Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2002-11-05
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06476828
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to user interfaces and, more particularly, to graphical user interfaces.
RESERVATION OF COPYRIGHT
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which a claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer graphical user interfaces (GUIs) written in conventional programming languages, such as JAVA and C/C++, are typically static in nature. This means that once a user interface has been rendered on a display device, a fixed number of GUI controls are displayed. If data within a displayed GUI changes, such as the number and/or format of displayed GUI controls, the GUI must typically be modified at the code level, recompiled and then re-rendered on the display device. As a result, existing GUIs may not be able to react quickly to the needs and requests of users.
Accordingly, there is a need for GUIs that can change dynamically in response to user requests and other external factors. Furthermore, there is a need for GUIs that can be modified without requiring code changes and recompiling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to systems, methods and computer program products for building and displaying dynamic graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that can be updated automatically without requiring code modification and recompiling. In response to a request to display a particular GUI on a computer display, an Extensible Markup Language (XML) data group is selected from a plurality of XML data groups. The selected XML data group includes one or more aggregations (groups) of data hierarchically ordered within the selected XML data group. XML data items are hierarchically ordered within the aggregations of data.
Also, an XML display layout is selected in response to the request to display the GUI. The selected XML display layout contains one or more areas that define respective GUI display spaces within which XML data items from the respective aggregations of data can be displayed. XML markup tags associated with each aggregation of data within the selected XML data group are matched with XML markup tags associated with a respective area contained within the selected XML display layout. The XML data items contained within each aggregation of data are rendered in hierarchical order within a respective GUI display space defined by a respective area within the XML display layout. GUI controls associated with displayed XML data items may also be rendered within a respective GUI display space.
According to the present invention, each area defined by an XML display layout may contain display order information for XML data items contained within a respective aggregation of data. Furthermore, the step of rendering XML data items may include rendering the XML data items within a respective GUI display space according to the display order information. Each area defined by an XML display layout may also contain display format information that defines the format within which XML data items from an aggregation of data are displayed. Furthermore, the step of rendering XML data items may include rendering the XML data items within a respective GUI display space according to the display format information.
The dynamic nature of GUIs according to the present invention may facilitate enhanced user interactions with computer systems.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5121477 (1992-06-01), Koopmans et al.
patent: 5404441 (1995-04-01), Satoyama
patent: 5418941 (1995-05-01), Peters
patent: 5487145 (1996-01-01), Marsh et al.
patent: 5548704 (1996-08-01), Steiner et al.
patent: 5668959 (1997-09-01), Malcolm
patent: 5696914 (1997-12-01), Nahaboo et al.
patent: 5781739 (1998-07-01), Bach et al.
patent: 5848410 (1998-12-01), Walls et al.
patent: 5877766 (1999-03-01), Bates et al.
patent: 5878418 (1999-03-01), Polcyn et al.
patent: 6003047 (1999-12-01), Osmond et al.
patent: 6125391 (2000-09-01), Meltzer et al.
patent: 6167448 (2000-12-01), Hemphill et al.
patent: 6249844 (2001-06-01), Schloss et al.
patent: 6272537 (2001-08-01), Kekic et al.
patent: 6279006 (2001-08-01), Shigemi et al.
patent: 6307544 (2001-10-01), Harding
patent: 6314434 (2001-11-01), Shigemi et al.
patent: 6330659 (2001-12-01), Poff et al.
patent: 3844036 (1989-07-01), None
patent: 336560 (1989-10-01), None
patent: 541236 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 08166865 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 09198348 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 10-187512 (1998-07-01), None
patent: WO9502236 (1995-01-01), None
Specification, Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0, prepared by W3C XML Working Group (WG), pp. 1-32 (Feb. 10, 1998).
Muschett, B.H. et al., “Dynamic Loading of Locale Specific Hyper Text markup Language (HTML) Pages,” Research Disclosure, International Business Machines Corporation (Mar. 1998).
Farn, B., “Method to Convert Graphical User Interface Definitions and Windows to HyperText Markup Language,” IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 40, No. 08, pp. 167-173 (Aug. 1997).
Elder, B. et al., “Architecture for Platform and Presentation Independent User Interface for Applications,” IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 38, No. 01, pp. 167-173 (Jan. 1995).
Jern, M., Conference Paper, “Information visualization on the Web,” Abstract, 1998 IEEE Conference on Information Visualization, London UK (Jul. 1998).
Berg, D., “An Internet Solution,” Abstract, Object Magazine, vol. 7, No. 3 (May 1997).
Suzuki, T. et al., “Multimedia HTML Layout Method,” Abstract, IEICE Transactions on Communications, vol. E79-B, No. 8 (Aug. 1996).
Gray, M.. et al., “Coupling application design and user interface design,” Abstract, CHI '92 Conference Proceedings ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Striking a Balance (1992).
Makela, R. et al., “Keep it simple-interactive electronic applications with SGML,” Abstract, SGML Europe '97 Conference Proceedings (May 1997).
Flammia, G., “SMIL makes Web applications multimodal,” Abstract, IEEE Intelligent Systems, vol. 13, No. 4 (Jul.-Aug. 1998).
de Baar, DJMJ et al., “Coupling application design and user interface design,” Abstract, CHI '92 Conference Proceedings, ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Striking a Balance (1992).
Burkett Charles Edward
Clark David John
Lection David Bruce
Merrick Roland Albert
Unger Jay
Bayerl Raymond J.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
Ray-Yarletts Jeanine S.
Thai Cuong T.
LandOfFree
Systems, methods and computer program products for building... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Systems, methods and computer program products for building..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Systems, methods and computer program products for building... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2946202