Method and apparatus for displaying an overlay image

• US 5,638,501 A
• Filed: 05/10/1993
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Tam, Tommy H., Gilley, Thomas S., Gough, Michael L., Robbins, Greg M., Hansen, Daniel J. Jr., Oswal, Abhay, Venolia, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US08/060,572
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 395/133, 395/135, 395/155, 395/161, 345/113, 345/114
• US Class Current: 345/639
• 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: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/36 characterised by the display of a graphic pattern, e.g. using an all-points-addressable [APA] memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/39 Control of the bit-mapped memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/395 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of the bit-mapped memory to the screen G09G5/399 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a translucent overlay image over a base image on the screen of a computer system. The method includes the steps of running an application program on a central processing unit (CPU) of a pen computer system to produce a base image in a screen coupled to the CPU; and running an overlay program on the CPU to produce an overlay image on the screen such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the overlay image. The overlay program is a computer implemented process comprising the steps of displaying an overlay image on the screen, intercepting screen inputs which contact the overlay image, processing the intercepted screen inputs in the CPU, and updating the application program based on the processed screen inputs. In addition a pen computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a screen assembly coupled to the CPU, a mechanism coupled to the screen assembly for displaying a base image on the screen assembly, and a mechanism coupled to the screen assembly for displaying an overlay image on the screen assembly such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the overlay image. The screen assembly includes a tablet mechanism coupled to the CPU which can receive input from a pen or stylus. The mechanism for displaying a base image includes a first computer implemented process running on the CPU which produces first video data and a video driver circuit coupled between the CPU and the screen assembly. The mechanism for displaying the overlay image includes a second computer implemented process running on the CPU to produce second video data, and a video driver circuit coupled between the CPU and the screen assembly. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly. This blending mechanism can include the second computer implemented process, or can comprise the video driver circuitry.

Claims

1. A method for providing a translucent overlay image on a screen of a computer system comprising:

displaying a utility palette including a first utility icon responsive to initiate a utility executable on said computer system;

displaying a base image on said screen of said computer system, said base image being produced by a computer implemented process running on said computer system;

in response to said utility icon being selected, opaquely displaying an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image corresponding to said utility, said overlay image including a translucency icon, and said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and

in response to said translucency icon being selected, translucently displaying said overlay image such that overlapped portions of said base image directly beneath said overlay image can be seen through said overlay image simultaneously with said overlay image.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said base image is produced by a first computer implemented process running on said computer system, and said overlay image is produced by said utility which is a second computer implemented process running on said computer system.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said second computer implemented process intercepts screen inputs which contact said overlay image and processes said screen inputs.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising creating screen inputs with a pointing device.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising selecting a stylus as said pointing device, and wherein said screen means comprises an input tablet means responsive to said stylus.

6. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said second computer implemented process is further operative to update said first computer implemented process according to the step of processing said screen inputs.

7. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said overlay image is a keyboard image comprising icons which represent alphanumeric characters.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer system is a pointer based computer system, said first utility icon is selected by dragging said first utility icon off of said utility palette with said pointer, and said overlay image is displayed in a location correlated to where said first utility icon is dragged.

9. A method for displaying images on a screen of a computer system comprising:

displaying a utility palette including a first utility icon responsive to initiate a utility executable on said computer system;

displaying a base image on said screen of a computer system;

in response to said utility icon being selected, opaquely displaying an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image corresponding to said utility, said overlay image including a translucency icon, and said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and

in response to said translucency icon being selected, displaying said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image simultaneously with said overlay image.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said base image and said overlay image are produced by independent computer implemented processes.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said base image is active to receive user inputs.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said overlay image is active to receive user inputs.

13. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said overlay image is active to receive user inputs.

14. A method for displaying images on a screen of a pen computer system having a central processing unit (CPU), which CPU is coupled to said screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a utility palette including an overlay icon;

running an application program on said central processing unit of said pen computer system to produce a base image on said screen;

in response to said overlay icon being selected, running an overlay program on said CPU to opaquely display an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image including a translucency icon, said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and

in response to said overlay icon being selected, translucently displaying said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of running an overlay program comprises the steps of:

intercepting screen inputs which contact said translucent overlay image;

processing said intercepted screen inputs in said CPU; and

updating said application program based upon said processed screen inputs.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of translucently displaying said overlay image comprises the step of blending said overlay image with said base image.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said step of blending is accomplished in said CPU.

18. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said step of blending is accomplished externally to said CPU.

19. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of processing said intercepted screen inputs includes redirecting at least one page of memory within memory management means of said computer system.

20. A pen computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

screen means coupled to said CPU;

means coupled to said screen means for displaying a base image on said screen means; and

means coupled to said screen means for displaying an overlay image on said screen means, said means operable to opaquely display said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are not visible, said means for displaying an overlay image further operable to translucently display said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image, said means for displaying said overlay image responsive to a users selection to toggle between (i) opaquely displaying said overlay image and (ii) translucently displaying said overlay image.

21. A pen computer system as recited in claim 20 further comprising:

tablet means coupled to said CPU; and

stylus means engageable with said tablet means and operative to enter data into said CPU via said tablet means.

22. A pen computer system as recited in claim 21 wherein said tablet means forms a part of said screen means, such that said stylus means can engage said screen means to enter data into said CPU.

23. A pen computer system as recited in claim 22 wherein said means for displaying a base image comprises:

a first computer implemented process running on said CPU producing first video data; and

video driver means coupled between said CPU and said screen means, said video driver means being receptive to said first video data.

24. A pen computer system as recited in claim 23 wherein said means for displaying an overlay image comprises:

a second computer implemented process running on said CPU producing second video data; and

video driver means coupled between said CPU and said screen means, said video driver means being receptive to said second video data.

25. A pen computer system as recited in claim 24 further comprising means for blending said first video data and said second video data to produce a blended image on said screen means.

26. A pen computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein said means for blending comprises said second computer implemented process.

27. A pen computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein said means for blending comprises said video driver means.