Adaptable Transparency

• US 20080189656A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Abanami, Thamer A., Selman, Julian, Maitlen, Craig, Glaser, Russell E., Brown, Rowland Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour

Abstract

By adjusting visual settings on a display behind a section of a background to emphasize menu options, a user can determine the status in the series of menus and sub-menus and can better read the menu options.

Claims

1. A method of displaying data on a portable media device comprising:

displaying a first display image where the display image comprises a background image and text;

allowing the selection of an option;

adjusting a darkness setting of a section of the background image; and

displaying additional text over the background image where the additional text is related to the selected option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the text comprises a menu of options and the additional text comprises a second menu of second options.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the size of the background image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the darkness setting of a section of the background image further comprises adjusting a section of the background image behind the additional text.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the darkness of the background image further comprises:

determining a maximum length of the additional text to be displayed; and

adjusting a section of the background image behind the maximum length of the additional text to be displayed.

6. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

assigning a section of the display image for displaying the additional text; and

adjusting the darkness setting of the section of the display image for displaying the additional text.

7. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

evaluating the background image to determine a darkness amount in the background image; and

adjusting the darkness setting based on the darkness amount in the background image.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating a color used to display the menu of second options; and

adjusting the darkness setting based on the color used to display the menu of second options.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the darkness setting to be adjusted by a user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the background image; and

selecting a color for the additional text and a darkness setting based on the analysis of the background image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the section of the background to be darkened is adjustable.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the darkness setting based on whether a backlight in the media player is on.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the darkness setting based on the ambient light measured at the media player.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the darkness setting based on whether the media device is in communication with a second display.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the section of the background to be darkened based on the orientation of one of the group comprising the text, the additional text, the background image and the display.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising if from the display of the additional text a selection is made to return to a previous display image returning, the darkness setting for the previous display image to an original value.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein adjusting the darkness of the background image further comprises:

determining a maximum length of the additional text to be displayed; and

adjusting a section of the background image behind the maximum length of the additional text to be displayed.

17. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions stored in a tangible form for displaying data on a portable media device comprising computer executable instruction for:

displaying a first display image where the display image comprises a background image and text;

allowing the selection of an option;

adjusting a darkness setting of a section of the background image;

adjusting the size of the background image; and

displaying additional text over the background image where the additional text is related to the selected option.

19. A portable media player comprising a processor for executing computer executable instruction, a memory for storing computer executable instructions and a display, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions in a tangible form for displaying data on a portable media device comprising computer executable instruction for:

displaying a first display image where the display image comprises a background image and a menu of options;

allowing the selection of an option;

adjusting a darkness setting of a section of the background image;

adjusting the size of the background image; and

displaying a second menu of second options over the background image where the second options are related to the selected option.

20. The portable media player of claim 19, wherein adjusting the darkness setting of a section of the background image further comprises one of:

adjusting a section of the background image behind the second menu;

or

determining a maximum length of the second options to be displayed; and

adjusting a section of the background image behind the maximum length of the second options to be displayed.