Multi-Layer Computer Application with a Transparent Portion

• US 20140289650A1
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Cotlarciuc, Razvan
• Granted Patent: US 9,134,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

An application in which a portion of a layer is transparent. When the application is a first state (with a first layer on top), a transparent portion of that layer may make a portion of a second layer visible. The first layer may include various menus and the second layer may have a feature that displays web page content in a position that overlaps the transparent portion of the first layer. In a second state, the second layer is rendered on top making the web page feature visible and accessible and, since nothing in the second layer overlays the menus, those menus are also visible and accessible. When needed, the application switches to a first state, for example, to expand a menu'"'"'s display on top of (i.e., covering) some of the web content, while leaving the uncovered portion of the web content visible through the transparent portion.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting an interface on a computing device, the computing device comprising instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium which configure the computing device to display the interface, the interface comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises first layer content and a transparent area and the second layer comprises second layer content in a content area, the content area corresponding to the transparent area with respect to shape, size, and position;

displaying a non-overlapping portion of the interface where the first layer and second layer do not overlap;

displaying an overlapping portion of the interface where the transparent area of the first layer overlaps the content area of the second layer;

in response to the first layer becoming active, changing the interface such that at least some of the first layer content is visible and, through the transparent area, at least some of the second layer content is visible; and

in response to the second layer becoming active, changing the interface such that the second layer content is visible and the first layer content is only visible in the non-overlapping portion of the interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is provided as a web page in a browser, wherein the web page is provided as a hypertext markup language (HTML) page containing two HTML nodes:

one for the first layer content and one for the second layer content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the web page uses absolute positioning to force the browser to display the first layer and the second layer at specific positions so that the second layer fits exactly in the transparent area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the web page uses a z-index to make either the first layer or the second layer active.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the first layer is active, all of the first layer content is visible.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the second layer is active, controls of the first layer from the non-overlapping portion can be accessed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer each correspond to content provided from a different source.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second layer content is interactive content and the first layer content comprises components providing for editing the second layer content.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting an interface on a computing device, the computing device comprising instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium which configure the computing device to display the interface, the interface comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises components and a transparent area and the second layer comprises interactive content in a content area, the content area corresponding to the transparent area with respect to shape, size, and position, wherein the interface comprises a non-overlapping portion where the first layer and second layer do not overlap and the interface further comprises an overlapping portion where the transparent area of the first layer overlaps the content area of the second layer;

upon receiving an interaction with the interface making the first layer active such that at least some of the components are visible and, through the transparent area, at least some of the interactive content is visible; and

upon receiving an interaction with the interface, making the second layer active such that at least some of the interactive content is visible and components are only visible in the non-overlapping portion of the interface.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the interaction making the first layer active causes a first component of the first layer to display at a location that partially overlaps the interactive content displayed through the transparent portion, wherein interactive content that is not partially overlapped remains visible.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the first component further overlaps at least a portion of the non-overlapping portion.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the first component is a dialog box.

13. A system comprising:

instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium which configure a computing device to display an interface, the interface comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises first layer content and a transparent area and the second layer comprises second layer content in a content area, the content area corresponding to the transparent area with respect to shape, size, and position, wherein at a non-overlapping portion of the interface the first layer and second layer do not overlap and at an overlapping portion of the interface the transparent area of the first layer overlaps the content area of the second layer;

instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium which configure the computing device to, in response to the first layer becoming active, change the interface such that at least some of the first layer content is visible and, through the transparent area, at least some of the second layer content is visible; and

in response to the second layer becoming active, changing the interface such that at least some of the second layer content is visible and the first layer content is only visible in the non-overlapping portion of the interface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the interface is provided as a web page in a browser, wherein the web page is provided as a hypertext markup language (HTML) page containing two HTML nodes;

one for the first layer content and one for the second layer content;

the web page uses absolute positioning to force the browser to display the first layer and the second layer at specific positions so that the second layer fits exactly in the transparent area; and

the web page uses a z-index to make either the first layer or the second layer active.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first layer and the second layer each correspond to content that is executed according to a different execution framework.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first layer content comprises components for editing the second layer content.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising:

program code for presenting an interface on a computing device, the computing device comprising instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium which configure the computing device to display the interface, the interface comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises first layer content and a transparent area and the second layer comprises second layer content in a content area, the content area corresponding to the transparent area with respect to shape, size, and position;

program code for displaying a non-overlapping portion of the interface where the first layer and second layer do not overlap;

program code for displaying an overlapping portion of the interface where the transparent area of the first layer overlaps the content area of the second laver;

layer content; and

program code for changing which layer of the interface is active to allow interaction with the first layer content and the second layer content, wherein;

program code for, in response to the first layer becoming active, changing the interface such that at least some of the first layer content is visible and, through the transparent area, at least some of the second layer content is visible; and

program code for, in response to the second layer becoming active, changing the interface such that the second layer content is visible and the first layer content is only visible in the non-overlapping portion of the interface.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein:

the interface is provided as a web page in a browser, wherein the web page is provided as a hypertext markup language (HTML) page containing two HTML nodes;

one for the first layer content and one for the second layer content;

the web page uses absolute positioning to force the browser to display the first layer and the second layer at specific positions so that the second layer fits exactly in the transparent area; and

the web page uses a z-index to make either the first layer or the second layer active

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first layer and the second layer each correspond to content provided from a different source.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first layer content comprises components for editing the second layer content.