Structured Display System with System Defined Transitions

• US 20090189915A1
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Thomas, Ralph, Mercer, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/646
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A disclosed system (and method) is configured to receive an instruction to transition from a first view to a second view. The first view and the second view include two or more visual elements. The system receives data corresponding to visual elements in the first view and visual elements in the second view. The system groups the visual elements to include visual elements moved out between the first view and the second view, visual elements retained from the first view in the second view, and visual elements moved into the second view. The system retrieves a system defined transition style for rendering the visual elements between the first view and the second view. Using the groupings the system transitions the first view to render the second view through application of the transition style on the groups of visual elements.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for rendering a plurality of user interface views for each application of a plurality of application, the method comprising:

receiving an instruction to transition from a first view to a second view, the first view including a plurality of visual elements;

receiving data corresponding to visual elements in the first view and visual elements in the second view;

grouping the visual elements into visual elements removed between the first view and the second view, visual elements retained from the first view in the second view, and visual elements added into the second view;

retrieving a system defined transition style for rendering the visual elements between the first view and the second view; and

transitioning the first view to render the second view through applying the style on the groups of visual elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning further comprises retaining visual continuity during movement of the visual elements retained from the first view from a first location on the screen to a second location of the screen for the second view.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transitioning further comprises applying the transition style for removing off from the view during the transition the visual elements removed from the first view.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transitioning further comprises applying the transition style for gradually adding into the view the visual elements added to the second view that were not in the first view.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the style defines removal and addition of visual elements during transition between views.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the transition style further comprises a curve that defines a function for movement characteristics each visual element removed form the view, added into the view, or moved within the view during the transition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transition style further comprises a defined sequence for movement of the visual elements between the first view and the second view, the sequence defining when visual element move.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transition style further comprises a movement of the visual elements between the first view and the second view, the control defining the path on the screen the visual elements move.

9. A system level user interface subsystem for managing transitions between a first view and a second view in an application, the subsystem comprising:

a structured display module configured to;

receive a plurality of visual elements from an application, the visual elements corresponding to visual elements in a first view and a second view of a user interface of the application, and

associate each visual element with one of a first group, a second group, and a third group, the first group comprised of visual elements removed from screen between the first view and the second view, the second group comprised of visual elements retained on screen from the first view in the second view, and the third group comprised of visual elements added on screen in the second view; and

a transition module configured to;

retrieve system transition style definitions;

obtain the groups of visual elements from the structured display module; and

apply the style and curve definitions to the visual elements to transition between the first view and the second view on the screen.

10. The subsystem of claim 9, wherein the style defines moving off and moving on visual elements during transition between views.

11. The subsystem of claim 10, wherein the style defines movement of the visual elements retained from the first view from a first location on the screen to a second location of the screen for the second view.

12. The subsystem of claim 11, wherein style defines removal from the view during the transition the visual elements moved out from the first view.

13. The subsystem of claim 11, wherein the style defines addition into the view the visual elements added into the second view that were not in the first view.

14. The subsystem of claim 10, wherein style further comprises a curve, the curve defines a function for movement characteristics each visual element moving off the view, moving into the view, or moving within the view during the transition.

15. The subsystem of claim 14, wherein style further comprises a transition, the transition for movement of the visual elements between the first view and the second view, the sequence defining when visual element move.

16. The subsystem of claim 15, wherein the style further comprises a control definition for movement of the visual elements between the first view and the second view, the control defining the path on the screen the visual elements move.

17. A computer readable medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

receive an instruction to transition from a first view to a second view, the first view including a plurality of visual elements;

receive data corresponding to visual elements in the first view and visual elements in the second view;

group the visual elements into visual elements removed between the first view and the second view, visual elements retained from the first view in the second view, and visual elements added into the second view;

retrieve a system defined transition style for rendering the visual elements between the first view and the second view; and

transition the first view to render the second view through application of the transition style on the groups of visual elements.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein instructions that cause the processor to transition further comprise instructions that cause the processor to maintain visual continuity during movement of the visual elements retained from the first view from a first location on the screen to a second location of the screen for the second view.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein instructions that cause the processor to transition further comprise instructions that cause the processor to apply the style to gradually remove off from the view during the transition the visual elements removed from the first view.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to transition further comprise instructions that cause the processor to apply the transition style to add into the view the visual elements added to the second view that were not in the first view.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprises instructions that cause the processor to retrieve a curve definition to define removal and addition of visual elements during transition between views.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprises instructions that cause the processor to retrieve a curve definition to define a function for movement characteristics each visual element removed form the view, added into the view, or moved within the view during the transition.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further comprises instructions that cause the processor to retrieve a sequence definition to define a movement sequence of the visual elements between the first view and the second view.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to retrieve a control definition defining a movement path of the visual elements between the first view and the second view.