Displaying transparency characteristic aids

• US 6,954,905 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick, Hately, Andrew Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, TING ZHOU
• Application Number:
  US10/059,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 345/768, 345/790, 345/766, 345/789, 715/768, 715/789, 715/790, 715/781, 715/767
• US Class Current: 715/768
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence

Abstract

A method, system and program for displaying transparency characteristic aids are provided. A user interface is displayed comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system. Responsive to an initiating event, placing a transparency characteristic aid within the display area in association with the initiating event, such that the at least one displayable object is not obscured by the transparency characteristic aid. The transparency resource aid may indicate resource usage of hardware, software, and graphical characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for displaying characteristic aids in a display area, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a user interface comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system;

monitoring a transparency associated with said at least one displayable object;

responsive to an initiating event, placing a graphical transparency characteristic aid displaying a percentage indicating said monitored transparency of said at least one displayable object within said display area, such that said at least one displayable object is not obscured by said graphical transparency characteristic aid;

wherein placing said graphical transparency characteristic aid further comprises;

determining a graphical output format for said graphical transparency characteristic aid;

adjusting a transparency of said graphical transparency characteristic aid according to user transparency preferences;

determining a display position for said graphical transparency characteristic aid; and

adjusting said transparency of said graphical transparency characteristic aid according to said display position.

2. The method for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

responding to an initiating event, wherein said initiating event is at least one of a cursor placement, an occurrence of a user-defined event, and a user input.

3. The method for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 1, said step of monitoring a transparency further comprising the step of:

monitoring a plurality of factors that determine said transparency associated with said at least one displayable object.

4. The method for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

placing said graphical transparency characteristic aid to maximize space remaining in said display area.

5. The method for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

initializing said graphical transparency characteristic aid, wherein said graphical transparency characteristic aid comprises at least one from among text, graphics, video, and audio.

6. A system for displaying characteristic aids in a display area, said system comprising:

a graphical user interface controlled by a computer system;

means for displaying at least one displayable object within said graphical user interface;

means for monitoring a transparency associated with said at least one displayable object;

means responsive to an initiating event, for placing a graphical transparency characteristic aid displaying a percentage indicating said monitored transparency of said at least one displayable object within said graphical user interface;

wherein said means for placing said graphical transparency characteristic aid further comprise;

means for determining a graphical output format for said graphical transparency characteristic aid;

means for adjusting a transparency of said graphical transparency characteristic aid according to user transparency preferences;

means for determining a display position for said graphical transparency characteristic aid; and

means for adjusting said transparency of said graphical transparency characteristic aid according to said display position.

7. The system for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 6, said system further comprising:

means for responding to an initiating event, wherein said initiating event is at least one of a cursor placement, an occurrence of a user-defined event, and a user input.

8. The system for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 6, said means for monitoring a transparency further comprising:

means for monitoring a plurality of factors that determine said transparency associated with said at least one displayable object.

9. The system for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 6, said system further comprising:

means for placing said graphical transparency characteristic aid to maximize space remaining in a display area of said graphical user interface.

10. The system for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 6, said system further comprising:

means for initializing said graphical transparency characteristic aid, wherein said transparency characteristic aid comprises at least one from among text, graphics, video, and audio.

11. A program for displaying characteristic aids in a display area, residing on a tangible computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, the program comprising:

means for enabling display of at least one displayable object within a user interface;

means for monitoring a transparency associated with said at least one displayable object; and

means for controlling placement of a graphical transparency characteristic aid displaying a percentage indicating said monitored transparency of said at least one displayable object within said user interface;

wherein said means for controlling placement of said graphical transparency characteristic aid further comprise;

means for determining a graphical output format for said graphical transparency characteristic aid;

means for adjusting a transparency of said graphical transparency characteristic aid according to user transparency preferences;

means for determining a display position for said graphical transparency characteristic aid; and

means for adjusting said transparency of said graphical transparency characteristic aid according to said display position.

12. The program for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 11, said program further comprising:

means for detecting an initiating event, wherein said initiating event is at least one of a cursor placement, an occurrence of a user-defined event, and a user input; and

means for initiating said placement of said graphical transparency characteristic aid following detection of said initiating event.

13. The program for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 11, said program further comprising:

means for monitoring a plurality of factors that determine said transparency associated with said at least one displayable object.

14. The program for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 11, said program further comprising:

means for controlling placement of said graphical transparency characteristic aid to maximize space remaining in a display area within said user interface.

15. The program for displaying characteristic aids in accordance with claim 11, said program further comprising:

means for initializing said graphical transparency characteristic aid, wherein said transparency characteristic aid comprises at least one from among text, graphics, video, and audio.