An Apple patent (number 20120174010) for media content flocking has appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. It relates to graphical user interfaces and digital video editing in applications such as iMovie and Final Cut Pro X.

According to implementations, a method can include displaying a first sequence of objects on a display of a computing device, receiving a selection of at least two non-adjacent objects from the first sequence, and animating the at least two non-adjacent objects to move along respective paths from the display of the first sequence to a current location of a cursor on the display. The objects in the first sequence can be video clips or other types of media, such as presentation slides, audio clips or any other media that can be manipulated in a timeline.

Here's Apple's background and summary of the invention: "Video editing applications allow users to create, manipulate and aggregate video data. Vendors of video editing applications often seek to provide a user interface that makes video editing applications easy to use. Often vendors attempt to provide an interface with a look and feel that a user may enjoy.

"Media content flocking is disclosed. According to implementations, a method can include displaying a first sequence of objects on a display of a computing device, receiving a selection of at least two non-adjacent objects from the first sequence, and animating the at least two non-adjacent objects to move along respective paths from the display of the first sequence to a current location of a cursor on the display. The objects in the first sequence can be video clips or other types of media, such as presentation slides, audio clips or any other media that can be manipulated in a timeline.

"According to implementations, the method can include displaying a preview sequence of the at least two non-adjacent objects at the current location of a cursor. Some implementations provide that while moving the cursor on the display, the preview sequence is moved proximate to the cursor. The at least two non-adjacent objects can be displayed in the preview sequence contiguously and in the same relative order as they were displayed in the first sequence.

"According to implementations, the method can include receiving input indicating a position in the first sequence; moving the at least two non-adjacent objects to the position in the first sequence to change the order of the objects in the first sequence; and displaying the changed first sequence of objects.

"According to an implementation, the method can include receiving input that causes displaying the cursor and the preview sequence hovering over a position in the first sequence, and responsive to the input, displaying an empty space at the position in the first sequence, the empty space having a width that corresponds to a length of the preview sequence.

"According to implementations, the method can include performing a drag operation that causes two or more images corresponding to the at least two non-adjacent objects in the first sequence to move from the display of the first sequence to the current location of the cursor on the display. The method can include performing a drag-and-drop operation that causes two or more images corresponding to the at least two non-adjacent objects displayed at the current location of the cursor to move from the current location of the cursor to an indicated location in the first sequence.

"The drag and drop operation can cause the at least two non-adjacent objects to move from their previous locations in the first sequence to adjacent positions at the indicated location in the first sequence. The drag-and-drop operation can be used to generate a reordered first sequence."

Gary Flint and Stefan Hafeneger are the inventors.