Methods and systems for creating and using skins

• US 20050102627A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Novak, Michael J., Olson, Kipley J., Nadalin, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/02 Digital function generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/06 using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

Systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment, a system is configured to provide multiple skin elements that comprise part of a user interface and synchronize a property of at least a first of the skin elements with a property of a second of the skin elements such that a change in the property of the second of the elements causes a change in the property of the first of the elements. The system synchronizes properties by describing synchronization between the properties using an XML data structure.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

means for providing multiple skin elements that comprise part of a user interface; and

means for synchronizing a property of at least a first of the skin elements with a property of a second of the skin elements such that a change in the property of the second of the elements causes a change in the property of the first of the elements, wherein said means for synchronizing comprises means for describing a synchronization between the properties using an XML data structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for describing comprises means for using a keyword to establish the synchronization.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for describing comprises:

means for associating a keyword with the property of the first element; and

means for associating the property of the second element with the keyword.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for synchronizing comprises means for establishing a one-way synchronization between the properties.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for synchronizing comprises means for establishing a two-way synchronization between the properties such that a change in the property of the first element causes a change in the property of the second element.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for synchronizing comprises means for using an XML name-value pair to effect the synchronization.

7. A system comprising:

one or more computer-readable media;

one or more processors;

computer-readable instructions on the one or more computer-readable media which, when executed, implement a method comprising;

providing multiple skin elements that comprise part of a user interface; and

synchronizing a property of at least a first of the skin elements with a property of a second of the skin elements such that a change in the property of the second of the elements causes a change in the property of the first of the elements, wherein said synchronizing comprises describing a synchronization between the properties using an XML data structure.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said describing comprises using a keyword to establish the synchronization.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said describing comprises:

associating a keyword with the property of the first element; and

associating the property of the second element with the keyword.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said synchronizing comprises establishing a one-way synchronization between the properties.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said synchronizing comprises establishing a two-way synchronization between the properties such that a change in the property of the first element causes a change in the property of the second element.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said synchronizing comprises using an XML name-value pair to effect the synchronization.

13. A system comprising:

means for associating a property of a skin element with a keyword, the property comprising one to which another property for another skin element is to be synchronized; and

means for assigning the keyword and its associated property as a value of the property of the other skin element that is to be synchronized.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said means for associating and said means for assigning comprise means for using an XML data structure.