Patent ID: 8516385

Claim:
A computer implemented method comprising: receiving a first assignment of a user interface object to a first user interface state of a user interface, the first user interface state being at least partially defined by respective configurations of a collection of user interface objects included within the user interface in the first user interface state, the user interface object comprising a layer; receiving a link instruction identifying a second assignment of the user interface object to a second user interface state, the second assignment of the user interface object to the second user interface state including a relationship that is an inheritance relationship or an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) hierarchy relationship; processing the link instruction to include the user interface object in the second user interface state; and displaying, in a display area a first visual representation of the first assignment of the user interface object to the first user interface state and a second visual representation of the second assignment of the user interface object to the second user interface state, wherein the display area further comprises a list of available user interface objects, the user interface object being included in the available user interface objects, wherein the first visual representation and the second visual representation are included in the list, wherein the first visual representation is in a form of a first icon representing the first assignment, wherein the second visual representation is in a form of a second icon representing the second assignment, and wherein the user interface object and the second user interface state share a common representation of the second icon.