User interface processing apparatus, method of processing user interface, and non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying computer program for processing user interface having variable transparency

• US 10,751,615 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Inventors: Ando, Takehiro, Aoyagi, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Amy M
• Application Number:
  US15/340,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and medium for controlling a progress of a video game are provided. A user interface element of the video game is displayed on a display screen. The user interface element is displayed with transparency determined during the progress of the video game. An operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen is received regardless of the transparency. The progress of the video game is controlled in accordance with the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a progress of a video game, the apparatus comprising:

a display screen for displaying a user interface element of the video game, the user interface element being displayed with transparency determined during the progress of the video game;

a computer for receiving an operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen regardless of the transparency; and

the computer for controlling the progress of the video game in accordance with the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen,

wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined, during the progress of the video game, based on the progress of the video game by the player,

the transparency of the user interface element is further determined to increase in accordance with an operation content to the user interface element, and

the transparency of the user interface element is even further determined to increase in accordance with a predetermined operation to the user interface element during the progress of the video game,

wherein the predetermined operation occurs when a distance between an initial touched position of a dragging operation to the user interface element and a current touched position of the dragging operation to the user interface element is at least a predetermined distance.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the computer detects that the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen continues for a certain period,

the computer determines the transparency of the user interface element, and

the transparency is determined to increase in a case where the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen continues for the certain period.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined based on a level of the player in the video game.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined to increase as the level of the player in the video game increases.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, during the predetermined operation, the dragging operation to the user interface element moves an operating section of the user interface element from an initial position of the operating section to the current touched position.

6. A method of controlling a progress of a video game, the method comprising:

displaying a user interface element of the video game on a display screen, the user interface element being displayed with transparency determined during the progress of the video game;

receiving an operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen regardless of the transparency; and

controlling the progress of the video game in accordance with the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen,

wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined, during the progress of the video game, based on the progress of the video game by the player,

the transparency of the user interface element is further determined to increase in accordance with an operation content to the user interface element, and

the transparency of the user interface element is even further determined to increase in accordance with a predetermined operation to the user interface element during the progress of the video game,

wherein the predetermined operation occurs when a distance between an initial touched position of a dragging operation to the user interface element and a current touched position of the dragging operation to the user interface element is at least a predetermined distance.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined based on a level of the player in the video game.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined to increase as the level of the player in the video game increases.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein, during the predetermined operation, the dragging operation to the user interface element moves an operating section of the user interface element from an initial position of the operating section to the current touched position.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a computer program for controlling a progress of a video game, the computer program causing a computer to execute:

displaying a user interface element of the video game on a display screen, the user interface element being displayed with transparency determined during the progress of the video game;

receiving an operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen regardless of the transparency; and

controlling the progress of the video game in accordance with the operation to the user interface element displayed on the display screen,

wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined, during the progress of the video game, based on the progress of the video game by the player,

the transparency of the user interface element is further determined to increase in accordance with an operation content to the user interface element, and

the transparency of the user interface element is even further determined to increase in accordance with a predetermined operation to the user interface element during the progress of the video game,

wherein the predetermined operation occurs when a distance between an initial touched position of a dragging operation to the user interface element and a current touched position of the dragging operation to the user interface element is at least a predetermined distance.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined based on a level of the player in the video game.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the transparency of the user interface element is determined to increase as the level of the player in the video game increases.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10, wherein, during the predetermined operation, the dragging operation to the user interface element moves an operating section of the user interface element from an initial position of the operating section to the current touched position.