Graduated visual and manipulative translucency for windows

• US 9,612,728 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2016
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• 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:
  US15/348,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20170060371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 145 Days
• Field of Search: 715768, 715779, 715771, 715790, 715797, 715803, 715794
• 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. An electronic device that is in communication with a display, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

while displaying, on the display, a respective user interface, determining that a status of a speech recognition program is to be displayed; and

in response to determining that the status of the speech recognition program is to be displayed, generating and displaying, on the display, a partially transparent speech recognition user interface, wherein;

the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes text that is overlaid on a portion of the respective user interface; and

the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes feedback regarding the status of the speech recognition program.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes gradually decreasing the transparency of the displayed speech recognition program.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the respective user interface includes a plurality of interactive user objects configured to respond to user inputs; and

displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface overlaid on two or more of the plurality of interactive user objects.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes one or more input devices, the one or more programs including instructions for:

detecting, by the one or more input devices, a user input corresponding to the partially transparent speech recognition user interface; and

in response to detecting the user input corresponding to the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, updating an appearance of the partially transparent speech recognition user interface.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more programs including instructions for:

in accordance with updating information displayed in the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, updating an appearance of the partially transparent speech recognition user interface.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more programs including instructions for:

in accordance with updating information displayed in the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, generating a sound effect.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device that is in communication with a display, the one or more programs including instructions for:

while displaying, on the display, a respective user interface, determining that a status of a speech recognition program is to be displayed; and

in response to determining that the status of the speech recognition program is to be displayed, generating and displaying, on the display, a partially transparent speech recognition user interface, wherein;

the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes text that is overlaid on a portion of the respective user interface; and

the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes feedback regarding the status of the speech recognition program.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes gradually decreasing the transparency of the displayed speech recognition program.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein:

the respective user interface includes a plurality of interactive user objects configured to respond to user inputs; and

displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface overlaid on two or more of the plurality of interactive user objects.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the electronic device includes one or more input devices, the one or more programs including instructions for:

detecting, by the one or more input devices, a user input corresponding to the partially transparent speech recognition user interface; and

in response to detecting the user input corresponding to the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, updating an appearance of the partially transparent speech recognition user interface.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, the one or more programs including instructions for:

in accordance with updating information displayed in the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, updating an appearance of the partially transparent speech recognition user interface.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, the one or more programs including instructions for:

in accordance with updating information displayed in the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, generating a sound effect.

13. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device that is in communication with a display;

while displaying, on the display, a respective user interface, determining that a status of a speech recognition program is to be displayed; and

in response to determining that the status of the speech recognition program is to be displayed, generating and displaying, on the display, a partially transparent speech recognition user interface, wherein;

the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes text that is overlaid on a portion of the respective user interface; and

the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes feedback regarding the status of the speech recognition program.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes gradually decreasing the transparency of the displayed speech recognition program.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the respective user interface includes a plurality of interactive user objects configured to respond to user inputs; and

displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface includes displaying, on the display, the partially transparent speech recognition user interface overlaid on two or more of the plurality of interactive user objects.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the electronic device includes one or more input devices, the method further comprising:

detecting, by the one or more input devices, a user input corresponding to the partially transparent speech recognition user interface; and

in response to detecting the user input corresponding to the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, updating an appearance of the partially transparent speech recognition user interface.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

in accordance with updating information displayed in the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, updating an appearance of the partially transparent speech recognition user interface.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

in accordance with updating information displayed in the partially transparent speech recognition user interface, generating a sound effect.