Methods and systems for implementing dynamic properties on objects that support only static properties

• US 20050034133A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Daniel J., Maymudes, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented

Abstract

Methods and systems of simulating dynamic properties on computer-implemented objects that do not support dynamic properties are described. In one embodiment, one or more first objects that do not support dynamic properties are provided. One or more second programmable objects are provided and are programmed to effect property value changes on the objects that do not support dynamic properties.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented architecture comprising:

one or more first objects that support only static properties; and

one or more second objects associated with the one or more first objects and configured to call the one or more first objects to effect one or more property value changes on the one or more first objects in a manner that makes the one or more first objects appear as if they support dynamic properties.

2. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 1, wherein the one or more second objects are configured to maintain property data that is used to call the one or more first objects.

3. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 2, wherein the property data comprises at least one property value change that is to be made.

4. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 2, wherein the property data comprises a time at which a property value change is to be made.

5. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 2, wherein the property data comprises how a property value change is to be made.

6. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 2, wherein the property data comprises one or more of the following:

at least one property value change that is to be made, a time at which a property value change is to be made, and how a property value change is to be made.

7. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 2, wherein the property data comprises at least one property value change that is to be made, a time at which a property value change is to be made, and how a property value change is to be made.

8. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 1 further comprising one or more data structures associated with the one or more second objects, individual data structures containing data that is to be used by the one or more second objects to effect a property value change.

9. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 8, wherein the one or more data structures comprise an array of one or more sets of data structures, each set of data structures being associated with a property that is to be changed and containing property data that is to be used to change property values for a property.

10. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 9, wherein the property data comprises at least one property value change that is to be made.

11. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 9, wherein the property data comprises a time at which a property value change is to be made.

12. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 9, wherein the property data comprises how a property value change is to be made.

13. The computer-implemented architecture of claim 9, wherein the property data comprises at least one property value change that is to be made, a time at which a property value change is to be made, and how a property value change is to be made.

14. Software code embodied on a computer-readable medium which, when executed by a computer, implements the architecture of claim 1.

15. A multi-media editing application comprising the architecture of claim 1.

16. A computer-implemented multi-media project editing architecture comprising:

one or more first objects that support only static properties, the one or more first objects being configured to implement a transform associated with processing of a multi-media editing project;

one or more second objects associated with the one or more first objects and configured to call the one or more first objects to effect one or more property value changes on the one or more first objects in a manner that makes the one or more first objects appear as if they support dynamic properties; and

one or more data structures associated with the one or more second objects, individual data structures containing property data that is to be used by the one or more second objects to effect a property value change.

17. The computer-implemented multi-media project editing architecture of claim 16, wherein the one or more data structures comprise an array of one or more sets of data structures, each set of data structures being associated with a property whose values are to be changed and containing property data that is to be used to change property values for a property.

18. The computer-implemented multi-media project editing architecture of claim 17, wherein the property data comprises at least one value to which a property is to be changed.

19. The computer-implemented multi-media project editing architecture of claim 17, wherein the property data comprises a time at which at least one property value is to be changed.

20. The computer-implemented multi-media project editing architecture of claim 17, wherein the property data comprises how at least one property value is to be changed.

21. The computer-implemented multi-media project editing architecture of claim 17, wherein the property data comprises:

at least one value to which a property is to be changed, a time at which at least one property value is to be changed, and how at least one property value is to be changed.

22. Software code embodied on a computer-readable medium which, when executed by a computer, implements the architecture of claim 16.

23. A multi-media editing application comprising the architecture of claim 16.

24. A property value-changing method comprising:

providing one or more objects that support only static properties;

providing one or more programmable objects configured to effect property value changes on the objects that support only static properties; and

effecting at least one property value change on the one or more objects that support only static properties using the one or more programmable objects.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising programming the one or more programmable objects with property data that is to be used by the one or more programmable objects to effect said at least one property value change.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the property data comprises one or more property values that are to be changed.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the property data comprises a time at which a property value is to be changed.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the property data comprises how a property value is to be changed.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the property data comprises one or more property values that are to be changed, a time at which a property value is to be changed, and how a property value is to be changed.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising organizing the property data in one or more data structures that are used by the one or more programmable objects.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising organizing the property data in one or more data structures that are used by the one or more programmable objects, said organizing comprises defining an array of data structures, each array comprising one or more sets of structures and each set being associated with a property whose value can change.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said effecting comprises calling the one or more objects that support only static properties with the one or more programmable objects.

33. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, implement the method of claim 24.

34. A property value-changing method comprising:

programming a programmable object with property data that defines when certain property value changes are to be made and what those property value changes are;

calling, with the programmable object, one or more objects that do not support dynamic properties; and

responsive to said calling, using the property data to effect a property value change on the one or more objects that do not support dynamic properties.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising calling the programmable object with a time value, the programmable object using the time value to ascertain when to call the one or more objects.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said programming comprises arranging the property data in a data structure array comprising one or more sets of data structures, each set of data structures being associated with a property whose value is to be changed.

37. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, implement the method of claim 34.

38. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

provide one or more objects that support only static properties;

provide one or more programmable objects configured to effect property value changes on the objects that support only static properties;

program the one or more programmable objects with property data that is to be used by the one or more programmable objects to effect said at least one property value change, the property data comprising;

property value changes that are to be made, time(s) at which property value changes are to be made, and how the property value changes are to be made; and

effect at least one property value change on the one or more objects that support only static properties by using the one or more programmable objects to call the one or more objects that support only static properties.

39. A property value-changing method comprising:

programming a programmable object with property data that defines when certain property value changes are to be made and what those property value changes are, the property value changes being associated with rendering of a multi-media editing project;

calling, with the programmable object, one or more objects that do not support dynamic properties; and

responsive to said calling, using the property data to effect a property value change on the one or more objects.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising calling the programmable object with a current time, the programmable object using the current time to ascertain when to call the one or more objects.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said programming comprises arranging the property data in a data structure array comprising one or more sets of data structures, each set of data structures being associated with a property whose value is to be changed.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the property data defines how the property value changes are to be made.

43. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, implement the method of claim 39.

44. A property value-changing method comprising:

providing one or more objects that support only static properties; and

simulating dynamic properties with the one or more objects by changing one or more property values at a pre-programmed time.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said simulating comprises pre-programming at least one property value change, a time at which the property value is to be changed, and a manner in which the property value change is to take place.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said pre-programming comprises pre-programming a computer-implemented object to call the one or more objects at an appropriate time to change the one or more property values.

47. Software code comprising a multi-media project editing application configured to implement the method of claim 44.

48. A system comprising:

object means that support only static properties; and

means for simulating dynamic properties with the object means by changing one or more property values at a pre-programmed time.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said means for simulating comprises means for pre-programming at least one property value change, a time at which the property value is to be changed, and a manner in which the property value change is to take place.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said means for pre-programming comprises means for pre-programming a computer-implemented object to call the object means at an appropriate time to change the one or more property values.

51. Software code comprising a multi-media project editing application configured to implement the system of claim 48.

52. One or more computer-readable means embodying computer-readable instructions that implement the system of claim 48.

53. A computing system comprising:

one or more processor means; and

the one or more computer-readable means of claim 52.