Variable dimension version editing for graphical designs

• US 8,671,352 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axure Software Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Axure Software Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsu, Victor, Smith, Martin, Gardner, Ian, Fraser, Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): Nunez, Jordany
• Application Number:
  US14/025,745
• Time in Patent Office: 180 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762, 715/760, 715/238
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods for allowing users to specify interactive graphical designs are provided. The graphical designs can comprise multiple dimension versions—such as a tablet dimension version or a phone dimension version. Some of the methods involve an inheritance structure that defines a first dimension version of the design as a child of a second dimension version of the design. Specifications for properties of widgets in the graphical design are applied to the design in accordance with the inheritance specification. Some of the methods involve an inheritance characterization that determines how properties of a widget are affected by the inheritance structure across different dimension versions. Some of the methods involve an existence property for the widgets.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for allowing a user to specify a responsive web page design comprising:

displaying a rendering of a first dimension version of said web page for a user, said rendering including an interactive widget;

receiving an inheritance structure specification from said user through an inheritance specification user interface, said inheritance structure specification defining an inheritance structure in which said second dimension version of said web page is defined as a child of said first dimension version;

receiving a widget property specification for a first property of said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said first dimension version;

the inheritance specification user interface for said user displaying a graphical representation of said inheritance structure; and

storing said widget property specification for said first dimension version and said second dimension version while said user is editing said first dimension version;

wherein said interactive widget property specification would not have been stored for said first dimension version if said widget property specification had been received while said user was editing said second dimension version;

said inheritance specification user interface enables said user to select and edit said first or second dimension version;

receiving said inheritance structure specification from said user modifies a first inheritance structure;

said first inheritance structure defines said first dimension version as a child of said second dimension version; and

said first dimension version is smaller than said second dimension version.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein storing said widget property specification comprises:

copying said widget property specification to a location in memory reserved for said first property in said second dimension version.

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

receiving an inheritance characterization specification from said user that characterizes said first property as an inherited property and a second property of said interactive widget as a non-inherited property.

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

receiving an add command for said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said second dimension version;

storing a placed value for an existence property of said interactive widget in said second dimension version in response to said add command; and

storing an unplaced value for said existence property of said interactive widget in said first dimension version in response to said add command.

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

receiving a delete command for said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said second dimension version; and

storing an unplaced value for an existence property of said interactive widget in said second dimension version in response to receiving said delete command;

wherein said delete command does not affect said existence property of said interactive widget in said first dimension version.

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

receiving a second widget property specification for said first property of said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said second dimension version; and

receiving a third widget property specification for said first property of said interactive widget from said user after receiving said second widget property specification and while said user is editing said first dimension version;

wherein said third widget property specification is not stored for said second dimension version.

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

generating an inheritance specification display window to be displayed as part of said inheritance specification user interface; and

generating an inheritance specification input interface to be displayed as part of said inheritance specification user interface;

wherein said inheritance specification display window reflects a current state of said inheritance structure.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein said inheritance specification user interface:

allows a user to choose a particular dimension version; and

select a parent dimension version for said particular dimension version from a list of defined dimension versions.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein:

said inheritance specification input interface allows a user to create a new dimension version and specify dimensions for said new dimension version.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a computer program for:

displaying a rendering of a first dimension version of said web page for a user, said rendering including an interactive widget;

receiving an inheritance structure specification from said user through an inheritance specification user interface, said inheritance structure specification defining an inheritance structure in which said second dimension version of said web page is defined as a child of said first dimension version;

receiving a widget property specification for a first property of said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said first dimension version;

the inheritance specification user interface for said user displaying a graphical representation of said inheritance structure; and

storing said widget property specification for said first dimension version and said second dimension version while said user is editing said first dimension version;

wherein said interactive widget property specification would not have been stored for said first dimension version if said widget property specification had been received while said user was editing second dimension version;

said inheritance specification user interface enables said user to select and edit said first or second dimension version;

receiving said inheritance structure specification from said user modifies a first inheritance structure;

said first inheritance structure defines said first dimension version as a child of said second dimension version; and

said first dimension version is smaller than said second dimension version.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein storing said widget property specification comprises:

copying said widget property specification to a location in memory reserved for said first property in said second dimension version.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, said computer program furthermore:

receiving an inheritance characterization specification from said user that characterizes said first property as an inherited property and a second property of said interactive widget as a non-inherited property.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, said computer program furthermore:

receiving an add command for said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said second dimension version;

storing a placed value for an existence property of said interactive widget in said second dimension version in response to said add command; and

storing an unplaced value for said existence property of said interactive widget in said first dimension version in response to said add command.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, said computer program furthermore:

receiving a delete command for said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said second dimension version; and

storing an unplaced value for an existence property of said interactive widget in said second dimension version in response to receiving said delete command;

wherein said delete command does not affect said existence property of said interactive widget in said first dimension version.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, said computer program furthermore:

receiving a second widget property specification for said first property of said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said second dimension version; and

receiving a third widget property specification for said first property of said interactive widget from said user after receiving said second widget property specification and while said user is editing said first dimension version;

wherein said third widget property specification is not stored for said second dimension version.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, said computer program furthermore:

generating an inheritance specification display window to be displayed as part of said inheritance specification user interface; and

generating an inheritance specification input interface to be displayed as part of said inheritance specification user interface;

wherein said inheritance specification display window reflects a current state of said inheritance structure.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein said inheritance specification interface:

allows a user to choose a particular dimension version; and

select a parent dimension version for said particular dimension version from a list of defined dimension versions.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein:

said inheritance specification input interface allows a user to create a new dimension version and specify dimensions for said new dimension version.

19. A computer system comprising a processor, a memory, a routing system, and user interface system;

said computer system programmed to enable a method comprising;

displaying, via said routing system, a rendering of a first dimension version of said web page for a user, said rendering including an interactive widget;

receiving, via said user interface system, an inheritance structure specification from said user through an inheritance specification user interface, said inheritance structure specification defining an inheritance structure in which said second dimension version of said web page is defined as a child of said first dimension version;

receiving, via said user interface system, a widget property specification for a first property of said interactive widget from said user while said user is editing said first dimension version;

the inheritance specification user interface for said user displaying a graphical representation of said inheritance structure; and

storing, in said memory, said widget property specification for said first dimension version and said second dimension version while said user is editing said first dimension version;

wherein said interactive widget property specification would not have been stored for said first dimension version if said widget property specification had been received while said user was editing said second dimension version;

said inheritance specification user interface enables said user to select and edit said first or second dimension version;

receiving said inheritance structure specification from said user modifies a first inheritance structure;

said first inheritance structure defines said first dimension version as a child of said second dimension version; and

said first dimension version is smaller than said second dimension version.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein storing said widget property specification comprises:

copying said widget property specification to a location in memory reserved for said first property in said second dimension version.

21. The computer system of claim 19, said method further comprising:

receiving, via said routing system, an inheritance characterization specification from said user that characterizes said first property as an inherited property and a second property of said interactive widget as a non-inherited property.