaying in a third one of said panes second selected information for said media files; and
displaying in said frame a user selectable button wherein selection of said button develops a visual effect in said window in lieu of said panes.
64. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 63 wherein said visual effect is developed responsive to at least one parameter of one of said media files while used by said media player.
65. A computer readable medium containing media player application code which implements the following procedures:
generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame and a plurality of stiles to define a plurality of panes within said frame;
displaying in a first one of said panes a user selectable index of a plurality of media files;
displaying in a second one of said first selected information for said media files;
displaying in a third one of said panes second selected information for said media files; and
displaying a search box disposed in a selected portion of said frame adapted to receive through said user interface successive characters of a search term.
66. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 65 further comprising automatically searching said index upon entry of each one of said successive characters, and, in response to said searching being performed, refreshing said first one of said panes such that only selected ones of said media files in said index matching said successive ones of said characters are displayed.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A print management apparatus comprising:
a communication section which is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network for transmitting a print job to certain one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and receiving from each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses management information of each image forming apparatus including information about a print function of the image forming apparatus and an alternate printing instruction of allowing an other image forming apparatus to perform an alternate printing;
a management section for creating and storing management data indicating respective states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on the management information received by the communication section; and
a designating section for designating a first one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and allowing the communication section to transmit a print job to the designated first image forming apparatus, and designating a second image forming apparatus operable to perform an alternate printing with reference to the management data of the management section, and allowing the communication section to transmit the print job to the designated second image forming apparatus if an alternate printing instruction is received from the designated first image forming apparatus.
2. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designating section designates the second image forming apparatus having a print function similar to that of the first image forming apparatuses as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
3. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designating section designates the second image forming apparatus having a basic print performance which is the same as that of the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
4. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management data of the management section includes resolution information of the image forming apparatuses, and the designating section designates the second image forming apparatus having a print function capable of achieving a resolution close to that of the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
5. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management data of the management section includes positional information of the image forming apparatuses, and the designating section performs determination based on the positional information to designate the second image forming apparatus which is located at a position close to the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
6. The print management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the management data of the management section includes positional information of the image forming apparatuses, and the designating section performs determination based on the positional information to designate the second image forming apparatus which is located at a position close to the first image forming apparatus and has a print function similar to that of the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
7. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management data of the management section includes print speed information of the image forming apparatuses, and the designating section designates the second image forming apparatus which completes a print processing early as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing with reference to the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.
8. The print management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the management data of the management section includes print speed information of the image forming apparatuses, and the designating section designates the second image forming apparatus which completes a print processing early and has a print function similar to that of the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing with reference to the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.
9. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the print job includes print completion time designating information which designates a print completion time, and
the designating section designates the second image forming apparatus which completes printing at a time closest to a print completion time indicated by the print completion time designating information as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing with reference to the print job and the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.
10. The print management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the print job includes print completion time designating information which designates a print completion time, and
the designating section designates the second image forming apparatus which completes printing at a time closest to a print completion time indicated by the print completion time designating information and has a print function similar to that of the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing with reference to the print job and the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.
11. The print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the print job includes print completion time designating information which designates a print completion time, and
the designating section has a plurality of predetermined time period information, and the designating section determines a time period in which the print completion time indicated by the print completion time designating information falls among the plurality of time periods, and designates the second image forming apparatus which completes printing earliest in the determined time period as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing with reference to the print job and the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.
12. The print management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the print job includes print completion time designating information which designates a print completion time, and
the designating section has a plurality of predetermined time period information, and the designating section determines a time period in which the print completion time indicated by the print completion time designating information falls among the plurality of time periods, and designates the second image forming apparatus which completes printing earliest in the determined time period and has a print function similar to that of the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing with reference to the print job and the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.
13. A print management system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a print management apparatus for managing each of the image forming apparatuses are connected via a network, wherein
each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses includes:
a printing section for executing a print job to perform printing;
a print management section for outputting management information including a print function of the image forming apparatus, and outputting an alternate printing instruction for allowing an other image forming apparatus to perform an alternate printing if the printing section cannot execute the print job; and
a communication section for receiving the print job via the network and outputting the print job to the printing section, and transmitting the management information and the alternate printing instruction to the print management apparatus, and
the print management apparatus includes:
a communication section for transmitting a print job to certain one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and receiving from each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses management information of each image forming apparatus including information about a print function of the image forming apparatus and an alternate printing instruction of allowing an other image forming apparatus to perform the alternate printing via the network;
an management section for creating and storing management data indicating respective states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on the management information received by the communication section; and
an designating section for designating a first one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and allowing the communication section to transmit a print job to the designated first image forming apparatus, and designating a second image forming apparatus operable to perform an alternate printing with reference to the management data of the management section, and allowing the communication section to transmit the print job to the designated second image forming apparatus if an alternate printing instruction is received from the designated first image forming apparatus.
14. The print management system according to claim 13, wherein the designating section of the print management apparatus designates the second image forming apparatus having a print function similar to that of the first image forming apparatuses an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
15. The print management system according to claim 13, wherein the designating section of the print management apparatus designates the second image forming apparatus having a basic print performance which is the same as that of the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
16. The print management system according to claim 13, wherein the management data of the management section includes resolution information of the image forming apparatuses, and the designating section designates the second image forming apparatus having a print function capable of achieving a resolution close to that of the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
17. The print management system according to claim 13, wherein the management data of the management section includes positional information of the image forming apparatuses, and the designating section of the print management apparatus performs determination based on the positional information to designate the second image forming apparatus which is located at a position close to the first image forming apparatus as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing.
18. The print management system according to claim 13, wherein the management data of the management section includes print speed information of the image forming apparatuses, and the designating section of the print management system designates the second image forming apparatus which completes a print processing early as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing with reference to the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.
19. The print management system according to claim 13, wherein
the print job includes print completion time designating information which designates a print completion timing, and
the designating section of the print management apparatus designates the second image forming apparatus which completes printing at a time closest to a print completion time indicated by the print completion time designating information as an alternate image forming apparatus which performs the alternate printing with reference to the print job and the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.
20. The print management system according to claim 13, wherein
the print job includes print completion time designating information which designates a print completion time, and
the designating section of the print management apparatus has a plurality of predetermined time period information, and the designating section determines a time period in which the print completion time indicated by the print completion time designating information falls among the plurality of time periods, and designates the second image forming apparatus which completes printing at earliest in the determined time period as an alternate image forming apparatus with reference to the print job and the management data of the management section if an alternate printing instruction is received from the first image forming apparatus.