Assisting user interface element use

• US 7,770,126 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dodge, Steven P., Townsend, Reed L., Scott, Bryan D., Kolmykov-Zotov, Alexander J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore; William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): DiStefano; Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US11/351,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20070192731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 715/788, 715/764, 715/766, 715/773, 345/157, 345/173
• US Class Current: 715/766
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Methods of controlling the display and use of a UI element are disclosed. In an embodiment, the UI element may configured so that it initially maintains a topmost position but eventually allows other applications to assume the topmost position. In an embodiment, the display of the UI element may be adjusted in response to an input so that the UI element is not visible on the display. In an embodiment, the use of the UI element may allow for seamless dragging of the UI element even if the user inadvertently fails to make consistent contact with the touch-sensitive display while dragging the UI element.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a touch-sensitive display, a method of controlling the display of a user interface element on the touch-sensitive display, comprising:

(a) displaying a user interface element on the touch-sensitive display in a topmost position, wherein the user interface element is a cursor control element that is configured to manipulate a graphical cursor that is displayed on the touch sensitive display in response to user manipulation of the user interface element;

(b) determining that the user interface element has been shifted from the topmost position;

(c) adjusting the display of the user interface element in response to the shift based on a determination to display one of the user interface element or an application on the topmost position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining in (b) comprises:

(i) checking if the user interface element is in the topmost position; and

(ii) if the user interface element is not in the topmost position, determining an application that is in the top position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting in (c) comprises:

(i) repositioning the user interface element in the topmost position a predetermined number of times; and

(ii) if the user interface element has been shifted from the topmost position more than the predetermined number of times, leaving the user interface element in the non-topmost position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting in (c) comprises:

(i) repositioning the user interface element in the topmost position a predetermined number of times; and

(ii) if the user interface element has been shifted from the topmost position more than the predetermined number of times, leaving the user interface element in the non-topmost position.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element is shifted by an application and the adjusting in (c) comprises:

(i) determining whether the application should be granted the topmost position; and

(ii) if the application should be granted the topmost position, setting the display of the user interface element so as to not interfere with the application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element is shifted by an application and the adjusting in (c) comprises:

(i) moving the user interface element to the topmost position and the application to a position immediately below the topmost position;

(ii) configuring the user interface element so that it is substantially transparent; and

(iii) notifying the application that there is no need to move to the topmost position.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting in (c) comprises:

(i) moving the user interface element to the topmost position for a period of time; and

(ii) after the period of time, not moving the user interface element to a topmost position.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that are executable by a computer for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

9. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a touch-sensitive display, a method of controlling the display of a user interface element on the touch-sensitive display, comprising:

(a) displaying a user interface element on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the user interface element is a cursor control element that is configured to manipulate a graphical cursor that is displayed on the touch sensitive display in response to user manipulation of the user interface element;

(b) receiving an input from a user; and

(c) determining to display one of the user interface element or another image on a topmost position based on a method to control the display.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the input is provided by an input device other than the touch sensitive display and the determining in (c) comprises:

(i) causing the user interface element to disappear.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the causing in (i) comprises:

(1) turning off the display of the user interface element.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the input is provided by an input device other than the touch sensitive display and the determining in (c) comprises:

(i) configuring the user interface element to be at least partially transparent.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the input is provided by an application in response to a user requested change in a mode of the application.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the input is a change in a transparency setting for the user interface element.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that are executable by a computer for performing the steps recited in claim 9.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface element is displayed in a region of the touch-sensitive display that surrounds the displayed graphical cursor.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface element is displayed in a region of the touch-sensitive display that is adjacent to the displayed graphical cursor.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface element rotates in orientation as the displayed graphical cursor is moved towards an edge of the touch sensitive display.

19. A system, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display; and

a computing system to control display of a graphical user interface on the touch-sensitive display that allows user interaction with the computing system or applications executed by the computing system,

wherein the graphical user interface is controlled to (i) display a user interface element on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the user interface element is a cursor control element that is configured to manipulate a graphical cursor that is displayed on the touch sensitive display in response to user manipulation of the user interface element, and to (ii) determine to display one of the user interface element or another image on a topmost position based on a method to control the display.