Scaling and Layout Methods and Systems for Handling One-To-Many Objects
Systems and methods according to the present invention provide layout structures and methods for user interfaces.
1 . A user interface displayed on a screen comprising:
a plurality of control elements, at least some of said plurality of control elements having at least one alphanumeric character displayed thereon;
a textbox for displaying alphanumeric characters entered using said plurality of control elements; and
a plurality of groups of displayed items,
wherein a layout of said plurality of groups on said user interface is based on a first number of groups which are displayed, and wherein a layout of said displayed items within a group is based on a second number of said items displayed within that group.
2 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of control elements are laid out in two horizontal rows.
3 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein said text box is displayed above said plurality of control elements and said groups of displayed items are displayed below said plurality of control elements.
4 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein said displayed items are images.
5 . The user interface of claim 4 , wherein said images are movie covers.
6 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein said layout of groups involves placing a center point of each group at a location on said user interface, which location is determined based on the number of groups to be displayed.
7 . The user interface of claim 6 , wherein each of said displayed items associated with one of said groups is displayed within a rectangular region disposed at a respective center point.
8 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein said number of groups changes based upon search results entered using said plurality of control elements.
9 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein said groups do not overlap and at least some of said items within each group do overlap.
10 . A method for laying out items in a user interface comprising the steps of:
laying out a plurality of groups of items within a group display space, said groups being laid out within said display space in a pattern which varies as a function of the number of said plurality of groups; and
laying out, for each of said plurality of groups, a plurality of items within an item display space associated with a respective one of said plurality of groups, said items being laid out within a respective item display space in a pattern which varies as a function of the number of said plurality of items.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
performing said steps of laying out said plurality of groups and plurality of items in accordance with at least one set of layout rules.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said layout rules are applied recursively to said steps of laying out said plurality of groups and said plurality of items.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said user interface is displayed on a television and said items are movie cover images, wherein selection of one of said movie cover images by a user results in additional information being displayed on said user interface for a movie associated therewith.
14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
providing a plurality of control elements on said user interface, at least some of said plurality of control elements having at least one alphanumeric character displayed thereon; and
providing a textbox for displaying alphanumeric characters entered using said plurality of control elements on said user interface.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said layout of groups involves placing a center point of each group at a location on said user interface, which location is determined based on the number of groups to be displayed.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein each of said displayed items associated with one of said groups is displayed within a rectangular region disposed at a respective center point.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said number of groups changes based upon search results entered using said plurality of control elements.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said groups do not overlap and at least some of said items within each group do overlap.