Automatic layout of items along an embedded one-manifold path

• US 20060209062A1
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Drucker, Steven, Toyama, Kentaro, Sowizral, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/959 Object path adherence

Abstract

The coordinates for laying out visual items in two-, three-, or n-dimensional space along an embedded one-manifold or path are calculated and coordinates are generated for placement of the items in a container. A one-manifold may be continuous, discontinuous, be contained entirely within a container or extent beyond a container. The one-manifold may be defined by a set of parameters defining a function, formula or set of points. The container may be a two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or n-dimensional container. Such a mechanism may be employed by a graphics application and may determine the location or positioning of an object or item. The object or item may be one of a set of objects or items. In response to receiving a set of parameters defining a one-manifold, the one-manifold may be embedded within a container. In response to receiving a set of parameters describing aspects of the object or item to be placed within the container, a set of x and y or x, y and z co-ordinates may be generated, which may be sent to a standard graphics interface for display.

Claims

1. A system for positioning objects in a container comprising:

a module that receives parameters associated with placing an object in a container and calculates a location for the object in the container along a one-manifold embedded within the container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is two-dimensional.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is an n-dimensional container, wherein n is greater than 2.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is one of a plurality of objects placed along the one-manifold.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one-manifold is at least one of continuous, discontinuous, extends beyond the container, or defined by a function.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the module receives parameters associated with embedding the one-manifold in the container.

7. A method for placing an object in a container comprising:

receiving parameters associated with placing the object in the container along an embedded one-manifold; and

calculating a placement of the object in the container based on the received parameters.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving parameters defining the one-manifold.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

embedding the defined one-manifold within the container.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating coordinates for the object.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the coordinates comprise an x and a y coordinate.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the coordinates comprise at least an x, a y, and a z coordinate.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the container is an n-dimensional container, wherein n is greater than 2.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the container is a two-dimensional container.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the object is a first object of a plurality of objects in the container and in response to adding another object, a new location for at least one of the plurality of objects is calculated.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameters comprise one of an orientation or a scale of the object.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the orientation is one of skewed, rotated, oriented so that a top edge of the object is parallel to an edge of the container, or so that a center line of the object is parallel or tangent to the one-manifold or oriented according to a function or algorithm or relative to a point, axis, or plane.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the object is a first object of a plurality of objects along the one-manifold, wherein a subset of the plurality of objects are not visible.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the subset not visible comprises objects along a portion of the one-manifold extending outside the container.

20. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for:

receiving parameters associated with placing an object in a container along an embedded one-manifold;

calculating a placement and orientation of the object in the container based on the received parameters;

generating coordinates for the object; and

sending the generated coordinates to a display module.