Switching between appearance/behavior themes in graphical user interfaces

• US 6,731,310 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Cobb, Jeffrey R., Ulrich, Robert R., Craycroft, Timothy, Johnston, Robert G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/107,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 345/700, 345/726, 345/744, 345/746, 345/747, 345/762, 345/764, 345/765, 345/781, 345/810, 345/835, 345/866
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.

Claims

1. A method for switching between themes in a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are associated with a first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the first set;

changing pointers from a first set of drawing procedures for creating the first set of interface objects to a second set of drawing procedures for creating a second set of interface objects; and

displaying, after the changing step, the second set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are associated with a second common theme that is different than the first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the second set.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of:

supplying the second set of drawing procedures with data structures associated with the second set of interface objects.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of:

inheriting, by the second set of drawing procedures, drawing procedures from the first set of drawing procedures that are not superseded by the second common theme.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of inheriting comprises the step of:

providing a switcher object that delegates drawing assignments to at least one of the first set of drawing procedures and the second set of drawing procedures, as determined by the second common theme.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the appearance attributes include at least one of a size, a shape, a color, and a location.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of:

providing, as the interface object part of the interface objects of the first and second sets, at least one of a zoom box, a close box, a slider, a check box, a bevel, a separator, a grouping box, a disclosure triangle, and a scrollbar.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

storing audio-visual data in state tables for states of at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets;

storing audio-visual data in the state tables for transitions between the states of the at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets; and

retrieving and implementing the stored audio-visual data when at least one of an associated state and transition occurs.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the audio-visual data includes at least one of an animation sequence, a sound, an algorithmic display, and a color pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of:

generating a transitional effect prior to displaying the interface objects of the second set using an appearance associated with the second common theme.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a behavior and a resultant function of corresponding interface object parts of one of the interface objects of the first and second sets are the same.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

exhibiting a first behavior and producing a resultant function when an interface object part of one of the interface objects of the first set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the first set using the individual appearances associated with the first common theme; and

exhibiting a second behavior and producing the resultant function when a corresponding interface object part of one of the interface objects of the second set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the second set using the individual appearances associated with the second common theme.

12. A method for switching between themes in a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are associated with a first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the first set;

changing a first set of data structures for a first set of drawing procedures for creating the first set of interface objects to a second set of data structures for a second set of drawing procedures for creating a second set of interface objects; and

displaying, after the changing step, the second set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are associated with a second common theme that is different than the first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the second set.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising the step of:

inheriting, by the second set of data structures, data structures from the first set of data structures that are not superseded by the second common theme.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inheriting comprises the step of:

providing a switcher object that delegates drawing assignments using at least one of the first set of data structures and the second set of data structures, as determined by the second common theme.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the appearance attributes include at least one of a size, a shape, a color, and a location.

16. The method of claim 12, comprising the step of:

providing, as the interface object part of the interface objects of the first and second sets, at least one of a zoom box, a close box, a slider, a check box, a bevel, a separator, a grouping box, a disclosure triangle, and a scrollbar.

17. The method of claim 12, comprising the steps of:

storing audio-visual data in state tables for states of at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets;

storing audio-visual data in the state tables for transitions between the states of the at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets; and

retrieving and implementing the stored audio-visual data when at least one of an associated state and transition occurs.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the audio-visual data includes at least one of an animation sequence, a sound, an algorithmic display, and a color pattern.

19. The method of claim 12, comprising the step of:

generating a transitional effect prior to displaying the interface objects of the second set using an appearance associated with the second common theme.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein a behavior and a resultant function of corresponding interface object parts of one of the interface objects of the first and second sets are the same.

21. The method of claim 12, comprising the steps of:

exhibiting a first behavior and producing a resultant function when an interface object part of one of the interface objects of the first set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the first set using the individual appearances associated with the first common theme; and

exhibiting a second behavior and producing the resultant function when a corresponding interface object part of one of the interface objects of the second set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the second set using the individual appearances associated with the second common theme.

22. A graphical user interface, comprising:

a first set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are associated with a first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the first set;

a second set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are associated with a second common theme that is different than the first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the second set; and

means for changing pointers from a first set of drawing procedures for creating the first set of interface objects to a second set of drawing procedures for creating a second set of interface objects.

23. The graphical user interface of claim 22, wherein the second set of drawing procedures is supplied with data structures associated with the second set of interface objects.

24. The graphical user interface of claim 22, wherein the second set of drawing procedures inherits drawing procedures from the first set of drawing procedures that are not superseded by the second common theme.

25. The graphical user interface of claim 22, comprising

a switcher object for delegating drawing assignments to at least one of the first set of drawing procedures and the second set of drawing procedures, as determined by the second common theme.

26. The graphical user interface of claim 22, wherein the appearance attributes include at least one of a size, a shape, a color, and a location.

27. The graphical user interface of claim 22, wherein the interface object part of the interface objects of the first and second sets comprise at least one of a zoom box, a close box, a slider, a check box, a bevel, a separator, a grouping box, a disclosure triangle, and a scrollbar.

28. The graphical user interface of claim 22, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to store audio-visual data in state tables for states of at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets, to store audio-visual data in the state tables for transitions between the states of the at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets, and to retrieve and implement the stored audio-visual data when at least one of an associated state and transition occurs.

29. The graphical user interface of claim 28, wherein the audio-visual data includes at least one of an animation sequence, a sound, an algorithmic display, and a color pattern.

30. The graphical user interface of claim 22, comprising:

an effect generator for generating a transitional effect prior to displaying the interface objects of the second set using an appearance associated with the second common theme.

31. The graphical user interface of claim 22, wherein a behavior and a resultant function of corresponding interface object parts of one of the interface objects of the first and second sets are the same.

32. The graphical user interface of claim 22, wherein a first behavior is exhibited to produce a resultant function when an interface object part of one of the interface objects of the first set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the first set using the individual appearances associated with the first common theme, and wherein a second behavior is exhibited to produce the resultant function when a corresponding interface object part of one of the interface objects of the second set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the second set using the individual appearances associated with the second common theme.

33. A graphical user interface, comprising:

a first set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are associated with a first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the first set;

a second set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are associated with a second common theme that is different than the first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the second set; and

means for changing a first set of data structures for a first set of drawing procedures for creating the first set of interface objects to a second set of data structures for a second set of drawing procedures for creating a second set of interface objects.

34. The graphical user interface of claim 33, wherein the second set of data structures inherits data structures from the first set of data structures that are not superseded by the second common theme.

35. The graphical user interface of claim 33, comprising:

a switcher object for delegating drawing assignments using at least one of the first set of data structures and the second set of data structures, as determined by the second common theme.

36. The graphical user interface of claim 33, wherein the appearance attributes include at least one of a size, a shape, a color, and a location.

37. The graphical user interface of claim 33, wherein the interface object part of the interface objects of the first and second sets comprises at least one of a zoom box, a close box, a slider, a check box, a bevel, a separator, a grouping box, a disclosure triangle, and a scrollbar.

38. The graphical user interface of claim 33, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to store audio-visual data in state tables for states of at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets, to store audio-visual data in the state tables for transitions between the states of the at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets, and to retrieve and implement the stored audio-visual data when at least one of an associated state and transition occurs.

39. The graphical user interface of claim 38, wherein the audio-visual data includes at least one of an animation sequence, a sound, an algorithmic display, and a color pattern.

40. The graphical user interface of claim 33, comprising:

an effect generator for generating a transitional effect prior to displaying the interface objects of the second set using an appearance associated with the second common theme.

41. The graphical user interface of claim 33, wherein a behavior and a resultant function of corresponding interface object parts of one of the interface objects of the first and second sets are the same.

42. The graphical user interface of claim 33, wherein a first behavior is exhibited to produce a resultant function when an interface object part of one of the interface objects of the first set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the first set using the individual appearances associated with the first common theme, and wherein a second behavior is exhibited to produce the resultant function when a corresponding interface object part of one of the interface objects of the second set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the second set using the individual appearances associated with the second common theme.

43. A computer readable medium, comprising:

a first portion having stored therein a first set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are associated with a first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the first set;

a second portion having stored therein a second set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are associated with a second common theme that is different than the first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the second set; and

a third portion having stored therein an object for changing pointers from a first set of drawing procedures for creating the first set of interface objects to a second set of drawing procedures for creating a second set of interface objects.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein the second set of drawing procedures is supplied with data structures associated with the second set of interface objects.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein the second set of drawing procedures inherits drawing procedures from the first set of drawing procedures that are not superseded by the second common theme.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 43, comprising:

a fourth portion having stored therein a switcher object for delegating drawing assignments to at least one of the first set of drawing procedures and the second set of drawing procedures, as determined by the second common theme.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein the appearance attributes include at least one of a size, a shape, a color, and a location.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein the interface object part of the interface objects of the first and second sets comprise at least one of a zoom box, a close box, a slider, a check box, a bevel, a separator, a grouping box, a disclosure triangle, and a scrollbar.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 43, comprising:

a fifth portion having stored therein audio-visual data in state tables for states of at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets; and

a sixth portion having stored therein audio-visual data in the state tables for transitions between the states of the at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets, wherein the stored audio-visual data is retrieved and implemented when at least one of an associated state and transition occurs.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the audio-visual data includes at least one of an animation sequence, a sound, an algorithmic display, and a color pattern.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 43, comprising:

a seventh portion having stored therein an effect generator object that generates a transitional effect prior to displaying the interface objects of the second set using an appearance associated with the second common theme.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein a behavior and a resultant function of corresponding interface object parts of one of the interface objects of the first and second sets are the same.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein a first behavior is exhibited to produce a resultant function when an interface object part of one of the interface objects of the first set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the first set using the individual appearances associated with the first common theme, and wherein a second behavior is exhibited to produce the resultant function when a corresponding interface object part of one of the interface objects of the second set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the second set using the individual appearances associated with the second common theme.

54. A computer readable medium, comprising:

a first portion having stored therein a first set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are associated with a first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the first set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the first set;

a second portion having stored therein a second set of interface objects, wherein individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are associated with a second common theme that is different than the first common theme, and wherein the individual appearances of the interface objects of the second set are defined by appearance attributes of interface object parts that comprise the interface objects of the second set; and

a third portion having stored therein an object for changing a first set of data structures for a first set of drawing procedures for creating the first set of interface objects to a second set of data structures for a second set of drawing procedures for creating a second set of interface objects.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the second set of data structures inherits data structures from the first set of data structures that are not superseded by the second common theme.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 54, comprising:

a fourth portion having stored therein a switcher object that delegates drawing assignments using at least one of the first set of data structures and the second set of data structures, as determined by the second common theme.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the appearance attributes include at least one of a size, a shape, a color, and a location.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the interface object part of the interface objects of the first and second sets comprises at least one of a zoom box, a close box, a slider, a check box, a bevel, a separator, a grouping box, a disclosure triangle, and a scrollbar.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 54, comprising:

a fifth portion having stored therein audio-visual data in state tables for states of at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets; and

a sixth portion having stored therein audio-visual data in the state tables for transitions between the states of the at least one of the interface objects of the first and second sets, wherein the stored audio-visual data is retrieved and implemented when at least one of an associated state and transition occurs.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 59, wherein the audio-visual data includes at least one of an animation sequence, a sound, an algorithmic display, and a color pattern.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 54, comprising:

a seventh portion having stored therein an effect generator object that generates a transitional effect prior to displaying the interface objects of the second set using an appearance associated with the second common theme.

62. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein a behavior and a resultant function of corresponding interface object parts of one of the interface objects of the first and second sets are the same.

63. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein a first behavior is exhibited to produce a resultant function when an interface object part of one of the interface objects of the first set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the first set using the individual appearances associated with the first common theme, and wherein a second behavior is exhibited to produce the resultant function when a corresponding interface object part of one of the interface objects of the second set is actuated while displaying the one of the interface objects of the second set using the individual appearances associated with the second common theme.