System and method for automated conversion of interactive sites and applications to support mobile and other display environments

Abstract

A converter for a website building system including a receiver to receive a website page from a website building system, the page having a source layout for a source display area and an object model representation of the website building system elements, a processor to determine an order and set of relationships among the elements and to create a target layout of the web site page for a target display area, the target layout being based on a semantic analysis and reconciliation of the determined order and set of relationships where the source display area has different attributes than the target display area and a reconverter to merge modifications to the source layout and the target layout taking into account independent modifications made to the target layout to create an updated target layout configuration and where the updated target layout reflects changes made to the source layout.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A converter for a website building system, said converter comprising:
 a receiver to receive a website page from a website building system, said page having a source layout for a source display area, said page having an object model representation of said website building system elements;   a processor to determine an order and set of relationships among said elements and to create a target layout of said website page for a target display area, said target layout being based on a semantic analysis and reconciliation of said determined order and set of relationships, wherein said source display area has different attributes than said target display area; and   a reconverter to merge modifications to said source layout and said target layout taking into account independent modifications made to said target layout to create an updated target layout configuration and wherein said updated target layout reflects changes made to said source layout.   
     
     
         2 . The converter of  claim 1  and wherein said processor comprises:
 a preprocessor to analyze object properties of said elements and to modify their suitability for presentation on said target display area; 
 a super-node creator to locate groups of said elements which should remain together and to create a hierarchy of super-nodes based on the location of said elements and the content relationships of said elements; 
 an orderer to determine an order for the elements within each of said super-nodes; 
 a placer to place said elements within said target layout based on at least one of said determined order, reserved spaces and said groups; and 
 a post processor to adjust said placed elements before display. 
 
     
     
         3 . The converter of  claim 1  and wherein said elements are at least one of atomic components, single-page container components and multi-page container components. 
     
     
         4 . The converter of  claim 1  wherein said converter is implementable on a least one of a client, a server and a third party server. 
     
     
         5 . The converter of  claim 2  and wherein said pre-processor comprises at least one of:
 a template handler to modify instances of said elements in templates; 
 a component filterer to filter said elements not suitable for said target layout; 
 a component adapter to adapt said elements to said target layout; 
 a component adjuster to adjust said elements to said target layout; and 
 a component analyzer to analyze the attributes of said elements to determine their usage suitability. 
 
     
     
         6 . The converter of  claim 2  and wherein said super-node creator comprises at least one of:
 an overlap group locator to locate groups of said elements wherein said elements are highly overlapping and to replace said group with a virtual element according to the grouping criteria; 
 a predefined group locator to locate groups of said elements according to hints of at least one of template, application, page or elements level and to replace said group with a virtual element according to the grouping criteria; 
 a text over image group locator to locate elements wherein said elements are text components that are overlaid over a specific background image to replace said group with a virtual element according to a grouping criteria; 
 a scorer to determine a certainty score for the correctness of said overlap group locator, said predefined group locator and said text over image group locator; and 
 a node creator to create a hierarchy of super-nodes based on said elements and said virtual elements. 
 
     
     
         7 . The converter of  claim 2  and wherein said orderer comprises at least one of:
 a basic orderer to determine a sequence of said elements of said super-nodes according to a predefined order criteria; 
 a partial order set locator to analyze at least one of the semantics, content, attributes, editing history and geometry of said elements of said super-nodes; 
 a scorer to determine a certainty score for the correctness of said basic orderer and said partial order set locator; and 
 an order integrator to integrate the sequence determined by said basic orderer with detected partial order sets located by said partial order set locator to create a merged modified order. 
 
     
     
         8 . The converter of  claim 2  and wherein said post processor comprises at least one of:
 an automatically added component inserter to insert at least one of: automatically added and mobile-related elements; and 
 a dynamic layout coordinator to perform at least one of creation, modification and removal of dynamic layout anchors wherein said anchors are adjusted according to said target layout. 
 
     
     
         9 . The converter of  claim 7  and wherein said basic orderer comprises at least one of:
 a primary direction orderer to sequence said elements of said super-nodes according to at least one of rows and columns; 
 a primary direction with split and merge orderer to sequence said elements of said super-nodes according to at least one of rows and columns and to track any row/column splitting and merging; and 
 a horizontal/vertical slicer to alternate horizontal and vertical slicing of said elements of said super-nodes to create an internal tree of divisions and define a sequence of display for said elements. 
 
     
     
         10 . The converter of  claim 2  and wherein said placer comprises at least one of:
 a hint interpreter to interpret hints attached to said elements of said super-nodes; 
 a line break creator to create line breaks according to said hints created by said node creator and said orderer; 
 a width reducer to reduce the width of said elements wherein said width reducer comprises at least one of a re-scaler, a font changer and a text re-flower and wherein said width reducer preserves visual design; 
 a size adjuster to apply at least one of width and height adjustment to said elements of said super-nodes; and 
 a resizer to resize decoration images. 
 
     
     
         11 . The converter of  claim 7  and wherein said partial order set locator comprises at least one of:
 a cluster partial order set locator to detect a cluster partial order set wherein said elements of said super-nodes are closer in proximity compared to the regular spacing between said elements in said super-nodes, 
 a semantic partial order locator set to detect a semantic relationship partial order set when there are specific combinations of said elements of said super-nodes of given types which are close together; 
 a pattern partial order set locator to detect a partial order set when there are set patterns between said elements of said super-nodes; 
 a pre-defined partial order set locator to detect a partial order set based on at least one of existing editing related grouping definitions, existing dynamic layout anchor information and the re-use of component templates for different element sets; and 
 an editing session information based partial order set locator to detect a partial order set of said elements of said super-nodes based on information collected from previous editing sessions. 
 
     
     
         12 . The converter of  claim 8  and wherein said at least one of automatically added and mobile-related elements include at least one of target device specific widgets, navigation menus, advertisements and promotional material. 
     
     
         13 . The converter of  claim 9 , said converter having a pattern partial order set locator and wherein said horizontal/vertical slicer comprises an element divider to determine the slicing direction of said elements of said super-nodes based on at least one of number of dividers, size of gaps found in the given projection direction, said located pattern partial order set and quality of alignment to axis projections in both directions. 
     
     
         14 . The converter of  claim 5  and wherein said component filterer comprises:
 a remover to remove elements not suitable for said target layout display and 
 a hider to hide elements not suitable for said target layout display. 
 
     
     
         15 . The converter of  claim 5  and wherein said component adapter comprises:
 a modifier to modify the size and width of said elements, 
 a uniter to unite menu elements; 
 a content updater to update content related adaptations; 
 a creator to create composite menus; and 
 a character converter to convert character based graphics. 
 
     
     
         16 . The converter of  claim 5  and wherein said component adjuster comprises a mapper to create font-size mapping between said source layout and said target layout. 
     
     
         17 . The converter of  claim 5  and wherein said component analyzer comprises:
 an image stitcher to stitch said elements when said elements are image components into a single image; and 
 a decoration image handler to distinguish decoration images. 
 
     
     
         18 . The converter of  claim 1  and wherein said reconverter comprises:
 a page deleter to delete a page from said target layout when said page is deleted from said source layout; 
 a page adder to add a page to said target layout when said page is added to said source layout; 
 a component deleter to delete an element from said target layout when said element is deleted from said source layout; 
 a component adder to add an element to said target layout when said element is added to said source layout; 
 a component modifier to modify an element from said target layout when said element is modified in said source layout; and 
 a mobile handler to handle modifications to said target layout wherein said modifications are independent of modifications to said source layout. 
 
     
     
         19 . The converter of  claim 18  and wherein said component adder comprises:
 a parent/predecessor searcher to search for at least one of the nearest predecessor element and parent element which are the closest to an added element to said source layout; and 
 a mobile layout adder to insert said added element to said target layout according to location of said at least one of the nearest predecessor element and parent element. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method implementable on a computing device, said method comprising:
 receiving a website page from a website building system, said page having a source layout for a source display area, said page having an object model representation of website building system elements;   determining an order and set of relationships among said elements and creating a target layout of said website page for a target display area, said target layout being based on a semantic analysis and reconciliation of said determined order and set of relationships, wherein said source display area has different attributes than said target display area; and   merging modifications to said source layout and said target layout taking into account independent modifications made to said target layout to create an updated target layout configuration and wherein said updated target layout reflects changes made to said source layout.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  and wherein said determining and creating comprises:
 analyzing object properties of said elements and modifying their suitability for presentation on said target display area; 
 locating groups of said elements which should remain together and creating a hierarchy of super-nodes based on the location of said elements and the content relationships of said elements; 
 determining an order for the elements within each of said super-nodes; 
 placing said elements within said target layout based on at least one of said determined order and said groups; and 
 adjusting said placed elements before display. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  and wherein said elements are at least one of atomic components, single-page container components and multi-page container components. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  and wherein said analyzing and modifying comprises at least one of:
 modifying instances of said elements in templates; 
 filtering said elements not suitable for said target layout; 
 adapting said elements to said target layout; 
 adjusting said elements to said target layout; and 
 analyzing the attributes of said elements to determine their usage suitability. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  and wherein said locating and creating comprises at least one of:
 locating groups of said elements wherein said elements are highly overlapping and replacing said group with a virtual element according to a grouping criteria; 
 locating groups of said elements of said elements according to hints of at least one of template, application, page or element level and replacing said group with a virtual element according to a grouping criteria; 
 locating elements wherein said elements are text components that are overlaid over a specific background image and replacing said group with a virtual element according to a grouping criteria; 
 determining a certainty score for the correctness of said locating groups of said elements wherein said elements are highly overlapping, locating groups of said elements of said elements according to hints of at least one of template, application, page or element level and locating elements wherein said elements are text components that are overlaid over a specific background image; and 
 creating a hierarchy of super-nodes based on said elements and said virtual elements. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  and wherein said determining an order comprises at least one of:
 determining a sequence of said elements of said super-nodes according to a predefined order criteria; and 
 analyzing at least one of the semantics, content, attributes, editing history and geometry of said elements of said super-nodes; 
 determining a certainty score for the correctness of said determining a sequence of said elements of said super-nodes according to a predefined order criteria and said analyzing at least one of the semantics, content, attributes, editing history and geometry of said elements of said super-nodes; and 
 integrating the sequence determined by determining a certainty score for the correctness of said determining a sequence of said elements of said super-nodes according to a predefined order criteria and said analyzing the at least one of semantics, content, attributes, editing history and geometry of said elements of said super-nodes and creating a merged modified order. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  and wherein said adjusting comprises at least one of:
 inserting automatically added and mobile related elements; and 
 performing at least one of creation, modification and removal of dynamic layout anchors wherein said anchors are adjusted according to said target layout. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  and wherein said determining a sequence of said elements of said super-nodes according to a predefined order criteria comprises at least one of:
 sequencing said elements of said super-nodes according to at least one of rows and columns; 
 sequencing said elements of said super-nodes according to at least one of rows and columns and tracking any row/column splitting and merging; and 
 alternating horizontal and vertical slicing of said elements of said super-nodes and creating an internal tree of divisions and defining a sequence of display for said elements. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  and wherein said placing comprises at least one of:
 interpreting hints attached to said elements of said super-nodes; 
 creating line breaks according to said hints created by said locating groups of said elements which should remain together and said creating a hierarchy of super-nodes based on the location of said elements and the content relationships of said elements; 
 applying at least one of width and height adjustment to said elements of said super-nodes; and 
 resizing decoration images. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  and wherein said determining a sequence of said elements of said super-nodes according to a predefined order criteria comprises at least one of:
 detecting a cluster partial order set wherein said elements of said super-nodes are closer in proximity compared to the regular spacing between said elements in said super-nodes; 
 detecting a semantic relationship partial order set when there are specific combinations of said elements of said super-nodes of given types which are close together; 
 detecting a partial order set when there are set patterns between said elements of said super-nodes; 
 detecting a partial order set based on at least one of existing editing related grouping definitions, existing dynamic layout anchor information and the re-use of component templates for different element sets; and 
 detecting a partial order set of said elements of said super-nodes based on information collected from previous editing sessions. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  and wherein said at least one of: automatically added and mobile-related elements include at least one of target device specific widgets, navigation menus, advertisements and promotional material. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  and also comprising detecting a partial order set when there are set patterns between said elements of said super-nodes and wherein said alternating horizontal and vertical slicing of said elements of said super-nodes and creating an internal tree of divisions and defining a sequence of display for said elements comprises determining the slicing direction of said elements of said super-nodes based on at least one of number of dividers, size of gaps found in the given projection direction, said detecting a partial order set when there are set patterns between said elements of said super-nodes and quality of alignment to axis projections in both directions. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23  and wherein said filtering comprises:
 removing elements not suitable for said target layout display and 
 hiding elements not suitable for said target layout display. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23  and wherein said adapting comprises:
 modifying the size and width of said elements, 
 uniting menu elements, 
 updating content related adaptations; 
 creating composite menus; and 
 converting character based graphics. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23  and wherein said adjusting comprises mapping font-size between said source layout and said target layout. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23  and wherein said analyzing comprises:
 stitching said elements when said elements are image components into a single image; and 
 distinguishing decoration images. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 20  and wherein said reconverting comprises:
 deleting a page from said target layout when said page is deleted from said source layout; 
 adding a page to said target layout when said page is added to said source layout; 
 deleting an element from said target layout when said element is deleted from said source layout; 
 adding an element to said target layout when said element is added to said source layout; 
 modifying an element from said target layout when said element is modified in said source layout; and 
 handling modifications to said target layout wherein said modifications are independent of modifications to said source layout. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  and wherein said adding an element comprises:
 searching for at least one of the nearest predecessor element and parent element which are the closest to an added element to said source layout; and 
 inserting said added element to said target layout according to the location of said at least one of the nearest predecessor element and parent element. 
 
     
     
         38 . The converter of  claim 6  and wherein said node creator performs at least one of removing and merging containers according to semantic analysis. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 24  and wherein said creating a hierarchy of super-nodes comprises at least one of removing and merging containers according to semantic analysis. 
     
     
         40 . The converter of  claim 19  and wherein said parent/predecessor searcher comprises a clusterer to cluster elements according to their proximity to said predecessor element and said parent element. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37  and wherein said searching comprises clustering elements according to their proximity to said predecessor element and said parent element. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said method is performed recursively according to said source layout. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 20  and wherein said determining and creating employ hints provided by at least one of said elements and a pre-defined template of said elements. 
     
     
         44 . The converter of  claim 18  and wherein said mobile handler performs at least one of closing gaps in a given element line and deleting an entire element line when said component deleter deletes an element from said target layout. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36  and wherein said handling modifications to said target layout comprises at least one of closing gaps in a given element line and deleting an entire element line when said element is deleted from said source layout.