Method and apparatus for managing input focus and z-order
First Claim
1. A method of managing user inputs in a computer system having a display, to create a framework supportng a plurality of applications comprising the steps of:
- displaying an application panel on said display, said application panel corresponding to a first application operating on said computer system through a connection to an individualized component object model, and said first application having an input focus of said computer system;
displaying an application panel corresponding to a second application, different from said first application, operating on said computer system through a connection to an individualized component object model being different from the component object model for the first application;
displaying an input panel on said display while said application panel corresponding to a first application is displayed, said input panel corresponding to an input application of said computer system;
receiving a first user input in said input panel, said first user input corresponding to entry of data, a command, or selection by said user to said computer system;
determining whether said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel corresponding to said first application; and
forwarding data corresponding to said user input to said first application if said user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, including;
retaining said input focus by said first application after said first user input is received if said first user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, and said first application retains said input focus of said computer system after said first user input is received if said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved system for managing user inputs and z-order in a graphic user interface (GUI) environment is disclosed. A GUI element may include a plurality of keys corresponding to keys on a typical keyboard, and may serve as a replacement for the keyboard. The system permits an application having an input focus to retain the input focus while inputs are received in the GUI element, and even transient user interface elements (e.g., menus) will remain displayed in those applications after the user inputs are entered. Input pen and mouse events may first be forwarded to the input area application, which may remove the events from the normal circulation, preventing other applications from learning of the events, and then post those events to the input panel application separately.
13 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of managing user inputs in a computer system having a display, to create a framework supportng a plurality of applications comprising the steps of:
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displaying an application panel on said display, said application panel corresponding to a first application operating on said computer system through a connection to an individualized component object model, and said first application having an input focus of said computer system; displaying an application panel corresponding to a second application, different from said first application, operating on said computer system through a connection to an individualized component object model being different from the component object model for the first application; displaying an input panel on said display while said application panel corresponding to a first application is displayed, said input panel corresponding to an input application of said computer system; receiving a first user input in said input panel, said first user input corresponding to entry of data, a command, or selection by said user to said computer system; determining whether said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel corresponding to said first application; and forwarding data corresponding to said user input to said first application if said user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, including; retaining said input focus by said first application after said first user input is received if said first user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, and said first application retains said input focus of said computer system after said first user input is received if said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computing device, comprising:
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a stylus user input device; a display configured to detect said stylus; and a memory containing computer-executable instructions, said instructions causing said computing device to perform the following steps to create a framework supporting a plurality of applications comprising; display a first application panel corresponding to a first application, said first application having an input focus of said computing device through a connection to an individualized component object model; display an application panel corresponding to a second application, different from the first application, operating through the connection to an individualized component object model being different from the component object model for the first application; display a user input panel corresponding to a user input application while said first application panel is displayed, said user input panel including a plurality of onscreen keys corresponding to textual characters; and receive a user input on said display, said user input being located within said user input panel, wherein said first application panel retains said input focus after said user input is received, and said user input application determines that said user input should not be distributed to said first application. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computing method to create a framework supporting a plurality of applications, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a user input panel, said user input panel including a plurality of onscreen keys corresponding to a plurality of textual characters; displaying a first application panel, said first application panel having a computer system input focus through a connection to an individualized component object model; displaying an application panel corresponding to a second application different from the first application, operating though the connection to an individualized component object model being different from the component object model for the first application; receiving data entered using one or more of said plurality of onscreen keys; displaying a preview panel, said preview panel displaying data corresponding to said data entered using said one or more of said plurality of onscreen keys, and wherein said preview panel moves corresponding to movement of said user input panel; and receiving a request to forward said data displayed on said preview panel to said second application panel, wherein said first application panel retains said input focus while said data is entered in said input panel using said one or more of said plurality of onscreen keys. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification