Layout generator system and method

• US 20020116418A1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Kunte, Kaustubh, Bimson, Andrea, Gopakumar, Meena, Dash, Laxmikant, Lachhwani, Alka, Sarkar, Biswajit A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/517
• 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 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for creating and editing electronic layouts, such as layouts used to create web pages, via digital networks. An exemplary system for creating an electronic layout suitably includes a server, a network, a database and one or more user interfaces. The server may suitably provide a layout editor configured to place one or more containers, areas and/or spacers onto a layout panel in response to inputs from a user and a layout manager configured to validate properties of the layout and to generate the layout. An exemplary method for creating a document layout suitably includes displaying a layout panel; placing at least one container on the layout panel to create the layout, the container comprising a software object representing a visual element; and storing the layout in a database for future use and/or editing.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating the creation of a document layout, the system comprising:

a layout editor configured to place at least one container onto a document template in response to inputs from a user;

a layout manager configured to validate properties of said document layout and to generate said document layout; and

a data storage system configured to store said document layout.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one container comprises a software object configured to contain at least one visual element.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one visual element comprises a second container.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one visual element comprises an area.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one visual element comprises a spacer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said spacer is a section of the document layout that defines the properties of a region between a second container and an area, both placed within said at least one containers.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said layout editor is further configured to place a second container within said at least one container.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said layout editor is further configured to place at least one area within said at least one container.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said layout editor is further configured to place a second area within said at least one area.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one area is a section of the document layout that contains at least one content element.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least one content element comprises text.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least one content element comprises one or more images.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said layout editor is further configured to move said at least one container from one position to another within said document template.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said layout editor is further configured to delete said at least one container from said document template.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said layout editor is further configured to change the size and/or proportions of said at least one container.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said properties comprises an orientation for alignment said at least one visual element in said at least one container.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said properties comprises a width of said at least one container.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said properties comprises a height of said at least one container.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said properties comprises a background color for said at least one container.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said properties comprises a width of a border for said at least one container.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said properties comprises font characteristics for text placed within said at least one container.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said layout manager is further configured to generate said document layout in a format suitable for an external application.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said format is XML code.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said layout manager is further configured to allow access to said document layout only by input of an identifier by said user.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the document layout is represented as XML code generated by said layout manager.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein said data storage device is further configured to allow access to said document layout only by input of an identifier by said user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said displaying includes displaying said document template on a computer screen.

29. The method of claim 27, further including choosing a size for said at least one container.

30. The method of claim 27, further including moving said at least one container to a position on said document layout.

31. The method of claim 27, further including placing a second container within said at least one container on said document template.

32. The method of claim 27, further including placing a second container on said document template and placing a spacer between said at least one container and said second container.

33. The method of claim 32, further including choosing a size for said spacer.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising placing at least one area within said at least one container.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising placing at least one content component in said at least one area, said content component being chosen from a list of possible content components.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said storing further comprises storing the document layout in a data storage device that allows access to users upon input of an identifier.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said logging onto said layout manager application further includes inputting a user name and password.

41. The method of claim 39, further including placing a spacer between two or more of said at least one second containers, between said at least one second container and said at least one area or between two or more of said at least one area.

42. The method of claim 39, further including specifying properties for said first container, said at least one second container and/or said at least one area.

43. The method of claim 39, further including adding a third container to said document layout, wherein said third container is not located within said first container.

44. The method of claim 43, further including placing a spacer between said first container and said third container.

27. A method for facilitating creation of a document layout, the method comprising:

displaying a document template;

placing at least one container on said document template to create the document layout, said at least one container comprising a software object configured to contain a visual element; and

storing the document layout in a data storage system.

37. A system for facilitating the creation of a document layout via a digital network, the system comprising:

a layout server system comprising;

a network interface configured to receive a request for a connection from a client computer;

an application server module configured to provide a layout manager application to said client computer, wherein said layout manager application is configured to create the document layout based upon inputs received at said client computer, and wherein said application server module is further configured to receive said document layout from said layout manager application; and

a database configured to receive the document layout from said application server and store the document layout.

38. A method for facilitating the creation of a document layout via a digital network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a connection from a client computer;

providing a layout manager application to said client computer;

receiving inputs from said client computer by said layout manager application;

creating the document layout based upon said inputs from said client computer;

receiving the document layout from said layout manager by a database; and

storing the document layout in said database.

39. A method for facilitating the creation of a document layout via a digital network, the method comprising:

logging onto a layout manager application;

requesting to create said document layout;

adding a first container to said document layout;

placing at least one second container or at least one area within said first container;

selecting a scope for said document layout, said scope defining one or more groups which may access said document layout; and

saving said document layout.