Resizable graphical user interface
View Patent ↗A system for providing reconfigurable graphical user interfaces. An original GUI, such as one might use to control an audio or video player application program, is modified by a designer such that the end-user of the GUI can alter individual subsections of the GUI or alternatively designate such sections as non-reconfigurable. The designer thus controls the properties of the GUI, while allowing the end-user to individual aspects of the GUI.
1. A method of providing a graphical user interface for control of a program, said method comprising:
providing an initial configuration of said graphical user interface for use by a user to control an application program;
configuring a subsection of said graphical user interface so as to allow said user to reconfigure the shape of said subsection; and
providing a control accessible by said user wherein said control is operable by said user to independently reconfigure the shape of said subsection of said graphical user interface in a plurality of user desired configurations in response to operation of said control by said user without supplying an input to said application program controlled by said graphical user interface and without altering the function of said graphical user interface.
2. A method of formatting a graphical user interface, said method comprising:
providing a graphical user interface;
defining a subsection of said graphical user interface;
designating said subsection of said graphical user interface as reconfigurable, so that a user can reconfigure said subsection without reconfiguring the entire graphical user interface; and
providing a control accessible by said user wherein said control is operable by said user to independently reconfigure the shape of said subsection of said graphical user interface in a plurality of user desired configurations in response to operation of said control by said user without supplying an input to an application program controlled by said graphical user interface and without altering the function of said graphical user interface.
3. The method as described in claim 2 and further comprising:
designating only said subsection of said graphical user interface as reconfigurable so that during use said user can reconfigure only said subsection without reconfiguring the remainder of said graphical user interface.
4. The method as described in claim 2 and further comprising:
defining a maximum expansion size limit for said subsection.
5. The method as described in claim 4 and further comprising:
utilizing a height of said subsection to define said maximum expansion size limit of said subsection.
6. The method as described in claim 4 and further comprising:
utilizing a width of said subsection to define said maximum expansion size limit of said subsection.
7. The method as described in claim 2 and further comprising:
defining a minimum compression size limit for said subsection.
8. The method as described in claim 7 and further comprising:
utilizing a height of said subsection to define said minimum compression size limit of said subsection.
9. The method as described in claim 7 and further comprising:
utilizing a width of said subsection to define said minimum compression size limit of said subsection.
10. The method as described in claim 2 and further comprising:
allowing said user to expand the entire graphical user interface;
expanding said subsection in a manner proportional to said expansion of said entire graphical user interface; and
discontinuing expansion of said subsection at a predetermined boundary for said subsection while continuing to expand said remainder of said graphical user interface.
11. The method as described in claim 2 and further comprising:
designating a plurality of subsections of said graphical user interface as reconfigurable, so that during use said user can reconfigure at least one of said plurality of subsections without reconfiguring the entire graphical user interface.
12. The method as described in claim 2 and further comprising:
allowing said user to relocate said subsection within the graphical user interface.
13. The method as described in claim 2 and further comprising:
allowing said user to define spatial rules for said subsection.
14. A method of formatting a graphical user interface, said method comprising:
providing a graphical user interface;
defining a subsection of said graphical user interface;
designating said subsection of said graphical user interface as non-reconfigurable, so that a user can reconfigure the remainder of said graphical user interface without reconfiguring said subsection of said graphical user interface; and
providing a control accessible by said user wherein said control is operable by said user to independently reconfigure the shape of said remainder of said graphical user interface in a plurality of user desired configurations in response to operation of said control by said user without supplying an input to an application program controlled by said graphical user interface and without altering the function of said graphical user interface.
15. The method as described in claim 14 and further comprising:
designating only said subsection of said graphical user interface as non-reconfigurable so that during use said user can reconfigure only the remainder of said graphical user interface without reconfiguring said subsection of said graphical user interface.
16. The method as described in claim 14 and further comprising:
designating a plurality of subsections of said graphical user interface as non-reconfigurable, so that during use said user can reconfigure the remainder of said graphical user interface without reconfiguring said plurality of subsections of said graphical user interface.
17. The method as described in claim 14 and further comprising:
allowing said user to reconfigure the remainder of said graphical user interface while retaining said subsection in a fixed location relative to a reference point.
18. The method as described in claim 14 and further comprising:
allowing said user to define spatial rules for the remainder of said graphical user interface.
19. A method of formatting a graphical user interface, said method comprising:
providing a graphical user interface;
designating a subsection of said graphical user interface;
defining spatial properties of said subsection;
providing a control accessible by a user wherein said control is operable by said user to independently reconfigure the shape of said subsection of said graphical user interface in a plurality of user desired configurations in response to operation of said control by said user; and
permitting a user to reconfigure said graphical user interface with said control while retaining said spatial properties of said subsection and without supplying an input to an application program controlled by said graphical user interface and without altering the function of said graphical user interface.