Graduated visual and manipulative translucency for windows

• US 8,949,728 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bonura, Thomas, Silverman, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/046,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,520 Days
• Field of Search: 715/768, 715/592, 715/803, 715/771, 715/790, 715851-853, 715/794, 715/797, 345/433, 345/629, 345/435, 345/113, 345/115
• 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 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 method for rendering a window in a graphical user interface, comprising:

rendering the window at a first level of translucency;

detecting passage of a predetermined length of time during which no user input directed toward the window was received; and

rendering, in response to detecting the predetermined length of time during which no user input was received, the window at a second level of translucency, wherein the second level of translucency is more translucent than the first level of translucency.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined length of time is configurable.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first level of translucency comprises 0% translucency.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first level of translucency is configurable.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second level of translucency is configurable.

2. A method for rendering a window in a graphical user interface, comprising:

rendering the window at a first level of translucency, the window presenting information;

detecting a predetermined event, wherein the predetermined event comprises a passage of a predetermined length of time during which the presented information did not change; and

rendering, in response to the detected event, the window at a second level of translucency, wherein the second level of translucency is more translucent than the first level of translucency.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first level of translucency comprises 0% translucency.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event further comprises determining that no user input was received directed at the window during the passage of the predetermined length of time.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined length of time is configurable.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event comprises receipt of user input.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the first level of translucency is configurable.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the second level of translucency is configurable.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event is configurable.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

rendering the window at a first level of translucency;

detecting passage of a predetermined length of time during which no user input directed at the window was received; and

rendering, in response to the detecting the predetermined length of time during which no user input directed at the window was received, the window at a second level of translucency, wherein the second level of translucency is more translucent than the first level of translucency.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the predetermined length of time is configurable.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the first level of translucency comprises 0% translucency.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the first level of translucency is configurable.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the second level of translucency is configurable.

19. A computer system for rendering a window in a graphical user interface, the computer system comprising a processor configured to execute operations comprising:

rendering the window at a first level of translucency;

detecting passage of a predetermined length of time during which no user input directed at the window was received; and

rendering, in response to the detecting the predetermined length of time during which no user input directed at the window was received, the window at a second level of translucency, wherein the second level of translucency is more translucent than the first level of translucency.

20. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

rendering the window at a first level of translucency, the window presenting information;

detecting a predetermined event, wherein the predetermined event comprises a passage of a predetermined length of time during which the presented information did not change; and

rendering, in response to the detected event, the window at a second level of translucency, wherein the second level of translucency is more translucent than the first level of translucency.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the first level of translucency comprises 0% translucency.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the predetermined event further comprises determining that no user input was received directed at the window during the passage of the predetermined length of time.

23. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the predetermined length of time is configurable.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the first level of translucency is configurable.

25. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the second level of translucency is configurable.

26. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the predetermined event is configurable.

27. A computer system for rendering a window in a graphical user interface, the computer system comprising a processor configured to execute operations comprising:

rendering the window at a first level of translucency, the window presenting information;

detecting a predetermined event, wherein the predetermined event comprises a passage of a predetermined length of time during which the presented information did not change; and

rendering, in response to the detected event, the window at a second level of translucency, wherein the second level of translucency is more translucent than the first level of translucency.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the first level of translucency comprises 0% translucency.

29. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the predetermined event further comprises determining that no user input was received directed at the window during the passage of the predetermined length of time.

30. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the predetermined length of time is configurable.

31. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the first level of translucency is configurable.

32. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the second level of translucency is configurable.

33. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the predetermined event is configurable.