Static definition of unknown visual layout positions

• US 8,694,900 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bishop, Jesse, Boeke, Ruurd Johan, Adams, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US12/966,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20120151389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 715/763, 715/764
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The subject disclosure relates to applying layout changes and/or animations in a computing system by statically defining unknown visual layout positions of elements within a user interface. Changes that are to be applied to the elements in a user interface are intercepted by mechanism as described herein that applies the changes as a function of a static reusable component. The static reusable component can be applied across various platforms. Animation is performed on a first element as described herein based at least in part on layout input properties of the first element or layout input properties of a second element that is associated with the first element. As additionally described herein, a dynamic graphical layout position can be described based on a definition of an initial layout position and calculation of a resultant layout position, wherein the positions are defined relative to an element or set of elements.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising an interface visualization system, comprising:

a behavior manager component that when executing receives at least one change request for a first element in an interface layout; and

an animation processing component that when executing implements the at least one change request to the first element as a function of a static reusable component, wherein the static reusable component is defined relative to a source element; and

a delta offset component that when executing creates movement information that describes movement of the first element, wherein the movement information is retained as the static reusable component.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the movement information comprises a markup that describes the movement of the first element.

3. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a resource analyzer component that when executing describes a current state of the interface layout in anticipation of implementation of the at least one change request; and

a delta offset that when executing computes a target layout position for the first element, wherein the target layout position is determined according to a state of a layout and the at least one change request and wherein the first element moves relative to a layout animation motion path.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the target layout position is an offset described in terms of a percentage, a fixed value, a number of pixels, or combinations thereof.

5. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising a delta offset component configured to compute a target layout position utilizing at least one of a percentage offset, a fixed offset, a target source element or element layout change delta, a property of the source element or the layout change delta from which to query an immediate value at runtime, or combinations thereof.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the animation processing component is configured to move the first element relative to the source element based on an origin of the source element and an offset defined in terms of the source element.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first element and the source element are in a hierarchical configuration, and wherein the source element is a parent element and the first element is a child element.

8. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising a visualization component configured to apply an animation as the first element is moved along a layout animation motion path, wherein the animation is defined in terms of a transition length, at least one layer property, or combinations thereof.

9. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

an association component configured to associate the at least one change request with the source element that comprises a source property; and

a position component configured to determine a resultant layout position for the first element as a function of the source element and the source property.

10. A method for describing a dynamic graphical layout position, comprising:

calculating a start position and an end position of a first element in a graphical user interface;

defining a target position for the first element as a function of a parameter associated with the start position or the end position;

creating a markup that describes movement of the first element; and

retaining the markup as a static reusable component.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of a percentage offset, a fixed offset, a first layout change delta relative to a second element, a property of the second element, a second layout change delta from which to query an immediate value at runtime, or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the defining comprises defining the target position in a markup syntax.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the defining comprises estimating a layout change delta relative to a second element.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the first element along a layout animation motion path to the target position, wherein the layout animation motion path is specified relative to a second element.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first element and the second element are in a hierarchical order and the second element is a higher order than the first element.

16. A method for creating a static definition of unknown visual layout positions, comprising:

receiving an indication that a first element is to move within a user interface, wherein the first element comprises an unknown visual layout position; and

implementing movement of the first element, based at least in part on a layout input property relative to a second element, by applying the layout input property to a static animation path description that describes animation features of the first element relative to a generic element and relative to a location-independent path between the first element and the second element, the layout input property comprising a property of a layout container containing and maintaining a layout of the first element and the second element.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

identifying the second element;

obtaining the layout input property associated with the second element; and

calculating a target location for the first element as a function of the layout input property.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the implementing comprises animating the first element based on a definition of a static reusable component, wherein the animating is defined in terms of at least one of a transition length or at least one layer property.