RESOLUTION INDEPENDENT LAYOUT

• US 20090144652A1
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratovan Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stratovan Corporation
• Inventors: Wiley, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for positioning graphical objects and elements of graphical objects including widgets. At least two source layouts are selected, each source layout proportioning elements of the graphical object to be positioned. An interpolated layout is generated from the source layouts whereby the graphical object is positioned based on the interpolated layout. Multiple elements may be processed so. Elements of the graphical object can be proportioned differently from one another and the source layouts may be selected based on their relationship in size to the size of a desired runtime layout. The elements can include widget regions and content within the widget regions may be scaled independently of the positioning of the widget regions. The methods may be incorporated in a machine readable medium as data and executable instructions.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a graphical object comprising:

selecting at least two source layouts, each source layout proportioning elements of the graphical object to be positioned;

generating an interpolated layout from the at least two source layouts; and

positioning the graphical object in accordance with the interpolated layout to obtain a desired runtime layout of the graphical object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the elements include widgets and the widgets are proportioned differently from one another.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating includes using linear interpolation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two source layouts are selected based on their relationship in size to the size of the desired runtime layout.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the elements include widget regions and content within the widget regions are scaled independently of the positioning of the widget regions.

6. The method of claim 1, and further comprising adjusting the desired runtime layout responsive to user input.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the elements include widgets and wherein the adjusting includes repositioning one or more of the widgets.

8. A graphical layout method comprising:

maintaining a plurality of different source layouts, each of the plurality of source layouts including an element in common with the other source layouts;

selecting two or more of the plurality of source layouts based on one or more characteristics of a desired runtime layout, the characteristics including size and shape of the desired runtime layout;

calculating a location for the element in the desired runtime layout from corresponding locations of the element in the two or more source layouts; and

positioning the element at the calculated location.

9. The method of claim 8, and further comprising iteratively repeating the steps of selecting, calculating and positioning to place other elements.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the characteristics include height, width and depth of the desired runtime layout.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the calculating includes interpolating the calculated location from the corresponding locations.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the interpolating is performed using linear interpolation.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the elements include graphical objects.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the element is a widget associated with a graphical object.

15. The method of claim 8, and further comprising scaling the element based on size of the element in the two or more source layouts.

16. A method of locating an element in a dynamic graphical layout, comprising:

determining an approximate size of the element in the dynamic graphical layout;

selecting a first source layout describing the element;

selecting a second source layout describing the element; and

positioning the element in the dynamic graphical layout at a location calculated using the first and second source layouts and the approximate size of the element.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the calculated location is interpolated from the first and second source layouts.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein for each of the first and second source layouts the selecting is based on the relative sizes of at least two dimensions of the element in the each source layout.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting one or more other source layout describing the element, wherein the step of positioning the element in the dynamic graphical layout includes using the one or more other source layout to calculate the location.

20. A computer readable medium encoded with data and instructions for positioning a graphical object, said data and the instructions causing an apparatus executing the instructions to:

select at least two source layouts, each source layout proportioning elements of the graphical object to be positioned;

generate an interpolated layout from the at least two source layouts; and

position the graphical object in accordance with the interpolated layout to obtain a desired runtime layout of the graphical object.