Patent Publication Number: US-2007101278-A1

Title: Web site theme designer

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      Generally described, network-based computing environments provide an opportunity for users to access software services from a receiving computing device. In a typical operating environment, a receiving computing device can utilize a browser software application, to access software services remotely hosted on a communication network, such as the Internet. For example, a receiving computing device can utilize a browser software application to access a Web site user interface, or software application user interface, software service remotely hosted by a sending computing device, such as a server computer.  
      In a typical embodiment, the receiving computing devices implement network-based software services by generating a software service specific user interface within the display portion of the browser software application. In such embodiments, the user is presented with various graphical controls corresponding to the browser software application and additional graphical controls corresponding to the software service specific user interface. As software services grow in popularity and complexity, the number of graphical controls presented on a user display can be confusing, especially to users accessing the specific network-based software service for the first time. With regard specifically to network-based user interface software services, current user interface approaches are inefficient in providing non-skilled users the ability to select various controls and implement desired user interface creation and/or management functionality.  
     SUMMARY  
      This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.  
      A user interface for a user interface creation software service is provided. The user interface includes a first display portion corresponding to a display of user interface data management categories such as theme, footer management, header management, font style and navigation style. The user interface includes a second display portion corresponding to a selected user interface data management category that is dynamically adjusted dependent on the selected user interface data management category. Selection of a data management category is applied to all user interface components.  
      In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method for generating a user interface is provided. The method can be implemented in a communication network including at least one sending computing device and a receiving computing device. The receiving computing device requests data from the sending computing device corresponding to a software service. Based upon code returned form the sending computing device, the receiving computing device then generates a user interface corresponding to the software service on a display.  
      In accordance with the method, the receiving computing device generates in a first display portion of the user interface creation software service a display of a set of user interface data management categories. At least one of the user interface data management categories corresponds to a theme associated with the user interface. The receiving computing device then obtains a selection of at least one user interface data management category. Based upon the selection of the user interface data management category, the receiving computing device dynamically generates in a second display portion of the user interface creation software service a display of at least one control associated with the selected user interface data management category. The second display portion of the user interface creation includes the controls associated with the selected user interface data management category displayed as adjacent controls. In other embodiments, the receiving computing device obtains a selection of a control in the second display portion of the user interface creation software service. The receiving computing device can then modify at least one user interface component based upon a selection of the control in the second display portion  
      In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for generating a user interface is provided. The computer-executable components can be implemented in a communication network including at least one sending computing device and a receiving computing device. The receiving computing device requests data from the sending computing device corresponding to a software service. Based upon code returned form the sending computing device, the receiving computing device then generates a user interface corresponding to the software service on a display.  
      The computer-executable components include a user interface data management category component for displaying a set of user interface data management categories. The user interface data management components include at least one user interface data management category corresponding to a theme associated with the user interface. The computer-executable components also include a user interface control component that includes at least one control associated with the selected user interface data management category. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an illustrative operating environment in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the operating environment of  FIG. 1  illustrating the selection of controls associated with a theme user interface data management category in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the operating environment of  FIG. 1  illustrating the selection of controls associated with user interface data management categories in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a user interface including a first display portion corresponding to a set of user interface data management categories and a second display portion corresponding to a set of user interface data management controls in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the user interface of  FIG. 4  illustrating a selected theme user interface data management category and various user interface data management controls associated with the selected user interface data management category in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the user interface of  FIG. 4  illustrating a selected header management user interface data management category and various user interface data management controls associated with the selected user interface data management category in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the user interface of  FIG. 4  illustrating a selected font style user interface data management category and various user interface data management controls associated with the selected user interface data management category in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram of the user interface of  FIG. 4  illustrating a selected navigation style user interface data management category and various user interface data management controls associated with the selected user interface data management category in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of the user interface of  FIG. 4  illustrating a selected footer management user interface data management category and various user interface data management controls associated with the selected user interface data management category in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram of the user interface of  FIG. 4  illustrating a selected an advanced user interface data management category and various user interface data management controls associated with the selected user interface data management category in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Generally described, the present invention relates to a user interface for the creation and/or management of user interface. More specifically, the present invention relates to a user information user interface utilized in conjunction with network-based software service for creating and/or managing user interfaces. Although the present invention will be described with relation to illustrative user interfaces and operating environments, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the disclosed embodiments are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative operating environment  100  includes a plurality of receiving computing devices, such as client computing devices  102 , that can communicate via a communication network, such as the Internet or an intranet. In an illustrative embodiment, the client computing devices  102  can include a software application, such as a browser software application to facilitate communication via the network. The operating environment also includes one or more sending computing devices, such as an application server  104  and storage server  108 , that communicate with the client computing devices  102 . The application servers  104  include storage  106  for storing information associated with the creation or management of user interfaces, such as pre-computed theme combinations. The storage servers  108  also include storage  110  for storing information associated with specific user interface component information selected by a client computing device  102 . Although the application servers  104  and storage servers  108  are illustrated as separate computing devices, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the application server and storage server may be a single computing device. Further, storage  106 ,  110  may correspond to local storage or distributed storage via the communication network. Additionally, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the client computing device  102  and/or application servers  104  can correspond to a variety of computing devices such as personal computers, hand-held computers, mobile computers, mobile telephones, server computers, and the like.  
      With reference to  FIG. 2 , in an illustrative embodiment, the client computing devices  102  can generate a request for a theme creation or theme modification. The request is transmitted via the communication network to the application server  104 . The application server  104  transmits theme information from the storage  106  to the storage server  108 , which stores user selections in storage  110 . In an illustrative embodiment, the theme combination information is pre-computed for all possible combination of theme controls. Alternatively, the application server may generate appropriate information according to the client computing device request. The storage server  108  then transmits code to generate the selected user interface components on the client computing device to the client computing device  102 . In an illustrative embodiment, the selection of a user interface data management control corresponding to the theme user interface data management category is applied to each component of the user interface. For example, in the context of a Web site creation application, selection of a theme user interface data management control would result in the theme control being applied to all existing and new Web pages.  
      With reference to  FIG. 3 , in a more general embodiment, the client computing devices  102  can generate a request for a control associated with any user interface data management category. The application server  104  transmits code to generate the selected user interface components on the client computing device to the storage server  108 , which stores user selections in storage  110 . The storage server  108  then transmits code to generate the selected user interface components on the client computing device to the client computing device  102 . As described above with regard to theme categories, in an illustrative embodiment, the selection of a user interface data management control corresponding to the other user interface data management categories is applied to each component of the user interface. For example, in the context of a Web site creation application, selection of any data management control would result in the theme control being applied to all existing and new Web pages.  
      With reference now to  FIGS. 4 , an illustrative user interface  400  for creation and/or management of user interfaces will be described. The user interface  400  includes a first display portion  402  for displaying a set of user interface data management categories including theme management, header management, font style, navigation style, footer management and advanced management. The user interface  400  also includes a second display portion for displaying as et of user interface data management controls associated with a selected user interface data management category and automatically displayed based upon the selected user interface data management category. The user interface data management categories and user interface data management controls will be described in greater detail below. The user interface  400  further includes a preview display portion  406  for displaying a preview of the user interface components created or management by the software service.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 5 , an illustrative user interface corresponding to a theme management user interface data management category will be described. In the illustrated example, the theme management user interface data management category tab  408  in the user interface data management categories  402  has been selected and highlighted on the user interface  400 . In an illustrative embodiment, the tab  408  may be selected by manipulating mouse and/or keyboard controls.  
      Based upon the selection of the theme management user interface data management category tab  408 , the user interface data management controls portion  404  is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to image selection controls  410 , image layout controls  412 , and theme color controls  412 . The image selection controls  440  can include an image selection control  416  that facilitates the selection of various photos or images. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the photo selection control  416  includes a multi-level organizational menu that allows users to select photos or images according to various categories or image types. The image selection control also includes a set of image previews  418  that allows a user to select a specific image. The layout selection controls  412  include an image layout preview control  420 . The image preview control  420  includes various selectable layouts for an image on the user interface. The theme control controls  414  include various selectable color schemas for an image and layout on the user interface.  
      In an illustrative embodiment, the application server  104  maintains a pre-computed set of image, layout and color combinations to provide an improved network user experience. In this embodiment, the images, layouts and colors are fixed and can be pre-computed. Alternatively, the user interface data management controls  404  can also include the ability for users to provide additional images, which would have to be processed by the application server  104  as it is received. In an illustrative embodiment, a different version of a selected image may be used dependent on the selected layout and selected color. For example, the application server  104  may maintain different versions of the same image for each potential layout and/or color.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 6 , an illustrative user interface corresponding to a header management user interface data management category will be described. In the illustrated example, the header management user interface data management category tab  424  in the user interface data management categories  402  has been selected and highlighted on the user interface  400 . In an illustrative embodiment, the tab  424  may be selected by manipulating mouse and/or keyboard controls.  
      Based upon the selection of the header management user interface data management category tab  424 , the user interface data management controls portion  404  is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to site title controls  426 , site tagline controls  428  and logo controls  430 . The site title controls  426  include a text entry control  432  for obtaining user input of a textual title. The site tagline controls  428  can include a text entry control  434  for obtaining user input of a site tagline. The logo controls  430  can include a logo preview control  436 , additional controls  438  for selecting a different logo image or removing a selected logo image, and a logo placement control  440 .  
      With reference now to  FIG. 7 , an illustrative user interface corresponding to a font style management user interface data management category will be described. In the illustrated example, the font style management user interface data management category tab  442  in the user interface data management categories  402  has been selected and highlighted on the user interface  400 . In an illustrative embodiment, the tab  442  may be selected by manipulating mouse and/or keyboard controls.  
      Based upon the selection of the font style management user interface data management category tab  442 , the user interface data management controls portion  404  is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to a font style control  444 . The font style control  444  a set of selectable controls  446 ,  448 ,  449 ,  450  that illustrate a font style for all the text entries in the user interface. In an illustrative embodiment, the font styles can be hierarchically arranged to provide different fonts and formatting according to function. For example, a first level of text will be assigned a specific font and format while a second level of text will be assigned another specific font and format. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the selectable controls  446 ,  448 ,  449 ,  450  can include a preview of the corresponding font and/or formatting.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 8 , an illustrative user interface corresponding to a navigation style management user interface data management category will be described. In the illustrated example, the navigation style management user interface data management category tab  452  in the user interface data management categories  402  has been selected and highlighted on the user interface  400 . In an illustrative embodiment, the tab  452  may be selected by manipulating mouse and/or keyboard controls.  
      Based upon the selection of the navigation style management user interface data management category tab  452 , the user interface data management controls portion  404  is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to navigation style controls  454 . The navigation style controls  454  include a set of selectable controls  456 ,  458 ,  460  that illustrate a layout style for the navigation links in the user interface. The controls  456 ,  458  and  460  can include a preview of the navigation style.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 9 , an illustrative user interface corresponding to a footer management user interface data management category will be described. In the illustrated example, the header management user interface data management category tab  462  in the user interface data management categories  402  has been selected and highlighted on the user interface  400 . In an illustrative embodiment, the tab  462  may be selected by manipulating mouse and/or keyboard controls.  
      Based upon the selection of the footer management user interface data management category tab  462 , the user interface data management controls portion  404  is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to footer links controls  464  and footer text controls  466 . The footer links controls  464  can include text input controls  468  and  470  for identifying a link name to be displayed and a corresponding uniform resource location (URL) for the link. The footer links controls  464  can also include a control  472  to add a link to the user interface. The footer links controls  464  can also include a link preview control  474  for displaying the links that have been added to the user interface. Additionally, the footer links controls  464  can include various controls  476  for organizing the display of the added links. The footer text controls  466  can include a text entry control  478  for obtaining user input of a footer text.  
      With reference now to  FIG. 10 , an illustrative user interface corresponding to an advanced management user interface data management category will be described. In the illustrated example, the advanced management user interface data management category tab  480  in the user interface data management categories  402  has been selected and highlighted on the user interface  400 . In an illustrative embodiment, the tab  484  may be selected by manipulating mouse and/or keyboard controls.  
      Based upon the selection of the advanced management user interface data management category tab  480 , the user interface data management controls portion  404  is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to advanced site settings controls  482 . The advanced site setting controls  482  can include a page alignment control  484 , a page width control  486 , and a show background color control  488 .  
      While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.