Method and apparatus for overlaying a window with a multi-state window

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further comprises, within step (b), providing a graphical user interface (GUI) with a portion of the current window that is overlaid by the multi-state window.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 further comprises: receiving a graphics interface message for a portion of the current window overlaid by the multi-state window; and effecting the portion of the current window based on the graphics interface message.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 further comprises effecting the portion of the current window by providing at least one of: visual feedback and data change.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 further comprises, within step (c), determining the selection of the multi-state window by at least one of: detecting mouse cursor positioning over the multi-state window for a predetermined period of time, selection of an icon, key combination, touch screen activation, and menu selection.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 further comprises, within step (d), phasing the multi-state window into focus by at least one of: a multi-step transition from translucent to opaque, linear transition from translucent to opaque, provide an audible indicator, and a visual indicator.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 further comprises, when the multi-state window is in focus, providing graphical interface messages to the multi-state window.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 further comprises the multi-state window overlaying at least one of: a toolbar, desktop icons, and a task bar.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 further comprises, within step (a), determining selection of the window by at least one of: detecting mouse cursor positioning over the window for a predetermined period of time, selection of an icon, key combination, touch screen activation, and menu selection.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 further comprises changing the state of the multi-state window when the message is a request to change the state.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11 further comprises: determining whether the message is draw message which is requesting the multi-state window to be drawn; when the message is the draw message, determining the state of the multi-state window; when the multi-state window is in the in-focus state, drawing the multi-state window as an opaque window; and when the multi-state window is not in the in-focus state, drawing the multi-state window as a translucent, non-focused, window.

Claim 17

A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises: first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to store data representing a multi-state window with associated multi-state window driver; second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the multi-state window on a screen, wherein the multi-state window at least partially and translucently overlays a current window without taking focus from the current window; third storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine selection of the multi-state window; fourth storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to phase the multi-state window into focus; and fifth storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to reselect the current window such that the current window is in focus; thereby causing the multi-state window to return to the translucent, non-focused state.

Claim 18

A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises: first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to store data representing a multi-state window with associated multi-state window driver; second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the multi-state window on a screen, wherein the multi-state window at least partially and translucently overlays a current window without taking focus from the current window; third storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine selection of the multi-state window; fourth storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to phase the multi-state window into focus; and fifth storage means for storing programming instructions, that when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to reselect the current window such that the current window is in focus; thereby causing the multi-state window to return to the translucent, non-focused state.

Claim 19

A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises: first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine selection of a window to produce a selected window; second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to convert attributes of the selected window into a multi-state window wherein the multi-state window is for: receiving at a first window driver a user input based upon a screen location, wherein the first window driver is associated with the multi-state window; processing the user input at the first window driver when the screen location is a first screen location; and providing the user input to a second window driver associated with a current window when the screen location is a second screen location, wherein the second window driver is a different window driver than the first window driver; and third storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the multi-state window on a screen, wherein the multi-state window at least partially and translucently overlays the current window without taking focus from the current window.

Claim 20

A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises: first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine selection of a window to produce a selected window; second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to convert attributes of the selected window into a multi-state window wherein the multi-state window is for: receiving at a first window driver a user input based upon a screen location, wherein the first window driver is associated with the multi-state window; processing the user input at the first window driver when the screen location is a first screen location; and providing the user input to a second window driver associated with a current window when the screen location is a second screen location, wherein the second window driver is a different window driver than the first window driver; and third storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the multi-state window on a screen, wherein the multi-state window at least partially and translucently overlays the current window without taking focus from the current window.

Claim 21

A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises: first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to receive a message via an interface, wherein the interface identifies a multi-state window; second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine whether the message is a request to change state of the multi-state window; third storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine a state of the multi-state window when the message is not a request to change the state of the multi-state window; fourth storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the message to a window driver for the multi-state window when the multi-state window is in an in-focus state; and fifth storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the message to a window driver for another window when the multi-state window is not in the in-focus state, wherein the another window is at least partially overlaid by the multi-state window.

Claim 22

A digital storage medium that stores programming instruction that, when read by a processing device, causes the processing device to process a multi-state window, the digital storage medium comprises: first storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to receive a message via an interface, wherein the interface identifies a multi-state window; second storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine whether the message is a request to change state of the multi-state window; third storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to determine a state of the multi-state window when the message is not a request to change the state of the multi-state window; fourth storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the message to a window driver for the multi-state window when the multi-state window is in an in-focus state; and fifth storage means for storing programming instructions that, when read by the processing device, causes the processing device to provide the message to a window driver for another window when the multi-state window is not in the in-focus state, wherein the another window is at least partially overlaid by the multi-state window.

Claim 23

A computer system comprising: a central processing unit; memory operably coupled to the central processing unit; video graphics processor operably coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the video graphics processor includes: a plurality of window drivers for processing window functions for a plurality of windows; and at least one multi-state window driver, wherein the at least one multi-state window driver drives a multi-state window and interfaces to at least one of the plurality of window drivers, and wherein the at least one multi-state window driver provides a message to the at least one of the plurality of window drivers for another window when the multi-state window is not in-focus, wherein the another window is at least partially overlaid by the multi-state window and is affiliated with the at least one of the plurality of window drivers.

Claim 24

A computer system comprising: a central processing unit; memory operably coupled to the central processing unit; video graphics processor operably coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the video graphics processor includes: a plurality of window drivers for processing window functions for a plurality of windows; and at least one multi-state window driver, wherein the at least one multi-state window driver drives a multi-state window and interfaces to at least one of the plurality of window drivers, and wherein the at least one multi-state window driver provides a message to the at least one of the plurality of window drivers for another window when the multi-state window is not in-focus, wherein the another window is at least partially overlaid by the multi-state window and is affiliated with the at least one of the plurality of window drivers.