US5793368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for dynamically switching between visual styles
Assignee: F Poszat HU LLC
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Filing: 1996-11-14
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2016-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for allowing a user to retrieve a user interface and a visual style from a local or remote storage unit, rapidly display the visual stylized user interface, and dynamically switch between visual styles, without comprising security over a network system. Once displayed, the user can customize or configure the visual style of the user interface. The invention includes a programmable graphics user interface (PGUI). The PGUI is initialized to a default visual style or to a user's preferred style when the user logs onto a network system. In the preferred embodiment, after proper login, a user interface, stored on a server as a description in a text-based User Interface Language (UIL), is transferred to user's client system. The PGUI parses the UIL description and creates the user interface controls defined in the description. The PGUI then uses the currently selected visual style to display the user interface, and then reads any content (e.g., text, images, or other content) for the interface. The PGUI displays the content within the user interface, such as in a scrollable area or any other area described by the UIL. Once the user interface is displayed, the user can change the user interface, save the user interface, change the contents, save the contents, or switch visual styles. Compound or complex user interfaces can be easily created by combining simple user interface components.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Beer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for allowing a user to retrieve a user interface, including at least one control, and a visual style for each control, rapidly display the visual stylized user interface, and dynamically switch between visual styles for each control, comprising the steps of: (a) creating a user interface definition describing at least one part of a user interface in terms of at least distinct function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (b) retrieving the user interface definition; (c) parsing the user interface definition and creating each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (d) retrieving a defined visual style object and rendering an appearance for each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined visual style; (e) displaying the user interface rendered in the specified style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for allowing a user to retrieve a user interface, including at least one control, and a visual style for each control, rapidly display the visual stylized user interface, and dynamically switch between visual styles for each control, comprising the steps of: (a) creating a user interface definition describing at least one part of a user interface in terms of at least distinct function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (b) retrieving the user interface definition; (c) parsing the user interface definition and creating each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (d) retrieving a defined visual style object and rendering an appearance for each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined visual style; (e) displaying the user interface rendered in the specified style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (a) responding to any event affecting apart of the user interface in accordance with the functional attribute of that part, or in accordance with the functional attribute of a parent part of such part, as defined in the parent-child inter-control relationship attribute for such part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (a) rendering the appearance of each part of the user interface in accordance with any newly selected visual style; and (b) redisplaying the user interface rendered in the newly selected style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the defined visual object style permits the rendering of the appearance for each part to correspond to the style of a selectable operating system.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for allowing a user to retrieve a user interface, including at least one control, and a visual style for each control, rapidly display the visual stylized user interface, and dynamically switch between visual styles for each control, comprising: (a) means for creating and storing a user interface definition describing at least one part of a user interface in terms of at least distinct function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (b) means for retrieving the stored user interface definition; (c) means for parsing the retrieved user interface definition and creating each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (d) means for retrieving a defined visual style object and rendering an appearance for each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined visual style; (e) means for displaying the user interface rendered in the specified style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for allowing a user to retrieve a user interface, including at least one control, and a visual style for each control, rapidly display the visual stylized user interface, and dynamically switch between visual styles for each control, comprising: (a) means for creating and storing a user interface definition describing at least one part of a user interface in terms of at least distinct function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (b) means for retrieving the stored user interface definition; (c) means for parsing the retrieved user interface definition and creating each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (d) means for retrieving a defined visual style object and rendering an appearance for each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined visual style; (e) means for displaying the user interface rendered in the specified style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 5, further comprising: (a) means for responding to any event affecting a part of the user interface in accordance with the functional attribute of that part, or in accordance with the functional attribute of a parent part of such part, as defined in the parent-child inter-control relationship attribute for such part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 5, further comprising: (a) means for rendering the appearance of each part of the user interface in accordance with any newly selected visual style; and (b) means for redisplaying the user interface rendered in the newly selected style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 5, wherein the defined visual object style permits the rendering of the appearance for each part to correspond to the style of a selectable operating system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for allowing a user to retrieve a user interface, including at least one control, and a visual style for each control, rapidly display the visual stylized user interface, and dynamically switch between visual styles for each control, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a computer to: (a) create and store a user interface definition describing at least one part of a user interface in terms of at least distinct function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; p1 (b) retrieve the user interface definition; (c) parse the user interface definition and create each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (d) retrieve a defined visual style object and render an appearance for each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined visual style; (e) display the user interface rendered in the specified style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for allowing a user to retrieve a user interface, including at least one control, and a visual style for each control, rapidly display the visual stylized user interface, and dynamically switch between visual styles for each control, the computer program comprising instructions for causing a computer to: (a) create and store a user interface definition describing at least one part of a user interface in terms of at least distinct function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; p1 (b) retrieve the user interface definition; (c) parse the user interface definition and create each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined function attributes, appearance attributes, and parent-child inter-control relationship attributes; (d) retrieve a defined visual style object and render an appearance for each part of the user interface in accordance with the defined visual style; (e) display the user interface rendered in the specified style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer program of claim 9, further comprising instructions for causing a computer to: (a) respond to any event affecting apart of the user interface in accordance with the functional attribute of that part, or in accordance with the functional attribute of a parent part of such part, as defined in the parent-child inter-control relationship attribute for such part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer program of claim 9, further comprising instructions for causing a computer to: (a) render the appearance of each part of the user interface in accordance with any newly selected visual style; and (b) redisplay the user interface rendered in the newly selected style for response to events and for display of content.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer program of claim 9, wherein the defined visual object style permits the rendering of the appearance for each part to correspond to the style of a selectable operating system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-10 | 2002-02-09 | 2002-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-10 | 2006-02-09 | 2006-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-10 | 2010-02-09 | 2010-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |