Methods and apparatus for graphical object implementation

• US 7,614,012 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Dulaney, Marissa H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax; Steven P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson; Grant D
• Application Number:
  US11/315,027
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/723, 715/726, 715/835, 715/838, 715/764
• US Class Current: 715/838
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

A system displays a graphical element in a graphical user interface, and receives a command to display the at least one graphical sub-element associated with the graphical element. The system replaces the display of the graphical element with a display of at least one graphical sub-element associated with the graphical element, and implements the graphical sub-element such that execution of the graphical element invokes execution of the graphical sub-element associated with the graphical element.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method in which at least one computer system accesses instructions from computer storage and executes the instructions to perform steps comprising:

displaying a plurality of graphical elements in a storyboard, the plurality of graphical elements comprises a plurality of image thumbnails;

displaying a sub-element identifier with an indication of a pan-and-zoom effect to execute upon execution of a first image thumbnail, wherein displaying the indication includes displaying;

(i) a first indication of the pan-and-zoom effect as a first area demarcated within the first image thumbnail and (ii) a second indication of the pan-and-zoom effect as a second area demarcated within the first image thumbnail;

receiving a command to display at least one graphical sub-element associated with the first image thumbnail, wherein receiving the command includes;

receiving a notification that a user has selected the sub-element identifier;

upon receipt of the command, replacing a display of the first image thumbnail in the storyboard by expanding the first image thumbnail to display (i) a first graphical sub-element containing the first area demarcated by the first indication of the pan-and-zoom effect and (ii) a second graphical sub-element containing the second area demarcated by the second indication of the pan-and-zoom effect, the first and the second graphical sub-element each comprise a copy of the first image thumbnail;

implementing the pan-and-zoom effect such that execution of the first image thumbnail invokes execution of the pan-and-zoom effect; and

concurrently displaying the plurality of image thumbnails in the storyboard as the pan-and-zoom effect is displayed after expanding the first image thumbnail, wherein displaying the sub-element identifier comprises;

displaying the indication of the pan-and-zoom effect whereby the first area is expanded followed by a movement to the second area where the second area is expanded upon execution of the first image thumbnail.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving a command to display the first image thumbnail; and

replacing the display of the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element associated with the first image thumbnail with the display of the first image thumbnail.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein displaying the sub-element identifier comprises:

displaying the sub-element identifier with an indication of a video to execute upon execution of the first image thumbnail.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein displaying the sub-element identifier comprises:

displaying the sub-element identifier with an indication of a timeline associated with the first image thumbnail, the timeline including;

i) an order in which the pan-and-zoom effect is to be invoked upon execution of the first image thumbnail; and

ii) a time duration during which the pan-and-zoom effect will execute.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a second image thumbnail after the first image thumbnail; and

displaying a transitional effect displayed between the first image thumbnail and the second image thumbnail.

6. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, further comprising:

wherein replacing the display of the first image thumbnail includes;

after expanding the first image thumbnail, displaying the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element effect at a particular position of the first image thumbnail in the storyboard.

7. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, wherein displaying the sub-element identifier includes:

displaying the sub-element identifier within the storyboard at a display position located next to an edge of the first image thumbnail, the sub-element identifier representing a functionality to expand the first image thumbnail.

8. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, wherein expanding the first image thumbnail within the storyboard includes:

concurrently displaying the first image thumbnail and the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element upon receiving selection of the sub-element identifier associated with the first image thumbnail, the sub-element identifier representing a functionality to expand the first image thumbnail.

9. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, comprising:

upon expanding the first image thumbnail, replacing display of the sub-element identifier with display of an element identifier, the element identifier representing functionality for collapsing the expanded first image thumbnail.

10. The computer implemented method as in claim 9, wherein replacing display of the sub-element identifier with display of the element identifier includes:

terminating display of the sub-element identifier; and

displaying the element identifier within a region of the storyboard currently displaying the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element.

11. The computer implemented method as in claim 9, comprising:

terminating display of the sub-element identifier;

displaying the element identifier contained within display of the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element; and

upon receiving selection of the element identifier, collapsing the expanded first image thumbnail to terminate display of (i) the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element and (ii) the element identifier within the storyboard.

12. The computer-implemented method as in claim 1, comprising:

upon selection of the sub-element identifier;

replacing display of the first image thumbnail with display of an expanded version of the first area and an expanded version of the second area; and

replacing display of the sub-element identifier with an element identifier, the element identifier representing functionality for terminating display of (i) the expanded version of the first area and (ii) the expanded version of the second area.

13. A computerized device comprising:

a memory;

a processor;

a communications interface;

an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface;

wherein the memory is encoded with a graphical element displaying application that performs the operations comprising;

displaying a plurality of graphical elements in a storyboard, the plurality of graphical elements comprises a plurality of image thumbnails;

displaying a sub-element identifier with an indication of a pan-and-zoom effect to execute upon execution of a first image thumbnail, wherein displaying the indication includes displaying;

(i) a first indication of the pan-and-zoom effect as a first area demarcated within the first image thumbnail and (ii) a second indication of the pan-and-zoom effect as a second area demarcated within the first image thumbnail;

receiving a command to display at least one graphical sub-element associated with the first image thumbnail, wherein receiving the command includes;

receiving a notification that a user has selected the sub-element identifier;

upon receipt of the command, replacing a display of the first image thumbnail in the storyboard by expanding the first image thumbnail to display (i) a first graphical sub-element containing the first area demarcated by the first indication of the pan-and-zoom effect and (ii) a second graphical sub-element containing the second area demarcated by the second indication of the pan-and-zoom effect, the first and the second graphical sub-element each comprise a copy of the first image thumbnail;

implementing the pan-and-zoom effect such that execution of the first image thumbnail invokes execution of the pan-and-zoom effect; and

concurrently displaying the plurality of image thumbnails in the storyboard as the pan-and-zoom effect is displayed after expanding the first image thumbnail, wherein displaying the sub-element identifier comprises;

displaying the indication of the pan- and -zoom effect whereby the first area is expanded followed by a movement to the second area where the second area is expanded upon execution of the first image thumbnail.

14. The computerized device of claim 13 wherein the computerized device performs the operations of:

receiving a command to display the first image thumbnail; and

replacing the display of the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element associated with the first image thumbnail with the display of the first image thumbnail.

15. The computerized device of claim 13 wherein wherein displaying the sub-element identifier comprises:

displaying the sub-element identifier with an indication of a video to execute upon execution of the first image thumbnail.

16. The computerized device of claim 13 wherein wherein displaying the sub-element identifier comprises:

displaying the sub-element identifier with an indication of a timeline associated with the first image thumbnail, the timeline including;

i) an order in which the pan-and-zoom effect is to be invoked upon execution of the first image thumbnail; and

ii) a time duration during which the pan-and-zoom effect will execute.

17. The computerized device of claim 13 wherein the computerized device further performs operations comprising:

displaying a second image thumbnail after the first image thumbnail; and

displaying a transitional effect between the first image thumbnail and the second image thumbnail.

18. The computerized device of claim 13, comprising:

upon selection of the sub-element identifier;

replacing display of the first image thumbnail with display of an expanded version of the first area and an expanded version of the second area; and

replacing display of the sub-element identifier with an element identifier, the element identifier representing functionality for terminating display of (i) the expanded version of the first area and (ii) the expanded version of the second area.

19. The computerized device as in claim 13 comprising:

upon expanding the first image thumbnail, replacing display of the sub-element identifier with display of an element identifier, the element identifier representing functionality for collapsing the expanded first image thumbnail.

20. The computerized device as in claim 19 wherein replacing display of the sub-element identifier with display of the element identifier includes:

terminating display of the sub-element identifier; and

displaying the element identifier within a region of the storyboard currently displaying the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element.

21. The computerized device as in claim 19 comprising:

terminating display of the sub-element identifier;

displaying the element identifier contained within display of the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element; and

upon receiving selection of the element identifier, collapsing the expanded first image thumbnail to terminate display of (i) the first graphical sub-element and the second graphical sub-element and (ii) the element identifier within the storyboard.

22. A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer programming logic that when executed in a computerized device performs operations comprising:

displaying a plurality of graphical elements in a storyboard, the plurality of graphical elements comprises a plurality of image thumbnails;

displaying a sub-element identifier with an indication of a pan-and-zoom effect to execute upon execution of a first image thumbnail, wherein displaying the indication includes displaying;

(i) a first indication of the pan-and-zoom effect as a first area demarcated within the first image thumbnail and (ii) a second indication of the pan-and-zoom effect as a second area demarcated within the first image thumbnail;

receiving a command to display at least one graphical sub-element associated with the first image thumbnail, wherein receiving the command includes;

receiving a notification that a user has selected the sub-element identifier;

upon receipt of the command, replacing a display of the first image thumbnail in the storyboard by expanding the first image thumbnail to display (i) a first graphical sub-element containing the first area demarcated by the first indication of the pan-and-zoom effect and (ii) a second graphical sub-element containing the second area demarcated by the second indication of the pan-and-zoom effect, the first and the second graphical sub-element each comprise a copy of the first image thumbnail;

implementing the pan-and-zoom effect such that execution of the first image thumbnail invokes execution of the pan-and-zoom effect; and

concurrently displaying the plurality of image thumbnails in the storyboard as the pan-and-zoom effect is displayed after expanding the first image thumbnail, wherein displaying the sub-element identifier comprises;

displaying the indication of the pan- and -zoom effect whereby the first area is expanded followed by a movement to the second area where the second area is expanded upon execution of the first image thumbnail.