Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Julian Selman

Thamer A Abanami

David E Gardner

Jeffrey C Fong

Cyrus Kanga

Craig R Maitlen

James Lee

Ali M Vassigh

Rowland Lee Brown

Russell E Glaser

Michael Kleinerman

Marc S Doll

Spencer Hurd

By adjusting visual settings on a display behind a section of a background to emphasize menu options, a user can determine the status in the series of menus and sub-menus and can better read the menu options.

Adaptable transparency

Display screen with an animated user interface

Display screen with animated user interface

A hierarchical system is used to store data items easily capable of thumbnail representation (such as images). Such a hierarchical system may allow a folder (or other grouping) to contain both data items and sub-folders. The display of such a folder uses two display areas. In one display area, sub-folders are displayed using a list view, where text is the primary method for the display of the sub-folders which are contained in the folder. In the other display area, a grid view is used to display the data items. Thumbnail images are the primary components of the grid view. Functionality available to a user will change based on whether the user is browsing the list view or the grid view.

Combined representation of a hierarchical data item collection

Stylistically relevant cover images for media items are generated based on metadata for the media items. The cover images are placeholders that visually represent the media items until original cover images (if any) are found. In one implementation, the cover images incorporate design elements like font, background art, color schemes, and layout that are chosen from a collection of such elements based on the metadata. The cover images are therefore unique and stylistically relevant to corresponding media items.

Generating stylistically relevant placeholder covers for media items

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Julian Selman