List item layouts system and method

Abstract

A method of displaying list items is provided that includes defining a plurality of list items, defining a plurality of layouts, and linking each list item to a layout such that each layout can be linked to one or more list items. An electronic device is provided that includes a display and a user interface configured to display lists on the display, wherein the items of the lists are formatted based on a limited number of layout types such that the items having similar components share a common layout type. A user interface for an electronic device is also provided that includes a plurality of list items having properties defined by a layout, wherein each layout defines the properties for one or more list items and is stored in an object.

1 . A method of displaying list items, comprising:
 defining a plurality of list items;   defining a plurality of layouts; and   linking each list item to a layout, wherein each layout can be linked to one or more list items, wherein each of the plurality of layouts comprises properties of the one or more list items.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising displaying the plurality of list items based on the linked layout. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of list items comprises one or more dynamic list items. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising displaying the one or more dynamic list items based on the linked layout. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising wherein one or more of the plurality of layouts are selected by a user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the properties comprise properties for displaying text, graphics, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising storing the plurality of layouts in a flyweight object. 
     
     
         8 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display; and   a user interface configured to display one or more lists on the display, wherein a plurality of items of the lists are formatted based on a limited number of layout types such that the items having similar components share a common layout type, wherein each of the limited number of layout types define properties of components of the one or more items of the plurality of items.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the each of the plurality of items comprises a graphic, text, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the graphic comprises a bitmap. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more lists comprise a menu. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein a layout type comprises a position and a size of one or more of the plurality of list items. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a media player, a cellular phone, or a personal data organizer, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , comprising a memory, wherein the user interface is stored in the memory. 
     
     
         15 . A user interface for an electronic device, comprising:
 a plurality of list items, where properties for each list item are defined by a layout, wherein each layout defines the properties for one or more of the plurality of list items, wherein a plurality of layouts is stored in an object.   
     
     
         16 . The user interface of  claim 15 , wherein the properties comprise a position and a size of one of more of the plurality of list items. 
     
     
         17 . The user interface of  claim 15 , wherein the object comprises a flyweight object. 
     
     
         18 . The user interface of  claim 15 , comprising a menu, wherein the menu comprises a plurality of list items. 
     
     
         19 . The user interface of  claim 15 , wherein each list item comprises a graphic, text, a dynamic item, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a media player, a cellular phone, or a personal data organizer, or any combination thereof.