Spatially driven content presentation in a cellular environment

An apparatus for outputting information via one or more cells arranged geometrically in a graphical user interface (GUI), the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable medium storing computer program code for executing on the processor, the computer program code comprising:
• a storage module which stores for a cell a plurality of content references, each content reference associated with at least one of a plurality of zoom states, each content reference referencing at least one data source to obtain content to be output via the cell;
• a user input module, which receives from a data source an indication of a content event, the content event comprising a change in content provided by the data source to the cell in the GUI, wherein the user input module determines a zoom state of the GUI based on the content event;
• a selection module, in communication with the user input module, which determines which cells are visible in the GUI at the determined zoom state, wherein the selection module determines, for each of the visible cells, a content reference associated with the cell visible in the GUI at the determined zoom state, comprising selecting, from the plurality of content references associated with the cell, the content reference associated with the cell at the zoom state;
• a content resolution module, in communication with the selection module, which, for each of the visible cells, obtains content from the at least one data source referenced by the content reference,
• wherein the content reference associated with the cell at the determined zoom state is associated with a first data source providing content of a different media type than content provided by a second data source associated with another content reference associated with the cell at another zoom state and
• wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;
• and
• a user output module, in communication with the content resolution module, which, for each of the visible cells, outputs an updated visual representation of the cell based upon the obtained content.

A computer program product for outputting information via one or more cells arranged geometrically in a graphical user interface (GUI), the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and adapted to perform operations comprising:

• storing for a cell a plurality of content references, each content reference associated with at least one of a plurality of zoom states, each content reference referencing at least one data source to obtain content to be output via the cell;
• receiving from a data source an indication of a content event, the content event comprising a change in content provided by the data source to the cell in the GUI;
• responsive to receiving the indication of the change in content, determining a zoom state of the GUI based on the content event;
• for each cell that is visible in the GUI at the determined zoom state:
• determining a content reference associated with the cell at the determined zoom state, comprising selecting, from the plurality of content references associated with the cell, the content reference associated with the cell at the determined zoom state;
• obtaining content from the at least one data source referenced by the content reference,
• wherein the content reference associated with the cell at the determined zoom state is associated with a first data source providing content of a different media type than content provided by a second data source associated with another content reference associated with the cell at another zoom state and
• wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;
• and
• outputting an updated visual representation of the cell based upon the obtained content.

A computer implemented method of outputting information via one or more cells arranged geometrically in a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:

• storing for a cell a plurality of content references, each content reference associated with at least one of a plurality of zoom states, each content reference referencing at least one data source to obtain content to be output via the cell;
• receiving an indication of a zoom state of the GUI;
• for a plurality of cells that are visible in the GUI at the indicated zoom state:
• determining a first content reference associated with a first cell at the indicated zoom state;
• obtaining first content from a first data source referenced by the first content reference;
• outputting an updated visual representation of the cells based upon the first content;
• receiving from a data source an indication of a content event, the content event comprising a change in content provided by the data source to one of the plurality of cells;
• determining updated cell sizes associated with the GUI based on the content event;
• determining a second content reference associated with the first cell at a new zoom state for the updated cell sizes;
• obtaining second content from a second data source referenced by the second content reference,
• wherein the second content has a different media type than the first content, and
• wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;
• and
• outputting a second updated visual representation of the cells based upon the second content.

A computer implemented method of outputting information via one or more cells arranged geometrically in a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:

• storing for a cell a plurality of content references, each content reference associated with at least one of a plurality of zoom states, each content reference referencing at least one data source to obtain content to be output via the cell;
• receiving an indication of a zoom state of the GUI;
• for a plurality of cells that are visible in the GUI at the indicated zoom state:
• determining a first content reference associated with a first cell at the indicated zoom state;
• obtaining first content from a first data source referenced by the first content reference;
• outputting an updated visual representation of the cells based upon the first content;
• receiving from a data source an indication of a content event, the content event comprising a change in content provided by the data source to one of the plurality of cells;
• determining updated cell shapes associated with the GUI based on the content event;
• determining a second content reference associated with the first cell at a new zoom state for the updated cell shapes;
• obtaining second content from a second data source referenced by the second content reference,
• wherein the second content has a different media type than the first content, and
• wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;
• and
• outputting a second updated visual representation of the cells based upon the second content.

A computer implemented method of outputting information via one or more cells arranged geometrically in a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:

• storing for a cell a plurality of content references, each content reference associated with at least one of a plurality of zoom states, each content reference referencing at least one data source to obtain content to be output via the cell;
• receiving an indication of a zoom state of the GUI;
• for a plurality of cells that are visible in the GUI at the indicated zoom state:
• determining a first content reference associated with a first cell at the indicated zoom state;
• obtaining first content from a first data source referenced by the first content reference;
• outputting an updated visual representation of the cells based upon the first content;
• receiving from a data source an indication of a content event, the content event comprising a change in content provided by the data source to one of the plurality of cells;
• determining an updated layout associated with the GUI based on the content event;
• determining a second content reference associated with the first cell at a new zoom state for the updated layout;
• obtaining second content from a second data source referenced by the second content reference,
• wherein the second content has a different media type than the first content, and
• wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;
• and
• outputting a second updated visual representation of the cells based upon the second content.

A computer implemented method of outputting information via one or more cells arranged geometrically in a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:

• storing for a cell a plurality of content references, each content reference associated with at least one of a plurality of zoom states, each content reference referencing at least one data source to obtain content to be output via the cell, wherein at least one of the content references provides a reference to at least one other cell;
• receiving from a data source an indication of a content event, the content event comprising a change in content provided by the data source to the cell in the GUI;
• responsive to receiving the indication of the change in content, determining a zoom state of the GUI based on the content event;
• for a plurality of cells that are visible in the GUI at the determined zoom state:
• determining a content reference associated with the cell at the determined zoom state, comprising selecting, from the plurality of content references associated with the cell, the content reference associated with the cell at the determined zoom state;
• obtaining content from the at least one data source referenced by the content reference,
• wherein the content reference associated with the cell at the determined zoom state is associated with a first data source providing content of a different media type than content provided by a second data source associated with another content reference associated with the cell at another zoom state and
• wherein the first data source is different from the second data source;
• and
• outputting an updated visual representation of the cell based upon the obtained content.