Locking relationships among parameters in computer programs

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method for locking in a mathematical relationship between a set of at least two parameters in a computer program. The method selects a first parameter. The method defines a mathematical relationship that ties the value of the first parameter to the value of a second parameter. In some embodiments, the mathematical relationship can be a mathematical function, a Boolean function, or a lookup table. The relationship could be directly entered by the user, or the computer program itself could derive it from the user's actions. In some embodiments, the first parameter can be locked to the mathematical relationship. The lock prevents the value of that parameter from being changed, except by changing the value of the second parameter. Some embodiments implement this method by using a GUI with an intuitive set of controls.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method for locking at least two parameters in a mathematical relationship using a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer program executing on a computing device, the method comprising:
 defining a mathematical relationship between a value of a first parameter controlled by a first user adjustable user interface (UI) control and a value of a second parameter controlled by a second user adjustable UI control;   in response to each adjustment of the first UI control that is before an adjustment of the second UI control, adjusting the first parameter's value, and based on the mathematical relationship between the first and second parameter values, adjusting the second parameter's value; and   in response to an adjustment of the second UI control, adjusting the second parameter's value and discarding the defined mathematical relationship between the values of the first and second parameters.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first user adjustable UI control comprises a first slider control for adjusting the first parameter value, wherein the second user adjustable UI control comprises a second slider control for adjusting the second parameter value. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first parameter and the second parameter are coordinate parameters. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising displaying the mathematical relationship in a third UI control, wherein discarding the defined mathematical relationship comprises removing the mathematical relationship from the third UI control so that the mathematical relationship is no longer displayed in the third UI control. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein, after discarding the mathematical relationship, each adjustment to the first UI control adjusts the first parameter's value but does not adjust the second parameter's value. 
     
     
         38 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising sets of instructions for generating a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI comprising:
 a first GUI tool for adjusting a first value of a first user adjustable parameter;   a second GUI tool for adjusting a second value of a second user adjustable parameter, said second GUI tool adjusting the second value independently of the first value; and   a lock tool that, when activated, prevents the second GUI tool from adjusting the second value but locks the second value to the first value so that adjustments to the first GUI tool adjust the first value and in turn the second value.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the lock tool, when activated, prevents the second GUI tool from adjusting the second value by disabling the second GUI tool so that adjustments to the second GUI tool do not adjust the second value of the second user adjustable parameter. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the lock tool is a first lock tool, the GUI further comprising:
 a third GUI tool for adjusting a third value of a third user adjustable parameter, said third GUI tool adjusting the third value independently of the first and second values; and   a second lock tool that, when activated, prevents the third GUI tool from adjusting the third value but locks the second and third values together so that (i) adjustments to the second GUI tool adjust the second value and in turn the third value, and (ii) when the first lock tool is activated, adjustments to the first GUI tool adjust the first value and in turn the second value and in turn the third value.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the first GUI tool comprises a first slider control for adjusting the first value of the first user adjustable parameter, wherein the second GUI tool comprises a second slider control for adjusting the second value of the second user adjustable parameter. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein said first GUI tool comprises a first textbox tool for receiving values to adjust the first value of the first user adjustable parameter, wherein said second GUI tool comprises a second textbox tool for receiving values to adjust the second value of the second user adjustable parameter. 
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 38 , the GUI further comprising a display area for displaying a draggable object that adjusts the first and second values of the first and second user adjustable parameters by dragging the draggable object in the display area, wherein the lock tool, when activated, further prevents the draggable object from adjusting the second value of the second user adjustable parameter except to an extent that dragging the draggable object adjusts the first value of the first user adjustable parameter and in turn adjusts the second value of the second user adjustable parameter. 
     
     
         44 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program which when executed by at least one processing unit provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for locking at least two parameters in a mathematical relationship, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:
 defining a mathematical relationship between a value of a first parameter controlled by a first user adjustable user interface (UI) control and a value of a second parameter controlled by a second user adjustable UI control;   adjusting, in response to each adjustment of the first UI control that is before an adjustment of the second UI control, the first parameter's value, and based on the mathematical relationship between the first and second parameter values, adjusting the second parameter's value; and   adjusting, in response to an adjustment of the second UI control, the second parameter's value and discarding the defined mathematical relationship between the values of the first and second parameters.   
     
     
         45 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein the first user adjustable UI control comprises a first slider control for adjusting the first parameter value, wherein the second user adjustable UI control comprises a second slider control for adjusting the second parameter value. 
     
     
         46 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein the first parameter and the second parameter are coordinate parameters. 
     
     
         47 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein said computer program further comprises a set of instructions for:
 displaying the mathematical relationship in a third UI control, wherein the set of instructions for discarding the defined mathematical relationship comprises a set of instructions for removing the mathematical relationship from the third UI control so that the mathematical relationship is no longer displayed in the third UI control.   
     
     
         48 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein, after discarding the mathematical relationship, each adjustment to the first UI control adjusts the first parameter's value but does not adjust the second parameter's value. 
     
     
         49 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising sets of instructions for generating a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI comprising:
 a first user-adjustable GUI control for adjusting a first value of a first parameter;   a second user-adjustable GUI control for adjusting a second value of a second parameter independently of adjustments to the first value;   a third GUI control for defining a mathematical inequality relationship relating the first value to the second value; and   a lock control for locking the second value to the mathematical inequality relationship (i) to prevent adjustments to the second user-adjustable GUI control from adjusting the second value that violate the defined mathematical inequality relationship between the first and second values, but (ii) to allow adjustments to the second user-adjustable GUI control to adjust the second value so long as the second value after the adjustment does not violate the defined mathematical inequality relationship between the first and second values.   
     
     
         50 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein the first user-adjustable GUI control comprises a first slider control for adjusting the first value of the first parameter, wherein the second user-adjustable GUI control comprises a second slider control for adjusting the second value of the second parameter. 
     
     
         51 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein the mathematical inequality relationship is selected from a group composed of:
 a) greater than;   b) less than;   c) greater than or equal to;   d) less than or equal to; and   e) not equal to.   
     
     
         52 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein said mathematical inequality relationship comprises multiple mathematical relationships. 
     
     
         53 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein the first value and the second value are constrained to be in a region between a first mathematical function and a second mathematical function. 
     
     
         54 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein the first value and the second value are constrained to be outside of a region between a first mathematical function and a second mathematical function. 
     
     
         55 . A method of implementing a graphical user interface (GUI) of a video editing program executing on a computing device, said method comprising:
 providing a display area for displaying effects of video editing on a video clip, said display area comprising at least one object that is displayed at multiple instances in time in the video clip;   providing a GUI tool for adjusting a value of a first parameter that affects the object; and   providing a lock tool for (i) disabling the GUI tool for adjusting the value of the first parameter and (ii) defining a mathematical relationship relating the value of the first parameter to a value of a second parameter associated with time during playback of the video clip.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the GUI tool is a slider control. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the lock tool is further for preventing manipulation of the object in the display area in a manner that adjusts the value of the first parameter.