Visualizing Content Positioning within a Document Using Layers
First Claim
1. A method for displaying a document, the document having a set of sibling content elements, the set including a first element that is associated with a non-overlapping positioning scheme and a second element that is associated with an overlapping positioning scheme, comprising:
- displaying, in a first two-dimensional layer, the first element; and
displaying, in a second two-dimensional layer, the second element;
wherein the first layer and the second layer are displayed separate from each other in three-dimensional space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
It can be difficult to predict what the layout of a document will be if the document contains several content elements, some of which are associated with different positioning schemes. In one embodiment, elements are shown in different layers based on their positioning schemes. For example, a first layer includes elements that are associated with non-overlapping positioning schemes, and a second layer includes elements that are associated with overlapping positioning schemes. When the document is viewed from above, the layers “collapse” onto each other, and the document appears to have a conventional (two-dimensional) page rendering. However, when the document is viewed from an angle, the layers appear separately in three-dimensional space, similar to an exploded view. The separate layers reveal the positioning schemes of the various elements and the layout interactions between those elements. This visualization technique helps a user understand how various elements are positioned within the document.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for displaying a document, the document having a set of sibling content elements, the set including a first element that is associated with a non-overlapping positioning scheme and a second element that is associated with an overlapping positioning scheme, comprising:
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displaying, in a first two-dimensional layer, the first element; and displaying, in a second two-dimensional layer, the second element; wherein the first layer and the second layer are displayed separate from each other in three-dimensional space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer program product for displaying a document, the document having a set of sibling content elements, the set including a first element that is associated with a non-overlapping positioning scheme and a second element that is associated with an overlapping positioning scheme, the computer program product comprising:
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a machine-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising; displaying, in a first two-dimensional layer, the first element; and displaying, in a second two-dimensional layer, the second element; wherein the first layer and the second layer are displayed separate from each other in three-dimensional space.
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13. A system for displaying a document, the document having a set of sibling content elements, the set including a first element that is associated with a non-overlapping positioning scheme and a second element that is associated with an overlapping positioning scheme, comprising:
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a processor configured to perform a method, the method comprising; displaying, in a first two-dimensional layer, the first element; and displaying, in a second two-dimensional layer, the second element; wherein the first layer and the second layer are displayed separate from each other in three-dimensional space.
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Specification