Adjusting transparency of windows to reflect recent use

• US 20030142133A1
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick, Hately, Andrew Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/058,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142133A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/768
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method, system, and program for adjusting the transparency of windows to reflect recent use are provided. Current use of multiple displayable objects is detected. A transparency associated with each of the displayable objects is automatically selectively adjusted to reflect the current use of each of the displayable objects, such that recent use of the displayable objects is graphically represented independent of the z-order of the displayable objects.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting displayable objects according to recent use, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting current use of a plurality of displayable objects; and

automatically selectively adjusting a transparency associated with at least one of said plurality of displayable objects to reflect said current use of said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects, such that recent use of said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects is graphically represented.

2. The method for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 1, said step of detecting current use of a plurality of displayable objects further comprising the step of:

detecting idleness of said plurality of displayable objects.

3. The method for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 1, said step of detecting current use of a plurality of displayable objects further comprising the step of:

detecting active use of said plurality of displayable objects.

4. The method for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 1, said step of automatically selectively adjusting a transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects further comprising the step of:

adjusting said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects according to user recently used preferences.

5. The method for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

minimizing said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects, in response to a value of said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects reaching a particular threshold.

6. The method for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 1, said step of automatically selectively adjusting a transparency associated with at least one of said plurality of displayable objects further comprising the step of:

adjusting said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects, wherein said transparency adjusts according to a comparison of use of said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects.

7. A system for adjusting displayable objects according to recent use, said system comprising:

a graphical user interface;

means for detecting current use of a plurality of displayable objects displayed within said graphical user interface; and

means for automatically selectively adjusting a transparency associated with at least one of said plurality of displayable objects to reflect said current use of said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects.

8. The system for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 7, said means for detecting current use of a plurality of displayable objects further comprising:

means for detecting idleness of said plurality of displayable objects.

9. The system for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 7, said means for detecting current use of a plurality of displayable objects further comprising:

means for detecting active use of said plurality of displayable objects.

10. The system for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 7, said means for automatically selectively adjusting a transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects further comprising:

means for adjusting said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects according to user recently used preferences.

11. The system for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 7, said system further comprising:

means for minimizing said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects, in response to a value of said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects reaching a particular threshold.

12. The system for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 7, said means for automatically selectively adjusting a transparency associated with at least one of said plurality of displayable objects further comprising:

means for adjusting said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects, wherein said transparency adjusts according to a comparison of use of said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects.

13. A program for adjusting displayable objects according to recent use, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for detecting current use of a plurality of displayable objects; and

means for controlling selective adjustment of a transparency associated with at least one of said plurality of displayable objects to reflect said current use of said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects.

14. The program for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for detecting idleness of said plurality of displayable objects.

15. The program for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for detecting active use of said plurality of displayable objects.

16. The program for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for controlling adjustment of said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects according to user recently used preferences.

17. The program for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for controlling minimization of said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects, in response to a value of said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects reaching a particular threshold.

18. The program for adjusting displayable objects according to claim 13, said program further comprising:

means for controlling adjustment of said transparency associated with said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects, wherein said transparency adjusts according to a comparison of use of said at least one of said plurality of displayable objects.