Reshaping interfaces using content-preserving warps

• US 8,887,073 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Kruglick, Ezekiel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Anil N
• Application Number:
  US13/059,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20120144324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Technologies are generally described herein for reshaping a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface may include one or more content elements. An interface design tool may enable users to define one or more borders with respect to the graphical user interface. The interface design tool may also perform a content-preserving warp on the graphical user interface. When the interface design tool performs the content-preserving warp, the interface design tool may preserve a shape and dimensions of any content elements defined by the borders.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for reshaping or resizing a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

receiving, through a computer having a processor and a memory, an input of three or more content elements within the graphical user interface, wherein receiving the input of the three or more content elements within the graphical user interface comprises;

providing, through the computer, three or more unselected content elements; and

receiving, through the computer, the input of the three or more content elements selected from the three or more unselected content elements;

receiving, through the computer, a border corresponding to a first content element in the three or more content elements, wherein the border is configured to preserve the shape and dimensions of the first content element after reshaping or resizing the graphical user interface;

receiving, through the computer, two or more keylines that define a first area of the graphical user interface containing the first content element, a second area of the graphical user interface containing a second content element, and a third area of the graphical user interface containing a third content element;

after receiving the border and the two or more keylines, reshaping or resizing the graphical user interface, by the computer, such that;

a shape and dimensions of the first content element corresponding to the border are preserved;

a position of the first content element adjusts within the first area based on the reshape of the first area of the graphical user interface,

a shape of the second content element adjusts within the second area based on the reshape of the second area of the graphical user interface, and

a shape of the third content element within the third area is preserved.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the border corresponding to the first content element in the three or more content elements comprises:

providing, through the computer, the three or more content elements in a design tool, wherein the design tool comprises an input function for use in defining the border; and

receiving, through the computer, the border via the input function in the design tool.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the input function is configured to effectuate the defining of the border by marking the first content element in the design tool.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein providing the three or more content elements in the design tool comprises displaying, through the computer, the three or more content elements in the design tool;

and

wherein receiving the border via the input function in the design tool comprises receiving, through the computer, the marking of a continuous line on an outer edge of the first content element defining the border.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the marking is visible when the graphical user interface is displayed via the design tool and non-visible when the graphical user interface is displayed apart from the design tool.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the input function is configured to receive a plurality of coordinates around the first content element, the plurality of coordinates being effective to define the border.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein receiving the border via the input function in the design tool comprises receiving, through the computer, the plurality of coordinates on an outer edge of the first content element and an indication that the plurality of coordinates form a complete geometry defining the border.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the two or more keylines comprises:

providing, through the computer, the three or more content elements in a design tool, wherein the design tool comprises an input function for defining the two or more keylines; and

receiving, through the computer, the two or more keylines via the input function in the design tool.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the input function is configured to effectuate the defining of the two or more keylines by marking two or more lines delineating at least one of the first area, the second area, and the third area.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein providing the three or more content elements in a design tool comprises displaying, through the computer, the three or more content elements in the design tool;

and

wherein receiving the two or more keylines via the input function in the design tool comprises receiving, through the computer, the marking of two or more lines delineating at least one of the first area, the second area, and the third area.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the three or more content elements comprise graphical elements and textual elements.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising reshaping or resizing the graphical user interface to conform the graphical user interface to a non-rectangular surface;

and

displaying the graphical user interface on the non-rectangular surface.

13. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to be in communication with the processor;

the processor effective to;

provide three or more unselected content elements;

receive three or more content elements selected from the three or more unselected content elements;

receive the three or more content elements within a graphical user interface, wherein the three or more content elements include a first content element, a second content element, and a third content element;

receive a border corresponding to the first content element, wherein the border is configured to preserve the shape and dimensions of the first content element after the graphical user interface is reshaped or resized;

receive two or more keylines, that define a first area of the graphical user interface containing the first content element, a second area of the graphical user interface containing the second content element, and a third area of the graphical user interface containing the third content element; and

after receipt of the border and the two or more keylines, reshape or resize the graphical user interface, such that;

a shape and dimensions of the first content element corresponding to the border are preserved,

a position of the first content element adjusts within the first area based on the reshape of the first area of the graphical user interface,

a shape of the second content element adjusts within the second area based on the reshape of the second area of graphical user interface, and

a shape of the third content element within the third area is preserved.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further effective to:

provide a first input function effective to define the border; and

receive the border via the first input function.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the first input function is configured to receive a marking of a continuous line on an outer edge of the first content element to define the border.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the continuous line is visible when the graphical user interface is displayed via the design tool and non-visible when the graphical user interface is displayed apart from the design tool.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the first input function is configured to receive a plurality of coordinates on an outer edge of the first content element and an indication that the plurality of coordinates form a complete geometry effective to define the border.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further effective to:

provide a second input function effective to define the two or more keylines in the three or more content elements; and

receive the two or more keylines via the second input function.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the second input function is configured to receive a marking of two or more lines delineating the first area, the second area, and the third area, the two or more lines effective to define the two or more keylines.

20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the three or more content elements comprise graphical elements and textual elements.

21. The computer system of claim 13, wherein reshaping or resizing includes reshaping or resizing the graphical user interface to conform the graphical user interface to a non-rectangular surface through an augmented reality device.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

provide three or more unselected content elements;

receive three or more content elements selected from the three or more unselected content elements;

receive the three or more content elements within a graphical user interface, wherein the three or more content elements comprising include a first content element, a second content element, and a third content element;

receive a border corresponding to the first content element, wherein the border is configured to preserve the shape and dimensions of the first content element after the graphical user interface is reshaped or resized;

receive two or more keylines that define a first area of the graphical user interface containing the first content element, a second area of the graphical user interface containing the second content element, and a third area of the graphical user interface containing the third content element; and

after the border and the two or more keylines are received, reshape or resize the graphical user interface to conform the graphical user interface to a non-rectangular surface, such that;

a shape and dimensions of the first content element corresponding to the border are preserved,

a position of the first content element adjusts within the first area based on the reshape of the first area of the graphical user interface,

a shape of the second content element adjusts within the second area based on the reshape of the second area of graphical user interface, and

a shape of the third content element within the third area is preserved; and

display the graphical user interface on the non-rectangular surface.