Staggered Animation Scheduling Timing Function
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
User interface designers face inefficiencies in creating staggered animations across application frameworks, requiring custom code for each case, which reduces productivity and negatively impacts application performance and asset reuse.
Innovation Solution
A timing function with selectable parameters is introduced to distribute progressive start times of target animations, allowing for customized staggering animations, reusable across various application frameworks and systems, and implemented within the presentation layer to decouple animation logic from application-specific code.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom code is written for each staggered animation case, then animation customization is achieved, but development productivity decreases and code reuse is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal timing function that can be applied to multiple animation cases across different user interface elements. This single reusable component replaces the need for custom code in each case, while still allowing customization through parameters such as animation duration, delay, and easing functions. The timing function serves multiple purposes: it staggers animations, controls timing, and provides consistent behavior across different UI elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing function accepts various parameters that can be changed to customize animation behavior without modifying the underlying code. These parameters include animation duration, delay intervals, easing functions, and target element selectors. By changing parameters rather than writing custom code, developers can quickly adapt the same timing function to different animation scenarios, improving both productivity and customization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom code is written for each staggered animation case, then specific animation requirements are met, but code complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the common logic for staggered animation timing into a separate, reusable timing function. This extraction removes the complex timing calculation logic from individual animation cases and consolidates it in one place. The timing function handles the complexity of calculating staggered intervals, while individual animation cases simply reference this function with specific parameters, reducing overall code complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing function acts as an intermediary between the animation definitions and the execution engine. It receives animation targets and parameters, calculates the staggered timing schedule, and returns a standardized format that the animation system can execute. This intermediary layer simplifies the interface between different parts of the system and reduces complexity by providing a clear separation of concerns.
3Ease of manufacture
If animations are applied without staggered timing, then implementation is simpler, but visual context and meaning are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The timing function applies partial staggering by allowing developers to specify which animations should be staggered and which can occur simultaneously. Not all animations need to be fully staggered - the function provides flexible control over the degree of staggering applied, enabling selective application to preserve visual context where needed while maintaining simplicity where appropriate.
Data Source
AI summary
A timing function that distributes progressive start times of a series of target animations, or staggers animations, is disclosed. The timing function includes a set of selectable parameters that are used to create a customized staggering animation in the user interface. The set of selectable parameters includes a user interface geometry for each of the target animations.