N-patch Image Resizing with Stretchable Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image resizing technologies fail to efficiently manage the resizing of user interface elements with varying content sizes, leading to suboptimal display and potential distortion of embedded text or media.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that identifies stretchable and fixed regions within an image using indication pixels, allowing for proportional resizing of images based on content, such as text or media, while maintaining the integrity of embedded information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single background image is used for user interface elements of different sizes, then the number of image files is reduced, but the text or media content becomes distorted or illegible when scaled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the background image into multiple distinct regions, each marked with specific pixel patterns. These regions include stretchable areas that can be scaled without distortion and fixed areas that maintain their original size and content integrity. This segmentation allows the same image file to be used across different element sizes while preserving content legibility in appropriate regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the background image are assigned different properties through pixel markings. Certain regions are designated as stretchable with specific pixel patterns, while other regions are marked as fixed to maintain content quality. This local differentiation enables the image to adapt to various element sizes while ensuring that text and media remain legible in the fixed regions.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple background images of different sizes are used for user interface elements, then content legibility is maintained, but the complexity of image management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal background image template that can serve multiple element sizes through embedded pixel markings. The same image file contains region definitions that allow it to be adaptively used across different scales, eliminating the need to maintain separate image files for each element size while preserving content legibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The background image is pre-processed with pixel markings that define stretchable and fixed regions before being used in the user interface. This preliminary annotation allows the rendering system to automatically determine how to scale the image for different element sizes without requiring manual selection of different image files, thereby simplifying image management.
3Ease of operation
If uniform resizing is applied to the entire image, then the resizing process is simple, but the embedded text or media becomes distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The image is segmented into stretchable and fixed regions using pixel markings. During resizing, the system identifies these marked regions and applies different scaling behaviors: stretchable regions are scaled uniformly, while fixed regions maintain their original dimensions to prevent content distortion. This segmentation enables intelligent resizing that preserves text and media quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resizing behavior where the scaling application depends on the pixel markings present in different image regions. The rendering system dynamically determines which regions to scale and which to keep fixed based on the embedded pixel patterns, allowing the same image to be resized appropriately for different element sizes without distortion.
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving an image having indication pixels that define a plurality of regions within the image that are used for resizing the image and determining, based on the indication pixels, two or more of the regions that are stretchable regions that change size when the image is resized. The method also includes resizing the image by changing a size of at least one of the determined stretchable regions.