Multi-layer graphical user interface

• US 20040255253A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Marcjan, Cezary
• Granted Patent: US 7,051,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/789
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A multi-layer graphical user interface provides multiple types of information in at least two layers of a common display space, such as a window. In one implementation, a shared network folder includes two layers of display objects to separately represent files contained in the folder and users with whom the folder is shared. The first or top layer may represent the files with conventional words, icons or other symbols. The second or lower level may represent the users with whom the folder is shared with words, icons or other symbols that are dimmed, blurred, or otherwise de-emphasized relative to the top layer.

Claims

1. On a computer display screen, a multi-layer graphical user interface, comprising:

p1 a conventional rendering in a display area of one or more computer file objects of a first type within a computer space; and

a de-emphasized rendering in the display area of one or more objects of a second type that is different than the first type and represents a property or feature of the computer space.

2. The user interface of claim 1 in which the computer space is a shared network space.

3. The user interface of claim 2 in which the one or more objects of the second type represent users who share the computer space.

4. The user interface of claim 1 in which the de-emphasized rendering includes at least one of dimming or blurring of the one or more objects of the second type relative to a conventional rendering of them.

5. The user interface of claim 1 further comprising a type control bar for selecting to be rendered the one or more computer file objects of the first type and the one or more objects of the second type from among objects of the first type, the second type, and at least one other type.

6. The user interface of claim 5 in which activation of the type control bar for a selected object type results in conventional rendering of one or more objects of the selected object type.

7. On a computer display screen, a multi-layer graphical user interface, comprising:

a conventional rendering of one or more objects of a first type in a display area; and

a de-emphasized rendering in the display area of one or more objects of a second type that is different than the first type.

8. The user interface of claim 7 in which the de-emphasized rendering includes at least one of dimming or blurring of the one or more objects of the second type relative to a conventional rendering of them.

9. The user interface of claim 7 further comprising a type control bar for selecting to be rendered the one or more computer file objects of the first type and the one or more objects of the second type from among objects of the first type, the second type, and at least one other type.

10. The user interface of claim 9 in which activation of the type control bar for a selected object type results in conventional rendering of one or more objects of the selected object type.

11. The user interface of claim 7 in which the one or more objects of the first type correspond to a computer application and the one or more objects of the second type includes a user notification distinct from the computer application.

12. The user interface of claim 7 in which the one or more objects of the first type correspond to a network Web site and the one or more objects of the second type represents a property or feature of the network Web site.

13. The user interface of claim 7 in which the one or more objects of the second type are operable as graphical controls that are selectable by the user.

14. A multi-layer graphical user interface method, comprising the steps of:

identifying and rendering on a computer display a top level information type, the top level information type being rendered in a first manner; and

identifying and rendering on the computer display a lower level information type, the lower level information type being rendered in a de-emphasized manner relative to the first manner.

15. The method of claim 14 in which rendering the lower level information type in the de-emphasized manner includes at least one of dimming, blurring, or fading the lower level information type relative to a conventional rendering of it.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising rendering a type control bar for selecting to be rendered the top level information type and the lower level information type from among at least three separate information types.

17. The method of claim 14 in which the top level information type corresponds to one or more computer file objects of a first type within a computer space and the lower level information type corresponds to one or more objects of a second type that is different than the first type and represents a property or feature of the computer space.

18. The method of claim 17 in which the computer space is a shared network space and the one or more objects of the second type represent users who share the computer space.

19. The method of claim 14 in which the top level information type corresponds to a computer application and the lower level information type includes a user notification distinct from the computer application.

20. The method of claim 14 in which the lower level information type is operable as a graphical control that is selectable by the user.