Techniques for aligning and positioning objects

• US 20080256484A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, Tara, Wood, Matt
• Application Number:
  US11/786,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20080256484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/799
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

Techniques for aligning and positioning objects are described. A computer system employing such techniques may comprise a display to present a graphical user interface including a pointer to select a movable object and a guide to align a selected object at a target position. The guide may comprise one or more pixels configured with a coefficient for modifying a standard object movement rate of the selected object. The selected object may be positioned at any pixel configured with the coefficient. The computer system may comprise an input device to receive an object selection and user movement to position the selected object at the target position on the graphical user interface and an alignment module to translate a user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate according to the coefficient when an edge of the selected object intersects with any pixel configured with the coefficient. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a display to present a graphical user interface with a pointer to select a movable object and a guide to align a selected object at a target position, the guide comprising one or more pixels configured with a coefficient to modify a standard object movement rate of the selected object, the selected object capable of being positioned at any pixel configured with the coefficient;

an input device to receive an object selection and user movement to position the selected object at the target position on the graphical user interface; and

an alignment module to translate a user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate according to the coefficient when an edge of the selected object intersects with any pixel configured with the coefficient.

2. The computer system of claim 1, the guide comprising at least one of a guideline, a guide region, a shape guide, and a text baseline.

3. The computer system of claim 1, the guide extending between the selected object and a positioned object on the graphical user interface, the guide displayed when an edge or midpoint of the selected object aligns with an edge or midpoint of the positioned object.

4. The computer system of claim 1, the coefficient comprising a friction coefficient to translate the user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate that is slower than the standard object movement rate.

5. The computer system of claim 1, the coefficient comprising a gravity coefficient to translate the user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate that is faster than the standard object movement rate.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein pixels configured with the gravity coefficient define an area of influence adjacent to a plurality of collinear guide pixels, the gravity coefficient to accelerate the corresponding object movement rate in a direction toward the plurality of collinear guide pixels when an edge of the selected object intersects with the area of influence.

7. The computer system of claim 6, the alignment module to translate user movement rate into the standard movement rate when the selected object is within the area of influence upon receiving user movement in a direction away from the collinear guide pixels.

8. The computer system of claim 6, the alignment module to translate user movement rate into the standard movement rate when the selected object is within the area of influence upon receiving user movement in a direction parallel to the collinear guide pixels.

9. The computer system of claim 6, the alignment module to translate user movement rate according to a toward factor of the gravity coefficient for user movement received in a direction perpendicular to and toward the collinear guide pixels and to translate user movement rate according to an away factor of the gravity coefficient for user movement received in a direction perpendicular to and away from the collinear guide pixels.

10. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising an application to enable user selection of one or more guides from one or more guide templates.

11. The computer system of claim 10, the application to automatically display one or more guides in response to object selection and user movement.

12. The computer system of claim 10, the application to enable configuration of the coefficient associated with the guide to vary behavior of the guide.

13. A method, comprising:

displaying a pointer to select a movable object and a guide to align a selected object at a target position on a graphical user interface, the guide comprising a plurality of collinear pixels configured with a coefficient for modifying a standard object movement rate of the selected object;

receiving an object selection and user movement to position the selected object at the target position on the graphical user interface; and

translating a user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate according to the coefficient when an edge of the object intersects with the guide.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising translating the user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate which is slower than the standard object movement rate according to a friction coefficient.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising translating the user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate which is faster than the standard object movement rate according to a gravity coefficient.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

determining when an edge of the selected object intersects with an area of influence defined by the pixels configured with the gravity coefficient, the area of influence adjacent to a plurality of collinear guide pixels; and

accelerating the corresponding object movement rate in a direction toward the plurality of collinear guide pixels intersects with the area of influence.

17. An article comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that if executed enable a computer system to:

display a graphical user interface with a pointer to select a movable object and a guide to align a selected object at a target position, the guide comprising a plurality of collinear pixels configured with a coefficient for modifying a standard object movement rate of the selected object;

receive an object selection and user movement to position the selected object at the target position on the graphical user interface; and

translate a user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate according to the coefficient when an edge of the object intersects with the guide.

18. The article of claim 17, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the computer system to translate the user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate which is slower than the standard object movement rate according to a friction coefficient.

19. The article of claim 17, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the computer system to translate the user movement rate into a corresponding object movement rate which is faster than the standard object movement rate according to a gravity coefficient.

20. The article of claim 19, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the computer system to:

determine when an edge of the selected object intersects with an area of influence defined by the pixels configured with the gravity coefficient, the area of influence adjacent to a plurality of collinear guide pixels; and

accelerate the corresponding object movement rate in a direction toward the plurality of collinear guide pixels intersects with the area of influence.