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Methods and apparatuses to display windows. In more than one embodiments of the invention, a window is closed automatically (e.g., after a timer expires, or when a condition or criterion is met, or a system input is received) without user input. In some examples, the window is translucent so that the portion of another window, when present, is visible under the window. In some examples, the image of the window is faded out before the window is closed and destroyed. In some examples, the window does not close in response to any input from a user input device. In some examples, the window is repositioned (or hidden) automatically when another translucent window is displayed. The degree of translucency, the speed for fading out, the discrete levels of translucency for fading out, the time to expire, and/or other parameters for controlling the display of the window may be set by the user or adjusted by the system (or application software programs) automatically according to system...

Inventors: Imran Chaudhri, Bas Ording
Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
Primary Examiner: Tadeese Hailu
Attorneys: Brian K. McKnight, Novak Druce + Quigg LLP
Current U.S. Classification: 715/781; 345/629; 715/768; 715/788; 715/795; 719/318

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Citations

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Claims

1. A method to display a user interface window for a digital processing system, the method comprising:

displaying a first window in response to receiving a first input from a user input device of the digital processing system which is capable of displaying at least a portion of a second window concurrently with the first window on a screen;

starting a timer; and

closing the first window in response to a determination that the timer expired;

wherein the first window does not close in response to any input from a user input device of the digital processing system, wherein the first window has been displayed independently from a position of a cursor on the screen.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the first window is translucent; and the portion of the second window is visible while under the first window.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first window is at a top level in a window displaying hierarchy.

4. A method as in claim 2 wherein a degree of translucency of the first window is adjustable.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein said closing the first window comprises:

fading out an image of the first window.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the second window, if displayed, does close in response to an input from a user input device of the digital processing system.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the first window does not respond to any input from a user input device of the digital processing system.

8. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

repositioning the first window in response to a third window being displayed.

9. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

hiding the first window in response to a third window being displayed at a location where the first window is displayed.

10. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

repositioning the first window on a display in response to a second input for the first window.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein the second input indicates that a third window is displayed.

12. A method as in claim 10 wherein the second input is received from a user input device of the digital processing system.

13. A method as in claim 10 further comprising:

adjusting a position of the first window in a window displaying hierarchy in response to a third input.

14. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

determining a position on a display of the digital processing system independent of a position of a cursor on the display;

wherein the first window is displayed at the position.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein the position is centered horizontally on the display.

16. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

restarting the timer in response to receiving a second input for the first window.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein the second input is received from a user input device of the digital processing system.

18. A method as in claim 16 wherein the first window is created by a first application and the second window is created by a second application, wherein the first application is different from the second application.

19. A method as in claim 1 wherein the user input device is one of:

a) a keyboard;

b) a mouse;

c) a track ball;

d) a touch pad;
e) a touch screen;
f) a joy stick; and
g) a button.

20. A method to display a user interface window for a digital processing system, the method comprising:

displaying a first window, the first window being translucent, at least a portion of a second window being capable of being displayed on the digital processing system under the first window, the portion of the second window, when present, being visible under the first window on a screen; and

closing the first window without user input, wherein the first window has been displayed independent from a position of a cursor on the screen.

21. A method as in claim 20 further comprising:

starting a timer;

wherein said closing the first window is in response to expiration of the timer.

22. A method as in claim 20 further comprising:

receiving an input, the input not associated with a user input device of the digital processing system;

wherein said closing the first window is in response to the input.

23. A method as in claim 20 further comprising:

determining whether or not a condition is met;

wherein said closing the first window is in response to a determination that the condition is met.

24. A method as in claim 20 wherein said closing the first window comprises:

fading out an image of the first window.

25. A method as in claim 20 wherein a degree of translucency of the first window is adjustable.

26. A machine readable media containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processing system cause said system to perform a method to display a user interface window, the method comprising:

displaying a first window in response to receiving a first input from a user input device of the digital processing system which is capable of displaying at least a portion of a second window concurrently with the first window on a screen;

starting a timer; and

closing the first window in response to a determination that the timer expired;

wherein the first window does not close in response to any input from a user input device of the digital processing system, wherein the first window has been displayed independently from a position of a cursor on the screen.

27. A media as in claim 26 wherein the first window is translucent; and the portion of the second window is visible while under the first window.

28. A media as in claim 27 wherein the first window is at a top level in a window displaying hierarchy.

29. A media as in claim 27 wherein a degree of translucency of the first window is adjustable.

30. A media as in claim 26 wherein said closing the first window comprises:

fading out an image of the first window.

31. A media as in claim 26 wherein the second window, if displayed, does close in response to an input from a user input device of the digital processing system.

32. A media as in claim 31 wherein the first window does not respond to any input from a user input device of the digital processing system.

33. A media as in claim 26 wherein the method further comprises:

repositioning the first window in response to a third window being displayed.

34. A media as in claim 26 wherein the method further comprises:

hiding the first window in response to a third window being displayed at a location where the first window is displayed.

35. A media as in claim 26 wherein the method further comprises:

repositioning the first window on a display in response to a second input for the first window.

36. A media as in claim 35 wherein the second input indicates that a third window is displayed.

37. A media as in claim 35 wherein the second input is received from a user input device of the digital processing system.

38. A media as in claim 35 wherein the method further comprises:

adjusting a position of the first window in a window displaying hierarchy in response to a third input.

39. A media as in claim 26 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a position on a display of the digital processing system independent of a position of a cursor on the display;

wherein the first window is displayed at the position.

40. A media as in claim 39 wherein the position is centered horizontally on the display.

41. A media as in claim 26 wherein the method further comprises:

restarting the timer in response to receiving a second input for the first window.

42. A media as in claim 41 wherein the second input is received from a user input device of the digital processing system.

43. A machine readable media as in claim 41 wherein the first window is created by a first application and the second window is created by a second application, wherein the first application is different from the second application.

44. A media as in claim 26 wherein the user input device is one of:

a) a keyboard;

b) a mouse;

c) a track ball;

d) a touch pad;
e) a touch screen;
f) a joy stick; and
g) a button.

45. A machine readable media containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processing system cause said system to perform a method to display a user interface window, the method comprising:

displaying a first window, the first window being translucent, at least a portion of a second window being capable of being displayed on the digital processing system under the first window, the portion of the second window, when present, being visible under the first window on a screen; and

closing the first window without user input, wherein the first window has been displayed independent from a position of a cursor on the screen.

46. A media as in claim 45 wherein the method further comprises:

starting a timer;

wherein said closing the first window is in response to expiration of the timer.

47. A media as in claim 45 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an input, the input not associated with a user input device of the digital processing system;

wherein said closing the first window is in response to the input.

48. A media as in claim 45 wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether or not a condition is met;

wherein said closing the first window is in response to a determination that the condition is met.

49. A media as in claim 45 wherein said closing the first window comprises:

fading out an image of the first window.

50. A media as in claim 45 wherein a degree of translucency of the first window is adjustable.

51. A digital processing system to display a user interface window, the system comprising:

means for displaying a first window in response to receiving a first input from a user input device of the digital processing system which is capable of displaying at least a portion of a second window concurrently with the first window on a screen;

means for starting a timer; and

means for closing the first window in response to a determination that the timer expired;

wherein the first window does not close in response to any input from a user input device of the digital processing system, wherein the first window has been displayed independently from a position of a cursor on the screen.

52. A digital processing system as in claim 51 wherein the first window is translucent; and the portion of the second window is visible while under the first window.

53. A digital processing system as in claim 52 wherein the first window is at a top level in a window displaying hierarchy.

54. A digital processing system as in claim 52 wherein a degree of translucency of the first window is adjustable.

55. A digital processing system as in claim 51 wherein said means for closing the first window comprises:

means for fading out an image of the first window.

56. A digital processing system as in claim 51 wherein the second window, if displayed, does close in response to an input from a user input device of the digital processing system.

57. A digital processing system as in claim 56 wherein the first window does not respond to any input from a user input device of the digital processing system.

58. A digital processing system as in claim 51 further comprising:

means for repositioning the first window in response to a third window being displayed.

59. A digital processing system as in claim 51 further comprising:

means for hiding the first window in response to a third window being displayed at a location where the first window is displayed.

60. A digital processing system as in claim 51 further comprising:

means for repositioning the first window on a display in response to a second input for the first window.

61. A digital processing system as in claim 60 wherein the second input indicates that a third window is displayed.

62. A digital processing system as in claim 60 wherein the second input is received from a user input device of the digital processing system.

63. A digital processing system as in claim 60 further comprising:

means for adjusting a position of the first window in a window displaying hierarchy in response to a third input.

64. A digital processing system as in claim 51 further comprising:

means for determining a position on a display of the digital processing system independent of a position of a cursor on the display;

wherein the first window is displayed at the position.

65. A digital processing system as in claim 64 wherein the position is centered horizontally on the display.

66. A digital processing system as in claim 51 further comprising:

means for restarting the timer in response to receiving a second input for the first window.

67. A digital processing system as in claim 66 wherein the second input is received from a user input device of the digital processing system.

68. A digital processing system as in claim 66 wherein the first window is created by a first application and the second window is created by a second application, wherein the first application is different from the second application.

69. A digital processing system as in claim 51 wherein the user input device is one of:

a) a keyboard;

b) a mouse;

c) a track ball;

d) a touch pad;
e) a touch screen;
f) a joy stick; and
g) a button.

70. A digital processing system to display a user interface window, the system comprising:

means for displaying a first window, the first window being translucent, at least a portion of a second window being capable of being displayed on the digital processing system under the first window, the portion of the second window, when present, being visible under the first window on a screen; and

means for closing the first window without user input, wherein the first window has been displayed independent from a position of a cursor on the screen.

71. A digital processing system as in claim 70 further comprising:

means for starting a timer;

wherein the first window is closed in response to expiration of the timer.

72. A digital processing system as in claim 70 further comprising:

means for receiving an input, the input not associated with a user input device of the digital processing system;

wherein the first window is closed in response to the input.

73. A digital processing system as in claim 70 further comprising:

means for determining whether or not a condition is met;

wherein the first window is closed in response to a determination that the condition is met.

74. A digital processing system as in claim 70 wherein said means for closing the first window comprises:

means for fading out an image of the first window.

75. A digital processing system as in claim 70 wherein a degree of translucency of the first window is adjustable.

Drawings