Graduated visual and manipulative translucency for windows

• US 9,507,501 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bonura, Thomas, Silverman, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US14/816,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20150339040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 715/768, 715/592, 715/803, 715/771, 715/790, 715/797
• 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 a display and one or more input devices;

displaying a first user interface object that overlaps a second user interface object overlapping region, wherein;

the first user interface object is at least partially transparent;

the first user interface object and the second user interface object are both visible in the overlapping region; and

the first user interface object is responsive to inputs directed toward the first user interface object; and

while the first user interface object and the second user interface object are both visible in the overlapping region with the first user interface object over the second user interface object, receiving an input, via one or more of the input devices, at a location that corresponds to the overlapping region; and

in response to receiving the input, performing an operation associated with the second user interface object without performing an operation associated with the first user interface object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via one or more of the input devices, a second input indicating a first transparency level for the first user interface object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first transparency level includes a percentage transparency, and wherein performing the operation includes performing the operation when the percentage transparency exceeds a threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from an application executing on the computing device, a first transparency level for the first user interface object.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the first user interface object from a first level of transparency to a second level of transparency when information corresponding to the first user interface object remains unchanged for a first time period or when a second time period elapses without a user input directed to the first user interface object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein performinig an operation associated with the second user interface object includes performing an operation associated with the second user interface object when the first user interface object includes the second level of transparency, wherein the second level of transparency is more transparent than the first level of transparency.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via one or more of the input devices, a third input in a non-overlapping area of the first user interface object, and in response, performing an operation associated with the first user interface object.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, in response to the third input, changing the first user interface object from a first level of transparency to a second level of transparency, wherein the first level of transparency is more transparent than the second level of transparency.

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

display a first user interface object that overlaps a second user interface object at an overlappinig region on a display, wherein;

the first user interface object is at least partially transparent;

the first user interface object and the second user interface object are both visible in the overlapping region; and

the first user interface object is responsive to inputs directed toward the first user interface object; and

while the first user interface object and the second user interface object are both visible in the overlapping region with the first user interface object over the second user interface object, receive an input, via one or more input devices, at a location that corresponds to the overlapping region; and

in response to receiving the input, perform an operation associated with the second user interface object without performing an operation associated with the first user interface object.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions to receive, via one or more of the input devices, a second input indicating a first transparency level for the first user interface object.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first transparency level includes a percentage transparency, and wherein the instructions to perform the operation include instructions to perform. the operation when the percentage transparency exceeds a threshold.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions to receive, from an application executing on the computing device, a first transparency level for the first user interface object.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions to change the first user interface object from a first level of transparency to a second level of transparency when information corresponding to the first user interface object remains unchanged for a first time period or when a second time period elapses without a user input directed to the first user interface object.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions to receive, via one or more of the input devices, a third input in a non-overlapping area of the first user interface object, and in response, perform an operation associated with the first user interface object.

15. A system comprising:

one or more input devices;

a display device configured to display a first user interface object that overlaps a second user interface object at an overlapping region, wherein;

the first user interface object is at least partially transparent;

the first user interface object and the second user interface object are both visible in the overlapping region; and

the first user interface object is responsive to inputs directed toward the first user interface object; and

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;

while the first user interface object and the second user interface object are both visible in the overlapping region with the first user interface object over the second user interface object, receive an input, via one or more of the input devices, at a location that corresponds to the overlappinig region; and

in response to receiving the input, perform an operation associated with the second user interface object without performing an operation associated with the first user interface object.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory device further includes instructions that cause the system to receive, via one or more of the input devices, a. second input indicating a first transparency level for the first user interface object.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first transparency level includes a percentage transparency, and wherein the instructions that cause the system to perform the operation include instructions that cause the system to perform the operation when the percentage transparency exceeds a threshold.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory device further includes instructions that cause the system to receive, from an application executing on the computing device, a first transparency level for the first user interface object.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein he memory device further includes instructions that cause the system to change the first user interface object from a first level of transparency to a second level of transparency when information corresponding to the first user interface object remains unchanged for a first time period or when a second time period elapses without a user input directed to the first user interface object.