Patent EP0576178A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0576178A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of maintaining relationships between elements
Assignee: Adobe Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-06-10
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a graphical applications program (20) for use in specifying spatial relationships between graphical elements in a graphics environment. The graphical applications program includes a user interface (28) that interacts with an operating system (24) through an application shell (30). Coupled between the user interface and operating system are a document engine (32), a graphics engine (34), and a constraint engine (36). The graphical applications program runs on a CPU (22) housed within, for example, a personal computer, through the operating system.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan L. Gay
- 👤 Robert B. Tatsumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of specifying the spatial relationships between graphical elements comprising the steps of: (a) creating a distribution frame; (b) placing a set of graphical elements within the distribution frame; and (c) creating alignment and distribution criteria that determine spatial relationships between the graphical elements placed within the distribution frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of sizing the distribution frame to fit the set of graphical elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 5 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 6 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 5 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substeps of sizing the set of graphical elements to fit the distribution frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 9 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 10 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 9 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of locking the order of the graphical elements that form the set of graphical elements such that the graphical elements cannot be rearranged within the distribution frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 13 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 14 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 13 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 13 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of sizing the distribution frame to fit the set of graphical elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 17 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 18 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 17 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 13 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substeps of sizing the set of graphical elements to fit the distribution frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 21 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 22 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 21 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of specifying the spatial relationships between graphical elements comprising the steps of: (a) creating a set of graphical elements; (b) surrounding said set of graphical elements with a distribution frame; and (c) creating alignment and distribution criteria that determine spatial relationships between the graphical elements surrounded by said distribution frame.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 25 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 26 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 25 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 25 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of sizing the distribution frame to fit the set of graphical elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 29 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 30 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 29 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 25 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substeps of sizing the set of graphical elements to fit the distribution frame.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 33 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 34 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 33 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of Claim 25 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of locking the order of the graphical elements that form the set of graphical elements such that the graphical elements cannot be rearranged within the distribution frame.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 37 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 38 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 37 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 37 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of sizing the distribution frame to fit the set of graphical elements.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 41 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 42 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 37 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 37 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substeps of sizing the set of graphical elements to fit the distribution frame.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 45 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 46 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 45 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of specifying the spatial relationships between graphical elements comprising the steps of: (a) creating a set of graphical elements; (b) creating alignment and distribution criteria that determine spatial relationships between said graphical elements; and (c) surrounding said set of graphical elements with a distribution frame.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 49 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 50 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 49 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 49 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of sizing the distribution frame to fit the set of graphical elements.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 53 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 54 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 53 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 49 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substeps of sizing the set of graphical elements to fit the distribution frame.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 57 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 58 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 57 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of Claim 49 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of locking the order of the graphical elements that form the set of graphical elements such that the graphical elements cannot be rearranged within the distribution frame.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 61 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 62 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 61 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 61 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of sizing the distribution frame to fit the set of graphical elements.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 65 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 66 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 65 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 61 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substeps of sizing the set of graphical elements to fit the distribution frame.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 69 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one vertical axis.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 70 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 69 wherein the step of creating alignment and distribution criteria includes the substep of creating spatial relationships for selected ones of the graphical elements along at least one horizontal axis.
Claim 73
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of solving constraints between pairs of linked graphical elements after the graphical elements have been edited comprising the steps of: (a) creating a dirty list of links whose constraints are not currently satisfied; and (b) repetitively resolving the constraints associated with the links on the dirty list by changing the attributes of one of the graphical elements of the pair of linked graphical elements associated with the link whose constraint is being resolved.
Claim 74
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of maintaining constraints between graphical elements that have been edited comprising the steps of: (a) creating a link between each pair of graphical elements that are to be coupled by a constraint; (b) determining if the constraint associated with each pair of linked graphical elements is satisfied; (c) creating a dirty list of links whose constraints are not currently satisfied; and (d) resolving the constraints associated with the links on the dirty list by changing the attributes of one of the graphical elements attached to the link in accordance with the constraint.
Claim 75
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of solving the constraints between pairs of linked graphical elements after the graphical elements have been edited comprising the steps of: (a) creating a dirty list of links whose constraints are not currently satisfied; (b) prioritizing the dirty list based on a predetermined criteria; (c) resolving the constraint associated with the link on the prioritized dirty list having the highest priority by changing the attributes of one of the graphical elements attached to the link; and (d) repeating step (c) until the constraints associated with all of the links on the prioritized dirty list have been resolved.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method claimed in Claim 75 wherein the step of prioritizing the dirty list comprises the substeps of creating a set of more than one priority list and assigning each link on the dirty list to one of the priority lists.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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