Method for viewing hidden entities by varying window or graphic object transparency

• US 6,429,883 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Plow, Gregory Maurice, Pourmirzaie, Farrokh E.
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N
• Application Number:
  US09/390,045
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 345/764, 345/767, 345/768, 345/778, 345/781, 345/788, 345/790, 345/794, 345/797, 345/802, 345/803, 345/835, 345/840, 345/619, 345/629, 345/637
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for viewing the contents of an application window that would otherwise be hidden. The method and system comprise displaying a plurality of application windows. The first application window of the plurality of application windows is the primary application window and a portion of another application window is being obscured by the primary application window. The method and system displays the primary application window at a variable degree of transparency based upon a user interaction. Through the use of the present invention a user can simultaneously view information from multiple applications where one or more windows are partially or wholly covering needed information in an underlying application. This will provide the user with the ability to quickly access needed information without having to undergo the time consuming process of resizing or rearranging desktop window configurations.

Claims

1. A method for viewing a hidden window comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a primary application window, wherein the primary application window covers a second window;

(b) continuously varying the degree of transparency of the primary application window based upon a first user interaction; and

(c) ceasing the transparency variation based upon a second user interaction, whereby information contained in the second window becomes visible wherein the degree of transparency of the primary application window depends upon the elapsed time between the first user interaction and the second user interaction.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of:

(d) returning the primary application window to an opaque state based upon a third user interaction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first user interaction includes depressing a transparency button.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second user interaction includes releasing the transparency button.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein only the background of the primary application window varies in degree of transparency.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary application window partially covers the second window.

7. A method of varying the transparency of a graphic object on a computer display comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a graphic object selected by a user interaction;

(b) continuously varying the degree of transparency of the object based upon a first user interaction; and

(c) ceasing the transparency variation based upon a second user interaction wherein the degree of transparency of the object depends upon the elapsed time between the first user interaction and the second user interaction.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

(d) returning the transparent graphic object to an opaque state based upon a third user interaction.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first user interaction includes depressing a transparency button.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the second user interaction includes releasing the transparency button.

11. A system for viewing a hidden window comprising:

means for identifying a primary application window, wherein the primary application window covers a second window;

means for continuously varying the degree of transparency of the primary application window based upon a first user interaction; and

means for ceasing the transparency variation based upon a second user interaction, whereby information contained in the second window becomes visible, wherein the degree of transparency of the primary application window depends upon the elapsed time between the first user interaction and the second user interaction.

12. The system of claim 11 further including:

means for returning the primary application window to an opaque state based upon a third user interaction.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first user interaction includes depressing a transparency button.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the second user interaction includes releasing the transparency button.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein only the background of the primary application window varies in degree of transparency.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the primary application window partially covers the second window.

17. A system of varying the transparency of a graphic object on a computer display comprising:

means for identifying a graphic object selected by a user interaction;

means for continuously varying the degree of transparency of the object based upon a first user interaction; and

means for ceasing the transparency variation based upon a second user interaction wherein the degree of transparency of the object depends upon the elapsed time between the first user interaction and the second user interaction.

18. The system of claim 17 further including the step of:

means for returning the transparent graphic object to an opaque state based upon a third user interaction.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the first user interaction includes depressing a transparency button.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the second user interaction includes releasing the transparency button.

21. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for viewing a hidden window, the program instructions comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a primary application window, wherein the primary application window covers a second window;

(b) continuously varying the degree of transparency of the primary application window based upon a first user interaction; and

(c) ceasing the transparency variation based upon a second user interaction, whereby information contained in the second window becomes visible, wherein the degree of transparency of the primary application window depends upon the elapsed time between the first user interaction and the second user interaction.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further including the step of:

(d) returning the primary application window to an opaque state based upon a third user interaction.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the first user interaction includes depressing a transparency button.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23 wherein the second user interaction includes releasing the transparency button.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein only the background of the primary application window varies in degree of transparency.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the primary application window partially covers the second window.

27. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for varying the transparency of a graphic object on a computer display, the program instructions comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a graphic object selected by a user interaction;

(b) continuously varying the degree of transparency of the object based upon a first user interaction; and

(c) ceasing the transparency variation based upon a second user interaction wherein the degree of transparency of the object depends upon the elapsed time between the first user interaction and the second user interaction.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 further including the step of:

(d) returning the transparent graphic object to an opaque state based upon a third user interaction.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein the first user interaction includes depressing a transparency button.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein the second user interaction includes releasing the transparency button.