Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to objects in an electronic document, and more particularly, to attributes for objects within the electronic document. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to facilitate the creation and maintenance of a broad spectrum of electronic documents, a similarly broad spectrum of computer applications known as electronic document applications has been developed. Electronic document applications include word processors, spreadsheets, slideshow presentation applications, and web publishing applications, among others. These applications are often bundled together in the form of a productivity suite, such as Microsoft® Office. 
     One problem that has plagued users of productivity suites for some time is the inconsistency of appearance of objects when imported from one application into another. For example, importing a table from a word processor into a presentation application may cause the resulting table to look markedly different than it did prior to the import. As a further example, moving a graphical shape from a presentation program into a spreadsheet document often causes the resulting shape to have different attribute settings. The resulting object may have different line widths, different fill levels, and other graphical effects that diverge from the original upon import, causing the finished product to look different than intended. 
     Another problem common to electronic document applications relates to the creation of new content. Users must typically decide between an often-sparse selection of supplied document templates and choosing stylistic attribute values by hand. The former is disadvantageous because the finished product often lacks distinctiveness. The latter is disadvantageous because finding an acceptable combination of stylistic attributes values may involve considerable trial and error. 
     It is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a computer-implemented method is provided for rendering an object within an electronic document. First, one or more attribute references associated with the object are read. Next, a lookup is performed on the attribute references to obtain actual attribute values. A property bag is then generated using the actual attribute values. Finally, the object is rendered using the property bag. 
     In accordance with other aspects, the present invention relates to a method for displaying a gallery of potential styles. First, an object selection is received. A lookup is then performed on one or more attribute values for each of a plurality of potential styles. Next, a plurality of property bags is generated corresponding to each of the plurality of potential styles. Finally, an object is rendered in each of the plurality of potential styles using the plurality of property bags. 
     In accordance with yet other aspects, the present invention relates to a system for rendering electronic document objects. A lookup module looks up an actual attribute value using an attribute reference. A property bag module creates, maintains, and deletes property bags. A render module renders objects using property bags. Finally, a gallery module renders a gallery of styles in which an object may be rendered. 
     In accordance will still other aspects, the present invention relates to a method for associating a style matrix with an electronic document application. First, one or more style matrices are associated with an application. Next, a signal is received to load an object. Finally, a one or more object attribute references are mapped to one or more positions in the style matrices. 
     In accordance will still other aspects, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium for storing a computer-interpretable data structure that identifies a matrix of style attribute types and style attribute values. The data structure includes one or more rows, each corresponding to an attribute type, and one or more columns, each corresponding to an attribute value. 
     The invention may be implemented as a computer process, a computing system or as an article of manufacture such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer readable media may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. 
     These and various other features as well as advantages, which characterize the present invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a matrix (“style matrix”) for use in defining attributes for objects in electronic documents in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a suitable computing system environment on which an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating operational characteristics for rendering an object in an electronic document in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating operational characteristics for rendering an object in an electronic document in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating operational characteristics for creating and/or editing a style matrix, such as the style matrix shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating the modules that comprise one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows an exemplary embodiment of a style matrix and its relation to electronic document application objects. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention and its various embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the figures. When referring to the figures, like structures and elements shown throughout are indicated with like reference numerals. Objects depicted in the figures that are covered by another object, as well as the reference annotations thereto, are shown using dashed lines. 
     Generally described, the present invention relates to the application of attributes to an object being rendered in an electronic document. The attributes are defined based on references (“attribute references”) to a data structure referred to herein as a “style matrix.” In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the style matrix represents a data structure that defines variations of attributes that are applicable to objects being rendered for electronic documents. Each attribute reference is associated with one of these variations defined in the style matrix. It should be appreciated that other forms of data structures are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     With this general description in mind,  FIG. 1  illustrates a style matrix  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The style matrix  100  includes rows  104  corresponding to various attribute types (e.g., Border Line, Fill, and Effect) and columns  102  corresponding to various attribute values (e.g., None, Low Intensity, High Intensity). An attribute is defined at the intersection of each column  102  and row  104  in the matrix  100  as being the attribute type paired with the attribute value at that intersection. For example, a Low Intensity attribute value of type Border Line depicts a thin line, whereas a High Intensity attribute value of type Line depicts a much thicker and more easily seen line. Similarly, a None attribute value of type Fill will yield no fill, whereas a Low Intensity attribute value of type Fill will yield a partially shaded fill, and so on. 
     While the style matrix  100  is shown with attribute types Border Line, Fill, and Effect in accordance with an exemplary embodiment or the present invention, one skilled in the art will appreciate that additional attribute types (e.g., background type, text boldness, shadowing effects, bullet types, etc.) could additionally or alternatively be included in the style matrix  100  without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, the style matrix  100  may include attribute values in addition to or other than the three exemplary values None, Low, and High. The style matrix  100  therefore may be arbitrarily larger or smaller than shown in  FIG. 1 , as dictated by the number of attribute types to be controlled (and thus, the number of rows  104 ) and the level of sensitivity of control (more sensitive controls would generally require more columns  102 ). Indeed, any number of graphical effects known to those skilled in the art (such as blurring, shadowing, mirror reflection, three dimensional, light diffusion, etc.) may be controlled by the style matrix  100  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Given that the present invention may be implemented as a computer system,  FIG. 2  is provided to illustrate an example of a suitable computing system environment on which embodiments of the invention may be implemented. In its most basic configuration, system  200  includes at least one processing unit  202  and memory  204 . Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing device, memory  204  may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or some combination of the two. This most basic configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 2  by dashed line  206 . 
     In addition to the memory  204 , the system may include at least one other form of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the system  200 . By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media might comprise computer storage media and communication media. 
     Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Memory  204 , removable storage  208 , and non-removable storage  210  are all examples of computer storage media. System  200  may further provide for the at least one processing unit  202  to be communicatively coupled to memory  204 , and to other computer storage media as described above, such that the at least one processing unit  202  may execute computer readable instructions stored thereon. 
     Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by system  200 . Any such computer storage media may be part of system  200 . 
     System  200  may also contain a communications connection(s)  212  that allow the system to communicate with other devices. The communications connection(s)  212  is an example of communication media. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. 
     In accordance with an embodiment, the system  200  includes peripheral devices, such as input device(s)  214  and/or output device(s)  216 . Exemplary input devices  214  include, without limitation, keyboards, computer mice, pens, or styluses, voice input devices, tactile input devices and the like. Exemplary output device(s)  216  include, without limitation, devices such as displays, speakers, and printers. For the purposes of this invention, the display is a primary output device. Each of these devices is well know in the art and, therefore, not described in detail herein. 
     With the computing environment in mind, the following figures are described with reference to logical operations being performed to implement processes embodying various embodiments of the present invention. These logical operations are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented steps or program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) as interconnected machine logic circuits or circuit modules within the computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent on the performance requirements of the computing system implementing the invention. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments of the present invention described herein are referred to variously as operations, structural devices, acts or modules. It will be recognized by one skilled in the art that these operations, structural devices, acts and modules may be implemented in software, in firmware, in special purpose digital logic, and any combination thereof without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention as recited within the claims attached hereto. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a process  300  for rendering (hereinafter, “rendering process”) an object using an attribute reference is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The attribute reference corresponds to a row  104  and column  102  intersection in a style matrix, such as the style matrix  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . As such, each intersection defines an attribute that is to be applied to the object when rendered in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the object having any specific number of attributes references, and indeed, any number of references are contemplated within the scope of same. Additionally, a combination of actual attribute values and attribute references may be stored or maintained according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a combination may be used to force some attribute values to static values, while enabling others to dynamically change based on the application into which a given object is imported (and thus, the style matrix  100  addressed by an attribute reference). This embodiment provides application developers the ability to hardcode some values, while leaving others application-dependent or theme-dependent. 
     The rendering process  300  is performed using an operation flow beginning with a start operation  302  and ending with a terminate operation  312 . The start operation  302  is initiated in response to a user requesting the display of the object in an electronic document. From the start operation  302 , the operation flow passes to a retrieve operation  304 . The retrieve operation  304  retrieves one or more attribute references associated with the object. In an embodiment, each attribute reference is in the form of a coordinate pair identifying by row  104  and column  102  the intersection referencing individual attribute values in the style matrix  100 . Alternatively, the attribute references may be in the form of pointers to positions in memory that contains data representing the style matrix  100 . Moreover, one skilled in the art will appreciate that arbitrarily many levels of additional indirection (e.g., a pointer to a pointer to a position in memory that contains the style matrix  100 ) may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. After the retrieve operation  304  has retrieved the one or more attribute references, the operation flow passes to a look-up operation  306 . 
     The look-up operation  306  uses the retrieved attribute reference(s) to look up the corresponding attribute value(s) in the style matrix  100 . As previously discussed in conjunction with retrieve operation  304 , the attribute references may take the form of coordinate addresses in the style matrix  100 , or alternatively, pointers to memory, or other method of reference indirection known in the art. Thus, the look-up operation  306  may locate the referenced attribute value(s) using coordinates to traverse the matrix  100 , or alternatively, by accessing the value(s) pointed to by a pointer to memory. 
     From the look-up operation  306  the operation flow passes to a generate operation  308 . The generate operation  308  generates a property bag for the object. In an embodiment, the property bag is a structured grouping of the attribute value(s) associated with an object, as determined by the look-up operation  306 . The generated property bag may be a permanent or temporary data structure, and if temporary, the property bag is destroyed or reused after the object is rendered in the electronic document (i.e., as a result of a render operation  310 , described below). It should also be appreciated that the a property bag may hold other object-specific or inherited general data, in addition to one or more referenced attribute value(s). 
     From the generate operation  308 , the operation flow passes to the render operation  310 , which uses the attribute value(s) specified in the property bag to render the object appropriately in the electronic document. As such, the specified attribute(s), such as, for example, line thickness, fill type and gradient, font boldness, background, bullet types and other effects, are executed according to the referenced attribute value(s) contained in the style matrix  100 . In an alternative embodiment, these attribute(s) are executed according to a combination of referenced attribute value(s) and attribute value(s) hardcoded by an application developer, as described in more detail below. 
     The actual rendering of the object by the render operation  310  may be accomplished using any one of a variety of approaches. For example, the render operation  310  may write the object directly to a computer screen. Alternatively, the render operation  310  may call an API (Application Program Interface) to draw the object. Other methods of rendering known to those skilled in the art may also be used by the render operation  310  and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a process  400  for rendering (hereinafter, “rendering process”) an object using a gallery of styles is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. This rendering process  400  is performed using an operation flow beginning with a start operation  401  and ending with a terminate operation  414 . The start operation  401  is initiated in response to a user requesting the display of the object in an electronic document. From the start operation  302 , the operation flow passes to a receive operation  402 . 
     The receive operation  402  receives the selection of an object. In one embodiment, a selection may be received from a user. In an alternate embodiment, a selection may be hardcoded by an application developer. In yet another embodiment, a selection may be chosen by an application using a dynamic selection method based on the current mode of operation, attribute values of other objects in a document, or other criteria. 
     From the receive operation  402 , the operation flow passes to a select operation  404 . The select operation  404  selects a style in which the object will be rendered. Selection of a style by the select operation  404  may be performed using a loop that iterates through each of a set of preselected styles, where a style is a combination of attribute references, actual attribute values, or combination thereof. In an embodiment, these preselected styles may be defined by an application developer to include styles that have been carefully chosen to be aesthetically acceptable. Such an embodiment saves the application user the work of having to arrive at professional and aesthetically pleasing styles through trial and error. 
     Also, the select operation  404  may choose a position in a style matrix  100  populated with aesthetically pleasing attribute values. One skilled in the art will appreciate that such a position may be referred to using matrix coordinates, address pointers into data memory containing matrix data, or other form of data addressing known in the art, without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Alternatively, the select operation  404  may choose from a style matrix  100  populated with attribute values that comport to a given theme. 
     Following performance of the select operation  404 , the operation flow passes to a look-up operation  406 . The look-up operation  406  looks up one or more actual attribute values associated with the selected style. In an embodiment, the look-up operation  406  involves traversing one or more layers of indirection to arrive at actual attribute values. As described previously, attribute references may take the form of matrix coordinates, memory pointers, or other data addressing method known in the art, without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. 
     From the look-up operation  406 , the operation flow passes to a generate operation  408 . The generate operation  408  generates a property bag for the object. As discussed above in conjunction with generate operation  308  ( FIG. 3 ), a property bag is a structured grouping of the attribute value(s) associated with an object, as determined by the look-up operation  306 . Also as noted above, the attribute value(s) may be copied into either a permanent or temporary property bag data structure associated with an object. Additionally, the property bag may hold other object-specific or inherited general data, in addition to one or more actual attribute values. 
     Following performance of the generate operation  408 , the operation flow passes to a render operation  410 , which uses the attribute value(s) specified in the property bag to render the object appropriately in the electronic document. As such, the specified attribute(s), such as, for example, line thickness, fill type and gradient, font boldness, background, bullet types and other effects, are executed according to the referenced actual attribute value(s) contained in the style matrix  100 . In an alternative embodiment, these attribute(s) are executed according to a combination of referenced attribute value(s) and attribute value(s) hardcoded by an application developer, as described in greater detail below. 
     The actual rendering of the object by the render operation  410  may be accomplished using any one of a variety of approaches. For example, the render operation  410  may write the object directly to the screen. Alternatively, the render operation  410  may call an API (Application Program Interface) to draw the object. Other methods of rendering known to those skilled in the art may be used by the render operation  410  and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
     From the render operation  410 , the operation flow passes to a determine operation  412 , which determines whether there are additional styles in which the selected object must be rendered. If additional styles need to be rendered, the operation flow branches “YES” to the select operation  404 , discussed above. If no additional styles need to be displayed, the operation flow branches “NO” and concludes at the terminate operation  414 . 
     In one embodiment, style portrayals rendered in a gallery may be clicked on or otherwise selected to choose the attribute values associated with that style. New objects created in the application will thus take on attribute values according to the selected style. The gallery thus provides an efficient way to select a collection of aesthetically compatible attributes using only a single click, instead of manually and/or independently selecting each attribute value. In another embodiment, a gallery has a corresponding data structure which represents a style matrix (e.g.,  100 ) of its own, in which each matrix position contains a plurality of attribute values. 
     In an alternate embodiment, style selections in a gallery may be traversed without actually rendering a gallery. Instead, a “volume control” may be used to modulate how pronounced (and thus “loud,” or attention-grabbing) a style an object uses. For example, said volume control may take the form of a slider bar with the least pronounced style on one extremity, and the most pronounced style on the opposite extremity. Each successive advancement in the control corresponds to a more pronounced preselected position in a style matrix or gallery. While a slider bar is described here according to an exemplary embodiment, it should be appreciated that other GUI controls, including, without limitation, a scroll wheel and keyboard, may be used to modulate how pronounced a style is selected. 
     In yet another embodiment, a gallery is rendered, and a “volume control” is used to traverse the gallery selections and select successively more or less pronounced styles. In still another embodiment, users manually change attribute values independent of the style gallery, but are warned with a popup window or similar notification that they are leaving the “aesthetic safe zone” of predetermined, mutually-compatible attribute values provided in the style matrix. Even further, another embodiment involves users altering computer desktop theme settings using a style matrix (e.g.,  100 ) and style gallery and rendering the computer desktop as an electronic document application object. And yet, even another embodiment involves users controlling document theme settings using a style matrix and style gallery. In this embodiment, substituting one matrix for another generates global changes to a plurality of elements within a document. A wide variety of visual styles can thus be generated without requiring users to manually create a template for each new “look.” 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a process  500  for creating (“creation process”) style matrices (e.g.,  100 ) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The creation process  500 , which may also be administered to alter an existing style matrix (e.g.,  100 ), is performed using an operation flow beginning with a start operation  501  and concluding with a terminate operation  508 . The start operation  501  is initiated in response to a user requesting the creation of one or more style matrices (e.g.,  100 ) and proceeds to an associate operation  502 . The associate operation  502  first associates one or more new style matrices (e.g.,  100 ) with a given application. In one embodiment, such matrices (e.g.,  100 ) may be created by a developer using trial and error on a wide variety of objects to ensure maximal aesthetic compatibility between the various style attributes in a given style matrix position. In an alternate embodiment, styles may be chosen from a preexisting library of styles. In yet another embodiment, styles may be selected by a computer using an automatic method that, using the “None” and “Most Intense” endpoints, generates middle points along an axis of intensity. From the associate operation  502 , the operation flow passes to a receive operation  504  and awaits reception of a signal, as described in the following paragraph. After an application is released to users, the users may leverage its associated style matrix (e.g.,  100 ) to quickly and efficiently select a set of style attributes. In such a case, the receive operation  504  receives a signal to create a new object, load an existing object, or import an object from another application. The attribute references associated with the object are then mapped to a corresponding style in the style matrix by a map operation  506  and the operation flow thereafter concludes at the terminate operation  508 . 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating modules that comprise one embodiment of the present invention. A lookup module  602  performs reference lookups to find actual attribute values. As such, the lookup module  602  performs the look-up operation  306  and the look-up operation  406  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively according to embodiments of the invention described above. As described in connection with these operations, above, a reference lookup may involve either accessing attribute value(s) defined by a set of one or more coordinates in a style matrix (e.g.,  100 ) or accessing a memory address containing style matrix data using a pointer to memory. Those of skilled in the art will recognize that other forms of addressing data known to those in the art are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
     Property bag module  604  performs creation of property bags, and populates a property bag with the attribute value(s) found by lookup module  602 . As such, the lookup module  604  performs the look-up operation  308  and the look-up operation  408  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively according to embodiments of the invention described above. The property bag module  604  is also operable to perform updates on existing property bags in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with another embodiment, the property bag module  604  is also operable to perform deletion of existing property bags and/or reallocation of existing property bags so that they may be reused for other objects. 
     Render module  606  renders objects using one or more actual attribute value(s) stored in a property bag created by property bag module  604 . As such, the lookup module  604  performs the look-up operation  310  and the look-up operation  410  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively according to embodiments of the invention described above. As such, the render module  606  is operable to write objects directly to the screen, or alternatively may render objects through the use of API&#39;s. Additionally, the render module  606  may be operable to render objects within a file, but not necessarily to a display device, for later viewing. 
     A gallery module  608  renders a gallery containing various styles that may be assigned to an object. In one embodiment, style portrayals rendered by the gallery module may be clicked on or otherwise selected to choose the attribute values associated with that style. The gallery module will then propagate those attribute values to the object data structure. 
     In an alternate embodiment, style selections in the gallery module may be traversed without actually rendering the gallery. Instead, a “volume control” may be provided by the gallery module, as discussed above in conjunction with  FIG. 4 . In another embodiment, a mouse wheel may be used to modulate how pronounced the selected style is. In yet another embodiment, keystrokes may be used to similar effect. In yet another embodiment, the gallery module renders a gallery, and a “volume control” as discussed above may be used to traverse the gallery selections and select successively more or less pronounced styles. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , shown therein is an illustration of an embodiment of a style matrix  704 , and an object rendered using two different sets of attribute values from the style matrix  704 . An object  702  exists, which in an embodiment is a chart including a graph. The style matrix  704  includes rows corresponding to various attribute types (e.g., Line, Fill, Effect, and Background) and columns corresponding to various attribute values (e.g., Null, Subtle, Moderate, Intense). At each intersection of a column and row, a given attribute type with a given attribute value is portrayed. For example, a Subtle attribute value of type Line depicts a thin line, whereas an Intense attribute value of type Line depicts a much thicker and more easily seen line. 
     When an object  702  is combined with the style matrix  704  and a color scheme  706 , the three combine to form a rendered object ( 708 ,  710 ). One rendered object  708  is shown that includes a chart grid with a Subtle Line attribute value, a chart bar with a Moderate Line attribute value, a Subtle Fill attribute value, and a “Null” Effect attribute value (which indicates no effect should be used). Rendered object  708  also has a Null Background attribute value, and a chart border with a Moderate Line attribute value. 
     In contrast, rendered object  710  is shown which results from a different combination of attribute values than rendered object  708 . Rendered object  710  includes a chart grid with a Subtle Line attribute value, a chart bar with a Moderate Line attribute value, a Moderate Fill attribute value, and a “Null” Effect attribute value (which indicates no effect should be used). Rendered object  710  further includes a Null Background attribute value, and Null Line value for its chart border. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the fill styles for the chart bars, and the line styles for the chart borders are different between the two rendered objects  708  and  710 . 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims. For example, the style matrix  100  is shown in  FIG. 1  and described herein with the columns  102  being associated with attribute values and the rows  104  being associated with attribute types, but may alternatively present attribute types in the columns  102  and attribute values in the rows  104 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention involve attributes being addressed in attribute references using either coordinate mapping or pointers, both of which uniquely define an attribute by row  104  (e.g., attribute type) and column  102  (e.g., attribute value) in the style matrix  100 . As a result, an embodiment of the present invention eliminates the need to store or maintain attributes within each particular object. One skilled in the art will appreciate that this level of indirection has many other advantages including, among other things, a memory savings and more efficient portability of objects (and thus, electronic documents) from one application program to another.

Technology Category: g