Content-based graphical user interface

• US 20040169680A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arch Vision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arch Vision, Inc.
• Inventors: McConathy, Nathaniel, Wells, Christopher A., Stevens, Randall S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A computer program, computer-readable media and data signal for providing a content-specific graphic user interface each includes a plurality of code segments for rendering a user interface having at least one graphic manipulation icon, said at least one graphic manipulation icon being operatively associated with at least one attribute of the graphic image for manipulation of said at least one attribute by a user. A method and system for using core functions from a host application to provide a content-specific graphical image manipulation interface is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable media for providing a content-specific graphic user interface comprising:

a plurality of code segments defining graphical content and for rendering a user interface for display by a host application with the graphical image having at least one graphic manipulation icon, said at least one graphic manipulation icon being operatively associated with at least one attribute of a graphic image for manipulation of said at least one attribute by a user.

2. A computer program according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of code segments includes a code segment defining graphical content for use by a host application to display a predetermined graphical image.

3. A computer program according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of code segments further includes a code segment defining an application program interface for use in forming a set of data manipulation functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, said data manipulation functions being based on the core functions of the host application and the graphical image content.

4. A computer program according to claim 3 wherein said plurality of code segments includes a code segment defining functions for data manipulation of the graphical content to alter the appearance of the graphic image displayed on a screen, thereby forming data manipulation functions, said data manipulation functions being based on the graphical image content and implemented using said core instructions.

5. A computer program according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of code segments includes a code segment cooperative with an input device to receive an input for image manipulation, and to cause said content code segment defining graphical content to apply said data manipulation functions to manipulate a graphical image on a display through the host application with said data manipulation functions using the core functions and the host application.

6. A computer program according to claim 4 wherein said data manipulation functions are defined based on the core functions and stored with predetermined image components in association with said code segment defining graphical content.

7. A computer program according to claim 6 wherein said predetermined image components also include predetermined image sub-components and a plurality of said image sub-components are used to form compound image components.

8. A computer program according to claim 5 wherein said data manipulation functions are assigned to one of a series of content-specific graphic user interface functions, thereby creating a compound graphic user interface to be displayed within a host application.

9. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable media for providing a content-specific graphic user interface comprising:

a code segment defining graphical content for use by a host application to display a predetermined graphical image;

a code segment defining an application program interface for use in forming a set of data manipulation functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, said data manipulation functions being based on the core functions of the host application and the graphical image content;

a code segment defining functions for data manipulation of the graphical content to alter the appearance of the graphic image displayed on a screen, thereby forming data manipulation functions, said data manipulation functions being based on the graphical image content and implemented using said core functions; and

a code segment cooperative with an input device to receive an input for image data manipulation, and to cause said code segment defining graphical content to apply said data manipulation functions to manipulate a graphical image on a display through the host application with said data manipulation functions using said core functions and the host application.

10. A computer program according to claim 9 wherein said data manipulation functions are defined based on the core functions and stored with predetermined image components in operative association with said content code segment.

11. A computer program according to claim 10 wherein said predetermined image components also include predetermined image sub-components and a plurality of said sub-components are used to form compound image components.

12. A computer program according to claim 9 wherein said data manipulation functions are assigned to one of a series of content-specific graphic user interface functions, thereby creating a compound graphic user interface to be displayed within a host application.

13. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:

computer-executable instructions for rendering a user interface having at least one graphic manipulation icon, said at least one graphic manipulation icon being operatively associated with at least one attribute of the graphic image for manipulation of said at least one attribute by a user.

14. A computer data signal according to claim 13 wherein said computer-executable instructions include a code segment defining graphical content for use by a host application to display a predetermined graphical image.

15. A computer data signal according to claim 14 wherein said computer-executable instructions further include a code segment defining an application program interface for use in forming a set of data manipulation functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, said data manipulation functions being based on the core functions of the host application and the graphical image content.

16. A computer data signal according to claim 15 wherein said computer-executable instructions include a code segment defining functions for data manipulation of the graphical content to alter the appearance of the graphic image displayed on a screen, thereby forming data manipulation functions, said data manipulation functions being based on the graphical image content and implemented using said core instructions.

17. A computer data signal according to claim 16 wherein said computer-executable instructions include a code segment cooperative with an input device to receive an input for image manipulation, and to cause said content code segment to apply said data manipulation functions to manipulate a graphical image on a display through the host application with said data manipulation functions using the core functions and the host application.

18. A computer data signal according to claim 16 wherein said data manipulation functions are defined based on the core functions and stored with predetermined image components in operative association with said code segment defining graphical content.

19. A computer data signal according to claim 18 wherein said predetermined image components also include predetermined image sub-components and a plurality of said sub-components are used to form compound image components.

20. A computer data signal according to claim 18 wherein said data manipulation functions are assigned to one of a series of content-specific graphic user interface functions, thereby creating a compound graphic user interface to be displayed within a host application.

21. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:

a code segment defining graphical content for use by a host application to display a predetermined graphical image;

a code segment defining an application program interface for use in forming a set of data manipulation functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, said data manipulation functions being based on the core functions of the host application and the graphical image content;

a code segment defining functions for data manipulation of the graphical content to alter the appearance of the graphic image displayed on a screen, thereby forming data manipulation functions, said data manipulation functions being based on the graphical image content and implemented using said core functions; and

a code segment cooperative with an input device to receive an input for image data manipulation, and to cause said code segment defining graphical content to apply said data manipulation functions to manipulate a graphical image on a display through the host application with said data manipulation functions using said core functions and the host application.

22. A computer data signal according to claim 21 wherein said data manipulation functions are defined based on the core functions and stored with predetermined image components in association with said code segment defining graphical content.

23. A computer data signal according to claim 21 wherein said predetermined image components also include predetermined image sub-components and a plurality of said sub-components are used to form compound image components.

24. A computer data signal according to claim 21 wherein said data manipulation functions are assigned to one of a series of content-specific graphic user interface functions, thereby creating a compound graphic user interface to be displayed within a host application.

25. A computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for providing a content-specific graphic user interface computer application comprising:

computer-executable instructions for rendering a user interface having at least one graphic manipulation icon, said at least one graphic manipulation icon being operatively associated with at least one attribute of the graphic image for manipulation of said at least one attribute by a user.

26. A computer-readable media according to claim 25 wherein said computer-executable instructions include a code segment defining graphical content for use by a host application to display a predetermined graphical image.

27. A computer-readable media according to claim 25 wherein said computer-executable instructions further include a code segment defining an application program interface for use in forming a set of data manipulation functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, said data manipulation functions being based on the core functions of the host application and the graphical image content.

28. A computer-readable media according to claim 27 wherein said computer-executable instructions include a code segment defining functions for data manipulation of the graphical content to alter the appearance of the graphic image displayed on a screen, thereby forming data manipulation functions, said data manipulation functions being based on the graphical image content and implemented using said core instructions.

29. A computer-readable media according to claim 28 wherein said computer-executable instructions include a code segment cooperative with an input device to receive an input for image manipulation, and to cause said content code segment to apply said data manipulation functions to manipulate a graphical image on a display through the host application with said data manipulation functions using the core functions and the host application.

30. A computer-readable media according to claim 27 wherein said data manipulation functions are defined based on the core functions and stored with predetermined image components in association with said code segment defining graphical content.

31. A computer-readable media according to claim 30 wherein said predetermined image components also include predetermined image sub-components and a plurality of said sub-components is used to form compound image components.

32. A computer-readable media according to claim 27 wherein said data manipulation functions are assigned to one of a series of content-specific graphic user interface functions, thereby creating a compound graphic user interface to be displayed within a host application.

33. A computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for providing a content-specific graphic user interface computer application comprising:

a code segment defining graphical content for use by a host application to display a predetermined graphical image;

a code segment defining an application program interface for use in forming a set of data manipulation functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, said data manipulation functions being based on the core functions of the host application and the graphical image content;

a code segment defining functions for data manipulation of the graphical content to alter the appearance of the graphic image displayed on a screen, thereby forming data manipulation functions, said data manipulation functions being based on the graphical image content and implemented using said core functions; and

a code segment cooperative with an input device to receive an input for image data manipulation, and to cause said code segment defining graphical content to apply said data manipulation functions to manipulate a graphical image on a display through the host application with said data manipulation functions using said core functions and the host application.

34. A method for using core functions of a host application to provide a content-specific graphical image manipulation interface comprising steps of:

providing an application program interface code segment for interaction with a host application;

providing a graphical content segment for interaction with the application program interface code segment and to provide at least one graphical element;

using said application program interface code segment to form a set of data manipulation functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, the data manipulation functions being based on the core functions of the host application and the content of the at least one graphical image; and

assigning each function to one of a plurality of content-specific graphic user interface operations thereby creating a content-specific graphic user interface for display by the host application.

35. A method for using core functions from a host application to provide a content-specific graphical image manipulation interface according to claim 34 wherein said step of defining a set of data manipulation functions includes storing said set of data manipulation functions with predetermined image components in association with said code segment defining graphical content.

36. A method for using core functions from a host application to provide a content-specific graphical image manipulation interface according to claim 34 wherein said step of defining a set of data manipulation functions includes storing said set of data manipulation functions wherein said predetermined image components also include predetermined image sub-components and a plurality of said sub-components are used to form compound components.

37. A computer system for providing a content-specific graphic user interface comprising:

at least one computer preprogrammed with a plurality of code segments for rendering a user interface having at least one graphic manipulation icon, said at least one graphic manipulation icon being operatively associated with at least one attribute of the graphic image for manipulation of said at least one attribute by a user.

38. A computer system according to claim 37 wherein said at least one computer is preprogrammed with a code segment defining graphical content for use by a host application to display a predetermined graphical image.

39. A computer system according to claim 37 wherein said at least one computer is preprogrammed with a code segment defining an application program interface to form a set of core functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, said core functions being based on the capabilities of the host application.

40. A computer system according to claim 39 wherein said at least one computer is preprogrammed with a code segment defining functions for data manipulation of the graphical content to alter the appearance of the graphic image displayed on a screen, thereby forming data manipulation functions, said data manipulation functions being based on the graphical image content and implemented using said core instructions.

41. A computer system according to claim 40 wherein said at least one computer is preprogrammed with a code segment cooperative with an input device to receive an input for image manipulation, and to cause said content code segment to apply said data manipulation functions to manipulate a graphical image on a display through the host application with said data manipulation functions using the core functions and the host application.

42. A computer system according to claim 40 wherein said at least one computer is preprogrammed to define data manipulation functions based on the core functions and store said data manipulation functions with predetermined image components in association with said code segment defining graphical content.

43. A computer system according to claim 42 wherein said at least one computer storing the predetermined image components also stores predetermined image sub-components and uses said plurality of said sub-components to form compound image components.

44. A computer system according to claim 40 wherein said at least one computer is preprogrammed to assign said data manipulation functions to one of a series of content-specific graphic user interface functions, thereby creating a compound graphic user interface to be displayed within a host application.

45. A computer system for providing a content-specific graphic user interface comprising:

at least one computer preprogrammed with;

(a) a code segment defining graphical content for use by a host application to display a predetermined graphical image;

(b) a code segment defining an application program interface for use in forming a set of data manipulation functions to implement in the host application for selective image manipulation, said data manipulation functions being based on the core functions of the host application and the graphical image content;

(c) a code segment defining functions for data manipulation of the graphical content to alter the appearance of the graphic image displayed on a screen, thereby forming data manipulation functions, said data manipulation functions being based on the graphical image content and implemented using said core functions; and

(d) a code segment cooperative with an input device to receive an input for image data manipulation, and to cause said code segment defining graphical content to apply said data manipulation functions to manipulate a graphical image on a display through the host application with said data manipulation functions using said core functions and the host application.