Multi-layer graphical user interface

• US 7,797,637 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Marcjan, Cezary
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US11/381,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/835, 715/733, 715764-769, 715751-759, 715/802, 709/224, 709/225, 709/248, 707/100
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A multi-layer graphical user interface provides multiple types of information in at least two layers of a common display space, such as a window. In one implementation, a shared network folder includes two layers of display objects to separately represent files contained in the folder and users with whom the folder is shared. The first or top layer may represent the files with conventional words, icons or other symbols. The second or lower level may represent the users with whom the folder is shared with words, icons or other symbols that are dimmed, blurred, or otherwise de-emphasized relative to the top layer.

Claims

1. A multi-layer graphical user interface on a computer display, comprising:

a type control bar that includes a plurality of controls, the plurality of controls rendered in a window of the graphical user interface and the plurality of controls for selecting graphical displays of object types, the object types rendered in the window of the graphical user interface separate from the plurality of controls, each window having multiple layers, and each of the plurality of controls corresponds to an object type; and

a component that graphically renders the object type in an emphasized manner on the window based on a user selecting one of the plurality of controls corresponding to the object type, the user selection of the one of the plurality of controls corresponding to an object type results in the user de-selecting one of the plurality of controls corresponding to a previously selected object type, and the component further graphically renders the object types other than the selected object type in a de-emphasized manner, wherein the object type graphically rendered in the emphasized manner is in a top layer of the window and the object types other than the selected object type are in a layer of the window other than the top layer.

2. The user interface of claim 1, the plurality of controls includes at least one of a users control, a folders control, or a drafts control.

3. The user interface of claim 2, the users control corresponds to one of the object types representing a user'"'"'s share or access rights to one or more computer file objects.

4. The user interface of claim 2, the folders control corresponds to one of the object types representing folders or subfolders in a network space.

5. The user interface of claim 2, the drafts control corresponds to one of the object types representing files that have multiple associated drafts or versions.

6. The user interface of claim 1, the de-emphasized manner on the user interface is one of dimming, blurring, fading, shading, broken lines, or watermarking of the object type.

7. The user interface of claim 1, the emphasized manner on the window is a conventional rendering of the object type.

8. A multi-layer graphical user interface method, comprising:

employing a processor executing computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium to implement the following acts;

providing a plurality of controls in a type control bar for activating graphical displays of object types in a computer display space, each of the plurality of controls corresponds to an object type, the computer display space having at least a top layer and a bottom layer within each window of the user interface, and the plurality of controls displayed in the computer display space separate from the object type; and

,

bringing the object type to a top layer and a lower layer of the window based on a user activating or de-activating one of the plurality of controls corresponding to the object type.

9. The method of claim 8, the plurality of controls includes at least one of a users control, a folders control, or a drafts control.

10. The method of claim 9, the users control symbolizes one of the object types representing a user'"'"'s share or access rights to one or more computer file objects.

11. The method of claim 9, the folders control symbolizes one of the object types representing folders or subfolders in a network space.

12. The method of claim 9, the drafts control symbolizes one of the object types representing files that have multiple associated drafts or versions.

13. The method of claim 8, the lower layer of the window is one of dimming, blurring, fading, shading, broken lines, or watermarking of the object type.

14. The method of claim 8, the top layer of the window is a conventional rendering of the object type.

15. A multi-layer graphical user interface on a display of a computer system, comprising:

a common display space having at least two layers, the common display space within the graphical user interface comprising each window of the graphical user interface or an active application, and the common display space including a type control bar that includes a plurality of controls for selecting graphical displays of object types, wherein the object types are rendered in a window of the graphical user interface separate from the plurality of controls;

a primary display component that identifies one or more objects of a top level information type and brings the one or more objects of the top level information type to a top layer of the common display space; and

a secondary display component that identifies one or more objects of a lower level information type and brings to a layer other than the top layer the one or more objects of the lower level information type with de-emphasis relative to the top layer of the common display space, the de-emphasized objects of the lower level information type remaining noticeable in the other than top layer of the common display space.

16. The user interface of claim 15, the rendering with de-emphasis includes at least one of dimming, blurring, fading, shading, broken lines, or watermarking of the one or more objects.

17. The user interface of claim 15, the top layer of the multi-layer graphical user interface is a conventional rendering of the one or more objects.

18. The user interface of claim 15, the one or more objects of top level information type correspond to a user'"'"'s active application and the one or more objects of lower level information type correspond to notification indicators within a common display space of the user'"'"'s active application.

19. The user interface of claim 18, the notification indicators represent at least one of a receipt of electronic communication, a system resource warning, or an appointment reminder.

20. The user interface of claim 15, the one or more objects of top level information type correspond to network Web sites and the one or more objects of the lower level information type represents a property or feature of the network Web sites.