Interface engine providing a continuous user interface

Abstract

An interface engine provides animated views in a user interface. The interface engine directs the operation of a rendering environment to create an interface in a rendering area. The interface engine includes views, layouts, animators, and constraints. Views identify child views and resources for display in the rendering area. In response to events, such as user inputs, a view modifies itself by calling layouts, animators, and constraints. A layout manages the attributes of a view's child views, including child view position and size. An animator modifies the view's appearance over a specified period of time. A constraint imposes limits on view properties. In one implementation, an Internet site delivers an interface engine to a browser to supply content and a user interface. A presentation server compiles an interface engine description and specified resources into an interface engine. The presentation server delivers the interface engine to the browser, which executes the interface engine using a plug-in—eliminating excessive interface updates found in traditional HTML pages.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for providing an interface, comprising:
 sending a request for network content from a network browser to a server via a network; 
 receiving an interface engine in response to said request, said interface engine including executable code having instructions to render a set of views in a user interface, each view having a set of attributes associated therewith, and instructions to modify each view through one or more attribute modifiers associated with each view, wherein said attribute modifiers include layouts, constraints and animators; 
 providing the user interface in said network browser using said interface engine; 
 receiving a request to change an appearance of at least one particular item of multiple items displayed in said user interface, wherein the one particular item is associated with a first view from the set of views; and 
 in response to said request, changing the appearance of said one particular item in said user interface using said executable code of said interface engine to provide a continuous fluid transition of the appearance of said one particular item with a result that was not predetermined prior to said request, said continuous fluid transition is performed by calling said one or more attribute modifiers for said first view and modifying said first view in response to said one or more attribute modifiers. 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said changing of appearances includes altering a property of a container in response to changing a property of another container. 
 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said changing of appearances includes altering a position of one container in response to a different container expanding. 
 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said changing appearances is performed by multiple animators. 
 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said request to change appearances includes a request to change a position of a first item of said multiple items displayed in said user interface. 
 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said request to change appearances includes a request to change a size of a first item of said multiple items displayed in said user interface. 
 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said request to change includes a request to change an appearance of a first item with respect to other items of said multiple items displayed in said user interface; and 
 said changing appearances includes changing said appearance of said first item with respect to said other items. 
 
     
     
       8. A method for providing an interface, comprising:
 receiving content via a network; 
 displaying said content in a network browser, said displayed content includes a particular item, said displayed content provides a user interface; 
 receiving a request to change said particular item displayed in said network browser from a first visual state to a second visual state, said requested change was not predetermined prior to said request to change; and 
 implementing said requested change by providing continuous fluid transitions for said particular item from said first visual state to said second visual state, said continuous fluid transitions are performed by a method comprising calling one or more attribute modifiers for said particular item and modifying said particular item in response to said one or more attribute modifiers, said attribute modifiers includes layouts, constraints and animators, said implementing said requested change includes making one or more changes to appearances of multiple items in a coordinated manner and showing intermediate steps of said changes to appearances of said multiple items, said multiple items includes said particular item. 
 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said implementing said requested change includes altering a property of one container in response to changing a property of different container; and 
 said multiple items includes said one container and said different container. 
 
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said changes are performed by multiple animators. 
 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said request to change includes a request to change an appearance of said particular item with respect to other items of said multiple items displayed in said user interface. 
 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said user interface comprises a set of user interface items that can be manipulated by a user, said user interface items include said particular item. 
 
     
     
       13. A method for providing an interface, comprising:
 receiving content and an interface engine via a network, said interface engine including executable code having instructions to render a plurality of views in a display, each view having a plurality of attributes associated therewith, and instructions to modify each view through one or more attribute modifiers associated with each view, wherein said attribute modifiers include layouts, constraints and animators; 
 displaying said content in a network browser, said content includes a particular item, said particular item is associated with a first view of the plurality of views; 
 receiving a first request to change the appearance of said particular item displayed in said network browser from a first visual state to a second visual state; 
 implementing said first request to change by using the interface engine to provide a first set of continuous fluid transitions for said particular item from said first visual state toward said second visual state, said continuous fluid transitions being performed by calling said one of more attribute modifiers associated with the first view and modifying the appearance accordingly; 
 receiving a second request to change the appearance of said particular item during said first set of continuous fluid transitions; 
 interrupting said first set of continuous fluid transitions before completing said first set of continuous fluid transitions in response to said second request; and 
 implementing said second request to change by using the interface engine to provide a second set of continuous fluid transitions for said particular item, said continuous fluid transitions being performed by calling said one or more attribute modifiers associated with the first view and modifying the appearance accordingly. 
 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 said content includes a user interface comprising a set of user interface items that can be manipulated by a user, said user interface items include said particular item. 
 
     
     
       15. A method for providing an interface, comprising:
 receiving content and an interface engine via a network, said interface engine including executable code having instructions to render a plurality of views in a user interface, each view having a plurality of attributes associated therewith, and instructions to modify each view through one or more attribute modifiers associated with each view, wherein said attribute modifiers include layouts, constraints and animators; 
 displaying said content in a network browser, said content includes the user interface comprising a set of user interface items that can be manipulated by a user; 
 receiving a request to change a first user interface item of said set of user interface items, said first user interface item is associated with a first view of the plurality of views; 
 implementing said request to change by using the interface engine to provide continuous fluid transitions for said first user interface item from a first visual state to a second visual state, said continuous fluid transitions being performed by calling said one of more attribute modifiers associated with the first view and modifying the appearance accordingly; and 
 changing one or more additional user interface items of said set of user interface items in response to said request to change said first user interface item, said implementing said requested change and said changing one or more additional user interface items includes using the interface engine to make one or more changes to appearances of said first user interface item and said one or more additional user interface items in a coordinated manner and showing intermediate steps of said changes to appearances of said first user interface item and said one or more additional user interface items. 
 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said continuous fluid transitions for said first user interface item are performed by multiple animators. 
 
     
     
       17. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices having code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 accessing an interface engine description; and 
 compiling said interface engine description to create an interface engine, said user interface engine implements a user interface in a network browser, said user interface includes a set of interface items, said interface engine includes code to change a particular item displayed as part of said user interface from a first visual state to a second visual state and implements said change by providing continuous fluid transitions for said particular item from said first visual state to said second visual state, said continuous fluid transitions are performed by a method comprising calling one or more attribute modifiers for said particular item and modifying said particular item in response to said one or more attribute modifiers, said attribute modifiers includes layouts, constraints and animators, said implementing said change includes making one or more changes to appearances of multiple items in a coordinated manner and showing intermediate steps of said changes to appearances of said multiple items, said multiple items includes said particular item, and said changing of said particular item from said first visual state to said second visual state is not a predetermined change. 
 
     
     
       18. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said implementing said requested change includes altering a property of one container in response to changing a property of different container; and 
 said multiple items includes said one container and said different container. 
 
     
     
       19. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices having code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 sending a request for network content from a network browser to a server via a network;   receiving an interface engine in response to said request, said interface engine including executable code having instructions to render a set of views in a user interface, each view having a set of attributes associated therewith, and instructions to modify each view through one or more attribute modifiers associated with each view, wherein said attribute modifiers include layouts, constraints and animators;   providing the user interface in said network browser using said interface engine;   receiving a request to change an appearance of at least one particular item of multiple items displayed in said user interface, wherein the one particular item is associated with a first view from the set of views; and   in response to said request, changing the appearance of said one particular item in said user interface using said executable code of said interface engine to provide a continuous fluid transition of the appearance of said one particular item with a result that was not predetermined prior to said request, said continuous fluid transition is performed by calling said one or more attribute modifiers for said first view and modifying said first view in response to said one or more attribute modifiers.   
     
     
       20. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 19, wherein:
 said changing of appearances includes altering a property of a container in response to changing a property of another container.   
     
     
       21. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 19, wherein:
 said changing of appearances includes altering a position of one container in response to a different container expanding.   
     
     
       22. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 19, wherein:
 said changing appearances is performed by multiple animators.   
     
     
       23. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 19, wherein:
 said request to change appearances includes a request to change a position of a first item of said multiple items displayed in said user interface.   
     
     
       24. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 19, wherein:
 said request to change appearances includes a request to change a size of a first item of said multiple items displayed in said user interface.   
     
     
       25. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 19, wherein:
 said request to change includes a request to change an appearance of a first item with respect to other items of said multiple items displayed in said user interface; and   said changing appearances includes changing said appearance of said first item with respect to said other items.   
     
     
       26. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices having code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 receiving content via a network;   displaying said content in a network browser, said displayed content includes a particular item, said displayed content provides a user interface;   receiving a request to change said particular item displayed in said network browser from a first visual state to a second visual state, said requested change was not predetermined prior to said request to change; and   implementing said requested change by providing continuous fluid transitions for said particular item from said first visual state to said second visual state, said continuous fluid transitions are performed by a method comprising calling one or more attribute modifiers for said particular item and modifying said particular item in response to said one or more attribute modifiers, said attribute modifiers includes layouts, constraints and animators, said implementing said requested change includes making one or more changes to appearances of multiple items in a coordinated manner and showing intermediate steps of said changes to appearances of said multiple items, said multiple items includes said particular item.   
     
     
       27. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 26, wherein:
 said implementing said requested change includes altering a property of one container in response to changing a property of different container; and   said multiple items includes said one container and said different container.   
     
     
       28. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 26, wherein:
 said changes are performed by multiple animators.   
     
     
       29. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 26, wherein:
 said request to change includes a request to change an appearance of said particular item with respect to other items of said multiple items displayed in said user interface.   
     
     
       30. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 26, wherein:
 said user interface comprises a set of user interface items that can be manipulated by a user, said user interface items include said particular item.   
     
     
       31. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices having code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 receiving content and an interface engine via a network, said interface engine including executable code having instructions to render a plurality of views in a display, each view having a plurality of attributes associated therewith, and instructions to modify each view through one or more attribute modifiers associated with each view, wherein said attribute modifiers include layouts, constraints and animators;   displaying said content in a network browser, said content includes a particular item, said particular item is associated with a first view of the plurality of views;   receiving a first request to change the appearance of said particular item displayed in said network browser from a first visual state to a second visual state;   implementing said first request to change by using the interface engine to provide a first set of continuous fluid transitions for said particular item from said first visual state toward said second visual state, said continuous fluid transitions being performed by calling said one of more attribute modifiers associated with the first view and modifying the appearance accordingly;   receiving a second request to change the appearance of said particular item during said first set of continuous fluid transitions;   interrupting said first set of continuous fluid transitions before completing said first set of continuous fluid transitions in response to said second request; and   implementing said second request to change by using the interface engine to provide a second set of continuous fluid transitions for said particular item, said continuous fluid transitions being performed by calling said one or more attribute modifiers associated with the first view and modifying the appearance accordingly.   
     
     
       32. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 31, wherein:
 said content includes a user interface comprising a set of user interface items that can be manipulated by a user, said user interface items include said particular item.   
     
     
       33. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices having code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 receiving content and an interface engine via a network, said interface engine including executable code having instructions to render a plurality of views in a user interface, each view having a plurality of attributes associated therewith, and instructions to modify each view through one or more attribute modifiers associated with each view, wherein said attribute modifiers include layouts, constraints and animators;   displaying said content in a network browser, said content includes the user interface comprising a set of user interface items that can be manipulated by a user;   receiving a request to change a first user interface item of said set of user interface items, said first user interface item is associated with a first view of the plurality of views;   implementing said request to change by using the interface engine to provide continuous fluid transitions for said first user interface item from a first visual state to a second visual state, said continuous fluid transitions being performed by calling said one of more attribute modifiers associated with the first view and modifying the appearance accordingly; and   changing one or more additional user interface items of said set of user interface items in response to said request to change said first user interface item, said implementing said requested change and said changing one or more additional user interface items includes using the interface engine to make one or more changes to appearances of said first user interface item and said one or more additional user interface items in a coordinated manner and showing intermediate steps of said changes to appearances of said first user interface item and said one or more additional user interface items.   
     
     
       34. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices according to claim 33, wherein:
 said continuous fluid transitions for said first user interface item are performed by multiple animators.   
     
     
       35. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices comprising framework code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said code for programming one or more processors to:
 receive content via a network;   provide said received content for display by a network browser, said content for display to include a particular item, wherein said content for display is associated with a user interface;   receive a user request to change said particular item displayed in said network browser from a first visual state to a second visual state, said requested change was not predetermined prior to said request to change; and   implement said requested change by providing one or more continuous fluid transitions for said particular item from said first visual state to said second visual state, said implementing said requested change to include making one or more changes to appearances of multiple items in a coordinated manner and showing intermediate steps of said changes to appearances of said multiple items, said multiple items to include said particular item;   said framework code further to include code to perform said continuous fluid transitions, where the code to perform said continuous fluid transitions is to specify one or more attribute modifiers for said particular item to modify said particular item in response to said one or more attribute modifiers, said attribute modifiers to include layouts, constraints, and animators, the animators to specify modification of the appearance of the content for display over time, where the code to perform said continuous fluid transitions is to call said one or more attribute modifiers and to modify said particular item in response to the call of said one or more attribute modifiers.   
     
     
       36. The one or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices of claim 35, wherein the content is media content. 
     
     
       37. The one or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices of claim 35, wherein the content is streaming media content. 
     
     
       38. The one or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices of claim 35, wherein the content is video content. 
     
     
       39. The one or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices of claim 35, wherein the content is music content. 
     
     
       40. One or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices comprising code embodied on said one or more processor readable storage devices, said code for programming one or more processors to:
 provide an interface engine with a modular architecture crafted to support continuous user interfaces to be displayed in a network browser;   said interface engine to provide for one or more continuous fluid transitions for a particular item of content from a first visual state to a second visual state based on a real time user input, said continuous fluid transition to include making one or more changes to appearances of multiple items in a coordinated manner and showing intermediate steps of said changes to appearances of said multiple items, said multiple items to include said particular item, where said one or more changes were not predetermined prior to said real time user input;   said interface engine further to include code to perform said continuous fluid transitions, where the code to perform said continuous fluid transitions is to provide one or more attribute modifiers and is to modify said particular item in response to one or more values associated with said one or more attribute modifiers, said attribute modifiers to include layouts, constraints, and animators, the animators to specify modification of the appearance of the displayed content over time, where the code to perform said continuous fluid transitions is to call said one or more attribute modifiers and to modify said particular item in response to the call of said one or more attribute modifiers.   
     
     
       41. The one or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices of claim 40, wherein the particular item of content is media content. 
     
     
       42. The one or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices of claim 40, wherein the particular item of content is streaming media content. 
     
     
       43. The one or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices of claim 40, wherein the particular item of content is video content. 
     
     
       44. The one or more non-transitory processor readable storage devices of claim 40, wherein the particular item of content is music content.