Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2001-06-12
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S182000, C345S179000, C345S215000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246406
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to computer systems and software and, more particularly, to a graphical user interface for navigating through multiple overlapping window layers and especially through multiple overlapping translucent window layers.
2. Description of Related Art
User interfaces are known which permit windows to overlap. Users can navigate among window layers in various ways such as clicking on an edge of a partially hidden window, using a menu command to cycle through window layers and using drop down menus to bring windows to the front. Typically, in order to be able to click on an exposed edge of a window, windows are arranged in an overlapping tile arrangement so that a window can be brought forward by positioning a cursor controlled by a mouse over an edge of the window visible in the tiling arrangement and then clicking the mouse.
The Problems
Software applications are becoming more complex, but at the same time, specialized computer devices are becoming smaller. These trends combine to create a problem, namely not enough screen real estate. This problem is relevant not only to the hand held interactive technologies, but also for any technology that uses a visual display of limited size, such as a cellular telephone, a digital watch or a web kiosk, for example.
The related patent application explained the concept of using one overlapping translucent layer in a user interface. However, a need arises for navigating through one or more translucent layers or through numerous overlapping layers in order to access functionality available only on specific layers.
In certain applications, such as geophysical mapping, it is highly desirable to represent multiple image planes of information simultaneously to a user. At the same time, it is desirable to be able to access and view the individual image planes.
The prior art techniques described above each have their disadvantages. If windows are tiled, screen real estate is consumed unnecessarily. If a menu command is utilized, multiple steps are required to be able to access the menu and then cycle through the layers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to methods, apparatus, systems and computer program products which allow for navigation through overlapping layers of a user interface and particularly to the navigation through one or more translucent layers. In one embodiment, a cursor is located over a non-reactive portion of a window layer and a mouse click or some other command moves the top window layer to the bottom of the stack of overlapping windows. In a second embodiment, while a cycle function is activated, such as by holding a mouse button down, cycling to the next window layer occurs at a rate which increases the longer the mouse button is held down. In this way, the number of layers per second through which a graphical user interface navigates accelerates while the mouse button is down. A user has the ability to set both the rate of acceleration and a maximum instantaneous speed of cycling through layers.
In another embodiment, window layers are given a property analogous to “thickness.” At least one of the time required or the force required to navigate through a thick layer is more than that required to navigate through a thin layer. In a preferred form of the invention, each layer is treated as a membrane which has an appearance of being distorted as the user attempts to punch through to a layer underneath the top membrane layer. In some embodiments, a sound accompanies the penetration of membrane layers with the property of the sound changing as the break point for the membrane approaches. In some forms of the invention, tactile feedback experienced by a user as the user penetrates a membrane layer changes as well. In another embodiment of the invention, worm holes are provided at various locations in the uppermost layer to permit quick access to various layers of a multilayer stack which are below the uppermost layer. In another form of the invention, the penetration time for a particular membrane layer is adjusted as a function of both the force applied by a user and the thickness property of that membrane layer.
The foregoing and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Fogg B J
Nielsen Jakob
Bayerl Raymond J.
McDermott & Will & Emery
Nguyen Thomas T.
Sun Microsystems Inc.
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