Method and apparatus for displaying a window for a user interface

• US 8,601,384 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Ording, Bas
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US11/635,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,552 Days
• Field of Search: 715781-809, 715765-768
• 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 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to display windows. In more than one embodiments of the invention, a window is closed automatically (e.g., after a timer expires, or when a condition or criterion is met, or a system input is received) without user input. In some examples, the window is translucent so that the portion of another window, when present, is visible under the window. In some examples, the image of the window is faded out before the window is closed and destroyed. In some examples, the window does not close in response to any input from a user input device. In some examples, the window is repositioned (or hidden) automatically when another translucent window is displayed. The degree of translucency, the speed for fading out, the discrete levels of translucency for fading out, the time to expire, and/or other parameters for controlling the display of the window may be set by the user or adjusted by the system (or application software programs) automatically according to system conditions or other criteria.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface having a first window;

displaying a translucent window on the graphical user interface, the translucent window presenting content that is unrelated to the content in the first window;

receiving a user input into the translucent window;

determining, by the computer, if the user input is a predetermined input; and

forwarding the user input when it is not determined to be a predetermined input to interact with the first window that is underneath the translucent window.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined user inputs are consumed by the translucent window.

3. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising starting a timer and fading out the translucent window as the timer counts to a preset time.

5. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 1 wherein the programmatically-specified user inputs are consumed by the translucent window.

6. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 1 additionally comprising starting a timer and fading out the translucent window as the timer counts to a preset time.

4. A non-transitory machine readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface having a first window;

displaying a translucent window on the graphical user interface, the translucent window presenting content that is unrelated to the content in the first window;

receiving a user input into the translucent window;

determining, by the computer, if the user input is a programmatically-specified user input, distinguished from a collection of other inputs from the same input device; and

forwarding the user input when it is not determined to be a programmatically-specified user input to interact with the first window that is underneath the translucent window.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface having first windows;

displaying a translucent region of display on the graphical user interface, the translucent region presenting content that is unrelated to the content in the first windows;

receiving a user input;

determining, by the computer, if the user input is a programmatically-specified user input, distinguished from a collection of other inputs from the same input device;

consuming the programmatically-specified user input by the translucent region; and

forwarding the user input when the input is not a programmatically-specified user input to interact with the first windows as if the translucent region of display does not exist.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the programmatically-specified user input is not directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying a translucent region of display occurs from the programmatically-specified user input.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the translucent region of display contains a system control.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein a user input over the translucent region of display is forwarded to the plurality of windows.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the translucent region of display remains at the top of the hierarchy when the user interaction is forwarded.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein a programmatically-specified user input is forwarded to the translucent region of display.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the translucent region of display comprises at least a portion of a window that overlaps the first windows.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the translucent region of display comprises a window having a defined border.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the translucent region of display is a system message.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the programmatically-specified input does not include the selection of a graphical user interface button.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the programmatically-specified input includes selected keystrokes.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the programmatically-specified input includes special function keys.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein the programmatically-specified input includes selected mouse gestures.

21. A non-transitory machine readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a data processing system, will cause said system to perform operations comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface having first windows;

displaying a translucent region of display on the graphical user interface, the translucent region presenting content that is unrelated to the content in the first windows;

receiving a user input;

determining, by the computer, if the user input is a programmatically-specified user input, distinguished from a collection of other inputs from the same input device;

consuming the user input by the translucent region when the input is a programmatically-specified user input wherein the programmatically-specified user input is allowed to interface with the translucent region of display; and

forwarding the user input when the input is not a programmatically-specified user input to interact with the first windows as if the translucent region of display does not exist.

22. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 21 wherein the programmatically-specified user input is not directly related to manipulating a window on the graphical user interface.

23. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 21 wherein displaying a translucent region of display occurs from the programmatically-specified user input.

24. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 21 wherein the translucent region of display contains a system control.

25. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 21 wherein a user input over the translucent region of display is forwarded to the plurality of windows.

26. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 25 wherein the translucent region of display remains at the top of the hierarchy when the user interaction is forwarded.

27. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 25 wherein a programmatically-specified user input is forwarded to the translucent region of display.

28. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface having first windows;

displaying a translucent region of display on the graphical user interface, the translucent region presenting content that is unrelated to the content in the first windows;

accepting a user input; and

determining, by the computer, if the user input is a special function key and if the user input is a special function key, then consuming the special function key, else, forwarding the user input to the first windows as if the translucent region of display does not exist.