System and method for increasing the available workspace of a graphical user interface
First Claim
1. A computer system for increasing the available workspace of a graphical user interface, comprising:
- an opacity manager for sending a request to change the opacity of an element of the graphical user interface in response to receiving an event; and
a graphics interface operably coupled to the opacity manager for receiving the request to change the opacity of an element of the graphical user interface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved system and method for increasing the available workspace of a graphical user interface by providing reduced opacity of an element in the graphical user interface to make the workspace beneath the semi-transparent element visible. Later, the semi-transparent element may be made opaque again for better visibility to a user. An opacity manager may be operably coupled to a graphics interface of an operating system to change the opacity of an element of the graphical user interface. Any type of element of a graphical user interface may have its opacity reduced, including a window, a dialog box, a message box, a toolbar, a control, a button, a menu, and so forth. The system and method may reduce or increase the opacity of an element of the graphical user interface in response to any event including a system event, an application event, or a user interface event.
35 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A computer system for increasing the available workspace of a graphical user interface, comprising:
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an opacity manager for sending a request to change the opacity of an element of the graphical user interface in response to receiving an event; and
a graphics interface operably coupled to the opacity manager for receiving the request to change the opacity of an element of the graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for increasing the available workspace of a graphical user interface in a computing device, comprising:
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receiving an event;
in response to receiving the event, sending at least one request to change the opacity of an element of the graphical user interface for making the element semi-transparent to reveal the workspace beneath the element; and
changing the opacity of the element of the graphical user interface in response to the at least one request. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method in a computing device having a graphical user interface, comprising:
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receiving an event;
in response to receiving the event, sending at least one request to change the opacity of a semi-transparent element of the graphical user interface for making the element opaque to obscure the workspace beneath the element; and
changing the opacity of the element of the graphical user interface in response to the at least one request. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for increasing the available workspace of a graphical user interface in a computing device, comprising:
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receiving a first event;
in response to receiving the first event, sending at least one request to change the opacity of an element of the graphical user interface for making the element semi-transparent to reveal the workspace beneath the element;
changing the opacity of the element of the graphical user interface in response to the at least one request to make the element semi-transparent to reveal the workspace beneath the element;
receiving a second event;
in response to receiving the second event, sending at least one request to change the opacity of the semi-transparent element of the graphical user interface for making the element opaque to obscure the workspace beneath the element; and
changing the opacity of the semi-transparent element of the graphical user interface in response to the at least one request to make the element opaque to obscure the workspace beneath the element. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification