Method, apparatus and system for a graphical user interface

A system for positioning a set of objects for display on a user interface of a user terminal, the user interface being generated on an internal surface of a radially-symmetrical three-dimensional structure, each member of the set of the objects having a size in at least two dimensions, at least some of which dimensions vary between the objects, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media arranged to store data identifying each object in the set of objects, the data including data identifying said size of the objects,
• wherein the one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media store instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• assign the set of objects to a two-dimensional portion having a predetermined size;
• perform a positioning process for each as yet unpositioned object in the set of objects, the positioning process comprising identifying object occupancy in the portion and allocating the object to a position within the portion on the basis of a largest dimension of the object and unoccupied space in the portion, wherein the object is allocated to the position within the portion in accordance with a two-dimensional bin packing algorithm in which objects are packed outwards from a centre line of the portion;
• and
• map each allocated position to a corresponding three-dimensional coordinate on the internal surface of the radially-symmetrical three-dimensional structure according to a map in which the centre line of the portion is mapped to an equator of the radially-symmetrical three-dimensional structure;
• generate the user interface on the internal surface of the radially-symmetrical three-dimensional structure;
• and
• display at least a portion of the user interface on a display of a user terminal.

One or more non-transient storage media storing a computer program, or a suite of computer programs, comprising a computer-readable set of instructions for execution on a computer system, which, when executed by the computer system, causes the computer system to perform a method of positioning a set of objects for display on a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

• assigning the set of objects to a two-dimensional portion having a predetermined size, each member of the set of the objects having a size in at least two dimensions, and at least some of which dimensions varying between the objects;
• for each as yet unpositioned object in the set of objects, performing a positioning process, the positioning process comprising identifying object occupancy in the portion and allocating the object to a position within the portion on the basis of a largest dimension of the object and unoccupied space in the portion, wherein the object is allocated to the position within the portion in accordance with a two-dimensional bin packing algorithm in which objects are packed outwards from a centre line of the portion;
• mapping each allocated position to a three-dimensional coordinate on an internal surface of a radially-symmetrical three-dimensional structure according to a map in which the centre line of the portion is mapped to an equator of the radially-symmetrical three-dimensional structure;
• generating the user interface on the surface of the radially-symmetrical three-dimensional structure;
• and
• displaying at least a portion of the user interface on a display of a user terminal.