Visualizing Content Positioning within a Document Using Layers

• US 20100083096A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Jouaux, Francois M., Dupuis-Latour, Dimitri, Frisch, Pierre JY, Drieu, Gilles
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing

Abstract

It can be difficult to predict what the layout of a document will be if the document contains several content elements, some of which are associated with different positioning schemes. In one embodiment, elements are shown in different layers based on their positioning schemes. For example, a first layer includes elements that are associated with non-overlapping positioning schemes, and a second layer includes elements that are associated with overlapping positioning schemes. When the document is viewed from above, the layers “collapse” onto each other, and the document appears to have a conventional (two-dimensional) page rendering. However, when the document is viewed from an angle, the layers appear separately in three-dimensional space, similar to an exploded view. The separate layers reveal the positioning schemes of the various elements and the layout interactions between those elements. This visualization technique helps a user understand how various elements are positioned within the document.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a document, the document having a set of sibling content elements, the set including a first element that is associated with a non-overlapping positioning scheme and a second element that is associated with an overlapping positioning scheme, comprising:

displaying, in a first two-dimensional layer, the first element; and

displaying, in a second two-dimensional layer, the second element;

wherein the first layer and the second layer are displayed separate from each other in three-dimensional space.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising visually indicating, in the first layer, a first area that corresponds to a second area occupied by the second element in the second layer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein visually indicating the first area comprises displaying a shape that occupies the first area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the shape appears shaded.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the shape looks like the second element but with a different opacity.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising visually indicating a correspondence between the first area and the second element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein visually indicating the correspondence between the first area and the second element comprises displaying a line connecting the first area and the second element.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein visually indicating the correspondence between the first area and the second element comprises visually indicating the first area when the second element is selected.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein visually indicating the correspondence between the first area and the second element comprises visually indicating the second element when the first area is selected.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein visually indicating the correspondence between the first area and the second element comprises visually indicating the first area when a cursor hovers within the second element.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein visually indicating the correspondence between the first area and the second element comprises visually indicating the second element when a cursor hovers within the first area.

12. A computer program product for displaying a document, the document having a set of sibling content elements, the set including a first element that is associated with a non-overlapping positioning scheme and a second element that is associated with an overlapping positioning scheme, the computer program product comprising:

a machine-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

displaying, in a first two-dimensional layer, the first element; and

displaying, in a second two-dimensional layer, the second element;

wherein the first layer and the second layer are displayed separate from each other in three-dimensional space.

13. A system for displaying a document, the document having a set of sibling content elements, the set including a first element that is associated with a non-overlapping positioning scheme and a second element that is associated with an overlapping positioning scheme, comprising:

a processor configured to perform a method, the method comprising;

displaying, in a first two-dimensional layer, the first element; and

displaying, in a second two-dimensional layer, the second element;

wherein the first layer and the second layer are displayed separate from each other in three-dimensional space.