Pattern and color abstraction in a graphical user interface
AssigneeApple Computer, Inc.
InventorsRobert R. Ulrich, Robert G. Johnston, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. Themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.
Claims17
A graphical user interface comprising:
- a first set of interface objects whose individual appearances are associated with a first common theme;
- a second set of interface objects, each of which correspond in function to an associated interface object in said first set, but whose individual appearances are associated with a second common theme different from said first theme;
- and
- means for selectively changing between said first theme and said second theme, whereby said graphical user interface displays interface objects using one of said first set and said second set, said means including:
- a control layer having a pattern look-up table with indexed entries containing data related to patterns and colors used to create interface objects;
- and
- means for commanding said control layer to draw a pattern on said interface referring to at least one of said indexed entries in said pattern look-up table.
A graphical user interface comprising:
- a first set of interface objects whose individual appearances are associated with a first common theme;
- a second set of interface objects, each of which correspond in function to an associated interface object in said first set, but whose individual appearances are associated with a second common theme different from said first theme;
- and
- means for selectively changing between said first theme and said second theme, whereby said graphical user interface displays interface objects using one of said first set and said second set said means including:
- a control layer having a pattern look-up table with indexed entries containing data related to patterns and colors used to create interface objects
- wherein said control layer is responsive to a command having an index to return a pattern for creating one of an object and an object part on said interface.
A method for abstracting patterns and colors used to create an interface display from the interface itself, comprising the steps of:
- storing a first set of interface objects and interface object parts whose individual appearances are associated with a first common theme;
- storing a second set of interface objects and interface object parts, each of which correspond in function to an associated interface object and interface object part in said first set, but whose individual appearances are associated with a second common theme different from said first theme;
- and
- selectively changing between said first theme and said second theme, whereby said graphical user interface displays interface objects and interface object parts using one of said first set and said second set wherein said step of selectively changing further comprises:
- storing a pattern look-up table having indexed entries of pattern and color information;
- and
- drawing at least one of interface objects and interface object parts on said interface by extracting information from said pattern look-up table using said indexed entries.
A user interface comprising:
- a display for rendering objects thereon, said objects being rendered as a composite of a plurality of elements, wherein at least one of said elements is filled with at least one of a pattern and a color;
- a first set of interface objects whose individual appearances are associated with a first common theme;
- a second set of interface objects, each of which correspond in function to an associated interface object in said first set, but whose individual appearances are associated with a second common theme different from said first theme;
- and
- means for selectively changing between said first theme and said second theme, whereby said graphical user interface displays interface objects using one of said first set and said second set wherein said means for selectively changing further comprises:
- a layer for receiving a request from an application to render said object on said display, determining which of a plurality of themes is currently invoked and retrieving said at least one of said pattern and said color from a storage area based upon said determined theme.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.