Coordination of animations across multiple applications or processes

Abstract

Animation coordination system and methods are provided that manage animation context transitions between and/or among multiple applications. A global coordinator can obtain initial information, such as initial graphical representations and object types, initial positions, etc., from initiator applications and final information, such as final graphical representations and object types, final positions, etc. from destination applications. The global coordination creates an animation context transition between initiator applications and destination applications based upon the initial information and the final information.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computing device for providing animated graphical transitions between applications, the computing device comprising:
 a memory and a processor, wherein the memory and the processor are respectively configured to store and execute computer executable instructions, including instructions for performing operations including:
 receiving a request to transition a context of the computing device from a first context that is associated with an initiator application to a second context that is associated with a destination application other than the initiator application; 
 coordinating an animated graphical transition from the initiator application to the destination application based at least in part on information from the initiator application and on information from the destination application, wherein the coordinated animated visual transition provides an appearance of originating from a representation of an object displayed by the initiator application and ending in another representation of the object displayed by the destination application, and the coordinated animated visual transition depicting the opening of the object with the destination application; and 
 displaying the coordinated animated graphical transition from the initiator application to the destination application on a display device associated with the computing device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 coordinating the animated graphical transition includes:
 receiving, by an animation coordination module, the information from the initiator application; 
 receiving, by the animation coordination module, the information from the destination application; and 
 rendering the coordinated animated graphical transition from the initiator application to the destination application based at least in part on information from the initiator application and on information from the destination application. 
   
     
     
         23 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the operations further include:
 switching the context of the computing device from the first context to the second context in conjunction with displaying the coordinated animated graphical transition.   
     
     
         24 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the operations further include:
 rendering the coordinated animated graphical transition, including:
 creating a frame order for graphical representations of a set of graphical representations; 
 rendering multiple graphical representations of the set of graphical representations; and 
 determining, relative to each other, when the individual graphical representations of the multiple graphical representations are to be displayed. 
   
     
     
         25 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the request to transition the context of the computing device is also a request to open the object with the destination application. 
     
     
         26 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the operations further include:
 generating an animation identifier that corresponds to the animated graphical transition;   issuing the animation identifier to the initiator application and to the destination application; and   storing the information from the initiator application and information from the destination application in association with the animation identifier.   
     
     
         27 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein displaying the coordinated animated graphical transition includes:
 displaying the coordinated animated graphical transition at a top-most z-position on the display device.   
     
     
         28 . The computing device of  claim 21 , displaying the coordinated animated graphical transition includes:
 waiting for a readiness indicator from the destination application before displaying of the coordinated animated graphical transition.   
     
     
         29 . A computing device for providing animated graphical transitions between applications, the computing device comprising:
 a display component configured to display graphical images; and   a memory and a processor, wherein the memory and the processor are respectively configured to store and execute computer executable instructions, including instructions organized into:
 a first application that causes a representation of an object to be displayed by the display component, and that receives an indication of an actuation of the representation of the object; 
 a second application that is invoked in response to the indication of the activation of the representation of the object; and 
 an animation coordinator that receives information from the first application and from the second application, and that coordinates an animated visual transition from the first application to the second application based at least in part on the information from the first application and from the second application, 
 wherein the coordinated animated visual transition provides an appearance of originating from the representation of the object and ending in a display of the second application, and the coordinated animated visual transition depicting the opening of the object with the second application. 
   
     
     
         30 . The computing device of  claim 29 , wherein the animation coordinator also renders the coordinated animated visual transition. 
     
     
         31 . The computing device of  claim 29 , wherein the coordinated animated visual transition visually depicts a shift in context of the computing device from the first application to the second application. 
     
     
         32 . The computing device of  claim 29 , wherein the information from the first application includes a graphical representation of the object, a type of the object, and/or an initial position of the object. 
     
     
         33 . A method for providing animated graphical transitions between applications, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to open an object represented in a first application with a second application;   coordinating an animated graphical transition from the first application to the destination application based at least in part on information from the first application and on information from the second application, wherein the coordinated animated graphical transition provides an appearance of starting from the representation of the object in the first application and ending in a display of the second application, and the coordinated animated graphical transition depicting the opening of the object with the second application; and   displaying the coordinated animated graphical transition from the first application to the second application on a display device associated with the computing device.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the request to open the object depicted in the first application with the second application represents a request to transition the context of the computing device; and   coordinating the animated graphical transition includes:
 receiving, by an animation coordination module, the information from the first application; 
 receiving, by the animation coordination module, the information from the second application; and 
 coordinating the coordinated animated graphical transition from the first application to the second application based at least in part on the information from the first application and on the information from the second application. 
   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein coordinating the coordinated animated graphical transition includes:
 creating a frame order for graphical representations of a set of graphical representations;   rendering multiple graphical representations of the set of graphical representations; and   determining, relative to each other, when the individual graphical representations of the multiple graphical representations are to be displayed.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the method further comprises:
 generating an animation identifier that corresponds to the animated graphical transition;   issuing the animation identifier to the first application and to the second application; and   storing the information from the first application and information from the second application in association with the animation identifier.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the method further comprises:
 opening the object with the second application.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein displaying the coordinated animated graphical transition includes:
 displaying the coordinated animated graphical transition at an enforced top-most z-position on the display device.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the information from the first application includes a graphical representation of the object, a type of the object, and/or an initial position of the object. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the information from the second application includes a final graphical representation for the animated graphical transition.