Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Jian Yuan

Daniel Ryan Lehenbauer

Jeffrey Thomas Chrisope

Jessica Lynn Fosler

Space is allocated within a table layout for a plurality of items to be placed therein by application of a first rule in which each item is ordered according to increasing column span for the item. Thereafter, a second rule is applied for each ordered item. The second rule recognizes that space need not necessarily be added to the right-most column for an item at issue, and that space needed for the right-most column for an item at issue should be 'borrowed' from the next column to the right, presuming such space is available and would not impinge on any other item. Finally, the second rule recognizes that despite everything, situations can arise where there is no elegant way to allocate space for all items within a table layout. In such a circumstance, space is added to the right-most column for the item at issue.

Method for optimizing space allocation in table layout

An API is provided for positioning items in a table. The API allows a number of columns or a number of rows, or both, to be specified for a table. Any items to be placed in the table may be identified for the API. Items may be 'moveable,' or not associated with fixed positions in the table. The moveable items may be placed adjacently in the table to fill a first row. New rows or columns may be generated to accommodate additional items. Items may also be 'fixed,' or associated with fixed positions in the table. Moveable items may fill in around the fixed items. A novel algorithm is provided to efficiently place both moveable and fixed items in a table. An on-demand reservation grid may be used in conjunction with the algorithm, thereby accommodating items that span multiple columns and/or rows.

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Jian Yuan