Populating a dynamic page template with digital content objects according to constraints specified in the dynamic page template

• US 8,042,039 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Dean A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Jr.; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelly; Scott M
• Application Number:
  US12/253,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 715/243, 715/246, 715/253
• US Class Current: 715/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A dynamic page template is populated with one or more digital content objects, comprising. For each digital content object, a locus is determined in relation to the dynamic page template. The locus specifies locations on the dynamic page template at which the digital content object can be placed. The digital content object is then placed on the dynamic page template at one of the locations specified by the locus. The digital content objects placed on the dynamic page template are algorithmically manipulated one or more times to change sizes and/or locations of one or more of the digital content objects. The dynamic page template is then output.

Claims

1. A method for populating a dynamic page template with one or more digital content objects, comprising:

for each digital content object;

determining a locus of the digital content object in relation to the dynamic page template, the locus specifying locations on the dynamic page template at which the digital content object can be placed; and

placing the digital content object on the dynamic page template at one of the locations specified by the locus in accordance with one or more constraints specified a priori by the dynamic page template, where the constraints do not limit a number of the digital content objects that can be placed on the digital page template;

repeating one or more times;

algorithmically manipulating, as specified a priori by the dynamic page template, the digital content objects placed on the dynamic page template to one or more of;

change sizes of one or more of the digital content objects; and

change locations of one or more of the digital content objects; and

,

outputting the dynamic page template on which the digital content objects have been placed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic page template does not a priori constrain sizes or shapes of the digital content objects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the locus of the digital content object comprises determining the locus of the digital content object so that the digital content object does not overlap any other digital content objects already placed on the dynamic page template.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the digital content object on the dynamic page template at one of the location specified by the locus comprises placing the digital content object on the dynamic page template in accordance with a predetermined direction and a predetermined orientation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein algorithmically manipulating the digital content objects placed on the dynamic page template comprises executing a predetermined script as to how the digital content objects placed on the dynamic page template are to be manipulated by size and/or by location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the method in relation to one or more additional digital content objects to be added to the dynamic page template.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

specifying one or more inclusion zones within the dynamic page template, each inclusion zone encompassing locations on the dynamic page template at which the digital content objects can be placed,

wherein determining the locus of the digital content object takes into account the inclusion zones.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

specifying one or more exclusion zones within the dynamic page template, each exclusion zone encompassing locations on the dynamic page template at which the digital content objects cannot be placed,

wherein determining the locus of the digital content object takes into account the exclusion zones.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising one or more of:

specifying one or more anchor points within the dynamic page template, the digital content objects successively placed on the dynamic page template at the anchor points until all the anchor points have been used;

specifying one or more magnetic points within the dynamic page template, the digital content objects successively placed on the dynamic page template such that the digital content objects are clustered around the magnetic points; and

,

specifying one or more grid lines within the dynamic page template, the digital content objects successively placed on the dynamic page template along the grid lines.

10. A computer-readable medium having one or more computer programs stored thereon to perform a method for generating a dynamic page template to which one or more digital content objects are to be added, comprising:

performing one or more of;

specifying one or more inclusion zones within the dynamic page template, each inclusion zone encompassing locations on the dynamic page template at which the digital content objects can be placed; and

specifying one or more exclusion zones within the dynamic page template, each exclusion zone encompassing locations on the dynamic page template at which the digital content objects cannot be placed;

specifying how the digital content objects are to be placed on the dynamic page template, without constraining a number of the digital content objects to be placed on the dynamic page template;

specifying a predetermined script as to how the digital content objects are to be manipulated by size and/or by location after the digital content objects have been placed on the dynamic page template; and

,

outputting the dynamic page template for utilization by a user to populate the dynamic page template with the digital content objects.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein specifying how the digital content objects are to be placed on the dynamic page template comprises specifying a predetermined direction and a predetermined orientation in accordance with which the digital content objects are to be placed on the dynamic page template.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein specifying how the digital content objects are to be placed on the dynamic page template comprises specifying one or more anchor points within the dynamic page template such that the digital content objects are to be successively placed on the dynamic page template at the anchor points until all the anchor points have been used.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein specifying how the digital content objects are to be placed on the dynamic page template comprises specifying one or more magnetic points within the dynamic page template such that the digital content objects are to be successively placed on the dynamic page template such that the digital content objects are clustered around the magnetic points.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein specifying how the digital content objects are to be placed on the dynamic page template comprises specifying one or more grid lines within the dynamic page template such that the digital content objects are to be successively placed on the dynamic page template along the grid lines.

15. A computer-readable medium having one or more computer programs stored thereon to perform a method for adding one or more digital content objects to a dynamic page template that has been previously generated, comprising,

for each digital content object:

determining a locus of the digital content object in relation to the dynamic page template, the locus specifying locations on the page template at which the digital content object can be placed; and

placing the digital content object on the dynamic page template at one of the locations specified by the locus in accordance with one or more constraints specified a priori by the dynamic page template, where the constraints do not limit a number of the digital content objects that can be placed on the digital page template;

performing a predetermined script specified a priori by the dynamic page template to manipulate how the digital content objects have been placed on the dynamic page template, by size and/or by location; and

,

outputting the dynamic page template to which the digital content objects have been placed;

wherein the constraints comprise one or more of;

a predetermined direction and a predetermined orientation, in accordance with which the digital content object is to be placed on the dynamic page template;

one or more inclusion zones, each inclusion zone specifying locations on the dynamic page template at which the digital content objects can be placed;

one or more exclusion zones, each exclusion zone specifying locations on the dynamic page template at which the digital content objects cannot be placed;

one or more anchor points, such that the digital content objects are successively placed on the dynamic page template at the anchor points until all the anchor points have been used;

one or more magnetic points, such that the digital content objects are successively placed on the dynamic page template such that the digital content objects are clustered around the magnetic points; and

,

one or more grid lines, such that the digital content objects are successively placed on the dynamic page template along the grid lines.