Mobile Device Style Abstraction

• US 20100107100A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Nell H., Schneekloth, Jason S., Haning, Ryan M., Kruzeniski, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/414,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20100107100A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 : for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 : from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Style abstraction techniques are described for use in customizing elements included in a user interface. In an implementation, a structural attribute is obtained that defines a structural component of an element that is to be included in a user interface. A style attribute is also obtained that is operable to define a visual aspect of the structural component. The user interface is generated by combining the style attribute and the structural attribute at run-time to form the element. The element, that includes the visual aspect applied to the structural component, is presented on a display device of a mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a structural attribute that defines a structural component of an element that is to be included in a user interface and a style attribute that is operable to define a visual aspect of the structural component; and

generating the element by combining the structural attribute with the style attribute at run-time to form the element, for presentation on a display device of a mobile device, that includes the visual aspect applied to the structural component.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the element comprises at least one of:

an image,

an icon,

a background,

an overlay, or

a shortcut.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the style attribute is included in a theme that is obtained from a source for a fee, wherein the source is configured to operate in conformance with a wireless communication standard specified by the source and implemented by the mobile device.

4. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising accepting user selection of the style attribute.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the style attribute is applied to each element in the user interface that has the structural attribute.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the style attribute and the structural attribute are independent prior to run-time.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the visual aspect comprises at least one of:

an effect;

a color;

a fill type;

an audio clip presented with the element;

or

an animation.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the style attribute is included in a theme that is operable to control each element'"'"'s appearance in the user interface.

9. One or more tangible computer-readable media comprising instructions that are executable to:

combine, at run-time, a structural attribute that defines an element available for presentation on a mobile device with a style attribute that is operable to define a visual aspect of the element, the style attribute being independent of the structural attribute before run-time; and

present the element, in a user interface on a display of the mobile device, with the visual aspect applied to the element.

10. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein the instructions are further executable to maintain a plurality of style attributes in memory independent of the element that is operable to implement said style attributes.

11. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable to accept user selection of the style attribute.

12. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable to receive a theme that set each style attribute for the user interface.

13. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein the visual aspect comprises at least one of:

an effect;

a color;

a fill type;

an audio clip presented with the element;

or

an animation.

14. One or more tangible computer-readable media as described in claim 9, wherein the structural attribute defines how the visual aspect is to be applied to the element.

15. A mobile device comprising:

a display device to present a user interface that includes an element; and

a user interface module to generate the element from a structural attribute that defines a structural component of the element and one or more style attributes, which are separate from the structural attribute, that each define a visual aspect of the structural component when presented on the display device, the user interface module being configured to identify a user account associated with the mobile device.

16. A mobile device as described in claim 15, wherein the user interface module is further configured to accept selection of said style attributes for use at run-time to set the element'"'"'s appearance separate from the structural component of the element.

17. A mobile device as described in claim 15, wherein the user interface module is configured to accept selection of a theme that sets each said style attribute.

18. A mobile device as described in claim 17, wherein the mobile device is further configured to identify the user account, to a theme source, that is to be charged a fee to obtain the theme.

19. A mobile device as described in claim 15, wherein the element comprises one or more of:

a photograph,

an icon,

a background,

a shortcut, or

an overlay.

20. A mobile device as described in claim 15, wherein the user interface module is configured for integration in a mobile operating system that is usable to control operation of the mobile device.