System and method of providing interactive vector graphics over a network

• US 6,057,854 A
• Filed: 07/28/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micrografx LLC
• Original Assignee: Micrografx LLC
• Inventors: Davis, Jr., John R., Glazer, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Albert K.
• Application Number:
  US08/901,043
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 345/433, 345/441, 345/443, 345/339, 345/334, 707/502, 707/513, 707/515, 707/528
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering

Abstract

An interactive vector object (56, 76, 102) operable to be downloaded over a network (16) may comprise data (58, 104) to render an image of the vector object (56, 76, 102) and an active area defined by the vector object (56, 76, 102). A vector graphics network file (88) may in connection with the data (58, 104) render the image of the vector object (56, 76, 102) on a client system (14) connectable to the network (16).

Claims

1. An interactive vector object stored on a computer readable medium and operable to be downloaded over a network comprising:

data operable to be downloaded to a client system connectable to the network and in connection with a vector graphics network file to render an image of the vector object on the client system;

an active area defined by the vector object; and

a property defining a command to be performed in response to an event within the active area of the vector object.

2. The interactive vector object of claim 1, further comprising the active area conforming to the image of the vector object.

3. The interactive vector object of claim 1, the data further comprising a type, a size, and a location of the vector object.

4. The interactive vector object of claim 3, further comprising the active area defined by the type, size, and location of the vector object.

5. The interactive vector object of claim 1, further comprising the command operable to alter the image of the vector object on the client system.

6. The interactive vector object of claim 1, further comprising the command operable to reshape the image of the vector object on the client system.

7. The interactive vector object of claim 1, further comprising the command operable to recolor the image of the vector object on the client system.

8. The interactive vector object of claim 1, the vector graphics network file further comprising a vector graphics extension operable to render the image of the vector object on the client system.

9. The interactive vector object of claim 1, further comprising the data in connection with the vector graphics network file operable to render the image of the vector object within a window of a graphical user interface of the client system.

10. A server system operable to provide interactive vector graphics stored on a computer readable medium over a network, comprising:

a vector graphics file operable to be downloaded to a client system connectable to the network;

the vector graphics file comprising an interactive vector object, the vector object comprising;

data operable in connection with a vector graphics network file to render an image of the vector object on the client system;

an active area defined by the vector object; and

a property defining a command be performed in response to an event within the active area of the vector object.

11. The server system of claim 10, further comprising the active area conforming to image of the vector object.

12. The server system of claim 10, the data further comprising a type, a size, and a location of the vector object.

13. The server system of claim 12, further comprising the active area defined by the type, size, and location of the vector object.

14. The server system of claim 10, further comprising the command operable to alter the image of the vector object on the client system.

15. The server system of claim 10, further comprising the command operable to reshape the image of the vector object on the client system.

16. The server system of claim 10, further comprising the command operable to recolor the image of the vector object on the client system.

17. The server system of claim 10, the vector graphics network file further comprising a vector graphics extension operable to render the image of the vector object on the client system.

18. The server system of claim 10, further comprising the data in connection with the vector graphics network file operable to render the image of the vector object within a window of a graphical user interface of the client system.

19. The server system of claim 10, the vector graphics file further comprising a plurality of vector objects.

20. The server system of claim 10, further comprising:

a network accessible file operable to be downloaded over the network; and

the network accessible file including an identifier linking the vector graphics file to the network accessible file.

21. The server system of claim 20, the network accessible file further comprising a HTML file.

22. The server system of claim 20, wherein the vector graphics file is embedded in the network accessible file.

23. A Web page stored on a computer readable medium, the Web page comprising:

an HTML file operable to be downloaded over a network;

a vector graphics file linked to the HTML file;

the vector graphics file operable to be downloaded to a client system connectable to the network;

the vector graphics file comprising an interactive vector object, the vector object comprising;

data operable in connection with a vector graphics network file to render an image of the vector object on the client system;

an active area defined by the vector object; and

a property defining a command be performed in response to an event within the active area of the vector object.

24. The Web page of claim 23, further comprising the active area conforming to the image of the vector object.

25. The Web page of claim 23, the data further comprising a type, a size, and a location of the vector object.

26. The Web page of claim 25, further comprising the active area defined by the type, size, and location of the vector object.

27. The Web page of claim 23, further comprising the command operable to alter the image of the vector object on the client system.

28. The Web page of claim 23, further comprising the command operable to reshape the image of the vector object on the client system.

29. The Web page of claim 23, further comprising the command operable to recolor the image of the vector object on the client system.

30. The Web page of claim 23, the vector graphics network file further comprising a vector graphics extension operable to render the image of the vector object on the client system.

31. The Web page of claim 23, further comprising the data in connection with the vector graphics network file operable to render the image of the vector object within a window of a graphical user interface of the client system.

32. The Web page of claim 23, the vector graphics file further comprising a plurality of interactive vector objects.

33. A system operable to provide interactive vector graphics over a network, comprising:

a server system, comprising;

a network accessible file,

a vector graphics file linked to the network accessible file;

the vector graphics file comprising an interactive vector object, the vector object comprising;

data describing the vector object;

an active area defined by the vector object;

a property defining a command to be performed in response to an event within the active area of the vector object;

a client system, comprising;

a network application file operable to connect to the server over the network to retrieve the network accessible file;

the network application file operable to read the network accessible file and retrieve the linked vector graphics file; and

a vector graphics extension operable to read the data to render an image of the vector object.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising the active area conforming to the image of the vector object.

35. The system of claim 33, the data further comprising a type, a size, and a location of the vector object.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising the active area defined by the type, size, and location of the vector object.

37. The system of claim 33, the network accessible file further comprising an HTML file.

38. The system of claim 33, the network application file further comprising an Internet browser.

39. The system of claim 33, the server system further comprising a vector graphics application operable to generate the vector graphics file.

40. The system of claim 33, the client system further comprising a vector graphics application operable to modify the vector graphics file.

41. The system of claim 33, the client system further comprising:

a graphical user interface having a window; and

the vector graphics extension operable to render the image of the vector object within the window of the graphical user interface.

42. The system of claim 33, further comprising the vector graphics extension operable to perform the command in response to the event within the active area of the vector object.

43. The system of claim 33, further comprising the command operable to alter the image of the vector object on the client system.

44. A client system operable to provide interactive graphics over a network, comprising:

a vector graphics file downloaded to the client system over the network;

the vector graphics file comprising an interactive vector object, the vector object comprising;

data describing the vector object;

an active area defined by the vector object;

a property defining a command be performed in response to an event within the active area of the vector object; and

a vector graphics network file stored on a computer readable medium operable to read the data to render an image of the vector object.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising the active area conforming to the image of the vector object.

46. The system of claim 44, the data further comprising a type, a size, and a location of the vector object.

47. The system of claim 46, further comprising the active area defined by the type, size, and location of the vector object.

48. The system of claim 44, further comprising the vector graphics network file operable to perform the command in response to the event within the active area of the vector object.

49. The system of claim 44, further comprising the command operable to alter the image of the vector object on the client system.

50. The system of claim 44, further comprising the command operable to reshape the image of the vector object on the client system.

51. The system of claim 44, further comprising the command operable to recolor the image of the vector object on the client system.

52. The system of claim 44, the vector graphics network file further comprising a vector graphics extension operable to render the image of the vector object on the client system.

53. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a graphical user interface having a window; and

the vector graphics network file operable to render the image of the vector object within the window of the graphical user interface.

54. The system of claim 44, further comprising a vector graphics application operable to modify the vector graphics file downloaded over the network.

55. A vector graphics extension operable to provide interactive graphics over a network, comprising:

a rendering engine operable in connection with data describing a vector object downloaded over the network and an associated network application file to render an image of the vector object; and

the rendering engine operable to perform a command in response to an event within an active area defined by the vector object.

56. The vector graphics extension of claim 55, further comprising the active area conforming to the image of the vector object.

57. The vector graphics extension of claim 55, the data further comprising a type, a size, and a location of the vector object.

58. The vector graphics extension of claim 57, further comprising the active area defined by the type, size, and location of the vector object.

59. The vector graphics extension of claim 55, further comprising the command operable to alter the image of the vector object.

60. The vector graphics extension of claim 55, further comprising the command operable to reshape the image of the vector object.

61. The vector graphics extension of claim 55, further comprising the command operable to recolor the image of the vector object.

62. The vector graphics extension of claim 55, further comprising the command operable to relocate the image of the vector object.

63. The vector graphics extension of claim 55, further comprising the command operable to jump to a specified address of the network.

64. A method of providing interactive vector graphics over a network, comprising the steps of:

downloading over a network to a client system a vector object, the vector object comprising;

data describing the vector object;

an active area defined by the vector object;

a property defining a command to be performed in response to an event within the active area of the vector object; and

rendering an image of the vector object on the client system.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the active area conforms to the image of the vector object.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the data comprises a type, a size, and a location of the vector object.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the active area is defined by the type, size, and location of the vector object.

68. The method of claim 64, further comprising performing the command in response to the event within the active area of the vector object.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the step of performing the command in response to the event comprises the step of altering the image of the vector object on the client system.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the step of performing the command in response to the event comprises the step of reshaping the image of the vector object on the client system.

71. The method of claim 68, wherein the step of performing the command in response to the event comprises the step of recoloring the image of the vector object on the client system.

72. The method of claim 68, wherein the step of performing the command in response to the event comprises the step of jumping to a specified address of the network.

73. The method of claim 64, further comprising the step of modifying the vector object downloaded over the network on the client system.

74. The method of claim 64, wherein the step of rendering an image of the vector object comprises the step of rendering the image of the vector object within a window of a graphical user interface of the client system.

75. The method of claim 64, wherein the network comprises an Internet connection.

76. The method of claim 64, further comprising the steps of:

storing the vector object in a vector graphics file on a server system; and

linking the vector graphics file to a network accessible file on the server system.

77. The method of claim 76, the step of downloading the vector object further comprising the steps of:

connecting to a server system over the network;

retrieving the network accessible file of the server system;

reading the network accessible file;

receiving from the network accessible file an identifier linking the vector graphics file to the network accessible file; and

retrieving the linked vector graphics file.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the network accessible file is an HTML file.

79. The method of claim 77, the step of rendering the image of the vector object further comprising the steps of:

passing the vector graphics file to a vector graphics extension on the client system; and

reading the vector graphics file to receive data describing the vector object and an active area defined by the vector object.