Method and apparatus for displaying a window for a user interface

• US 20070083825A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Ording, Bas
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/788
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to display windows. In more than one embodiments of the invention, a window is closed automatically (e.g., after a timer expires, or when a condition or criterion is met, or a system input is received) without user input. In some examples, the window is translucent so that the portion of another window, when present, is visible under the window. In some examples, the image of the window is faded out before the window is closed and destroyed. In some examples, the window does not close in response to any input from a user input device. In some examples, the window is repositioned (or hidden) automatically when another translucent window is displayed. The degree of translucency, the speed for fading out, the discrete levels of translucency for fading out, the time to expire, and/or other parameters for controlling the display of the window may be set by the user or adjusted by the system (or application software programs) automatically according to system conditions or other criteria.

Claims

1. A method to display a volume control interface comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying the volume control interface over the graphical user interface;

starting a timer; and

removing the volume control interface when the timer counts down to a reset time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the volume control interface over the graphical interface occurs as a result of a user interacting with a user input device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the volume control interface over the graphical interface occurs as a result of a user interacting with a user input device, where the input device is not directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user adjusts the volume control interface by interacting with a user input device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the volume control interface comprises a window with a plurality of bars.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the volume control interface is removed by fading.

7. A machine readable media containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying a volume control interface over the graphical user interface;

starting a timer; and

removing the volume control interface when the timer counts down to a preset time.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying the volume control interface over the graphical interface occurs as a result of a user interacting with a user input device.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying the volume control interface over the graphical interface occurs as a result of a user interacting with a user input device, where the input device is not directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the user adjusts the volume control interface by interacting with a user input device.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the volume control interface comprises a window with a plurality of bars.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the volume control interface is removed by fading.

13. A method to display a brightness control interface comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying the brightness control interface over the graphical user interface;

starting a timer; and

removing the brightness control interface as the timer counts down to a preset time.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein displaying the brightness control interface over the graphical interface occurs as a result of a user interacting with a user input device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the user input device is not directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the user adjusts the brightness control interface by interacting with a user input device.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the brightness control interface comprises a window with a plurality of radial bars.

18. A machine readable media containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying a brightness control interface over the graphical user interface;

starting a timer; and

removing the brightness control interface as the timer counts down to a preset time.

19. The machine readable media of claim 18 wherein displaying the brightness control interface over the graphical interface occurs as a result of a user interacting with a user input device.

20. The machine readable media of claim 19 wherein the input device is not directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

21. The machine readable media of claim 18 wherein the user adjusts the brightness control interface by interacting with a user input device.

22. The machine readable media of claim 18 wherein the brightness control interface comprises a window with a plurality of radial bars.

23. A method to alert a computer user, comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying a alert on the interface; and

destroying the alert without a user interacting with the alert.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein destroying comprises fading the alert away.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the alert comprises a window with text.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the alert is related to a system event.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the alert is translucent

28. A machine readable media containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying a alert on the interface; and

destroying the alert without a user interacting with the alert.

29. The machine readable media of claim 28 wherein destroying comprises fading the alert away.

30. The machine readable media of claim 28 wherein the alert comprises a window with text.

31. The machine readable media of claim 28 wherein the translucent alert is related to a system event.

32. The machine readable media of claim 28 wherein the alert is translucent.

33. A method to display a translucent region of display comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying the translucent region of display on the graphical user interface having elements other than the translucent region;

allowing predetermined user inputs to interface with the translucent region of display; and

forwarding non-predetermined user inputs to the elements other than the translucent region.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the non-determined user inputs are directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein displaying the translucent region of display occurs from the predetermined user input.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the translucent region of display contains a system control.

37. A machine readable media containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying a translucent region of display on the graphical user interface;

allowing predetermined user inputs to interface with the translucent region of display; and

forwarding non-predetermined user inputs to the graphical user interface.

38. The machine readable media of claim 37 wherein the non-determined user inputs are directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

39. The machine readable media of claim 37 wherein displaying the translucent region of display occurs from the predetermined user input.

40. The machine readable media of claim 37 wherein the translucent region of display contains a system control.

41. A method to display a translucent region of display comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

triggering a timer in response to a system event; and

displaying the translucent region of display in response to a system event.

42. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising destroying the translucent region of display in response to a user input.

43. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising destroying the translucent region of display when the timer has counted to a predetermined time.

44. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising fading the translucent region of display.

45. A machine readable media containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

triggering a timer in response to a system event; and

displaying a translucent region of display in response to a system event.

46. The machine readable media of claim 45 additionally comprising destroying the translucent region of display in response to a user input.

47. The machine readable media of claim 45 additionally comprising destroying the translucent region of display when the timer has counted to a predetermined time.

48. The machine readable media of claim 45 additionally comprising fading the translucent region of display.

49. A method to display a translucent region of display comprising:

displaying a software application on a graphical user interface;

displaying the translucent region of display over the graphical user interface; and

displaying a content in the translucent region of display, the content being unrelated to the software application on the graphical user interface.

50. The method of claim 49 additionally comprising starting a timer to count to a preset time and destroying the translucent informational message when the timer reaches the preset time.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the content is related to a system event.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein the content is related to a system parameter.

53. A machine readable media containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a software application on a graphical user interface;

displaying a translucent region of display over the graphical user interface; and

displaying a content in the translucent region of display, the content being unrelated the software application on the graphical user interface.

54. The machine readable media of claim 53 additionally comprising starting a timer to count to a preset time and destroying the translucent informational message when the timer reaches the preset time.

55. The machine readable media of claim 53 wherein the content is related to a system event.

56. The machine readable media of claim 53 wherein the content is related to a system parameter.

57. A method to display a user interface element comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying the user interface element over the graphical user interface;

starting a timer;

fading the user interface element as the timer counts down to a preset time; and

unfading the user interface element and resetting the timer when a user interacts with the translucent user interface element.

58. The method of claim 57 additionally comprising refading the user interface element as the timer recounts down to the preset time.

59. The method of claim 57 additionally comprising destroying the user interface element when the counter reaches the preset time.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein the preset time increases when a user interacts with the user interface element.

61. A machine readable media containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

displaying a user interface element over the graphical user interface;

starting a timer;

fading the user interface element as the timer counts down to a preset time; and

unfading the user interface element and resetting the timer when a user interacts with the translucent user interface element.

62. The machine readable media of claim 61 additionally comprising refading the user interface element as the timer recounts down to the preset time.

63. The machine readable media of claim 61 additionally comprising destroying the user interface element when the counter reaches the preset time.

64. The machine readable media of claim 61 wherein the preset time increases when a user interacts with the user interface element.