Rule-Based Grid for Responsive Content Layout
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in formatting network-accessible content, such as tables and tabular structures, to appear visually appealing on a wide variety of devices with differing display sizes, often resulting in unappealing layouts due to difficulties in reformatting.
Innovation Solution
A grid system established by independent rules allows for dynamic adjustment of row widths and column heights based on content, enabling content to be aligned with grid coordinates, stretched, or overlapped, providing flexibility in formatting across different devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional text-based content is reformatted for different display sizes, then adaptability to various devices is improved, but the complexity of reformatting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display area into a grid of discrete cells with defined row heights and column widths. Content elements are positioned within these cells rather than requiring complete reformatting of the entire layout. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of individual cell dimensions while maintaining overall structure, reducing reformatting complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the grid cells (row heights and column widths) to adapt content to different display sizes. By adjusting these geometric parameters rather than rewriting content structure, the system achieves adaptability across devices with varying display capabilities while maintaining consistent content positioning and relationships.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tables and tabular structures are reformatting for smaller displays, then compatibility with portable devices is improved, but visual appeal and layout integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments tables and tabular structures into individual cells within the grid system. Each cell can be independently positioned and sized, allowing the overall table structure to adapt to smaller displays while maintaining the integrity of individual elements and their relationships through consistent grid-based positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The grid acts as an intermediary between the content structure and the display. It provides a standardized framework that mediates between the original layout design and the constraints of different display sizes, enabling faithful representation of tabular data without requiring complete redesign for each device type.
3Manufacturing precision
If content is positioned precisely on grid intersections, then alignment precision is improved, but the complexity of grid rule management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning system into discrete grid intersections and cell boundaries. Content elements can be precisely positioned at these predefined locations rather than requiring continuous coordinate calculations. This segmentation simplifies positioning rules while maintaining high alignment precision through the structured grid framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The grid system provides self-service positioning through its inherent structure. Gridlines and intersections automatically provide reference points for alignment, eliminating the need for complex positioning calculations or additional alignment rules. The grid itself serves the alignment function that would otherwise require complex management.
Data Source
AI summary
Presentation of accessible content is in accordance with a grid established by rules independent of the content. Different rules establish different grids utilizable with the same content, thereby enabling proper formatting across a wide range of devices and displays. The rules provide for fixed size and auto sized column widths and row heights. Additionally, the rules provide for column widths and row heights size based on fractional weighting of the remaining space after the fixed size and auto sized grid members are accounted for. The grid establishes a coordinate system onto which content is “hung” by aligning an aspect of the content with a coordinate point. Content is hung by reference to its beginning, its end, its center point, or, alternatively, content can be specified to be stretched to fit the width of the column and the height of the row with which it is associated.