Techniques for generating electronic menu graphical user interface layouts for use in connection with electronic devices
First Claim
1. A method of formatting an electronic menu to be output to a display of an electronic device, the method comprising:
- defining a virtual grid-based layout including rows and columns that together define a plurality of regularly sized and shaped grid cells;
receiving input identifying a plurality of items to be included in the electronic menu, each said item having associated length and width dimensions corresponding to a number of grid cells, at least some of said items being flagged, based upon a respective flag in each said item, for inclusion in the electronic menu;
automatically and programmatically arranging said items flagged for inclusion in the electronic menu in the grid cells of the grid-based layout in a manner that minimizes the number of unused grid cells in the virtual grid-based layout;
storing, to a file on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a tag-based representation of the layout, following said arranging, the tag-based representation of the layout corresponding to the formatted electronic menu; and
making the file available to the electronic device in enabling the formatted electronic menu to be displayed on the display of the electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Certain exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for generating electronic menu (eMenu) graphical user interface layouts for use in connection with electronic devices (e.g., tablets, phablets, smart phones, etc.). A virtual grid-based layout including rows and columns that together constitute regularly sized and shaped grid cells is defined. Input identifying items to be included in the eMenu is received. Each item has associated length and width dimensions corresponding to a number of grid cells. At least some of the items are flagged for inclusion in the eMenu. Those items marked for inclusion are automatically and programmatically arranged in the eMenu in the grid cells of the grid-based layout in a manner that minimizes the number of unused grid cells. A tag-based representation of the layout corresponding to the formatted eMenu is stored. The file is made available to the electronic device in enabling the formatted eMenu to be displayed thereon.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of formatting an electronic menu to be output to a display of an electronic device, the method comprising:
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defining a virtual grid-based layout including rows and columns that together define a plurality of regularly sized and shaped grid cells; receiving input identifying a plurality of items to be included in the electronic menu, each said item having associated length and width dimensions corresponding to a number of grid cells, at least some of said items being flagged, based upon a respective flag in each said item, for inclusion in the electronic menu; automatically and programmatically arranging said items flagged for inclusion in the electronic menu in the grid cells of the grid-based layout in a manner that minimizes the number of unused grid cells in the virtual grid-based layout; storing, to a file on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a tag-based representation of the layout, following said arranging, the tag-based representation of the layout corresponding to the formatted electronic menu; and making the file available to the electronic device in enabling the formatted electronic menu to be displayed on the display of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27)
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22. A computing device, comprising:
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processing resources including at least one processor and a memory; a non-transitory computer readable storage medium; and an input channel configured to receive input identifying a plurality of items to be included in an electronic menu, each said item having associated length and width dimensions corresponding to a number of grid cells, at least some of said items being flagged, based upon a respective flag in each said item, for inclusion in the electronic menu; wherein the processing resources are controllable to format the electronic menu using received input by executing instructions for at least; defining a virtual grid-based layout including rows and columns that together define a plurality of regularly sized and shaped grid cells; automatically and programmatically arranging said items flagged for inclusion in the electronic menu in the grid cells of the grid-based layout in a manner that minimizes the number of unused grid cells in the virtual grid-based layout; storing, to a file on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a tag-based representation of the layout, following said arranging, the tag-based representation of the layout corresponding to the formatted electronic menu; and making the file available to electronic devices in order to in turn enable the electronic devices to display and enable user interaction with the formatted electronic menu. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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28. A method of formatting an electronic menu to be output to a display of an electronic device, the method comprising:
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defining a virtual grid-based layout including rows and columns that together define a plurality of regularly sized and shaped grid cells; receiving input from a predefined file corresponding to a physical menu, the received input identifying a plurality of items to be included in the electronic menu, each said item having associated length and width dimensions corresponding to a number of grid cells, at least some of said items being flagged, based upon a respective flag in each said item, for inclusion in the electronic menu; using at least one processor of a computing system, automatically and programmatically virtually arranging said items flagged for inclusion in the electronic menu in the grid cells of the grid-based layout in a manner that minimizes the number of unused grid cells in the virtual grid-based layout; storing, to a file on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the computing system, a representation of the layout, following said arranging, the representation of the layout corresponding to the formatted electronic menu; and publishing the file so that the file is made available over a network interface of the computing device to the electronic device in enabling the formatted electronic menu to be displayed on the display of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification