Dynamic Page Element Anchoring for Cross-Device Layout Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies are limited in their ability to dynamically reflow and render page content across varying output devices with different sizes and aspect ratios, often resulting in content 'jumping' or being split, requiring users to adjust layouts or rely on inadequate page reflow technologies.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to specify rendering specifications such as height, width, anchors, and offsets for page elements, ensuring they maintain their positions and relationships across different output devices, regardless of dynamic sizing or aspect ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing page reflow technology is used to resize content for different output devices, then content can be displayed on multiple devices, but images or content may jump to different lines or locations, columns or pages of content can be split, and size and/or position of content can be changed or compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining anchoring points and positioning rules for content elements before rendering. The system establishes a hierarchy of anchoring points (page, column, content anchors) and predefined positioning rules that guide element placement in advance, preventing content from jumping to arbitrary locations during reflow operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the content source and the output device - a rendering specification system that acts as a mediator. This intermediary translates content positioning requirements into device-specific rendering instructions while preserving the original layout intent, preventing direct mapping issues between source and various output formats.
2Manufacturing precision
If users manually adjust page content or layout to suit multiple target output devices, then content positioning can be optimized for each device, but the process requires significant user time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the rendering system to automatically adjust content positioning based on predefined anchoring rules and device characteristics. The system autonomously determines optimal element placement by evaluating anchoring points and positioning rules against the target device's dimensions and constraints, eliminating the need for manual user intervention for each output device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting rendering parameters (such as element size, position, and anchoring) based on the target output device's characteristics. The system modifies these parameters automatically according to the device's screen dimensions, resolution, and orientation, allowing the same content to adapt to multiple devices without manual reconfiguration.
3Manufacturing precision
If content is designed for a fixed page size, then layout precision can be maintained, but the content cannot readily conform to output devices of varying sizes and/or aspect ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming the static fixed-page-size model into a dynamic rendering system. The system maintains layout precision through predefined anchoring rules while dynamically adjusting element positioning and sizing based on the target device's characteristics. This dynamic approach allows the same content to preserve its layout intent across varying output formats without being constrained to a single fixed size.
Data Source
AI summary
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that provide ways to position, size, and/or anchor page elements for display on varying output devices. A user can assign rendering specifications to both text and graphic elements. Rendering specifications include, but are not limited to width, height, anchor(s), and/or offset(s) to one, some, or all page elements. Page elements will appear in the positions and relationships to each other as specified in the source document.