Visual State Manager for Dynamic GUI Animation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) require hard-coded and specific transition animations for state changes in visual elements, which are time-consuming to rewrite and not adaptable to dynamic state property changes.
Innovation Solution
A computer system automatically generates animations by determining differences in visual properties between current and new states of visual elements, using transition description information to create a playable animation that transitions the element from one state to another, with customizable timing and weighting of transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hard-coded transition animations are used for each state change, then the visual element transitions are specific and controlled, but the development time increases and adaptability to dynamic state changes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses templates to define transition animations once, which can then be copied and applied to multiple visual elements and state changes. Instead of hard-coding each transition individually, the system creates reusable template definitions that automatically generate the necessary animation code, significantly reducing development time while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal template system that can handle multiple types of visual elements and their various state transitions through a single configurable framework. The templates are designed to be multi-functional, accommodating different element types (buttons, checkboxes, etc.) and different state transitions (enabled/disabled, pressed/not pressed, etc.) without requiring separate hard-coded animations for each case.
2Ease of manufacture
If hard-coded transition animations are used for each state change, then the transition behavior is precisely controlled, but the maintenance effort increases due to frequent rewrites
Solution Approach 1:
By using reusable templates, the patent eliminates the need to rewrite animation code when similar transitions are needed. The templates serve as master copies that can be instantiated multiple times, and any updates to the template automatically propagate to all instances, dramatically reducing maintenance effort and rewriting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The template system provides self-service capabilities where the animation generation is automated based on template definitions. When state changes occur, the system automatically applies the appropriate template-generated animations without requiring manual intervention or rewriting, making the system easier to maintain and update.
3Reliability
If transition animations are rewritten each time state properties change, then the animations remain synchronized with state definitions, but the development efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by defining transition animations in templates before they are actually needed. The templates pre-define the animation logic and behavior, so when state changes occur, the system simply references the pre-prepared templates rather than generating animations from scratch. This ensures synchronization with state definitions while dramatically improving development efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The template system creates reusable animation definitions that can be copied and applied consistently across different visual elements and state changes. This copying mechanism ensures that the same animation logic is applied uniformly, maintaining synchronization accuracy while eliminating the need to manually rewrite animations for each state property change.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein are directed to automatically generating an animation for a transition between a current state and a new state. In one embodiment, a computer system accesses state properties of a visual element corresponding to a current state the visual element is in and a new state the visual element is to be transitioned to. The state properties include visual properties and transition description information. The computer system determines the differences between the visual properties of the current state and the new state and automatically generates an animation based on the determined differences between the visual properties for the current state and the new state, such that the animation is playable to transition the visual element from the current state to new state.