Method for selecting next feature for placement on a page

• US 6,415,306 B2
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Seaman, Mark D
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bashore, William L.
• Application Number:
  US09/239,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 707/517, 707/518, 707/519, 707/520, 707/525, 707/526, 707/513, 707/104, 707/515, 345/326, 345/327, 382/176, 348/584
• US Class Current: 715/210
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A Method for selecting a placement, on a medium such as a page or a computer screen, of a photograph or another placement item with optional, associated caption from a set of multiple placement items. The method provides techniques for creating customized layouts for the set of items to be displayed. The placement process utilizes values for placement feature size by multiplying the negative of the height by the width of the placement feature divided by a preselected constant C1. Feature orientation values are computed by subtracting the height from the width of the placement feature, and multiplying the result by a preselected constant C2. A placement-weight value is then computed from the above, said placement-weight value specifying priority of placement of a feature.

Claims

1. A computer executable method for selecting order of placing a feature on a display medium, comprising the steps of:

computing selection value for placement feature size, wherein the selection value for placement size comprises multiplying the negative of the height by the width of the placement feature divided by a preselected constant C1;

computing selection value for placement feature orientation, wherein the value for placement feature orientation comprises subtracting the height of the placement feature from the width of the placement feature and multiplying the result of the subtraction by a preselected constant C2;

computing a selection value for the case an additional same size placement feature beyond the present placement feature is forced to a next row of placement features, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting twice the width and subtracting a horizontal coordinate of an insertion point as measured from a placement origin from the width of the display medium divided by a preselected constant C3;

computing a selection value for the remaining unused portion of the row after location of the placement feature, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the width of the placement feature and the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the width of the display medium, multiplying the result of the subtraction by the height of the row, and dividing the result of the multiplication by a preselected constant C4;

computing a selection value for the case the place feature increases the height of the row, wherein this selection value comprises multiplying the new height of the row by the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point;

computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is forced to a new item of display medium, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the vertical coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the height of the display medium and multiplying the result of the subtraction by the width of the display medium;

computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium by preselecting a constant greater than zero when the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium;

obtaining a placement-weight value by arithmetically combining selection values for the unlocated feature, wherein the placement-weight value specifies a priority of placement for the unlocated feature;

repeating the above method steps for at least one additional unlocated feature; and

from the above unlocated features, selecting the one unlocated feature having the smallest placement-weight value as the next feature to be located.

2. A computer executable method for selecting order of placing a feature on a display medium, comprising the steps of:

computing selection value for placement feature size, wherein the selection value for placement size comprises multiplying the negative of the height by the width of the placement feature divided by a preselected constant C1;

computing selection value for placement feature orientation, wherein the selection value for placement feature orientation comprises subtracting the height of the placement feature from the width of the placement feature and multiplying the result of the subtraction by a preselected constant C2;

computing a selection value for the case an additional same size placement feature beyond the present placement feature is forced to a next row of placement features, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting twice the width and subtracting a horizontal coordinate of an insertion point as measured from a placement origin from the width of the display medium divided by a preselected constant C3;

computing a selection value for the remaining unused portion of the row after location of the placement feature, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the width of the placement feature and the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the width of the display medium, multiplying the result of the subtraction by the height of the row, and dividing the result of the multiplication by a preselected constant C4;

computing a selection value for the case the place feature increases the height of the row, wherein this selection value comprises multiplying the new height of the row by the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point;

computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is forced to a new item of display medium, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the vertical coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the height of the display medium and multiplying the result of the subtraction by the width of the display medium;

computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium by preselecting a constant greater than zero when the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium;

obtaining a placement-weight value by arithmetically combining selection values for the unlocated feature, wherein the placement-weight value specifies a priority of placement for the unlocated feature;

repeating the above method steps for at least one additional unlocated feature; and

from the above unlocated features, selecting the one unlocated feature having the largest placement-weight value as the next feature to be located.

3. A computer program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a computer program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for selecting order of placing a feature on a display medium, the steps comprising:

computing selection value for placement feature size, wherein the selection value for placement size comprises multiplying the negative of the height by the width of the placement feature divided by a preselected constant C1;

computing selection value for placement feature orientation, wherein the selection value for placement feature orientation comprises subtracting the height of the placement feature from the width of the placement feature and multiplying the result of the subtraction by a preselected constant C2;

computing a selection value for the case an additional same size placement feature beyond the present placement feature is forced to a next row of placement features, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting twice the width and subtracting a horizontal coordinate of an insertion point as measured from a placement origin from the width of the display medium divided by a preselected constant C3;

computing a selection value for the remaining unused portion of the row after location of the placement feature, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the width of the placement feature and the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the width of the display medium, multiplying the result of the subtraction by the height of the row, and dividing the result of the multiplication by a preselected constant C4;

computing a selection value for the case the place feature increases the height of the row, wherein this selection value comprises multiplying the new height of the row by the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point;

computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is forced to a new item of display medium, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the vertical coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the height of the display medium and multiplying the result of the subtraction by the width of the display medium;

computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium by preselecting a constant greater than zero when the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium;

obtaining a placement-weight value by arithmetically combining selection values for the unlocated feature, wherein the placement-weight value specifies a priority of placement for the unlocated feature;

repeating the above method steps for at least one additional unlocated feature; and

from the above unlocated features, selecting the one unlocated feature having the smallest placement-weight value as the next feature to be located.

4. The computer program storage medium of claim 3, providing the feature comprises a photograph.

5. The computer program storage medium of claim 3, providing the display medium is selected from the group consisting of a computer display screen and a sheet of paper.

6. A computer program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a computer program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for selecting order of placing a feature on a display medium, the steps comprising:

computing selection value for placement feature size, wherein the selection value for placement size comprises multiplying the negative of the height by the width of the placement feature divided by a preselected constant C1;

computing selection value for placement feature orientation, wherein the selection value for placement feature orientation comprises subtracting the height of the placement feature from the width of the placement feature and multiplying the result of the subtraction by a preselected constant C2;

computing a selection value for the case an additional same size placement feature beyond the present placement feature is forced to a next row of placement features, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting twice the width and subtracting a horizontal coordinate of an insertion point as measured from a placement origin from the width of the display medium divided by a preselected constant C3;

computing a selection value for the remaining unused portion of the row after location of the placement feature, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the width of the placement feature and the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the width of the display medium, multiplying the result of the subtraction by the height of the row, and dividing the result of the multiplication by a preselected constant C4;

computing a selection value for the case the place feature increases the height of the row, wherein this selection value comprises multiplying the new height of the row by the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point;

computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is forced to a new item of display medium, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the vertical coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the height of the display medium and multiplying the result of the subtraction by the width of the display medium;

computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium by preselecting a constant greater than zero when the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium;

obtaining a placement-weight value by arithmetically combining selection values for the unlocated feature, wherein the placement-weight value specifies a priority of placement for the unlocated feature;

repeating the above method steps for at least one additional unlocated feature; and

from the above unlocated features, selecting the one unlocated feature having the largest placement-weight value as the next feature to be located.

7. The computer program storage medium of claim 6, providing the feature comprises a photograph.

8. The computer program storage medium of claim 6, providing the display medium is selected from the group consisting of a computer display screen and a sheet of paper.

9. A computer program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a computer program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for selecting order of placing a feature on a display medium, the steps comprising:

computing selection value for placement feature size, wherein the selection value for placement size comprises multiplying the negative of the height by the width of the placement feature divided by a preselected constant C1;

computing selection value for placement feature orientation, wherein the selection value for placement feature orientation comprises subtracting the height of the placement feature from the width of the placement feature and multiplying the result of the subtraction by a preselected constant C2;

obtaining a placement-weight value by arithmetically combining selection values for the unlocated feature, wherein the placement-weight value specifies a priority of placement for the unlocated feature;

repeating the above method steps for at least one additional unlocated feature; and

from the above unlocated features, selecting the one unlocated feature having the smallest placement-weight value as the next feature to be located.

10. The computer program storage medium of claim 9, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing selection value for the case an additional same size placement feature beyond the present placement feature is forced to a next row of placement features, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting twice the width and subtracting a horizontal coordinate of an insertion point as measured from a placement origin from the width of the display medium divided by a preselected constant C3.

11. The computer program storage medium of claim 9, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the remaining unused portion of the row after location of the placement feature, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the width of the placement feature and the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the width of the display medium, multiplying the result of the subtraction by the height of the row, and dividing the result of the multiplication by a preselected constant C4.

12. The computer program storage medium of claim 9, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the case the place feature increases the height of the row, wherein this selection value comprises multiplying the new height of the row by the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point.

13. The computer program storage medium of claim 9, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is forced to a new item of display medium, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the vertical coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the height of the display medium and multiplying the result of the subtraction by the width of the display medium.

14. The computer program storage medium of claim 9, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium by preselecting a constant greater than zero when the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display at medium.

15. The computer program storage medium of claim 9, providing the feature comprises a photograph.

16. The computer program storage medium of claim 9, providing the display medium is selected from the group consisting of a computer display screen and a sheet of paper.

17. A computer program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a computer program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for selecting order of placing a feature on a display medium, the steps comprising:

computing selection value for placement feature size, wherein the selection value for placement size comprises multiplying the negative of the height by the width of the placement feature divided by a preselected constant C1;

computing selection value for placement feature orientation, wherein the selection value for placement feature orientation comprises subtracting the height of the placement feature from the width of the placement feature and multiplying the result of the subtraction by a preselected constant C2;

obtaining a placement-weight value by arithmetically combining selection values for the unlocated feature, wherein the placement-weight value specifies a priority of placement for the unlocated feature;

repeating the above method steps for at least one additional unlocated feature; and

from the above unlocated features, selecting the one unlocated feature having the largest placement-weight value as the next feature to be located.

18. The computer program storage medium of claim 17, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the case an additional same size placement feature beyond the present placement feature is forced to a next row of placement features, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting twice the width and subtracting a horizontal coordinate of an insertion point as measured from a placement origin from the width of the display medium divided by a preselected constant C3.

19. The computer program storage medium of claim 17, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the remaining unused portion of the row after location of the placement feature, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the width of the placement feature and the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the width of the display medium, multiplying the result of the subtraction by the height of the row, and dividing the result of the multiplication by a preselected constant C4.

20. The computer program storage medium of claim 17, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the case the place feature increases the height of the row, wherein this selection value comprises multiplying the new height of the row by the horizontal coordinate of the insertion point.

21. The computer program storage medium of claim 17, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is forced to a new item of display medium, wherein this selection value comprises subtracting the vertical coordinate of the insertion point as measured from the placement origin from the height of the display medium and multiplying the result of the subtraction by the width of the display medium.

22. The computer program storage medium of claim 17, the method steps further comprising:

before the method step obtaining placement-weight value, computing a selection value for the case the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium by preselecting a constant greater than zero when the placement feature is larger than at least one dimension of the display medium.

23. The computer program storage medium of claim 17, providing the feature comprises a photograph.

24. The computer program storage medium of claim 17, providing the display medium is selected from the group consisting of a computer display screen and a sheet of paper.