Selectively adjusting transparency of windows within a user interface

• US 20030142138A1
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick, Hately, Andrew Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 6,996,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/797
• 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: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

A method, system and program for selectively adjusting transparency of windows within a user interface are provided. An n-level is determined within a z-order of at least one displayable object from among multiple displayable objects distributed within the z-order. A transparency level is selectively adjusted of the at least one displayable object within a user interface positioned at the n-level within the z-order, such that the transparency level of the at least one displayable object is selectively adjusted without adjusting the z-order of the displayable objects.

Claims

1. A method for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object within a user interface, said method comprising the steps of:

determining an n-level within a z-order of at least one displayable object from among a plurality of displayable objects distributed within said z-order; and

selectively adjusting a transparency level of said at least one displayable object within a user interface positioned at said n-level within said z-order, such that said transparency level of said at least one displayable object is selectively adjusted without adjusting said z-order of said plurality of displayable objects distributed within said z-order.

2. The method for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 1, said step of determining an n-level further comprising the step of:

receiving a specified user selection of said n-level as a setting for a flashlight tool.

3. The method for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 1, said step of determining an n-level further comprising the step of

detecting a position of a slider bar within a z-order listing;

and

determining said n-level of said at least one displayable object association with said position of said slider bar within said z-order listing.

4. The method for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 3, said method further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying said z-order listing within said user interface, wherein said z-order listing orders said plurality of displayable objects according to a user designated criteria.

5. The method for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 3, said method further comprising the step of:

adjusting a transparency of each entry within said z-order listing according to a transparency of each of said plurality of displayable objects.

6. The method for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 1, said step of determining an n-level further comprising the step of:

determining a selection of said plurality of displayable objects matching a particular criteria; and

determining at least one said n-level for said selection of said plurality of displayable objects matching said particular criteria.

7. The method for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 1, said step of selectively adjusting a transparency level, further comprising the step of:

selectively adjusting a transparency level of said at least one displayable object according to a transparency designated for a slider bar indicating said at least one displayable object.

8. The method for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 1, said step of selectively adjusting a transparency level, further comprising the step of:

selectively adjusting a transparency level of said at least one displayable object according to a transparency designated for a flashlight tool positioned to selectively adjust said transparency level of said at least one displayable object.

9. A system for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object within a user interface, said system comprising:

a graphical user interface;

means for determining an n-level within a z-order of at least one displayable object from among a plurality of displayable objects distributed within said z-order and displayed within said graphical user interface; and

means for selectively adjusting a transparency level of said at least one displayable object positioned at said n-level within said z-order.

10. The system for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 9, said means for determining an n-level further comprising:

means for receiving a specified user selection of said n-level as a setting for a flashlight tool.

11. The system for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 9, said means for determining an n-level further comprising:

means for detecting a position of a slider bar within a z-order listing; and

means for determining said n-level of said at least one displayable object association with said position of said slider bar within said z-order listing.

12. The system for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 11, wherein said z-order listing orders said plurality of displayable objects according to a user designated criteria.

13. The system for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 11, said system further comprising:

means for adjusting a transparency of each entry within said z-order listing according to a transparency of each of said plurality of displayable objects.

14. The system for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 9, said means for determining an n-level further comprising:

means for determining a selection of said plurality of displayable objects matching a particular criteria; and

means for determining at least one said n-level for said selection of said plurality of displayable objects matching said particular criteria.

15. The system for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 9, said means for selectively adjusting a transparency level further comprising:

means for selectively adjusting a transparency level of said at least one displayable object according to a transparency designated for a slider bar indicating said at least one displayable object.

16. The system for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 9, said means for selectively adjusting a transparency level further comprising:

means for selectively adjusting a transparency level of said at least one displayable object according to a transparency designated for a flashlight tool positioned to selectively adjust said transparency level of said at least one displayable object.

17. A program for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object within a user interface, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for determining an n-level within a z-order of at least one displayable object from among a plurality of displayable objects distributed within said z-order; and

means for controlling a transparency level of said at least one displayable object positioned at said n-level within said z-order.

18. The program for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for receiving a specified user selection of said n-level as a setting for a flashlight tool.

19. The program for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for detecting a position of a slider bar within a z-order listing; and

means for determining said n-level of said at least one displayable object association with said position of said slider bar within said z-order listing.

20. The program for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 19, said program further comprising:

means for controlling a transparency of each entry within said z-order listing according to a transparency of each of said plurality of displayable objects.

21. The program for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for determining a selection of said plurality of displayable objects matching a particular criteria; and

means for determining at least one said n-level for said selection of said plurality of displayable objects matching said particular criteria.

22. The program for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for controlling a transparency level of said at least one displayable object according to a transparency designated for a slider bar indicating said at least one displayable object.

23. The program for selectively adjusting a transparency of a displayable object according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for controlling a transparency level of said at least one displayable object according to a transparency designated for a flashlight tool positioned to selectively adjust said transparency level of said at least one displayable object.