Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Ruurd Johan Boeke

Terry A Adams

Hamid Mahmood

Jesse Bishop

Brendan Joseph Clark

Michael John Hillberg

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.

Staggered animation scheduling

Embodiments are directed to rendering animations in a multi-layered animation system and to rendering an element with an animation that uses multiple levels of animation properties. In one scenario, a computer system establishes an operating system (OS)-specified animation value for at least one property of a user interface (UI) element that is to be animated. The computer system receives a user-specified animation value for at least one property of the UI element that is to be animated and determines, based on the UI element property, how to combine the OS-specified animation value and the user-specified animation value. The computer system then combines the OS-specified animation value and the user-specified value for the UI element in the determined manner and renders the animation for the element using the combined animation values.

Layering animation properties in higher level animations

A computer system determines that various user interface (UI) elements are to be moved to a different position within the UI. The computer system initiates a first animation that creates first and second aliases for each UI element that is to be moved. The computer system then receives an input that interrupts the initiated first animation. The input indicates that at least one of the UI elements that is being moved during the first animation is to be moved to a different position. The computer system then determines which of the first and second aliases is optimal for use as a starting point for a second animation based on various visibility factors, and initiates a second animation at the determined optimal alias. The second animation uses the determined optimal alias as a starting point and a third, different alias as an end point.

Alias selection in multiple-aliased animations

The subject disclosure relates to applying layout changes and/or animations in a computing system by statically defining unknown visual layout positions of elements within a user interface. Changes that are to be applied to the elements in a user interface are intercepted by mechanism as described herein that applies the changes as a function of a static reusable component. The static reusable component can be applied across various platforms. Animation is performed on a first element as described herein based at least in part on layout input properties of the first element or layout input properties of a second element that is associated with the first element. As additionally described herein, a dynamic graphical layout position can be described based on a definition of an initial layout position and calculation of a resultant layout position, wherein the positions are defined relative to an element or set of elements.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Ruurd Johan Boeke