Graduated visual and manipulative translucency for windows

• US 7,343,562 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bonura, Thomas, Silverman, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US10/702,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 715/803, 715/768, 715/771, 715/790, 715/794, 715/797, 345/629, 345/435
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• 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 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. overlaid, Information-bearing windows whose contents remain unchanged for a predetermined period of time become translucent. The translucency can be graduated so that, over time, if the window'"'"'s contents remain unchanged, the window becomes more translucent. In addition to visual translucency, windows according to the present invention also have a manipulative translucent quality. Upon reaching a certain level of visual translucency, user input in the region of the window is interpreted as an operation on the underlying objects rather than the contents of the overlaying window.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

display means for depicting a graphical user interface with a window having information; and

processor means for rendering said window in an opaque state in response to changing said information and rendering said window in a first translucent state in response to said information being unchanged for greater than a predetermined period of time.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said window is a floating window which is automatically placed on top of other windows in said graphical user interface.

3. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising:

cursor control means for coordinating user input via a cursor displayed in said graphical user interface;

wherein said cursor operates on contents of said window when said window is in said opaque state, and said cursor operates on objects underlying said window when said window is in said first translucent state.

4. The computer system of claim 1 where said processor means gradually transitions said window from said opaque state to said first translucent state.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said processor means renders said window in response to a command from an application, which application defines said predetermined time period.

6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein said application further defines a percentage of opacity associated with said first translucent state of said window.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein user input is interpreted by said processor means as operating on an object under said window when said window is displayed in said first translucent state.

8. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said processor means renders said window in a second translucent state if said window remains unchanged.

9. The computer system of claim 8 wherein said first translucent state is 20% translucent and said second translucent state is 40% translucent.

10. The computer system of claim 8 further comprising:

cursor control means for coordinating user input via a cursor displayed in said graphical user interface;

wherein said cursor operates on contents of said window when said window is in said opaque state, and said cursor operates on objects underlying said window when said window is in said second translucent state having a different level of translucency than said first translucent state.

11. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined period of time is selected by a user of said computer system.

12. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said first translucent state has a percentage translucency associated therewith, which percentage is selected by a user of said computer system.

13. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said processor means causes said window to become translucent in at least one step and wherein at least one of an amount of translucency associated with each step and a time period between each step are variable.

14. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said processor causes said window to become opaque in at least one step and wherein at least one of an amount of opacity associated with each step and a time period between each step are variable.

15. A computer-readable medium containing a program with instructions that execute the following procedure:

displaying an opaque window over an object in a graphical user interface in response to information displayed in said window changing; and

rendering said opaque window at a first level of translucency in response to said information remaining unchanged for a predetermined time period.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for:

receiving a request from an application to render a variably translucent window, said request including said first level of translucency; and

rendering said opaque window at said level of translucency defined by said initial translucent state.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for rendering said window from said first level of translucency to a second level of translucency if said information remains unchanged for a second time period.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising instructions for responding to user input as operative on an object underlying said window once said window is rendered at said second level of translucency.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein said first and second time periods are different.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for responding to user input as operative on an object underlying said window once said window is rendered at said first level of translucency.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for selecting, by a user, said first level of translucency.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for gradually transitioning said opaque window to said initial translucent state.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for a user to select said predetermined time period.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for returning said window from said first translucent state to an opaque state in response to a predetermined criteria.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein said window is returned from said first translucent state to an opaque state gradually.