A multimedia visual progress indication system that provides a trick play
bar that is overlaid onto the program material or displayed on a dedicated
display. A cache bar inside of the trick play bar indicates the length of
a recording session or the length of stored program material and expands
to the right when material is being recorded. Every half hour (or selected
increment), the cache bar slides to the left. Time marks are displayed
inside the trick play bar giving the user a visual reference point from
which to judge the current time and visual time reference points. The time
marks are in any increment of time needed. The total length of the stored
program material or next time or counter increment in the recording cycle
is displayed on the right hand end of the trick play bar. A position
indicator moves within the trick play bar and tells the user visually
where his current position is within the program material. A slider moves
along the trick play bar and on top of the cache bar and is linked to the
position indicator and can be moved anywhere within the cache bar by the
user. The slider displays the numeric time or counter mark of the current
position. A mode indicator is positioned below the slider and follows the
slider's movement and displays whether the user is in play, record, pause,
slow play, fast play, fast forward (1.times., 2.times., and 3.times.),
slow reverse play, slow reverse, and fast reverse (1.times., 2.times., and
3.times.) modes. The 1.times., 2.times., and 3.times. speeds are
adjustable by the system to be any variable desired (e.g., 2.times.,
16.times., and 32.times.). The trick play bar and its associated
components are displayed for a predetermined time period when overlaid
onto the program material.
