Central control for sequential-playback objects

Claim 3

A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying a plurality of control identifiers includes displaying a toolbar comprising a plurality of control identifiers located adjacent one another.

Claim 4

A method, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of control identifiers includes a stop control identifier, a record control identifier, a rewind control identifier and a fast-forward control identifier.

Claim 5

A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein selection of an object is indicated by a visual display on said display device, to visually distinguish a selected object from a non-selected object.

Claim 6

A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising suspending said sequential playback of said first sequential-playback object in response to said selecting of said second object identifier.

Claim 7

A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing, in a memory, a first value providing an indication of the sequential location, in said first sequential playback object, which had been reached during said sequential playback of said first sequential-playback object, at the time of said selecting of said second object identifier.

Claim 8

A method, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising selecting said first object identifier, following said step of selecting said second object identifier and beginning playback of said first sequential-playback object, starting at the sequential location indicated by said first value.

Claim 9

A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying a plurality of object identifiers includes displaying a list of object identifier names and wherein said step of selecting said first object identifier includes pointing to said first object identifier with a pointer device.

Claim 10

A method, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of pointing includes controlling the position of a cursor, displayed on said display device, using a mouse.

Claim 11

A method, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of pointing includes pointing to said first object using a stylus.

Claim 12

A method, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of pointing includes pointing to said first object using a finger.

Claim 13

A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said sequential-playback objects has a plurality of characteristics, including hardware to be used during playback and software associated with said sequential-playback objects, and wherein at least said first and second sequential-playback objects differ in at least one of said characteristics.

Claim 14

A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first sequential playback object is played back using an audio output device and said second playback object is played back using a video playback device.

Claim 15

A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first sequential playback object is associated with voice-mail software and wherein said second sequential playback object is associated with e-mail software.

Claim 16

A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a third object identifier identifies a non-sequential-playback object, and wherein at least some of said plurality of control identifiers are rendered non-selectable in response to selection of said third object.

Claim 17

A method, as claimed in claim 15, further comprising providing a visual indication, on said display, of the non-selectable state of said control identifiers.

Claim 18

A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising placing said computer in an exclusive-selection mode wherein selection of one of said plurality of object identifiers automatically de-selects any previously-selected object identifiers.

Claim 19

A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising placing said computer in a non-exclusive-selection mode wherein selection of one of said plurality of objects identifiers does not automatically de-select previously-selected object identifier, to permit concurrent selection of at least two object identifiers.

Claim 20

A method, as claimed in claim 18, further comprising rendering at least one of said plurality of control identifiers non-selectable in response to said concurrent selection.

Claim 21

A method, as claimed in claim 18, further comprising concatenating the objects identified by said at least two object identifiers, in response to said concurrent selection.

Claim 24

Apparatus for centralized control of a plurality of sequential-playback objects, comprising: a computer, having a memory with a plurality of memory storage locations, a video display device and a pointing device; said computer controlling said video display to display a plurality of object identifiers which identify stored digital objects, including at least first and second object identifiers which identify first and second sequential-playback objects; said computer controlling said video display to highlight said first object identifier, following selecting said first object identifier, using said user-controllable selection device; said computer controlling said video display to display a plurality of control identifiers, including at least a playback control identifier; a playback device, coupled to said computer for performing sequential playback of said first sequential-playback object in response to selecting of said playback control identifier, using said pointer device; said computer automatically storing, at a first memory location in said memory, an indication of a position, based on a current position within said first sequential-playback object in response to deselection of said first object identifier; said computer controlling said video display to highlight said second object identifier in response to selecting said second object identifier using said pointing device; said playback device performing sequential playback of said second sequential-playback object in response to selecting of said playback control identifier, using said pointing device; and said computer automatically storing, at a second memory location in said memory, an indication of a position, based on a current position within said second sequential-playback object, in response to termination of said sequential playback of said second sequential-playback object.

Claim 25

Apparatus for centralized control of a plurality of sequential-playback objects, comprising: a computer, having a memory with a plurality of memory storage locations, a video display device and a pointing device; said computer controlling said video display to display a plurality of object identifiers which identify stored digital objects, including at least first and second object identifiers which identify first and second sequential-playback objects; said computer controlling said video display to highlight said first object identifier, following selecting said first object identifier, using said user-controllable selection device; said computer controlling said video display to display a plurality of control identifiers, including at least a playback control identifier; a playback device, coupled to said computer for performing sequential playback of said first sequential-playback object in response to selecting of said playback control identifier, using said pointer device; said computer automatically storing, at a first memory location in said memory, an indication of a position, based on a current position within said first sequential-playback object in response to deselection of said first object identifier; said computer controlling said video display to highlight said second object identifier in response to selecting said second object identifier using said pointing device; said playback device performing sequential playback of said second sequential-playback object in response to selecting of said playback control identifier, using said pointing device; and said computer automatically storing, at a second memory location in said memory, an indication of a position, based on a current position within said second sequential-playback object, in response to termination of said sequential playback of said second sequential-playback object.

Claim 26

Apparatus for using a computer for centralized control of a plurality of sequential-playback objects, the computer including a memory having a plurality of memory locations, a display device and a user-controllable selection device, comprising: means for displaying, on said display device, a plurality of object identifiers which identify stored digital objects, including at least first and second object identifiers which identify first and second sequential-playback objects; means for selecting said first object identifier, using said user-controllable selection device; means for displaying a plurality of control identifiers, including at least a playback control identifier; means for selecting said playback control identifier; means for initiating sequential playback of said first sequential-playback object in response to said selecting of said playback control identifier; means for automatically storing, at a first memory storage location in said memory an indication of a position based on a current position within said first sequential-playback object in response to deselection of said first object identifier; means for selecting said playback control identifier; means for initiating sequential playback of said second sequential-playback object in response to said selecting of said playback control identifier; and means for automatically storing, at a second memory location in said memory, an indication of a position based on a current position within said second sequential-playback object in response to termination of said sequential playback of said second sequential-playback object.

Claim 27

Apparatus for using a computer for centralized control of a plurality of sequential-playback objects, the computer including a memory having a plurality of memory locations, a display device and a user-controllable selection device, comprising: means for displaying, on said display device, a plurality of object identifiers which identify stored digital objects, including at least first and second object identifiers which identify first and second sequential-playback objects; means for selecting said first object identifier, using said user-controllable selection device; means for displaying a plurality of control identifiers, including at least a playback control identifier; means for selecting said playback control identifier; means for initiating sequential playback of said first sequential-playback object in response to said selecting of said playback control identifier; means for automatically storing, at a first memory storage location in said memory an indication of a position based on a current position within said first sequential-playback object in response to deselection of said first object identifier; means for selecting said playback control identifier; means for initiating sequential playback of said second sequential-playback object in response to said selecting of said playback control identifier; and means for automatically storing, at a second memory location in said memory, an indication of a position based on a current position within said second sequential-playback object in response to termination of said sequential playback of said second sequential-playback object.