Mutatably transparent displays
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-readable medium for a computer having an executable program stored thereon comprising:
- means for causing the computer to perform a particular functionality; and
, means for providing a plurality of controls for use with the particular functionality and displayable within a graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the control are at least semi-transparent, such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations.
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Abstract
Mutatably transparent controls are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a system includes an operating environment, and at least one computer program. The operating environment has a graphical user interface. Each computer program has at least one display displayable within the graphical user interface. The system is configured so that the opacity of the at least one display changes in response to a particular event. Desirably, each display comprises a control.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium for a computer having an executable program stored thereon comprising:
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means for causing the computer to perform a particular functionality; and
,means for providing a plurality of controls for use with the particular functionality and displayable within a graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the control are at least semi-transparent, such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computerized system comprising:
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an operating environment having a graphical user interface including a user-controllable pointer;
at least one computer program, each computer program having a plurality of controls displayable within the graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the controls are at least semi-transparent, such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer comprising:
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a processor;
a computer-readable medium;
an operating environment having a graphical user interface including a user-controllable pointer, the environment provided from the computer-readable medium by the processor; and
,at least one computer program, each computer program executed from the computer readable medium by the processor and having a plurality of controls displayable within the graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the controls are at least semi-transparent, such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program comprising:
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application code to cause a computer on which the program is running to perform a particular functionality;
controls code to provide a plurality of controls for use with the particular functionality and displayable within a graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the controls are at least semi-transparent, such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A computerized control management system, comprising:
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a computer coupled to a graphic display and having a user-controllable pointer;
an application program operating on the computer; and
a control element displayable on the display, wherein the application program is responsive to the control element, and further wherein the control element has two or more sets of display characteristics, wherein a first set of display characteristics is substantially opaque and a second set of display characteristics is substantially non-opaque and wherein the set of display characteristics displayed is a function of the distance between the control and the pointer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A computerized control management system, comprising:
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a computer coupled to a display and having a user-controllable pointer;
an application program executable on the computer;
a control element on the display, wherein the control element is defined by boundaries, wherein the application program is responsive to the control element, and further wherein the control element has two or more sets of display characteristics, wherein a first set of display characteristics is substantially opaque and a second set of display characteristics is substantially non-opaque and wherein the set of display characteristics changes when the pointer is within the boundaries of the control. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of managing controls wherein the controls affect the operation of an executable application program on a computer wherein the computer has a display, a graphical user input environment and a user-controlled pointer, the method comprising:
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displaying a user-controlled pointer on the computer display;
executing an application program having at least one control wherein the application program is responsive to the control and wherein the control has a boundary and an interior and at least two sets of selectable display characteristics; and
displaying a selected set of display characteristics for the control wherein the selected set of display characteristics is a function of the position of the pointer relative to the position of the control. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A computer system, comprising:
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a computer;
a display coupled to the computer and having a pointer wherein the position of the pointer is user-controllable;
one or more application programs operating on the computer and responsive to the pointer;
one or more groups of controls, wherein each group has one or more user-accessible control, wherein at least one application program is responsive to a user-accessible control, and the one or more groups of controls each has two or more display modes wherein each display mode is a set of display characteristics, and further wherein each control has a position and boundaries; and
a control program, operating on the computer, for controlling the display mode of groups of controls. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for controlling a computer, the computer having a display and operating at least one application program responsive to a user-controlled pointer and responsive to actuation of at least one control selected from at least one set of controls, wherein at least one control has at least two modes of display wherein each mode includes a set of display characteristics, and each control has boundaries and a position, the method comprising:
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executing the application program;
displaying one or more sets of controls as a function of the application program;
comparing the position of the pointer with the position of at least one control;
determining the state of at least one application program; and
selecting the mode of at least one set of controls. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A computer system, comprising:
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a graphical user interface having at least one control, the at least one control having at least one action and a variable opacity capable of changing in response to an event;
controls code to provide a plurality of control programs to display the graphical user interface, at least one of the plurality of control programs capable of displaying the at least one control and changing its opacity in response to the event;
application code to provide a plurality of application programs, at least one of the application programs capable of performing the at feast one action of the at least one control; and
an operating environment to provide the application code and the controls code. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification