METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING A WINDOW FOR A USER INTERFACE

• US 20140157162A1
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• 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 9,552,131 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.

21-54. -54. (canceled)