Automatic interface layout generator for database systems
First Claim
1. An automatic interface layout generator for database systems comprising:
- means for specifying a set of block descriptions representative of specified portions of a database;
means for providing interface objects to be included within an interface of said database wherein each of said interface objects corresponds to one of said block descriptions and includes a plurality of layout fields and each of said block descriptions has associated therewith a set of said interface objects, said set of interface objects associated with each of a plurality of said block descriptions including a plurality of interface objects having varying placements of said plurality of layout fields and/or varying layout field attributes that affect the size and shade of said plurality of interface objects such that said plurality of interface objects associated with each said block description have a plurality of distinct shapes;
means for determining a layout quality parameter for each of said interface objects based on layout of said layout fields within said interface objects;
block placement means for arranging sets of said interface objects into block configurations within said interface, said block placement means including means for placing, in a first of said block configurations, a first one of said plurality of interface objects associated with a first one of said block descriptions, and for placing, in a second of said block configurations, a second one of said plurality of interface objects associated with said first one of said block descriptions; and
means for determining a placement quality parameter for each of said block configurations based on a set of block placement rules and on said layout quality parameters, including means for selecting a final block configuration by comparing said placement quality parameters.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic interface layout generator for database systems is disclosed herein. The automatic generator includes a specification tool for specifying a set of block descriptions representative of specified portions of a database. A block layout generator produces interface objects to be included within an interface of the database, wherein each of the interface objects corresponds to one of the block descriptions and includes a plurality of layout fields. A layout quality parameter is determined for each of the interface objects based on arrangement of the layout fields within the interface objects. A block placement generator arranges sets of the interface objects into block configurations within the interface. A placement quality parameter for each of the block configurations is derived based on a set of block placement rules and on the layout quality parameters, and a final block configuration is selected by comparing the placement quality parameters corresponding to particular block configurations.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An automatic interface layout generator for database systems comprising:
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means for specifying a set of block descriptions representative of specified portions of a database; means for providing interface objects to be included within an interface of said database wherein each of said interface objects corresponds to one of said block descriptions and includes a plurality of layout fields and each of said block descriptions has associated therewith a set of said interface objects, said set of interface objects associated with each of a plurality of said block descriptions including a plurality of interface objects having varying placements of said plurality of layout fields and/or varying layout field attributes that affect the size and shade of said plurality of interface objects such that said plurality of interface objects associated with each said block description have a plurality of distinct shapes; means for determining a layout quality parameter for each of said interface objects based on layout of said layout fields within said interface objects; block placement means for arranging sets of said interface objects into block configurations within said interface, said block placement means including means for placing, in a first of said block configurations, a first one of said plurality of interface objects associated with a first one of said block descriptions, and for placing, in a second of said block configurations, a second one of said plurality of interface objects associated with said first one of said block descriptions; and means for determining a placement quality parameter for each of said block configurations based on a set of block placement rules and on said layout quality parameters, including means for selecting a final block configuration by comparing said placement quality parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for automatically generating an interface layout for a database comprising the steps of:
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specifying a set of block descriptions representative of specified portions of said database; providing interface objects, based on said block descriptions, for inclusion within an interface of said database wherein each of said interface objects has a plurality of layout fields and each of said block descriptions has associated therewith a set of said interface objects, said step of providing interface objects including the step of varying placement of said layout fields at least among interface objects included within a first of said sets and/or varying layout field attributes that affect the size and shape of said interface objects in said first set such that said interface objects included within said first set are of a plurality of distinct shapes; determining a layout quality parameter for each of said interface objects based on layout of said layout fields within said interface objects; arranging first and second groups of said interface objects into first and second block configurations, respectively, within said interface wherein each of said groups includes an interface object from each of said sets of interface objects, said step of arranging including the step of placing a first one of said interface objects from said first set within a first of said block configurations and the step of placing a second one of said interface objects from said first set within a second of said block configurations; and determining first and second placement quality parameters for said first and second block configurations, respectively, based on a set of block placement rules and on said layout quality parameters, including means for selecting a final block configuration by comparing said first and second placement quality parameters. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification