Method and apparatus for overlaying a window with a multi-state window

• US 6,246,407 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI Technologies Incorporated (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Christopher T., Wilks, Barry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/876,729
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 345/340, 345/343, 345/344, 345/345, 345/113, 345/114, 345/435, 345/346
• US Class Current: 715/803
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a multi-state window is accomplished by presenting a multi-state window on a computer screen in various states. In a given state, or ghost state, the multi-state window is provided on screen in a translucent form. In the translucent form, a window overlapped by the multi-state window will be shown and remain in focus. When a user input is received in the overlapped portion, a multi-state window driver associated with the multi-state window will provide the input to the overlaid window, i.e., to its associated window driver. If the user decides to activate the multi-state window, the multi-state window driver transforms the multi-state window from the translucent state to an in-focus state. When in the in-focus state, the user inputs are processed by the multi-state window driver and not provided to the overlaid window.

Claims

1. A method for a multi-state window, the method comprises the steps of:

a) storing data representing a multi-state window with associated multi-state window driver;

b) providing the multi-state window on a screen, wherein the multi-state window at least partially and translucently overlays a current window without taking focus from the current window;

c) determining selection of the multi-state window; and

d) phasing the multi-state window into focus;

e) reselecting the current window such that the current window is in focus;

thereby causing the multi-state window to return to the translucent, non-focused state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises, within step (b), providing a graphical user interface (GUI) with a portion of the current window that is overlaid by the multi-state window.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

receiving a graphics interface message for a portion of the current window overlaid by the multi-state window; and

effecting the portion of the current window based on the graphics interface message.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprises effecting the portion of the current window by providing at least one of:

visual feedback and data change.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises, within step (c), determining the selection of the multi-state window by at least one of:

detecting mouse cursor positioning over the multi-state window for a predetermined period of time, selection of an icon, key combination, touch screen activation, and menu selection.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises, within step (d), phasing the multi-state window into focus by at least one of:

a multi-step transition from translucent to opaque, linear transition from translucent to opaque, provide an audible indicator, and a visual indicator.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises, when the multi-state window is in focus, providing graphical interface messages to the multi-state window.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprises the multi-state window overlaying at least one of:

a toolbar, desktop icons, and a task bar.

9. A method for a multi-state window, the method comprises the steps of:

a) determining selection of a window to produce a selected window;

b) converting attributes of the selected window into a multi-state window wherein the multi-state window is for;

receiving at a first window driver a user input based upon a screen location, wherein the first window driver is associated with the multi-state window;

processing the user input at the first window driver when the screen location is a first screen location; and

providing the user input to a second window driver associated with a current window when the screen location is a second screen location, wherein the second window driver is a different window driver than the first window driver; and

c) providing the multi-state window on a screen, wherein the multi-state window at least partially and translucently overlays the current window without taking focus from the current window.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprises, within step (a), determining selection of the window by at least one of:

detecting mouse cursor positioning over the window for a predetermined period of time, selection of an icon, key combination, touch screen activation, and menu selection.

11. A method for a processing a message by a multi-state window driver of a window, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a message via an interface, wherein the interface identifies a multi-state window;

b) determining whether the message is a request to change state of the multi-state window;

c) when the message is not a request to change the state of the multi-state window, determining a state of the multi-state window;

d) when the multi-state window is in an in-focus state, providing the message to a window driver for the multi-state window; and

e) when the multi-state window is not in the in-focus state, providing the message to a window driver for another window, wherein the another window is at least partially overlaid by the multi-state window.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprises changing the state of the multi-state window when the message is a request to change the state.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprises:

determining whether the message is draw message which is requesting the multi-state window to be drawn;

when the message is the draw message, determining the state of the multi-state window;

when the multi-state window is in the in-focus state, drawing the multi-state window as an opaque window; and

when the multi-state window is not in the in-focus state, drawing the multi-state window as a translucent, non-focused, window.

14. A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises:

first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to store data representing a multi-state window with associated multi-state window driver;

second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the multi-state window on a screen, wherein the multi-state window at least partially and translucently overlays a current window without taking focus from the current window;

third storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine selection of the multi-state window;

fourth storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to phase the multi-state window into focus; and

fifth storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to reselect the current window such that the current window is in focus;

thereby causing the multi-state window to return to the translucent, non-focused state.

15. A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises:

first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine selection of a window to produce a selected window;

second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to convert attributes of the selected window into a multi-state window wherein the multi-state window is for;

receiving at a first window driver a user input based upon a screen location, wherein the first window driver is associated with the multi-state window;

processing the user input at the first window driver when the screen location is a first screen location; and

providing the user input to a second window driver associated with a current window when the screen location is a second screen location, wherein the second window driver is a different window driver than the first window driver; and

third storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the multi-state window on a screen, wherein the multi-state window at least partially and translucently overlays the current window without taking focus from the current window.

16. A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises:

first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to receive a message via an interface, wherein the interface identifies a multi-state window;

second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine whether the message is a request to change state of the multi-state window;

third storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine a state of the multi-state window when the message is not a request to change the state of the multi-state window;

fourth storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the message to a window driver for the multi-state window when the multi-state window is in an in-focus state; and

fifth storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the message to a window driver for another window when the multi-state window is not in the in-focus state, wherein the another window is at least partially overlaid by the multi-state window.

17. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit;

memory operably coupled to the central processing unit;

video graphics processor operably coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the video graphics processor includes;

a plurality of window drivers for processing window functions for a plurality of windows; and

at least one multi-state window driver, wherein the at least one multi-state window driver drives a multi-state window and interfaces to at least one of the plurality of window drivers, and wherein the at least one multi-state window driver provides a message to the at least one of the plurality of window drivers for another window when the multi-state window is not in-focus, wherein the another window is at least partially overlaid by the multi-state window and is affiliated with the at least one of the plurality of window drivers.