Mutatably transparent displays

• US 20010012022A1
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amiga Development LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Kim C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,874,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/768
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Mutatably transparent controls are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a system includes an operating environment, and at least one computer program. The operating environment has a graphical user interface. Each computer program has at least one display displayable within the graphical user interface. The system is configured so that the opacity of the at least one display changes in response to a particular event. Desirably, each display comprises a control.

Claims

1. A computerized system comprising:

an operating environment having a graphical user interface;

at least one computer program, each computer program having at least one display displayable within the graphical user interface,

wherein the system is configured so that the opacity of the at least one display changes in response to a particular event.

2. The computerized system of

claim 1

, wherein the particular event includes positioning of the user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface relative to the at least one display.

3. The computerized system of

claim 1

, wherein the particular event comprises selection of a particular display in conjunction with a user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface.

4. The computerized system of

claim 1

, further comprising:

a processor; and

,

a computer-readable medium,

wherein the at least one computer program is executed from the computer-readable medium-by the processor, and the operating environment is provided from the computer-readable medium by the processor.

5. The computer of

claim 4

, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a memory.

6. A computer-readable medium for a computer having an executable program stored thereon comprising:

means for causing the computer to perform a particular functionality; and

,

means for providing a plurality of controls for use with the particular functionality and displayable within a graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the controls are at least semi-transparent,

such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations.

7. The computer-readable medium of

claim 6

, wherein the particular event comprises particular positioning of a user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface relative to at least one of the controls.

8. The computer-readable medium of

claim 6

, wherein the particular event comprises selection of a particular control in conjunction with a user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface.

9. The computer-readable medium of

claim 6

, wherein the medium is a floppy disk.

10. A computerized system comprising:

means for performing a particular functionality; and

,

means for providing a plurality of controls for use with the particular functionality and displayable within a graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the controls are at least semi-transparent,

such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations.

11. A computerized system comprising:

an operating environment having a graphical user interface including a user-controllable pointer;

at least one computer program, each computer program having a plurality of controls displayable within the graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the controls are at least semi-transparent,

such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations.

12. The computerized system of

claim 11

, wherein the particular event comprises particular positioning of the user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface relative to at least one of the controls.

13. The computerized system of

claim 11

, wherein the particular event comprises selection of a particular control in conjunction with the user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface.

14. The computerized system of

claim 11

, wherein all of the controls are opaque within the first configuration of the plurality of the controls.

15. The computerized system of

claim 11

, wherein the at least one of the controls within the second configuration of the plurality of the controls are completely transparent.

16. The computerized system of

claim 11

, wherein the at least one of the controls within the second configuration of the plurality of the controls are progressively transparent.

17. A computer comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium;

an operating environment having a graphical user interface including a user-controllable pointer, the environment provided from the computer-readable medium by the processor; and

,

at least one computer program, each computer program executed from the computer readable medium by the processor and having a plurality of controls displayable within the graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the controls are at least semi-transparent,

such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations.

18. The computer of

claim 17

, wherein the particular event comprises particular positioning of the user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface relative to at least one of the controls.

19. The computer of

claim 17

, wherein the particular event comprises selection of a particular control in conjunction with the user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface.

20. The computer of

claim 17

, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a memory.

21. A computer program comprising:

application code to cause a computer on which the program is running to perform a particular functionality;

controls code to provide a plurality of controls for use with the particular functionality and displayable within a graphical user interface, the plurality of controls having a first configuration in which at least one of the controls is opaque, and a second configuration in which at least one of the controls are at least semi-transparent,

such that occurrence of a particular event switches the plurality of controls between the first and the second configurations.

22. The computer program of

claim 21

, wherein the particular event comprises particular positioning of a user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface relative to at least one of the controls.

23. The computer program of

claim 21

, wherein the particular event comprises selection of a particular control in conjunction with a user-controllable pointer within the graphical user interface.

24. The computer program of

claim 21

, wherein the particular functionality of the application code comprises a virtual appliance mimicking a device external to the computer on which the computer program is running.