Generally described, network-based computing environments provide an opportunity for users to access software services from a receiving computing device. In a typical operating environment, a receiving computing device can utilize a browser software application, to access software services remotely hosted on a communication network, such as the Internet. For example, a receiving computing device can utilize a browser software application to access a Web site user interface, or software application user interface, software service remotely hosted by a sending computing device, such as a server computer.
In a typical embodiment, the receiving computing devices implement network-based software services by generating a software service specific user interface within the display portion of the browser software application. In such embodiments, the user is presented with various graphical controls corresponding to the browser software application and additional graphical controls corresponding to the software service specific user interface. As software services grow in popularity and complexity, the number of graphical controls presented on a user display can be confusing, especially to users accessing the specific network-based software service for the first time. With regard specifically to network-based user interface software services, current user interface approaches are inefficient in providing non-skilled users the ability to select various controls and implement desired user interface creation and/or management functionality.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A user interface for a user interface creation software service is provided. The user interface includes a first display portion corresponding to a display of user interface data management categories such as theme, footer management, header management, font style and navigation style. The user interface includes a second display portion corresponding to a selected user interface data management category that is dynamically adjusted dependent on the selected user interface data management category. Selection of a data management category is applied to all user interface components.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method for generating a user interface is provided. The method can be implemented in a communication network including at least one sending computing device and a receiving computing device. The receiving computing device requests data from the sending computing device corresponding to a software service. Based upon code returned form the sending computing device, the receiving computing device then generates a user interface corresponding to the software service on a display.
In accordance with the method, the receiving computing device generates in a first display portion of the user interface creation software service a display of a set of user interface data management categories. At least one of the user interface data management categories corresponds to a theme associated with the user interface. The receiving computing device then obtains a selection of at least one user interface data management category. Based upon the selection of the user interface data management category, the receiving computing device dynamically generates in a second display portion of the user interface creation software service a display of at least one control associated with the selected user interface data management category. The second display portion of the user interface creation includes the controls associated with the selected user interface data management category displayed as adjacent controls. In other embodiments, the receiving computing device obtains a selection of a control in the second display portion of the user interface creation software service. The receiving computing device can then modify at least one user interface component based upon a selection of the control in the second display portion
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for generating a user interface is provided. The computer-executable components can be implemented in a communication network including at least one sending computing device and a receiving computing device. The receiving computing device requests data from the sending computing device corresponding to a software service. Based upon code returned form the sending computing device, the receiving computing device then generates a user interface corresponding to the software service on a display.
The computer-executable components include a user interface data management category component for displaying a set of user interface data management categories. The user interface data management components include at least one user interface data management category corresponding to a theme associated with the user interface. The computer-executable components also include a user interface control component that includes at least one control associated with the selected user interface data management category.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Generally described, the present invention relates to a user interface for the creation and/or management of user interface. More specifically, the present invention relates to a user information user interface utilized in conjunction with network-based software service for creating and/or managing user interfaces. Although the present invention will be described with relation to illustrative user interfaces and operating environments, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the disclosed embodiments are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting.
With reference now to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference now to
With reference now to
Based upon the selection of the theme management user interface data management category tab 408, the user interface data management controls portion 404 is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to image selection controls 410, image layout controls 412, and theme color controls 412. The image selection controls 440 can include an image selection control 416 that facilitates the selection of various photos or images. As illustrated in
In an illustrative embodiment, the application server 104 maintains a pre-computed set of image, layout and color combinations to provide an improved network user experience. In this embodiment, the images, layouts and colors are fixed and can be pre-computed. Alternatively, the user interface data management controls 404 can also include the ability for users to provide additional images, which would have to be processed by the application server 104 as it is received. In an illustrative embodiment, a different version of a selected image may be used dependent on the selected layout and selected color. For example, the application server 104 may maintain different versions of the same image for each potential layout and/or color.
With reference now to
Based upon the selection of the header management user interface data management category tab 424, the user interface data management controls portion 404 is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to site title controls 426, site tagline controls 428 and logo controls 430. The site title controls 426 include a text entry control 432 for obtaining user input of a textual title. The site tagline controls 428 can include a text entry control 434 for obtaining user input of a site tagline. The logo controls 430 can include a logo preview control 436, additional controls 438 for selecting a different logo image or removing a selected logo image, and a logo placement control 440.
With reference now to
Based upon the selection of the font style management user interface data management category tab 442, the user interface data management controls portion 404 is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to a font style control 444. The font style control 444 a set of selectable controls 446, 448, 449, 450 that illustrate a font style for all the text entries in the user interface. In an illustrative embodiment, the font styles can be hierarchically arranged to provide different fonts and formatting according to function. For example, a first level of text will be assigned a specific font and format while a second level of text will be assigned another specific font and format. As illustrated in
With reference now to
Based upon the selection of the navigation style management user interface data management category tab 452, the user interface data management controls portion 404 is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to navigation style controls 454. The navigation style controls 454 include a set of selectable controls 456, 458, 460 that illustrate a layout style for the navigation links in the user interface. The controls 456, 458 and 460 can include a preview of the navigation style.
With reference now to
Based upon the selection of the footer management user interface data management category tab 462, the user interface data management controls portion 404 is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to footer links controls 464 and footer text controls 466. The footer links controls 464 can include text input controls 468 and 470 for identifying a link name to be displayed and a corresponding uniform resource location (URL) for the link. The footer links controls 464 can also include a control 472 to add a link to the user interface. The footer links controls 464 can also include a link preview control 474 for displaying the links that have been added to the user interface. Additionally, the footer links controls 464 can include various controls 476 for organizing the display of the added links. The footer text controls 466 can include a text entry control 478 for obtaining user input of a footer text.
With reference now to
Based upon the selection of the advanced management user interface data management category tab 480, the user interface data management controls portion 404 is automatically generated to provide controls associated with the selected user interface data management category. Specifically, in the illustrative example, the controls are organized according to advanced site settings controls 482. The advanced site setting controls 482 can include a page alignment control 484, a page width control 486, and a show background color control 488.
While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.