Computer system and method for displaying images with superimposed partially transparent menus
First Claim
1. A computer display control system, comprising:
- a central processing unit (CPU);
a program memory, coupled to said CPU, that stores software programs executed by said CPU; and
a monitor, coupled to said CPU, that displays images under the control of said software programs stored in said program memory;
said software programs stored in said program memory including an image generating program that generates and displays a first set of images on said monitor, and a menu generating program that displays a control menu on said monitor;
said menu generating program including means for generating a control menu, stippling said control menu so as to make said control menu partially transparent, and superimposing said control menu over said first set of images displayed on said monitor;
wherein said first set of images, over which said control menu is superimposed, remains visible on said monitor below said control menu.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer display control system displays semi-transparent control menus superimposed over other images. The computer system has a central processing unit, a program memory that stores an application or operating system program that generates and displays a first set of images on the display, and a menu generating program that displays a control menu having a list of menu items. The displayed control menu is a stippled image that is partially transparent. When the control menu is superimposed over the first set of images, the first set of images remains visible on the display below the control menu. The menu generating program logically ANDs predefined control menu images with a halftone screen so as to generate a stippled control menu image comprising an array of interleaved transparent and non-transparent pixels. In the preferred embodiment, the menu generating program displays a first version of the control menu when the control menu is unselected and a second version when said control menu is selected. The first version has a higher percentage of transparent pixels than the second version, making the control menu less intrusive during normal use when the menu is unselected, and also making the control menu easier to see distinctly when it is selected.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A computer display control system, comprising:
-
a central processing unit (CPU); a program memory, coupled to said CPU, that stores software programs executed by said CPU; and a monitor, coupled to said CPU, that displays images under the control of said software programs stored in said program memory; said software programs stored in said program memory including an image generating program that generates and displays a first set of images on said monitor, and a menu generating program that displays a control menu on said monitor; said menu generating program including means for generating a control menu, stippling said control menu so as to make said control menu partially transparent, and superimposing said control menu over said first set of images displayed on said monitor; wherein said first set of images, over which said control menu is superimposed, remains visible on said monitor below said control menu. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of controlling operation of a computer system having a central processing unit (CPU), a program memory, a monitor, and a user interface means for selecting displayed menu items;
- the steps of the method comprising;
storing in the program memory an image generating program that generates and displays a first set of images on the monitor, and a menu generating program that displays on the monitor a control menu; the CPU, while executing said stored menu generating program, generating a control menu, said generating step including stippling said control menu so as to make said control menu partially transparent, and superimposing said control menu over said first set of images displayed on the monitor; wherein said first set of images, over which said control menu is superimposed, remains visible on the monitor below said control menu; and said CPU responding to user selection of an item in said displayed list of menu items by executing a corresponding one of said multiplicity of tasks under control of said image generating program. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- the steps of the method comprising;
-
20. A computer display control system, comprising:
-
a central processing unit (CPU); a program memory, coupled to said CPU, that stores software programs executed by said CPU; and a monitor, coupled to said CPU, that displays images under the control of said software programs stored in said program memory; said software programs stored in said program memory including an image generating program that generates and displays a first set of images on said monitor, and a menu generating program that displays a user interface object on said monitor; said menu generating program including means for generating a user interface object, stippling said user interface object so as to make said user interface object partially transparent, and superimposing said user interface object over said first set of images displayed on said monitor; wherein said first set of images, over which said user interface object is superimposed, remains visible on said monitor below said user interface object. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification