Method and apparatus for displaying a window for a user interface

• US 20070089066A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• 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 8,601,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/768
• 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 of hierarchal displaying comprising:

displaying a plurality of windows on a graphical user interface in a hierarchy;

displaying a translucent region of display with the plurality of windows so that the translucent region of display is at the top of the hierarchy;

starting a timer; and

fading out the translucent region of display as the timer counts to a preset time.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising destroying the translucent region of display when the timer reaches a preset time.

3. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising destroying the translucent region of display when the user interacts.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein an initial degree of translucency of the translucent region of display is dependent on a location of the translucent region of display.

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

displaying a plurality of windows on a graphical user interface in a hierarchy;

displaying a translucent region of display with the plurality of windows so that the translucent region of display is at the top of the hierarchy;

starting a timer; and

fading out the translucent region of display as the timer counts to a preset time.

6. The machine readable media of claim 5 additionally comprising destroying the translucent region of display when the timer reaches a preset time.

7. The machine readable media of claim 5 additionally comprising destroying the translucent region of display when the user interacts.

8. The machine readable media of claim 5 wherein an initial degree of translucency of the translucent region of display is dependent on a location of the translucent region of display.

9. A method to inform a computer user of an incoming call comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

detecting an incoming call signal; and

displaying a translucent message to inform the computer user of the incoming call signal.

10. The method of claim 9 additionally comprising fading out the translucent message.

11. The method of claim 9 additionally comprising fading out the translucent message when the incoming call signal ceases.

12. The method of claim 9 additionally comprising destroying the translucent message when the incoming call signal ceases.

13. 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;

detecting an incoming call signal; and

displaying a translucent message to inform the computer user of the incoming call signal.

14. The machine readable media of claim 13 additionally comprising fading out the translucent message.

15. The machine readable media of claim 13 additionally comprising fading out the translucent message when the incoming call signal ceases.

16. The machine readable media of claim 13 additionally comprising destroying the translucent message when the incoming call signal ceases.

17. A method to show the progress of an operation, comprising:

processing the operation;

displaying a graphical user interface; and

displaying a translucent progress indicator which indicates to a user the progress of the processing.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the operation is transferring a file.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the operation is installing software.

20. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising fading out the translucent progress indicator when the process is completed.

21. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising destroying the translucent progress indicator when the process is completed.

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

processing an operation;

displaying a graphical user interface; and

displaying a translucent progress indicator which indicates to a user the progress of the processing.

23. The machine readable media of claim 22 wherein the operation is transferring a file.

24. The machine readable media of claim 22 wherein the operation is installing software.

25. The machine readable media of claim 22 additionally comprising fading out the translucent progress indicator when the process is completed.

26. The machine readable media of claim 22 additionally comprising destroying the translucent progress indicator when the process is completed.

27. A method to inform a computer user of a new message, comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

detecting the new message;

displaying a translucent region of display to inform the computer user of the new message;

starting a timer; and

fading out the translucent region of display as the timer counts down to a preset time.

28. The method of claim 27 additionally comprising destroying the region of display when the timer reaches the preset time.

29. The method of claim 27 additionally comprising destroying the region of display when the user initiates an application to view the message.

30. 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;

detecting a new message;

displaying a translucent region of display to inform the computer user of the new message;

starting a timer; and

fading out the translucent region of display as the timer counts down to a preset time.

31. The machine readable media of claim 30 additionally comprising destroying the region of display when the timer reaches the preset time.

32. The machine readable media of claim 30 additionally comprising destroying the region of display when the user initiates an application to view the message.

33. A method to move a region of display, comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface;

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

displaying a second region of display on the graphical user interface; and

animatedly moving the first translucent region of display to accommodate displaying of the second region of display on the graphical user interface.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein at least one of the first region of display and second region of display is translucent.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein animatedly moving comprises moving the first region of display so that it is continuously visible.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein animatedly moving comprises replacing the first region of display away with the second region of display and displaying the first region of display at a new position.

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 first region of display on the graphical user interface;

displaying a second region of display on the graphical user interface; and

animatedly moving the first region of display to accommodate displaying of the second region of display on the graphical user interface.

38. The machine readable media of claim 37 wherein at least one of the first region of display and second region of display is translucent.

39. The machine readable media of claim 37 wherein animatedly moving comprises moving the first region of display so that it is continuously visible.

40. The machine readable media of claim 37 wherein animatedly moving comprises replacing the first region of display away with the second region of display and displaying the first region of display at a new position.

41. 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; and

denying user inputs to interact with the translucent window.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein user inputs are not forwarded to the graphical user interface.

43. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising starting a timer and fading out the translucent region of display as the timer counts to a preset time.

44. 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; and

denying user inputs to interact with the translucent window.

45. The machine readable media of claim 44 wherein user inputs are not forwarded to the graphical user interface.

46. The machine readable media of claim 44 additionally comprising starting a timer and fading out the translucent region of display as the timer counts to a preset time.

47. 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; and

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

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the predetermined user inputs are not directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein displaying a translucent region of display occurs from the predetermined user input.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein the translucent region of display contains a system control.

51. 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; and

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

52. The machine readable media of claim 51 wherein the predetermined user inputs are not directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

53. The machine readable media of claim 51 wherein displaying a translucent region of display occurs from the predetermined user input.

54. The machine readable media of claim 51 wherein the translucent region of display contains a system control.