ENHANCED TEMPLATE CURATING

• US 20160267087A1
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Mowatt, David, Gezikiewicz, Hubert, Harney, Philip, Robinson, Rebecca Anne, Krieger, Stephanie, Soloveitchik, Alexei
• Granted Patent: US 10,242,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for curating templates. In an implementation, templates are annotated with information that describes various factors descriptive that describe perceived qualities of the templates. A templates service automatically ranks the templates based on the factors, including functional and aesthetic factors, as well as a randomizing factor. A determination is then made about which of the collection of templates to include in a gallery set that is downloaded to local applications. The templates service replies to requests for the gallery set with results comprising graphical representations of the templates included in the gallery set.

Claims

1. A method of operating an online templates service comprising:

ranking a collection of templates in an order based on a plurality of factors associated with each template in the collection of templates comprising a functional factor, an aesthetic factor, and a randomizing factor;

determining which templates of the collection of templates to include in a gallery set based at least in part on a position of each of the collection of templates in the order; and

replying to requests for the gallery set with results comprising graphical representations of the templates included in the gallery set.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an arrangement of the templates in the gallery set based at least in part on the plurality of factors associated with each of the templates.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining a score for each of the collection of templates based on the plurality of factors, wherein ranking the collection of templates in the order based on the plurality of factors comprises ranking the collection of templates in the order based on the score obtained for each of the collection of templates.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein obtaining the score for each of the collection of templates comprises obtaining an initial score based at least in part on the functional factor and the aesthetic factor and adding the randomizing factor to the initial score to produce the score.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of factors further comprises a demand factor and wherein for each of the collection of templates, the functional factor comprises a numerical rating representative of a level of functionality provided by the template, the aesthetic factor comprises a numerical rating representative of a level of aesthetic quality achieved by the template, and the demand factor comprises a numerical rating representative of a forecasted level of demand for the template, and wherein the randomizing factor comprises a random number.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the plurality of factors further comprises a category demand factor and wherein, for each of the collection of templates, the category demand factor comprises a numerical rating representative of a forecasted level of demand for category of templates associated with the template.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising annotating each of the collection of templates with at least the functional factor associated the template and the aesthetic factor associated with the template prior to ranking the collection of templates.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising customizing the templates included in the gallery set on a per-request basis as each request of the requests for the gallery set occurs.

9. A method for curating an online application store comprising:

ranking a collection of applications in an order based on a plurality of factors associated with each application in the collection of applications comprising a functional factor, an aesthetic factor, a demand factor, and a randomizing factor;

determining which applications of the collection of applications to include in a gallery set based at least in part on a position of each of the collection of applications in the order; and

replying to requests for the gallery set with results comprising graphical representations of the applications included in the gallery set.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising obtaining a score for each of the collection of applications based on the plurality of factors, wherein ranking the collection of applications in the order based on the plurality of factors comprises ranking the collection of applications in the order based on the score obtained for each of the collection of applications.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein obtaining the score for each of the collection of applications comprises obtaining an initial score based at least in part on the functional factor, the aesthetic factor, and the demand factor, and adding the randomizing factor to the initial score to produce the score.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the initial score comprises a value in a range of possible scores and the randomizing factor comprises another value in the range of possible scores.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein for each of the collection of applications, the functional factor comprises a numerical rating representative of a level of functionality provided by the application, the aesthetic factor comprises a numerical rating representative of a level of aesthetic quality achieved by the application, and the demand factor comprises a numerical rating representative of a forecasted level of demand for the application, and wherein the randomizing factor comprises a random number.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of factors further comprises a category demand factor and wherein, for each of the collection of applications, the category demand factor comprises a numerical rating representative of a forecasted level of demand for category of applications associated with the application.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising annotating each of the collection of applications with at least the functional factor associated the application and the aesthetic factor associated with the application prior to ranking the collection of applications.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising customizing the applications included in the gallery set on a per-request basis as each request of the requests for the gallery set occurs.

17. An apparatus comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media;

an application stored on the one or more computer readable storage media and comprising program instructions that, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to at least;

receive a set of templates from an online template service with which to populate a template gallery in a user interface to the application;

determine an arrangement of the template gallery based at least in part on a plurality of factors associated with each of the set of templates comprising a functional factor and an aesthetic factor; and

render graphical representations of the set of templates in the user interface in accordance with the arrangement of the template gallery.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising the processing system that reads and executes the program instructions, wherein for each template of the set of templates, the functional factor comprises a numerical rating annotated to the template that is representative of a level of functionality provided by the template and the aesthetic factor comprises another numerical rating annotated to the template that is representative of a level of aesthetic quality achieved by the template.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of factors further comprise user-specific factors associated with a user of the application.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each of the set of templates comprises one of a word processing document, a spreadsheet document, and a presentation document.