US 7,024,633 B1Granted

Methods and apparatus for creating and transforming graphical constructs

AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.

InventorsRonald J. Mann, David Dice, David B. Therkelsen

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Abstract

Mechanisms and techniques provide a system for composing a complex constructs for use on a graphical display of a computerized device. The system receives a selection of basic constructor objects for use in the complex object. The basic constructor objects are chosen from a set of basic constructor object types including a button object type, a dial object type, an edit object type, and a container object type. The systems also receives a selection of one or more personalities to assign to the basic constructor objects. The personalities define extensions to basic constructor object operation and define a view for the object when rendered on an interface. The system combines the personalities and the basic constructor objects to define complex constructs such as menus, a scrollbars and the like. Personalities can be modified to alter the complex construct from one operational state to another.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for composing a complex construct for use on a graphical display of a computerized device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a selection of basic constructor objects for use in the complex object, the selection of basic constructor objects chosen from a set of basic constructor object types including a button object type, a dial object type, an edit object type, and a container object type, each of the basic constructor object types defining respective basic constructor functional characteristics;
receiving a selection of at least one personality to assign to at least one of the basic constructor objects chosen from the selection of basic constructor object types, the selection of at least one personality chosen from a set of personality types that define functional and graphical layout extensions to basic constructor characteristics associated with the basic constructor object types;
receiving a selection of specific event handling functionality that is to be enabled for that personality in relation to a basic constructor object to which that personality is assigned;
receiving a selection of a specific view which that personality provides to that basic constructor object when rendered on the graphical display of the computerized device;
combining the selection of basic constructor objects with the selection of at least one personality to form a first complex construct;
and
operating the first complex construct on the graphical display according to a first operation state defined by the basic constructor functional characteristics associated with the basic constructor objects in the first complex construct and by the functional and graphical layout extensions to the basic constructor characteristics defined by the selected at least one personality assigned to the basic constructor objects in the complex construct.

4 more elements

A computerized device comprising:

an IO interface;
a display;
a memory system;
a processor;
an interconnection mechanism coupling the IO interface, the display, the memory system and the processor;
wherein the memory system is encoded with a constructor application that when performed on the processor, produces a constructor process that causes the computer system to compose a complex construct for use on the display of the computerized device by performing the operations of:
receiving, via the IO interface, a selection of basic constructor objects for use in the complex object, the selection of basic constructor objects chosen from a set of basic constructor object types including a button object type, a dial object type, an edit object type, and a container object type, each of the basic constructor object types defining respective basic constructor functional characteristics;
receiving, via the IO interface, a selection of at least one personality to assign to at least one of the basic constructor objects chosen from the selection of basic constructor object types, the selection of at least one personality chosen from a set of personality types that define functional and graphical layout extensions to the basic constructor characteristics associated with the basic constructor object types;
receiving a selection of specific event handling functionality that is to be enabled for that personality in relation to a basic constructor object to which that personality is assigned;
receiving a selection of a specific view which that personality provides to that basic constructor object when rendered on the graphical display of the computerized device;
combining, in the memory system, the selection of basic constructor objects with the selection of at least one personality to form a first complex construct;
and
operating the first complex construct on the display according to a first operation state defined by the basic constructor functional characteristics associated with the basic constructor objects in the first complex construct and by functional and graphical layout characteristics defined by the selected at least one personality assigned to the basic constructor objects in the complex construct.

10 more elements

A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when executed on a computer system having a coupling of a memory system, a processor, an IO interface and a display provides a method for composing complex construct for use on the display of the computerized system by performing the operations of:

receiving, via the IO interface, a selection of basic constructor objects for use in the complex object, the selection of basic constructor objects chosen from a set of basic constructor object types including a button object type, a dial object type, an edit object type, and a container object type, each of the basic constructor object types defining respective basic constructor functional characteristics;
identifying a set of operational states corresponding to each of the basic constructor objects, the identified operational states responsive to IO activity responsive to user actions;
receiving, via the IO interface, a selection of at least one personality to assign to at least one of the basic constructor objects chosen from the selection of basic constructor object types, the selection of at least one personality chosen from a set of personality types that define functional and graphical layout extensions to basic constructor characteristics associated with the basic constructor object types, the personality indicative of the operational state defined by each of the basic constructor objects;
receiving a selection of specific event handling functionality that is to be enabled for that personality in relation to the basic constructor object to which that personality is assigned;
receiving a selection of a specific view which that personality provides to that basic constructor object when rendered on the graphical display of the computerized device;
combining, in the memory system, the selection of basic constructor objects with the selection of at least one personality to form a first complex construct;
and
operating the first complex construct on the display according to a first operation state defined by the basic constructor functional characteristics associated with the basic constructor objects in the first complex construct and by the functional and graphical layout characteristics defined by the at least one selected personality assigned to the basic constructor objects in the complex construct.

5 more elements

A computerized device comprising:

an IO interface;
a display;
a memory system;
a processor;
an interconnection mechanism coupling the IO interface, the display, the memory system and the processor;
wherein the memory system is encoded with a constructor application that when performed on the processor, produces a constructor process that provide a means for composing a complex construct for use on the display of the computerized device and which includes:
means for receiving, via the IO interface, a selection of basic constructor objects for use in the complex object, the selection of basic constructor objects chosen from a set of basic constructor object types including a button object type, a dial object type, an edit object type, and a container object type, each of the basic constructor object types defining respective basic constructor functional characteristics;
means for receiving, via the IO interface, a selection of at least one personality to assign to at least one of the basic constructor objects chosen from the selection of basic constructor object types, the selection of at least one personality chosen from a set of personality types that define functional and graphical layout extensions to basic constructor characteristics associated with basic constructor object types, the personality indicative of the operational state defined by each of the basic constructor objects;
means for receiving a selection of specific event handling functionality that is to be enabled for that personality in relation to a basic constructor object to which that personality is assigned;
means for receiving a selection of a specific view which that personality provides to that basic constructor object when rendered on the graphical display of the computerized device means for combining, in the memory system, the selection of basic constructor objects with the selection of at least one personality to form a first complex construct;
and
means for operating the first complex construct on the display according to a first operation state defined by the basic constructor functional characteristics associated with the basic constructor objects in the first complex construct and by functional and graphical layout characteristics defined by the at least one selected personality assigned to the basic constructor objects in the complex construct.

9 more elements

A method for composing a complex construct for use on a graphical display of a computerized device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a selection of basic constructor objects for use in the complex object, the selection of basic constructor objects chosen from a set of basic constructor object types including a button object type, a dial object type, an edit object type, and a container object type, each of the basic constructor object types defining respective basic constructor functional characteristics;
identifying a set of operational states corresponding to the basic constructor objects in the graphical user interface environment, the identified operational states responsive to IO activity responsive to user actions;
receiving a selection of at least one personality to assign to at least one of the basic constructor objects chosen from the selection of basic constructor object types, the selection of at least one personality chosen from a set of personality types that define functional and graphical layout extensions to basic constructor characteristics associated with the basic constructor object types, the personality indicative of the operational state defined by each of the basic constructor objects;
receiving a selection of specific event handling functionality that is to be enabled for that personality in relation to a basic constructor object to which that personality is assigned;
receiving a selection of a specific view which that personality provides to that basic constructor object when rendered on the graphical display of the computerized device;
combining the selection of basic constructor objects with the selection of at least one personality to form a first complex construct defined by a unified combination of the selected basic constructor objects and the corresponding selected personalities;
and
operating the first complex construct on the graphical display according to a first operation state defined by the basic constructor functional characteristics associated with the basic constructor objects in the first complex construct and by the functional and graphical layout extensions to the basic constructor characteristics defined by the selected at least one personality assigned to the basic constructor objects in the complex construct;
wherein:
(1) the button object, when included in the complex construct, provides specific functionality to the complex construct to provide notification of a change to a selection state maintained by the button object upon receiving input;
(2) the dial object, when included in the complex construct, provides specific functionality to the complex construct to provide a selection of a value from a range of possible values;
(3) the edit object, when included in the complex construct, provides specific functionality to the complex construct to receive data for editing, to store the data and to provide access to the data;
and
(4) the container object, when included in the complex construct, provides at least one of a parenting functionality, a layout management functionality and an event interception functionality to the complex construct comprised of a combination of the basic constructor objects.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.