Method and apparatus for managing input focus and z-order
First Claim
1. A method of managing user inputs in a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:
- displaying an application panel on said display, said application panel corresponding to an application operating on said computer system, and said application having an input focus of said computer system;
displaying an input panel on said display while said application panel is displayed, said input panel corresponding to an input application of said computer system;
receiving a first user input in said input panel, said first user input corresponding to entry of data, a command, or selection by said user to said computer system;
determining whether said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel; and
forwarding data corresponding to said user input to said application if said user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, wherein said application retains said input focus of said computer system after said first user input is received if said first user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, and said application retains said input focus of said computer system after said first user input is received if said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel.
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Abstract
An improved system for managing user inputs and z-order in a graphic user interface (GUI) environment is disclosed. A GUI element may include a plurality of keys corresponding to keys on a typical keyboard, and may serve as a replacement for the keyboard. The system permits an application having an input focus to retain the input focus while inputs are received in the GUI element, and even transient user interface elements (e.g., menus) will remain displayed in those applications after the user inputs are entered. Input pen and mouse events may first be forwarded to the input area application, which may remove the events from the normal circulation, preventing other applications from learning of the events, and then post those events to the input panel application separately.
78 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of managing user inputs in a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:
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displaying an application panel on said display, said application panel corresponding to an application operating on said computer system, and said application having an input focus of said computer system;
displaying an input panel on said display while said application panel is displayed, said input panel corresponding to an input application of said computer system;
receiving a first user input in said input panel, said first user input corresponding to entry of data, a command, or selection by said user to said computer system;
determining whether said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel; and
forwarding data corresponding to said user input to said application if said user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, wherein said application retains said input focus of said computer system after said first user input is received if said first user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, and said application retains said input focus of said computer system after said first user input is received if said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 5. The method of claim 33, wherein said transient user element is a menu, said input panel corresponds to a speech recognition program, and said menu is displayed responsive to a spoken command detected by said speech recognition program.
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18. A computing device, comprising:
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a stylus user input device;
a display configured to detect said stylus; and
a memory containing computer-executable instructions, said instructions causing said computing device to perform the following steps;
display a first application panel corresponding to a first application, said first application having an input focus of said computing device;
display a user input panel corresponding to a user input application while said first application panel is displayed, said user input panel including a plurality of onscreen keys corresponding to textual characters; and
receive a user input on said display, said user input being located within said user input panel, wherein said first application panel retains said input focus after said user input is received, and said user input application determines that said user input should not be distributed to said first application. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computing method, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a user input panel, said user input panel including a plurality of onscreen keys corresponding to a plurality of textual characters;
displaying an application panel, said application panel having a computer system input focus;
receiving data entered using one or more of said plurality of onscreen keys;
displaying a preview panel, said preview panel displaying data corresponding to said data entered using said one or more of said plurality of onscreen keys, and wherein said preview panel moves corresponding to movement of said user input panel; and
receiving a request to forward said data displayed on said preview panel to said application panel, wherein said application panel retains said input focus while said data is entered in said input panel using said one or more of said plurality of onscreen keys. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification