Graduated visual and manipulative translucency for windows

• US 9,098,166 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bonura, Thomas, Silverman, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US14/288,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20140344737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 715/768, 715/592, 715851-853, 715763-765, 715/797, 715/803, 715/771, 715/790, 345/433, 345/629
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 comprising:

at a computing device with one or more processors;

displaying in a graphical user interface generated by the one or more processors, a window in a first translucent state, the window presenting information;

while displaying the window in the first translucent state, detecting a predetermined event corresponding to the window; and

in response to detecting the predetermined event, gradually transitioning the window from the first translucent state to an opaque state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the predetermined event includes detecting a change in the presented information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the predetermined event includes detecting a user input directed at the window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, receiving, from a user on the computing device, an input indicating a first translucency level for the first translucent state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, receiving, from an application executing on the computing device, a first translucency level for the first translucent state.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, rendering, in response to a specified event, the specified event differing from the predetermined event, the window in a second translucent state after rendering the window in the first translucent state and before rendering the window in the opaque state, wherein the second translucent state is less translucent than the first translucent state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering, in response to detecting the predetermined event, the window in an opaque state includes:

rendering, in response to detecting the predetermined event, the window in a second translucent state for a specified duration, wherein the second translucent state is less translucent than the first translucent state; and

rendering the window in an opaque state after expiration of the specified duration.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after rendering the window in the opaque state, rendering the window in the first translucent state in response to detecting passage of a first predetermined length of time during which no user input directed toward the window was received or the presented information did not change.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, in response to detecting passage of the first predetermined length of time and before rendering the window in the first translucent state in response to detecting passage of the first predetermined length of time, flashing a light or playing a sound.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, rendering the window in a second translucent state in response to detecting passage of a second predetermined length of time during which no user input directed toward the window was received or the presented information did not change.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first predetermined length of time and the second predetermined length of time have different durations.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after rendering the window in the opaque state, rendering the window in a second translucent state in response to detecting passage of a second predetermined length of time during which no user input directed toward the window was received or the presented information did not change, wherein the second translucent state is more translucent than the first translucent state.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting the predetermined event and before rendering the window in the opaque state, flashing a light or playing a sound.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions for receiving information, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

display in a graphical user interface generated by a computing device, a window in a first translucent state, the window presenting information;

while displaying the window in the first translucent state, detect a predetermined event corresponding to the window; and

in response to the detected event, gradually transition the window from the first translucent state to an opaque state.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein operations to detect the predetermined event include operations to detect a change in the presented information.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein operations to detect the predetermined event include operations to detect a user input directed at the window.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising, operations to receive, from a user on the computing device or an application executing on the computing device, an input indicating a first translucency level for the first translucent state.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising, operations to render the window in a second translucent state between operations to render the window in the first translucent state and operations to render the window in the opaque state, wherein the second translucent state is less translucent than the first translucent state.

19. A system comprising:

a display device configured to display a graphical user interface including a window presenting information;

one or more processors coupled to a memory device, the memory device containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to;

display in the graphical user interface, the window in a first translucent state;

while displaying the window in the first translucent state, detect a predetermined event corresponding to the window; and

in response to the detected event, gradually transition the window from the first translucent state to an opaque state.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the predetermined event includes a change in the presented information or a user input directed at the window.