Dynamic Skin Rendering via Theme Parsing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional application graphical user interfaces are hard-coded with application logic, making it difficult to separate presentation from business logic and allowing for dynamic user interface customization.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communication device with a media engine that parses a skinning theme document into a template for rendering graphical interfaces, separating application logic from user interface presentation through a skinning themes document that defines data elements and custom events, allowing for late binding and dynamic rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If graphical user interfaces are hard-coded with application logic, then the application structure is simple and easy to implement, but the presentation cannot be separated from business logic and dynamic user interface customization is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the graphical user interface into separate skin files that are independent from the application logic. The skin files contain only presentation elements (SVG graphics, styles, layouts) while the application code handles business logic. This separation allows the interface to be customized without modifying the application code, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the presentation layer from the application logic by placing all graphical interface elements into external skin files. The application code references these skin files but does not contain the graphical definitions themselves. This extraction enables independent customization of the interface while keeping the application structure simple.
2Adaptability or versatility
If graphical user interfaces are hard-coded with application logic, then the implementation is straightforward, but the look and behavior cannot be dynamically changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic rendering by allowing the application to load and switch between different skin files at runtime. The skin files use SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) which supports dynamic styling and transformation through CSS and JavaScript. This enables the look and behavior of the interface to be changed dynamically without recompiling the application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces skin files as an intermediary layer between the application logic and the graphical display. The application code interacts with the presentation layer through defined interfaces and data bindings, allowing dynamic changes to be made to the skin files without affecting the core application logic. This intermediary enables flexible dynamic rendering while maintaining implementation simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If the user interface is separated from application logic through skinning, then interface customization is enhanced, but the system complexity increases due to additional parsing and rendering components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal skinning framework that handles multiple interface requirements through a single set of components. The media engine provides unified parsing, rendering, and event handling for all skin files, regardless of their specific content or complexity. This universal approach enhances ease of operation while controlling system complexity through code reusability and standardized processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) as the skin file format, which is a widely supported and well-understood graphics standard. By copying proven technologies and formats into the skinning system, the patent avoids reinventing complex parsing and rendering mechanisms, thereby enhancing ease of operation while minimizing the addition of proprietary complex components.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communication device and non-transitory computer readable memory is provided. A processor executes instructions to provide a parser for parsing at least one skinning theme document into a template describing rendering characteristics of a graphical interface, the skinning theme document identifying at least one data element. The instructions also provide an interaction interface for receiving from data from at least one application associated with one or more of the at least one data element. A renderer is provided for rendering the received data on a display in accordance with the template as the graphical interface wherein the graphical interface presents one or more data elements of the at least one application that is rendered.