CA2121672C - Scalable three-dimensional borders - Google Patents
Scalable three-dimensional borders Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2121672C CA2121672C CA002121672A CA2121672A CA2121672C CA 2121672 C CA2121672 C CA 2121672C CA 002121672 A CA002121672 A CA 002121672A CA 2121672 A CA2121672 A CA 2121672A CA 2121672 C CA2121672 C CA 2121672C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- border
- edges
- logical
- minimum
- output device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
- G09G5/00—Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators
- G09G5/14—Display of multiple viewports
Abstract
Scalable three-dimensional borders are provided in the user interface of an operating system. The borders are scalable in several respects. First, the dimensions of the borders are scalable relative to the resolution of a video display upon which the borders will be drawn. Second, the colors used in the borders are scalable based upon the range of luminances available on the video display. The borders are colored to provide the visual illusion of depth such that the borders appear to be three-dimensional.
Description
I
Description SCALABLE THREE-DIMENSIONAL BORDERS
Tnr-%~~iC31 Fl.cl d The present invention relates generally to data processing systems and, more particularly, to the use of scalable three-dimensional borders in a use. inter~ace of a data processing system.
Hac'ccround of t'~e Invent_on Many operating systems provide use. interf aces that are well adapted for display on video displays of a IS given type but are not well adapted for display cn video displays of other types. For instance, the borders of items in a user interface may not be clearly legible on video displays with high resolution. In addition, the colors of borders in the user inter=ace may also not be well suited for given twos of video displays.
The borders that are provides in user interfaces are typically tap dime_~sional borders that provide no sense of depth. As a result, the user ins=rf aces do not provide visual coves to users regarding the nature of items (1=ke buttons) which are presumed to be three dimensional.
Three dimensional borders have been used in certain user interfaces, but have generally been unsatisfactory.
Su~ana~,~ of the Irventi on In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in the data processing system having a memory means, an output device, such as a printer or video display, and a processor that produces a use. interface. The output device has a resolution that may be specified in ter-:ns of number of horizontal dots (e.g., pixels) per inch and number of vertical dots per itch. In accordance with the meshed, a minimum border ~~~:~ 3~
L
width for each border in the user interf ace is determined by the processor. The minimum border width is chosen to be Buff=c=ently visible for the given resolution of the output device. The processor is also used to determine a minimum border height for each border in the user interf ace. The minimum border height is chosen to be sufficiently visible for the given resolution of the output device. Vertical edges of the borders are drawn in the user interface to have the minimum border width, and horizontal edges of the borders are drawn to have the minimum border height.
The memoir means of the data processing system may hold system metrics, including the minimum border height and the minimum border width. In addition, other system metrics may be scaled to have values that are proportional to the minimum border height or the minimum border width. These other system metrics are stored in the memory means as well.
The minimum border width may be calculated as an integer portion of the sum of the number of horizontal dots per inch on the output device and seventy-one, divided by seventy-two. Likewise, the minimum border height may be calculated as an integer portion of (the sum of the numoer of vertical dots per inch on the output device and 71) divided by 72. The borders may be drawn as three-dimensional borders.
in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of drawing a border with the output device is practiced. The border includes an inner border having border edges and an outer border having border edges. In the methcd, a range of logical depths (relative to a zero level surface of the output device) which may be assumed by the inner border and outer border are established. The range includes at least one sunken logical depth and at least one raised logical depth. For each logical depth, the border edges of the inner border or the outer border are pre-determined, and the colors produce a visual eT=ect of the logical depth when the borders are output on the output device. The border is output by the output device by drawing the outer border to have a first logical depth and drawing the inner border to have a second logical depth. The outer border has border edges with the colors assigned to the border edges for the first logical depth. Similarly, the inner border has border edges with the colors assigned to the border edges for the second logical depth.
The range of logical depths may include at least two raised logical depths and at least two sunken logical depths. The colors may be assigned to the border edges by first determining where a logical light source is located on the zero level surface relative to the border. Then, for each logical depth, given the logical, light source location, a determination is made regarding which of the border edges of the inner border or the outer border are in shadow and which of the border edges are in glare. The border edges that are in glare are assigned a first color, and the border edges that are in shadow are assigned a second color. When the logical light source is presumed to be positioned in the top left corner of the zero level surface and the border is at a raised logical depth, the top and left border edges are in glare and the bottom and right border edges are in shadow. Conversely, when the logical light source is positioned in the top left corner of the output surface and the border is at a sunken logical depth, the top and left border edges are in shadow, and the bottom and right border edges are in glare.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in a data processing system such that a reQUired number of shades to differentiate amongst heights that borders may assume when displayed on the output device is determined. A processor of the data processing system is used to determine the range of luminances available on the output device. The processor is also used to dete_rnine the luminance values of the shades to be used in displaying the borders. The shades are evenly spread across the range of luminances.
A border is then drawn using the output device which has portions at different heights. The portions at different heigzts are assigned different ones of the determined luminance values to differentiate the heights.
Br=e= Description of the Drawina~
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with ref erence to the drawings. The drawings include the following figures.
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a data processing system that is suitable for practicing the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the steps that are performed to scale border dimensions relative to video display resolution and to scale system metrics relative to the border dimensions in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is an example of a combined border generated in accordance with the pref erred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the steps performed to determine a range of luminance values for shades that are assigned to border edges in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figures Sa, Sb, 5c and Sd each show inner or outer borders for combined borders generated in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e each show combined borders that are generated in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides scalable three-dimensional borders for graphic S
elements of a systeTn user inter=ace. The borders ars scalable in that they may be scaled for display with different types of systems. The borders provided by the pref erred embodiment of the present invention are three dimensional in that they are shaded to give the illusion of depth.
Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing system 10 for implementing the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The data processing system 10 includes a single central processing unit (CPU) 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to use within a single processor data processing system; rather, the present invention may also be implemented in data processing systems having more than one processor, such as a distributed system. The data processing system 10 includes a memory 14 that may include different types of storage, such as RAM, ROM and/or secondary storage. The memozy 14 holds numerous items, including a copy of an operating system 16. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is implemented by code that is incorporated into the operating system 16. A keyboard 18, a mouse 20, a video display 22, and a printer 23 are also provided in the data processing system 10.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter relative to output on the video display 22. It should be appreciated that the present invention also is applicable to borders that are printed on printers, such as printer 23.
A first type of scalability provided by the pref erred embodiment of the present invention conce=-ns the scalability of dimensions of the borders (i.e., border width and border height). The border height and border width are scalable to compensate for the resolution of the video display 22 so that the borders are readily visible.
Border width is set in the preferred embodiment as the minimum number of pixels that are rea_uired to clearly see a vertical border line on the video dis~lav 22. Border height, in contrast, is set as the minimum number of pixels required to clearly see a horizontal border line on the video display 22. If the output is destined instead for printer 23, the minimum border height and minimum border width are specified in terms of dots. In general, "dots" is used hereinafter to encompass both pixels and dots generated by a printer (such as a dot matrix printer).
A border is formed by a rectangular frame whose vertical border edges are 1 border width wide and whose horizontal border edges are 1 border height high. The border height and border width are determined primarily by the size of the pixels provided on the video display 22.
Large pixels imply a small border height and a small border width, whereas small pixels imply a large border height and a large border width. In general, given a resolution of 72 pixels per inch, a border width of 1 and a border height of 1 are sufficient for the border edges to be clearly visible. Many video displays 22, however, have a greater resolution than 72 pixels per inch and, thus. have smaller pixels. In such video displays, a border width of 1 and a border height of 1 result in a border that is not clearly visible to most vietaers. The pref erred embodiment of the present invention, in contrast, provides a border having a greater border width and a greater border height that results in the borders being more visible.
Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the steps performed by the preferred embodiment of the present invention to scale the border height and border width of the borders to account for the resolution of the video display 22. First, a border Width that has the minimum number of pixels that are necessary to make the border sufficiently visible, given the resolution of the video display 22, is calculated (step 24) . The border width is calculat'd to be equal to (the sum of the number of ~~r~
horizcntal pixels per inch on the video display and 71) divided by 72. The border height is also calculated in an analogous manner (step 26). The border height is calculated as (the sum of the number of vertical pixels per inch and 71) divided by 72. If the border output is destined for printer 23, resolution is measured in teens of dots per inch.
The calculated values of the border width and the border height are stored as 'system metrics' (such as found in the Microsoft WINDOWS, version 3.1, operating system). The operating system 16 provides a number of system metrics that may be accessed using the GetSystemMetrics() function. The system metrics provide a convenient means for quickly obtaining metrics for IS graphical activities. A parameter that is passed to the GetSystemMetrics() function is an index to one of the system metrics. The border width and the border height are stored as separately indexed system metrics (SM CXBORDER and SM_CYHORDER, respectively). To preserve relative dimensions among the system metrics, the prefer=ed embodiment of the present invention scales the other system metrics relative to the border width and/or the border height (step 28). In particular, the system metrics that relate to the X dimension are scaled relative to the border width, and the system metrics that relate to the Y dimension are scaled relative to the border height.
The system metrics that do not relate to either the X
dimension or the Y dimension are not scaled. For example, a system metric is provided to specify the tolerance in the X direction for a double click of the mouse (i.e., how close the cursor must be to an object in the X direction before a double click of the mouse is deemed to be a double click on the object). This system metric is scaled relative to border width. Thus, not only are border width and border height scalable, but the outer system metrics are also scalable in the ire=erred embodiment of the present invention.
~..
a The pref=rred embcdiment of the present invention pr:,vides three-dimensional borders. Several assumptions are made in order to provide three-dimensional borders. First, the surfaces of all borders are assumed to be composed of a solid-color metallic material which reflects all light that strikes them. Moreever, since each surface is assumed to be a solid, depth chances are rendered as linear color changes.
A 'shadow" border edge is a border edge which neither recei~Tes direct light nor has a line of sight with a light source. A "glare" border edge is a border edge which receives both direct light and has a line of sight with the light source. Shadow border edges and glare border edges are rendered in a linear fashion. Border edges which are not shadows border edges or glare border edges are clang border edges that receive diffuse lighting.
Another assumption made by the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the light source for all displayed objects is in the top left hand corner of the video display 22. The preferred embodiment further assumes that all border surfaces are ccmposed of planes that are either parallel to the video display surface or gerpendicular to the video display surface. The border surfaces that are parallel to the screen are flat, whereas the border surfaces that are perpendicular to the video display surface lead to flat border surfaces that appear raised above or sunken below the level of another parallel surface. The border surfaces are assumed to be rectangular.
As a result of these constraints, the borders provided by the preferred embodiment are rectangular frames having glare border edges and shadow border edges that vary from the surface color by being lighter or darker than the surface color, respectively. The glare border edges mark transitions from a flat surface below the level cf another flat surface. The shadow border "~
edges mar.'t transitions from a flat surface above the level of another flat surface.
Each border is divided into an outer border 30 (Figure 3) and an inner border 32. The outer border 30 and inner border 32 are concentric, as shown in Figure 3.
The outer border 30 and the inner border 32 each have a relative depth that specifies how the border should appear relative to the video display surface (i.e., surface below the surface or raised above the surface) .
Shading is used provide the illusion of depth of the outer border and the inner border. The shades that are used f or the dif f er ent depths of the inner border and outer border are defined in relative teens that may be easily scaled to the range of colors available on different systems. The range of available colors is defined by the video display and/or a video adapter for the display 22. In the prefez-reti embodiment, the maximum transition of depth between tTao flat border surfaces is 2.
In other words, if the depths are divided into logical levels, the maximum transition is two levels. Using this maximum transition of depth, the total number of shades required to properly shade the outer border 30 and the inner border 32 may be calculated as the sum of 1 plus 2 times the maximum depth (i.e., 1 + (2 x 2), which equals 5). The maximum depth is multiplied by 2 in the calculation to account for the border having tTao par~s (i.e., inner border and outer border).
The chances in the shading to differentiate depths of borders are performed by varying the luminance of portions of the borders. The luminance is a measure of the brightness or darkness of a color as it appears on the video display 22 (Figure 1).
Figure 4 shows a flowchart of the steps performed by the preferred embodiment of the present invention to scale the luminance values for the borders.
In general, most video displays 22 (Figure 1) and their adapters spec=fy colors according to a red, green and blue (RGH) scale. ".'he preferred embcdiment or the present invention perforzs a conversion from the RG3 scale to a hue, saturation and value (HSV) scale at system startup (i.e., each color is defined as a combination of hue, saturation and luminance). Saturation refers to the amount of intensity, and hue refers to a color family (e. g., pink). Value may be viewed as a grey scale version of a color, wherein the magnitude of the value specifies the amount of white in the color. The result of the conversion is used to obtain a range of luminances (which is quantified as the °value~~) that are available on the video display 22 (step 34 in Figure 4). A midpoint is then found in the range of luminances (step 36). The midpoint corresponds with the luminance of a "basic color"
for border edges at depth 0. The remainder of the luminances are then partitioned to locate the requir=d number of shades (step 38). In particular, the luminance values are partitioned to find shades that are evenly distributed across the rance of luminances.
For example, suppose that the luminanc~s available on the video display 22 span a range from 0 to 240 in the HSV scale. The midpoint, at luminance I20, is a medium gray color in a monochrome scale. The remaining luminancss are partitioned to locate four other shades that are equally spread across the range of available luminances. In the example range of 0 to 240, the four other shades are at 0 (i.e., black), 60 (i.e., dark gray), 180 (i.e., light gray) and 240 (i.e., white). The darker shades, 0 and 60, are used for the shadcw border edges, whereas the lighter shades, 180 and 240, are used for the glare border edges.
In addition to adjustments in luminances, the shadow border edges and glare border edges also differ slightly as to luminance values. Specifically, saturation values are inc=eased by 10% for glare border edges and decreased by 10% for shadow border edges. The saturation values are inc=eased for glare border edges because light ~~~'~.
1=
reflects strcngiy off such border edges. In contrast, the saturation values are decreased for shadow border edges because light reflects weakly off such border edges.
A number of "equivalence classes" are defined for each of the depths, which range from -2 to +2 in the pref erred embodiment of the present invention. The +1 equivalence class is for a raised outer border; the +2 border equivalence class is for a raised inner border; the -1 equivalence class is for a sunken outer border; and the
Description SCALABLE THREE-DIMENSIONAL BORDERS
Tnr-%~~iC31 Fl.cl d The present invention relates generally to data processing systems and, more particularly, to the use of scalable three-dimensional borders in a use. inter~ace of a data processing system.
Hac'ccround of t'~e Invent_on Many operating systems provide use. interf aces that are well adapted for display on video displays of a IS given type but are not well adapted for display cn video displays of other types. For instance, the borders of items in a user interface may not be clearly legible on video displays with high resolution. In addition, the colors of borders in the user inter=ace may also not be well suited for given twos of video displays.
The borders that are provides in user interfaces are typically tap dime_~sional borders that provide no sense of depth. As a result, the user ins=rf aces do not provide visual coves to users regarding the nature of items (1=ke buttons) which are presumed to be three dimensional.
Three dimensional borders have been used in certain user interfaces, but have generally been unsatisfactory.
Su~ana~,~ of the Irventi on In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in the data processing system having a memory means, an output device, such as a printer or video display, and a processor that produces a use. interface. The output device has a resolution that may be specified in ter-:ns of number of horizontal dots (e.g., pixels) per inch and number of vertical dots per itch. In accordance with the meshed, a minimum border ~~~:~ 3~
L
width for each border in the user interf ace is determined by the processor. The minimum border width is chosen to be Buff=c=ently visible for the given resolution of the output device. The processor is also used to determine a minimum border height for each border in the user interf ace. The minimum border height is chosen to be sufficiently visible for the given resolution of the output device. Vertical edges of the borders are drawn in the user interface to have the minimum border width, and horizontal edges of the borders are drawn to have the minimum border height.
The memoir means of the data processing system may hold system metrics, including the minimum border height and the minimum border width. In addition, other system metrics may be scaled to have values that are proportional to the minimum border height or the minimum border width. These other system metrics are stored in the memory means as well.
The minimum border width may be calculated as an integer portion of the sum of the number of horizontal dots per inch on the output device and seventy-one, divided by seventy-two. Likewise, the minimum border height may be calculated as an integer portion of (the sum of the numoer of vertical dots per inch on the output device and 71) divided by 72. The borders may be drawn as three-dimensional borders.
in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of drawing a border with the output device is practiced. The border includes an inner border having border edges and an outer border having border edges. In the methcd, a range of logical depths (relative to a zero level surface of the output device) which may be assumed by the inner border and outer border are established. The range includes at least one sunken logical depth and at least one raised logical depth. For each logical depth, the border edges of the inner border or the outer border are pre-determined, and the colors produce a visual eT=ect of the logical depth when the borders are output on the output device. The border is output by the output device by drawing the outer border to have a first logical depth and drawing the inner border to have a second logical depth. The outer border has border edges with the colors assigned to the border edges for the first logical depth. Similarly, the inner border has border edges with the colors assigned to the border edges for the second logical depth.
The range of logical depths may include at least two raised logical depths and at least two sunken logical depths. The colors may be assigned to the border edges by first determining where a logical light source is located on the zero level surface relative to the border. Then, for each logical depth, given the logical, light source location, a determination is made regarding which of the border edges of the inner border or the outer border are in shadow and which of the border edges are in glare. The border edges that are in glare are assigned a first color, and the border edges that are in shadow are assigned a second color. When the logical light source is presumed to be positioned in the top left corner of the zero level surface and the border is at a raised logical depth, the top and left border edges are in glare and the bottom and right border edges are in shadow. Conversely, when the logical light source is positioned in the top left corner of the output surface and the border is at a sunken logical depth, the top and left border edges are in shadow, and the bottom and right border edges are in glare.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in a data processing system such that a reQUired number of shades to differentiate amongst heights that borders may assume when displayed on the output device is determined. A processor of the data processing system is used to determine the range of luminances available on the output device. The processor is also used to dete_rnine the luminance values of the shades to be used in displaying the borders. The shades are evenly spread across the range of luminances.
A border is then drawn using the output device which has portions at different heights. The portions at different heigzts are assigned different ones of the determined luminance values to differentiate the heights.
Br=e= Description of the Drawina~
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with ref erence to the drawings. The drawings include the following figures.
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a data processing system that is suitable for practicing the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the steps that are performed to scale border dimensions relative to video display resolution and to scale system metrics relative to the border dimensions in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is an example of a combined border generated in accordance with the pref erred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the steps performed to determine a range of luminance values for shades that are assigned to border edges in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figures Sa, Sb, 5c and Sd each show inner or outer borders for combined borders generated in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e each show combined borders that are generated in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides scalable three-dimensional borders for graphic S
elements of a systeTn user inter=ace. The borders ars scalable in that they may be scaled for display with different types of systems. The borders provided by the pref erred embodiment of the present invention are three dimensional in that they are shaded to give the illusion of depth.
Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing system 10 for implementing the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The data processing system 10 includes a single central processing unit (CPU) 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to use within a single processor data processing system; rather, the present invention may also be implemented in data processing systems having more than one processor, such as a distributed system. The data processing system 10 includes a memory 14 that may include different types of storage, such as RAM, ROM and/or secondary storage. The memozy 14 holds numerous items, including a copy of an operating system 16. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is implemented by code that is incorporated into the operating system 16. A keyboard 18, a mouse 20, a video display 22, and a printer 23 are also provided in the data processing system 10.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter relative to output on the video display 22. It should be appreciated that the present invention also is applicable to borders that are printed on printers, such as printer 23.
A first type of scalability provided by the pref erred embodiment of the present invention conce=-ns the scalability of dimensions of the borders (i.e., border width and border height). The border height and border width are scalable to compensate for the resolution of the video display 22 so that the borders are readily visible.
Border width is set in the preferred embodiment as the minimum number of pixels that are rea_uired to clearly see a vertical border line on the video dis~lav 22. Border height, in contrast, is set as the minimum number of pixels required to clearly see a horizontal border line on the video display 22. If the output is destined instead for printer 23, the minimum border height and minimum border width are specified in terms of dots. In general, "dots" is used hereinafter to encompass both pixels and dots generated by a printer (such as a dot matrix printer).
A border is formed by a rectangular frame whose vertical border edges are 1 border width wide and whose horizontal border edges are 1 border height high. The border height and border width are determined primarily by the size of the pixels provided on the video display 22.
Large pixels imply a small border height and a small border width, whereas small pixels imply a large border height and a large border width. In general, given a resolution of 72 pixels per inch, a border width of 1 and a border height of 1 are sufficient for the border edges to be clearly visible. Many video displays 22, however, have a greater resolution than 72 pixels per inch and, thus. have smaller pixels. In such video displays, a border width of 1 and a border height of 1 result in a border that is not clearly visible to most vietaers. The pref erred embodiment of the present invention, in contrast, provides a border having a greater border width and a greater border height that results in the borders being more visible.
Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the steps performed by the preferred embodiment of the present invention to scale the border height and border width of the borders to account for the resolution of the video display 22. First, a border Width that has the minimum number of pixels that are necessary to make the border sufficiently visible, given the resolution of the video display 22, is calculated (step 24) . The border width is calculat'd to be equal to (the sum of the number of ~~r~
horizcntal pixels per inch on the video display and 71) divided by 72. The border height is also calculated in an analogous manner (step 26). The border height is calculated as (the sum of the number of vertical pixels per inch and 71) divided by 72. If the border output is destined for printer 23, resolution is measured in teens of dots per inch.
The calculated values of the border width and the border height are stored as 'system metrics' (such as found in the Microsoft WINDOWS, version 3.1, operating system). The operating system 16 provides a number of system metrics that may be accessed using the GetSystemMetrics() function. The system metrics provide a convenient means for quickly obtaining metrics for IS graphical activities. A parameter that is passed to the GetSystemMetrics() function is an index to one of the system metrics. The border width and the border height are stored as separately indexed system metrics (SM CXBORDER and SM_CYHORDER, respectively). To preserve relative dimensions among the system metrics, the prefer=ed embodiment of the present invention scales the other system metrics relative to the border width and/or the border height (step 28). In particular, the system metrics that relate to the X dimension are scaled relative to the border width, and the system metrics that relate to the Y dimension are scaled relative to the border height.
The system metrics that do not relate to either the X
dimension or the Y dimension are not scaled. For example, a system metric is provided to specify the tolerance in the X direction for a double click of the mouse (i.e., how close the cursor must be to an object in the X direction before a double click of the mouse is deemed to be a double click on the object). This system metric is scaled relative to border width. Thus, not only are border width and border height scalable, but the outer system metrics are also scalable in the ire=erred embodiment of the present invention.
~..
a The pref=rred embcdiment of the present invention pr:,vides three-dimensional borders. Several assumptions are made in order to provide three-dimensional borders. First, the surfaces of all borders are assumed to be composed of a solid-color metallic material which reflects all light that strikes them. Moreever, since each surface is assumed to be a solid, depth chances are rendered as linear color changes.
A 'shadow" border edge is a border edge which neither recei~Tes direct light nor has a line of sight with a light source. A "glare" border edge is a border edge which receives both direct light and has a line of sight with the light source. Shadow border edges and glare border edges are rendered in a linear fashion. Border edges which are not shadows border edges or glare border edges are clang border edges that receive diffuse lighting.
Another assumption made by the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the light source for all displayed objects is in the top left hand corner of the video display 22. The preferred embodiment further assumes that all border surfaces are ccmposed of planes that are either parallel to the video display surface or gerpendicular to the video display surface. The border surfaces that are parallel to the screen are flat, whereas the border surfaces that are perpendicular to the video display surface lead to flat border surfaces that appear raised above or sunken below the level of another parallel surface. The border surfaces are assumed to be rectangular.
As a result of these constraints, the borders provided by the preferred embodiment are rectangular frames having glare border edges and shadow border edges that vary from the surface color by being lighter or darker than the surface color, respectively. The glare border edges mark transitions from a flat surface below the level cf another flat surface. The shadow border "~
edges mar.'t transitions from a flat surface above the level of another flat surface.
Each border is divided into an outer border 30 (Figure 3) and an inner border 32. The outer border 30 and inner border 32 are concentric, as shown in Figure 3.
The outer border 30 and the inner border 32 each have a relative depth that specifies how the border should appear relative to the video display surface (i.e., surface below the surface or raised above the surface) .
Shading is used provide the illusion of depth of the outer border and the inner border. The shades that are used f or the dif f er ent depths of the inner border and outer border are defined in relative teens that may be easily scaled to the range of colors available on different systems. The range of available colors is defined by the video display and/or a video adapter for the display 22. In the prefez-reti embodiment, the maximum transition of depth between tTao flat border surfaces is 2.
In other words, if the depths are divided into logical levels, the maximum transition is two levels. Using this maximum transition of depth, the total number of shades required to properly shade the outer border 30 and the inner border 32 may be calculated as the sum of 1 plus 2 times the maximum depth (i.e., 1 + (2 x 2), which equals 5). The maximum depth is multiplied by 2 in the calculation to account for the border having tTao par~s (i.e., inner border and outer border).
The chances in the shading to differentiate depths of borders are performed by varying the luminance of portions of the borders. The luminance is a measure of the brightness or darkness of a color as it appears on the video display 22 (Figure 1).
Figure 4 shows a flowchart of the steps performed by the preferred embodiment of the present invention to scale the luminance values for the borders.
In general, most video displays 22 (Figure 1) and their adapters spec=fy colors according to a red, green and blue (RGH) scale. ".'he preferred embcdiment or the present invention perforzs a conversion from the RG3 scale to a hue, saturation and value (HSV) scale at system startup (i.e., each color is defined as a combination of hue, saturation and luminance). Saturation refers to the amount of intensity, and hue refers to a color family (e. g., pink). Value may be viewed as a grey scale version of a color, wherein the magnitude of the value specifies the amount of white in the color. The result of the conversion is used to obtain a range of luminances (which is quantified as the °value~~) that are available on the video display 22 (step 34 in Figure 4). A midpoint is then found in the range of luminances (step 36). The midpoint corresponds with the luminance of a "basic color"
for border edges at depth 0. The remainder of the luminances are then partitioned to locate the requir=d number of shades (step 38). In particular, the luminance values are partitioned to find shades that are evenly distributed across the rance of luminances.
For example, suppose that the luminanc~s available on the video display 22 span a range from 0 to 240 in the HSV scale. The midpoint, at luminance I20, is a medium gray color in a monochrome scale. The remaining luminancss are partitioned to locate four other shades that are equally spread across the range of available luminances. In the example range of 0 to 240, the four other shades are at 0 (i.e., black), 60 (i.e., dark gray), 180 (i.e., light gray) and 240 (i.e., white). The darker shades, 0 and 60, are used for the shadcw border edges, whereas the lighter shades, 180 and 240, are used for the glare border edges.
In addition to adjustments in luminances, the shadow border edges and glare border edges also differ slightly as to luminance values. Specifically, saturation values are inc=eased by 10% for glare border edges and decreased by 10% for shadow border edges. The saturation values are inc=eased for glare border edges because light ~~~'~.
1=
reflects strcngiy off such border edges. In contrast, the saturation values are decreased for shadow border edges because light reflects weakly off such border edges.
A number of "equivalence classes" are defined for each of the depths, which range from -2 to +2 in the pref erred embodiment of the present invention. The +1 equivalence class is for a raised outer border; the +2 border equivalence class is for a raised inner border; the -1 equivalence class is for a sunken outer border; and the
-2 equivalence class is for a sunken inner border. Depth 0 is ignored because it represents the border surf ace at the video display surface. Each equivalence class has a number of colors that are uniquely associated with it. In particular, a glare border edge color, a glance border edge color and a shadow border edge color are associated with each equivalence class. As was discusses above, each border edge of a border is either a glare border edge, a glance border edge or a shadow border edge. In the pref erred embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the light source is in the top left-hand corner of the video display 22 (Figure 1). As a result, each border includes only glare border edges and shadow border edges.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a set of single borders (i.e., raised inner border, raised outer border, sunken inner border and sunken outer border) as building blocks. When the borders are raised, the borders are constructed by combining a lighter shade for the top and left border edges (glare border edges) with a darker shade for the bottom and right border edges (shadow border edges). However, when the borders are sunken, the roles are reversed such that the top and left border edges are given a darker shade (shadow border edges) and the right and bottom border edges are given a lesser shade (glare border edges). Figures 5a-5d provide depictions of the resulting four building block borders.
~~~_!~'~
Figure 5a shows a raised inner border 41 (+2 equivalence class). The top and left border edges 40a are glare border edges and are assigned a white color with a luminance of 240 in the HSV scale. In contrast, the right and bottom border edges 40b are shadow border edges, and the border edges 40b are assigned a dark gray color with a luminance of 60 in the HSV scale. The luminances are assigned to the border edges in this fashion to give the illusion of height. The human eye perceives transitions from lighter to darker as the eye moves from lef t to right as a raised surface.
Figure Sb shows a raised outer border 43 (+1 equivalence class). Like the raised inner border 41, in the raised outer border 43 the top and left border edges 42a are glare border edges and the right and bottom border edges 42b are shadow border edges. The top and left border edges 42a are given a light gray color with a luminance of 180 in the HSV scale, while the right and bottom border edges 42b are given a black color with a luminance of 0 in the HSV scale.
As mentioned above, when the borders are sunken, the border edges that are glare border edges and the border edges that are shadow border edges are reversed relative to the border edges of the raised borders.
Figure Sc shows an example of a sunken outer border 45 (+i equivalence class). In the sunken outer border 45, the top and left border edges 42a are shadow border edges and assigned a dark gray color with a luminance of 60 in the HS V scale. The right and bottom border edges 42b are assigned a white color with a luminance of 240 in the HSV
scale. The transition as one moves from left to right from a darker color to a lighter color is perceived as sunken.
The shading of the inner border, likewise, changes when the inner border is sunken. Figure 5d shows an example of a sunken inner border 47 (-2 equivalence class). The top and left border edges 40a are shadow C
border edges and assigned a black color with a luminance of 0 in the HS'd scale . The right and bot nom border edges are glare border edges and assigned a color of light gray with a luminance of 180 in the HSV scale.
Unfortunately, the inner borders 41 and 47 and the outer borders 43 and 45 do not alone provide a robust enough perception of height or death. As such, the preferred embodiment of the present invention combines the inner and outer borders into pairs to improve the perception of depth. Figures 6a-6e illustrate the combined borders, consisting of combinations of inner and outer borders, that are provided by the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Ficure 6a shows an example of a combined border 50 having a raised outer border 43' and a raised inner border 41'. This combined border 50 is used to achieve the appearance of height and is useful in providing borders for push buttons, graphic buttons, text buttons and scroll bar buttons. Since, however, push buttons and the like are likely to appear on the video display 22 adjacent to a gray background, the colors assigned to the top and left border edges for the outer border 43 and the inner border 41' are swapped from the raised outer border 43 (Figure 5b) and the raised lower border 41 (Figure Sa), that are described above.
The colors are swapped because, otherwise, it is difficult to see the top and left border edges of the outer border against the gray background.
Figure 6b shows an example of a combined border 52 that combines a sunken outer border 45 with a sunken inner border 47. This combined border 52 is useful to specify entry fields because the combined border provides the user with a visual cue that the entry field must be filled in.
Figure 6c shows an example of a combined border 54 that combines a sunken outer border 45 with a raised inner border 41. Combined border 54 is useful as a group border that provides the user with a visual cue that f objects surrounded by the grcup border are related.
Combined border 54 provides a visual perception of depth but at a lesser degree than combined border 52 (Figure 6b).
Figure 6d shows an example of a combined border 56 that is used for push buttons. The combined border 56 includes a sunken outer border 45' and a sunken inner border 45'. The combined border 56 differs from the combined border 52 (Figure 6b) in that the colors assigned to the top and left border edges of the outer border and inner border are swapped. The colors for the top and left border edges are swapped because push buttons are typically adjacent to a gray background. By making the top and left border edges of the outer border 45' black, the necessary contrast exists to differentiate the push buttons from the background.
A final combined border 58 that is provided in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 6e. Combined border 58 combines a raised outer border 43 with a raised inner border 41. The colors of the top and left border edges of the outer border 43 and the inner border 41 are not reversed in this case, because the combined border 58 is used with window tiles that are most likely to be adjacent to a white background rather than a gray background. Accordingly, there is no need to swap the colors, as was done in combined border 50 of Figure 6a.
The border s;.yles provided by the preferred embodiment of the present invention differentiate controls on the system user interface such that the user has some visual indicator of the type of control. Moreover, the border styles indicate to the user what action may be per=owned on the control. As such, the preferred embodiment of the present invention enhances the ease with which controls may be utilized.
While the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, those ~~~~~~x~
skilled in the art will, nevertheless, appreciate that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a set of single borders (i.e., raised inner border, raised outer border, sunken inner border and sunken outer border) as building blocks. When the borders are raised, the borders are constructed by combining a lighter shade for the top and left border edges (glare border edges) with a darker shade for the bottom and right border edges (shadow border edges). However, when the borders are sunken, the roles are reversed such that the top and left border edges are given a darker shade (shadow border edges) and the right and bottom border edges are given a lesser shade (glare border edges). Figures 5a-5d provide depictions of the resulting four building block borders.
~~~_!~'~
Figure 5a shows a raised inner border 41 (+2 equivalence class). The top and left border edges 40a are glare border edges and are assigned a white color with a luminance of 240 in the HSV scale. In contrast, the right and bottom border edges 40b are shadow border edges, and the border edges 40b are assigned a dark gray color with a luminance of 60 in the HSV scale. The luminances are assigned to the border edges in this fashion to give the illusion of height. The human eye perceives transitions from lighter to darker as the eye moves from lef t to right as a raised surface.
Figure Sb shows a raised outer border 43 (+1 equivalence class). Like the raised inner border 41, in the raised outer border 43 the top and left border edges 42a are glare border edges and the right and bottom border edges 42b are shadow border edges. The top and left border edges 42a are given a light gray color with a luminance of 180 in the HSV scale, while the right and bottom border edges 42b are given a black color with a luminance of 0 in the HSV scale.
As mentioned above, when the borders are sunken, the border edges that are glare border edges and the border edges that are shadow border edges are reversed relative to the border edges of the raised borders.
Figure Sc shows an example of a sunken outer border 45 (+i equivalence class). In the sunken outer border 45, the top and left border edges 42a are shadow border edges and assigned a dark gray color with a luminance of 60 in the HS V scale. The right and bottom border edges 42b are assigned a white color with a luminance of 240 in the HSV
scale. The transition as one moves from left to right from a darker color to a lighter color is perceived as sunken.
The shading of the inner border, likewise, changes when the inner border is sunken. Figure 5d shows an example of a sunken inner border 47 (-2 equivalence class). The top and left border edges 40a are shadow C
border edges and assigned a black color with a luminance of 0 in the HS'd scale . The right and bot nom border edges are glare border edges and assigned a color of light gray with a luminance of 180 in the HSV scale.
Unfortunately, the inner borders 41 and 47 and the outer borders 43 and 45 do not alone provide a robust enough perception of height or death. As such, the preferred embodiment of the present invention combines the inner and outer borders into pairs to improve the perception of depth. Figures 6a-6e illustrate the combined borders, consisting of combinations of inner and outer borders, that are provided by the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Ficure 6a shows an example of a combined border 50 having a raised outer border 43' and a raised inner border 41'. This combined border 50 is used to achieve the appearance of height and is useful in providing borders for push buttons, graphic buttons, text buttons and scroll bar buttons. Since, however, push buttons and the like are likely to appear on the video display 22 adjacent to a gray background, the colors assigned to the top and left border edges for the outer border 43 and the inner border 41' are swapped from the raised outer border 43 (Figure 5b) and the raised lower border 41 (Figure Sa), that are described above.
The colors are swapped because, otherwise, it is difficult to see the top and left border edges of the outer border against the gray background.
Figure 6b shows an example of a combined border 52 that combines a sunken outer border 45 with a sunken inner border 47. This combined border 52 is useful to specify entry fields because the combined border provides the user with a visual cue that the entry field must be filled in.
Figure 6c shows an example of a combined border 54 that combines a sunken outer border 45 with a raised inner border 41. Combined border 54 is useful as a group border that provides the user with a visual cue that f objects surrounded by the grcup border are related.
Combined border 54 provides a visual perception of depth but at a lesser degree than combined border 52 (Figure 6b).
Figure 6d shows an example of a combined border 56 that is used for push buttons. The combined border 56 includes a sunken outer border 45' and a sunken inner border 45'. The combined border 56 differs from the combined border 52 (Figure 6b) in that the colors assigned to the top and left border edges of the outer border and inner border are swapped. The colors for the top and left border edges are swapped because push buttons are typically adjacent to a gray background. By making the top and left border edges of the outer border 45' black, the necessary contrast exists to differentiate the push buttons from the background.
A final combined border 58 that is provided in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 6e. Combined border 58 combines a raised outer border 43 with a raised inner border 41. The colors of the top and left border edges of the outer border 43 and the inner border 41 are not reversed in this case, because the combined border 58 is used with window tiles that are most likely to be adjacent to a white background rather than a gray background. Accordingly, there is no need to swap the colors, as was done in combined border 50 of Figure 6a.
The border s;.yles provided by the preferred embodiment of the present invention differentiate controls on the system user interface such that the user has some visual indicator of the type of control. Moreover, the border styles indicate to the user what action may be per=owned on the control. As such, the preferred embodiment of the present invention enhances the ease with which controls may be utilized.
While the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, those ~~~~~~x~
skilled in the art will, nevertheless, appreciate that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (17)
1. In a data processing system having a processor and a video display, a method of drawing a border on an output device, wherein the border includes an inner border having border edges and an outer border having border edges, the method comprises the steps of:
(a) providing a range of logical depths relative to a zero level logical depth on the output device that the inner border and the outer border may assume, wherein the range includes at least one sunken logical depth and at least one raised logical depth;
(b) predetermining colors for the border edges of the inner border of the outer border for each logical depth to produce a visual effect of the logical depth when the borders are output on the output device; and (c) outputting the border on the output device by drawing the outer border to have a first logical depth in the range of logical depths and drawing the inner border to have a second logical depth in the range of logical depths, wherein the outer border has border edges with the colors that are assigned to the border edges for the first logical depth and the inner border has border edges with the colors that are assigned to the border edges for the second logical depth.
(a) providing a range of logical depths relative to a zero level logical depth on the output device that the inner border and the outer border may assume, wherein the range includes at least one sunken logical depth and at least one raised logical depth;
(b) predetermining colors for the border edges of the inner border of the outer border for each logical depth to produce a visual effect of the logical depth when the borders are output on the output device; and (c) outputting the border on the output device by drawing the outer border to have a first logical depth in the range of logical depths and drawing the inner border to have a second logical depth in the range of logical depths, wherein the outer border has border edges with the colors that are assigned to the border edges for the first logical depth and the inner border has border edges with the colors that are assigned to the border edges for the second logical depth.
2. The method as recited in Claim 1 wherein the step of providing a range of logical depths further comprises the step of providing at least two raised logical depths and at least two sunken logical depths relative to the zero level logical depth on the output device.
3. The method as recited in Claim 1 wherein the step of assigning colors to the border edges further comprises the steps of:
determining where a logical light source is located on the zero level logical depth relative to the border;
for each logical depth, given the logical light source location, determining which of the border edges of the inner border or the outer border are in shadow and which of the border edges are in glare; and assigning a first color to the border edges that are in glare a first color, and assigning a second color to the border edges that are in shadow.
determining where a logical light source is located on the zero level logical depth relative to the border;
for each logical depth, given the logical light source location, determining which of the border edges of the inner border or the outer border are in shadow and which of the border edges are in glare; and assigning a first color to the border edges that are in glare a first color, and assigning a second color to the border edges that are in shadow.
4. The method as recited in Claim 3 wherein the step of determining where the logical light source is located further comprises the step of determining that the logical light source is in the top left corner of the zero level logical depth and the inner border and the outer border each include top, left, right, and bottom border edges.
5. The method as recited in Claim 4 wherein, for each of the raised logical depths, the step of determining which of the border edges are in shadow and which of the border edges are in glare further comprises the step of determining that the top and the left border edges are in glare and the bottom and the right border edges are in shadow.
6. The method as recited in Claim 4 wherein, for each of the sunken logical depths, the step of determining which of the border edges are in shadow further comprises the step of determining that the top and the left border edges are in shadow and the bottom and the right border edges are in glare.
7. The method as recited in Claim 1 wherein the first logical depth is one of the sunken logical depths and the second logical depth is one of the sunken logical depths.
8. The method as recited in Claim 1 wherein the first logical depth is one of the sunken logical depths and the second logical depth is one of the raised logical depths.
9. The method as recited in Claim 1 wherein the first logical depth is one of the raised logical depths and the second logical depth is one of the raised logical depths.
10. In a data processing system having a processor, memory means, and an output device, a method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining a required number of shades to differentiate among different heights that borders may assume when output by the output device;
(b) using the processor to determine a range of luminances available on the output device;
(c) using the processor to determine luminance values of shades that are spread across the range of luminances to provide the required number of shares; and (d) drawing a border with the output device that has portions at different heights, wherein the portions at different heights are assigned different ones of the determined luminance values to differentiate the heights.
(a) determining a required number of shades to differentiate among different heights that borders may assume when output by the output device;
(b) using the processor to determine a range of luminances available on the output device;
(c) using the processor to determine luminance values of shades that are spread across the range of luminances to provide the required number of shares; and (d) drawing a border with the output device that has portions at different heights, wherein the portions at different heights are assigned different ones of the determined luminance values to differentiate the heights.
11. In a data processing system having memory means holding system metrics, a processor that produces a user interface and an output device with a resolution of a number of horizontal dots per inch and a number of vertical dots per inch, a method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining with the processor a minimum border width for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, each border having vertical edges and horizontal edges;
(b) determining with the processor a minimum border height for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device;
(c) drawing the vertical edges of the borders in the user interface to have the minimum border width and drawing the horizontal edges of the borders to have the minimum border height;
(d) storing the minimum border heights and the minimum border width in the memory means as system metrics;
(e) scaling other system metrics to have scaled values that are proportional to the minimum border height or the minimum border width; and (f) storing the other system metrics in the memory means.
(a) determining with the processor a minimum border width for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, each border having vertical edges and horizontal edges;
(b) determining with the processor a minimum border height for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device;
(c) drawing the vertical edges of the borders in the user interface to have the minimum border width and drawing the horizontal edges of the borders to have the minimum border height;
(d) storing the minimum border heights and the minimum border width in the memory means as system metrics;
(e) scaling other system metrics to have scaled values that are proportional to the minimum border height or the minimum border width; and (f) storing the other system metrics in the memory means.
12. In a data processing system having memory means, a processor that produces a user interface and an output device with a resolution of a number of horizontal dots per inch and a number of vertical dots per inch, a method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining with the processor a minimum border width as a quantity of dots for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, each border having vertical edges and horizontal edges;
19a (b) determining with the processor a minimum border height as a quantity of dots for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device; and (c) drawing the vertical edges of the borders in the user interface to have the minimum border width and drawing the horizontal edges of the borders to have the minimum border height.
(a) determining with the processor a minimum border width as a quantity of dots for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, each border having vertical edges and horizontal edges;
19a (b) determining with the processor a minimum border height as a quantity of dots for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device; and (c) drawing the vertical edges of the borders in the user interface to have the minimum border width and drawing the horizontal edges of the borders to have the minimum border height.
13. The method as recited in Claim 12 wherein the step of determining with the process or the minimum border width further comprises the step of calculating the minimum border width as an integer portion of: a sum of the number of horizontal dots per inch on the output device with 71, divided by 72.
14. The method as recited in Claim 12 wherein the step of determining with the processor the minimum border height further comprises the step of calculating the minimum border height as an integer portion of: a sum of the number of vertical dots per inch on the output device with 71, divided by 72.
15. The method as recited in Claim 12, herein the step of drawing the borders further comprises the step of drawing the borders as three-dimensional borders.
16. A computer-readable storage medium for use in a data processing system having memory means holding system metrics, a processor that produces a user interface and an output device with a resolution of a number of horizontal dots per inch and a number of vertical dots per inch, said medium holding instructions for performing a method comprising the steps of:
19b (a) determining with the processor a minimum border width for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, each border having vertical edges and horizontal edges;
(b) determining with the processor a minimum border height for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device;
(c) drawing the vertical edges of the borders in the user interface to have the minimum border width and drawing the horizontal edges of the borders to have the minimum border height;
(d) storing the minimum border height and the minimum border width in the memory means as system metrics;
(e) scaling other system metrics to have scald values that are proportional to the minimum border height or the minimum border width; and (f) storing the other system metrics in the memory means.
19b (a) determining with the processor a minimum border width for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, each border having vertical edges and horizontal edges;
(b) determining with the processor a minimum border height for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device;
(c) drawing the vertical edges of the borders in the user interface to have the minimum border width and drawing the horizontal edges of the borders to have the minimum border height;
(d) storing the minimum border height and the minimum border width in the memory means as system metrics;
(e) scaling other system metrics to have scald values that are proportional to the minimum border height or the minimum border width; and (f) storing the other system metrics in the memory means.
17. A computer-readable storage medium for use in a data processing system having memory means, a processor that produces a user interface and an output device with a resolution of a number of horizontal dots per inch and a number of vertical dots per inch, said medium holding instructions for performing a method comprising the steps of:
(a) determining with the processor a minimum border width as a quantity of dots for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, each border having vertical edges and horizontal edges;
19c (b) determining with the processor a minimum border height as a quantity of dots for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, and (d) drawing the vertical edges of the borders in the user interface to have the minimum border width and drawing the horizontal edges of the borders to have the minimum border height.
(a) determining with the processor a minimum border width as a quantity of dots for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, each border having vertical edges and horizontal edges;
19c (b) determining with the processor a minimum border height as a quantity of dots for each border in the user interface for the border to be sufficiently visible, based on the resolution of the output device, and (d) drawing the vertical edges of the borders in the user interface to have the minimum border width and drawing the horizontal edges of the borders to have the minimum border height.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/062,845 US5452406A (en) | 1993-05-14 | 1993-05-14 | Method and system for scalable borders that provide an appearance of depth |
| US08/062,845 | 1993-05-14 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2121672A1 CA2121672A1 (en) | 1994-11-15 |
| CA2121672C true CA2121672C (en) | 2001-07-31 |
Family
ID=22045215
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002121672A Expired - Lifetime CA2121672C (en) | 1993-05-14 | 1994-04-19 | Scalable three-dimensional borders |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US5452406A (en) |
| EP (2) | EP0624863B1 (en) |
| JP (2) | JP3615563B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2121672C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE69425396T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (62)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5452406A (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1995-09-19 | Microsoft Corporation | Method and system for scalable borders that provide an appearance of depth |
| US6243102B1 (en) | 1994-05-16 | 2001-06-05 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Data-driven layout engine |
| EP0760122B1 (en) | 1994-05-16 | 2002-01-30 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Switching between appearance/behavior themes in graphical user interfaces |
| DE69525338T2 (en) * | 1994-05-16 | 2002-10-24 | Apple Computer | ABSTRACTING PATTERNS AND COLORS IN A GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE |
| US6404433B1 (en) | 1994-05-16 | 2002-06-11 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Data-driven layout engine |
| AU2591995A (en) * | 1994-05-16 | 1995-12-05 | Apple Computer, Inc. | A system and method for customizing appearance and behavior of graphical user interfaces |
| US5917487A (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 1999-06-29 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Data-driven method and system for drawing user interface objects |
| US5754348A (en) * | 1996-05-14 | 1998-05-19 | Planetweb, Inc. | Method for context-preserving magnification of digital image regions |
| US6304893B1 (en) | 1996-07-01 | 2001-10-16 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Object-oriented system, method and article of manufacture for a client-server event driven message framework in an interprise computing framework system |
| US5999972A (en) | 1996-07-01 | 1999-12-07 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | System, method and article of manufacture for a distributed computer system framework |
| US6434598B1 (en) | 1996-07-01 | 2002-08-13 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Object-oriented system, method and article of manufacture for a client-server graphical user interface (#9) framework in an interprise computing framework system |
| US5987245A (en) | 1996-07-01 | 1999-11-16 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Object-oriented system, method and article of manufacture (#12) for a client-server state machine framework |
| US6424991B1 (en) | 1996-07-01 | 2002-07-23 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Object-oriented system, method and article of manufacture for a client-server communication framework |
| US6272555B1 (en) | 1996-07-01 | 2001-08-07 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Object-oriented system, method and article of manufacture for a client-server-centric interprise computing framework system |
| US6038590A (en) | 1996-07-01 | 2000-03-14 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Object-oriented system, method and article of manufacture for a client-server state machine in an interprise computing framework system |
| US5848246A (en) | 1996-07-01 | 1998-12-08 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Object-oriented system, method and article of manufacture for a client-server session manager in an interprise computing framework system |
| US6266709B1 (en) | 1996-07-01 | 2001-07-24 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Object-oriented system, method and article of manufacture for a client-server failure reporting process |
| US5742287A (en) * | 1996-07-17 | 1998-04-21 | International Business Machines Corp. | Context sensitive borders with color variation for user selectable options |
| US6026014A (en) | 1996-12-20 | 2000-02-15 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory and read method |
| US5999918A (en) * | 1997-04-02 | 1999-12-07 | Rational Investors, Inc. | Interactive color confidence indicators for statistical data |
| USD423483S (en) * | 1997-06-18 | 2000-04-25 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Modal window for a computer display screen |
| USD406122S (en) * | 1997-06-18 | 1999-02-23 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Set of windows for a computer display screen |
| USD419542S (en) * | 1997-06-18 | 2000-01-25 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Utility window for a computer display screen |
| DE19742601A1 (en) * | 1997-09-26 | 1999-04-29 | Siemens Ag | Method and device for generating frames around video images |
| US6230116B1 (en) * | 1997-10-02 | 2001-05-08 | Clockwise Technologies Ltd. | Apparatus and method for interacting with a simulated 3D interface to an operating system operative to control computer resources |
| US6169546B1 (en) | 1998-04-01 | 2001-01-02 | Microsoft Corporation | Global viewer scrolling system |
| US6191790B1 (en) | 1998-04-01 | 2001-02-20 | Microsoft Corporation | Inheritable property shading system for three-dimensional rendering of user interface controls |
| US6249284B1 (en) | 1998-04-01 | 2001-06-19 | Microsoft Corporation | Directional navigation system in layout managers |
| USD427575S (en) * | 1998-04-08 | 2000-07-04 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Modal window for a computer display screen |
| USD424037S (en) * | 1998-05-01 | 2000-05-02 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD426525S (en) * | 1998-05-01 | 2000-06-13 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD430885S (en) * | 1998-05-04 | 2000-09-12 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Composite desktop for a computer display screen |
| USD431038S (en) * | 1998-05-04 | 2000-09-19 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD420341S (en) * | 1998-05-04 | 2000-02-08 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD426207S (en) * | 1998-05-07 | 2000-06-06 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD427607S (en) * | 1998-05-07 | 2000-07-04 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Composite desktop on a computer display screen |
| USD432544S (en) * | 1998-05-08 | 2000-10-24 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Composite desktop for a computer display screen |
| US6188399B1 (en) | 1998-05-08 | 2001-02-13 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Multiple theme engine graphical user interface architecture |
| KR100277994B1 (en) * | 1998-12-31 | 2001-01-15 | 구자홍 | Boundary Area Display |
| USD426209S (en) * | 1999-01-20 | 2000-06-06 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD423486S (en) * | 1999-01-20 | 2000-04-25 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD424040S (en) * | 1999-01-20 | 2000-05-02 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD424039S (en) * | 1999-01-20 | 2000-05-02 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| USD426208S (en) * | 1999-01-20 | 2000-06-06 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Window for a computer display screen |
| US6277392B1 (en) | 1999-09-16 | 2001-08-21 | Carbon Medical Technologies, Inc. | Tissue injectable composition |
| JP2001103392A (en) * | 1999-09-29 | 2001-04-13 | Nec Ic Microcomput Syst Ltd | Image frame generating circuit and digital television system using it |
| US7000192B2 (en) * | 2001-09-24 | 2006-02-14 | Eastman Kodak Company | Method of producing a matted image usable in a scrapbook |
| CN102214410B (en) | 2002-11-05 | 2014-01-01 | 亚洲航测株式会社 | Slant red stereoscopic image generator |
| US7283277B2 (en) * | 2002-12-18 | 2007-10-16 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Image borders |
| US8127248B2 (en) * | 2003-06-20 | 2012-02-28 | Apple Inc. | Computer interface having a virtual single-layer mode for viewing overlapping objects |
| DE202004009752U1 (en) * | 2003-06-20 | 2004-11-11 | Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino | Computer system with a user interface, data carrier and signal sequence |
| US7719542B1 (en) | 2003-10-10 | 2010-05-18 | Adobe Systems Incorporated | System, method and user interface controls for communicating status information |
| US20060150104A1 (en) * | 2004-12-31 | 2006-07-06 | Luigi Lira | Display of user selected digital artworks as embellishments of a graphical user interface |
| US20100162306A1 (en) * | 2005-01-07 | 2010-06-24 | Guideworks, Llc | User interface features for information manipulation and display devices |
| KR100610364B1 (en) * | 2005-02-14 | 2006-08-09 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Broadcasting receive apparatus having auto adjustment function and method of thereof |
| US7418668B2 (en) * | 2005-11-30 | 2008-08-26 | Microsoft Corporation | Glass appearance window frame colorization |
| US7412663B2 (en) * | 2005-11-30 | 2008-08-12 | Microsoft Corporation | Dynamic reflective highlighting of a glass appearance window frame |
| US9189875B2 (en) * | 2007-08-06 | 2015-11-17 | Apple Inc. | Advanced import/export panel notifications using a presentation application |
| US20100131851A1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2010-05-27 | Randall Reese | Machine, Program Product, And Computer-Implemented Method For Randomized Slide Show Of Files |
| WO2011154917A2 (en) * | 2010-06-11 | 2011-12-15 | Visual Domains Ltd. | Method and system for displaying visual content in a virtual three-dimensional space |
| US20120066641A1 (en) * | 2010-09-14 | 2012-03-15 | Doherty Dermot P | Methods and apparatus for expandable window border |
| USD842896S1 (en) | 2016-12-20 | 2019-03-12 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Portion of a display panel with a computer icon |
Family Cites Families (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0746391B2 (en) * | 1984-09-14 | 1995-05-17 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Graphic seeding device |
| EP0212016B1 (en) * | 1985-08-12 | 1990-10-31 | Data General Corporation | A system of graphical manipulation in a potentially windowed data display |
| JPS6324462A (en) * | 1986-07-17 | 1988-02-01 | Toshiba Corp | Window state display system |
| GB2215168A (en) * | 1988-02-23 | 1989-09-13 | Ibm | Windows with restricted colour range have priority defined by colour codes |
| AU625676B2 (en) * | 1988-07-29 | 1992-07-16 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Three dimensional graphic interface |
| IL89359A0 (en) * | 1989-02-21 | 1989-09-10 | Scitex Corp Ltd | Computerised apparatus for color selection |
| FR2647239B1 (en) * | 1989-05-22 | 1991-07-05 | Bull Sa | METHOD FOR GENERATING INTERFACES FOR USER APPLICATIONS VISUALIZABLE ON THE SCREEN OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD |
| US5263134A (en) * | 1989-10-25 | 1993-11-16 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method and apparatus for controlling computer displays by using a two dimensional scroll palette |
| EP0439873B1 (en) * | 1990-01-29 | 1995-09-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | Data processing system |
| US5142273A (en) * | 1990-09-20 | 1992-08-25 | Ampex Corporation | System for generating color blended video signal |
| US5420605A (en) * | 1993-02-26 | 1995-05-30 | Binar Graphics, Inc. | Method of resetting a computer video display mode |
| US5452406A (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1995-09-19 | Microsoft Corporation | Method and system for scalable borders that provide an appearance of depth |
| US5477421A (en) * | 1993-11-18 | 1995-12-19 | Itt Corporation | Shielded IC card |
-
1993
- 1993-05-14 US US08/062,845 patent/US5452406A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1994
- 1994-04-19 CA CA002121672A patent/CA2121672C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-04-28 JP JP09095694A patent/JP3615563B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-05-13 DE DE69425396T patent/DE69425396T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-05-13 EP EP94107510A patent/EP0624863B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-05-13 EP EP97113019A patent/EP0814455B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-05-13 DE DE69423250T patent/DE69423250T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1995
- 1995-06-05 US US08/462,523 patent/US5590267A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2002
- 2002-05-08 JP JP2002132903A patent/JP3689064B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH0714031A (en) | 1995-01-17 |
| JP3689064B2 (en) | 2005-08-31 |
| EP0624863A3 (en) | 1995-05-10 |
| EP0624863A2 (en) | 1994-11-17 |
| US5590267A (en) | 1996-12-31 |
| EP0624863B1 (en) | 2000-08-02 |
| EP0814455B1 (en) | 2000-03-01 |
| CA2121672A1 (en) | 1994-11-15 |
| DE69425396D1 (en) | 2000-09-07 |
| EP0814455A1 (en) | 1997-12-29 |
| JP2003051018A (en) | 2003-02-21 |
| DE69423250D1 (en) | 2000-04-06 |
| JP3615563B2 (en) | 2005-02-02 |
| US5452406A (en) | 1995-09-19 |
| DE69425396T2 (en) | 2001-01-18 |
| DE69423250T2 (en) | 2000-06-21 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA2121672C (en) | Scalable three-dimensional borders | |
| US7148893B2 (en) | Automatic optimization of the position of stems of text characters | |
| US7667717B2 (en) | System and method for displaying images utilizing multi-blending | |
| US8847973B2 (en) | Automatic adjustment of computer interface colors using image processing | |
| Snyder | Image quality | |
| US20080285889A1 (en) | Image transform method for obtaining expanded image data, image processing apparatus and image display device therefore | |
| US20050134604A1 (en) | Type size dependent anti-aliasing in sub-pixel precision rendering systems | |
| EP1163656A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for using display device and display condition information | |
| US8339411B2 (en) | Assigning color values to pixels based on object structure | |
| US5881210A (en) | Color printing system and method with reduced bleed | |
| US7545389B2 (en) | Encoding ClearType text for use on alpha blended textures | |
| US8681172B2 (en) | Assigning color values to pixels based on object structure | |
| Reynolds | Colour for air traffic control displays | |
| MacIntyre et al. | A practical approach to calculating luminance contrast on a CRT | |
| US7969441B2 (en) | Adaptive contextual filtering based on typographical characteristics | |
| ES2616867T3 (en) | Image display system and procedure using multiple mixing | |
| Schmandt | Soft Typography. | |
| Bauer et al. | Influence of VDU screen brightness on the visibility of reflected images | |
| Liu et al. | Visibility threshold in sharpness for people with different regional backgrounds | |
| JP7468354B2 (en) | Method for generating moire visualization pattern, device for generating moire visualization pattern, and system for generating moire visualization pattern | |
| JP2002351440A (en) | Method and device for drawing gradational font | |
| Daly et al. | 14.3: Reserved Highlight Region for HDR and Megacontrast Display Algorithms | |
| JPWO2020096009A1 (en) | Moire visualization pattern generation method, moire visualization pattern generation device, and moire visualization pattern generation system | |
| CN117707380A (en) | Display method, display device, electronic equipment and storage medium |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20140422 |