Patent US6587128B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6587128B2
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US
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Method for displaying hidden objects by varying the transparency of overlapping objects
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2002-03-12
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Granted: 2003-07-01
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Expires: 2022-03-12
Abstract
Abstract The dynamically sized window automatically adjusts its right border if the text on the line exceeds beyond the window size, thereby eliminating a need for a manual adjustment of the window size and/or scrolling through the window. Moreover, the present invention enables a capability to increase only the selective parts of the window that displays a longer line. Similarly, adjustments to the window are enabled for those windows having graphical pictures whose size exceeds the window size. Windows overlapping other windows may be made transparent so that the underlying window is visible.
Inventors
- 👤 Dimitri Kanevsky
- 👤 Alexander Zlatsin
- 👤 Clifford A. Pickover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:36
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects on a display terminal, the method comprising: determining an object overlying a selected hidden object; and graphically attributing a degree of transparency to the overlying object such that the selected hidden object can be viewed trough the overlying object having the degree of transparency, said attributing being performed automatically based on a predetermined criteria associated with the selected hidden object, said criteria computed based on statistical data of a user's past behavior.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects on a display terminal, the method comprising: determining an object overlying a selected hidden object; and graphically attributing a degree of transparency to the overlying object such that the selected hidden object can be viewed trough the overlying object having the degree of transparency, said attributing being performed automatically based on a predetermined criteria associated with the selected hidden object, said criteria computed based on statistical data of a user's past behavior.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said overlying object includes a GUI window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said selected hidden object includes a GUI window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said overlying object includes a GUI icon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said selected hidden object includes a GUI icon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of attributing further includes: changing one or more pixel color values of said overlying object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of attributing includes: graphically attributing a degree of transparency to portions of said overlying object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the portion includes a portion where the selected hidden object overlaps the overlying object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the portion includes a portion overlapping borders of the selected hidden object, such that the borders of the selected hidden object can be viewed through the overlying object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of attributing further comprises: changing pixel color values of said overlying object and said selected hidden object such that each object has a different translucent color attribute.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined criteria includes a degree of importance assigned to the selected hidden object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the steps of determining and attributing are performed when a user manually requests to view said selected hidden object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said overlying and hidden objects are displayed in a 3-dimensional form, the method further including accepting a user input via a force-feedback device for determining the selected hidden object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of dynamically adjusting a window shape on a computer screen, said adjusting step comprising: determining a boundary of content displayed on a graphical user interface window; and adjusting a graphical border of the graphical user interface window to fit the boundary of content displayed in the graphical user interface window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 14 , the method further comprising the step of displaying the graphical user interface window having the adjusted border.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 14 , the method further comprising the step of reshaping the graphical user interface window by readjusting portions of window that no longer have contents displayed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more object hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 14 , the method further comprising the steps of determining length of each line of text displayed in the graphical user interface window; and adjusting length of the window to fit said each line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the adjusted graphical border includes ragged edges in accordance with the boundary of content.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 14 , method further comprising: selecting a graphical user interface window for adjusting according to a predetermined criteria before the step of determining.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the predetermined criteria includes user specified criteria.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the predetermined criteria includes system automated criteria computed based on statistical data of user's past behavior.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the predetermined criteria includes criteria specified in a document displayed in a window whose shape is being adjusted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method for dynamically adjusting a window shape on a computer screen as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of determining a boundary of content includes accepting user input which specifies the boundary parameters.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method for dynamically adjusting a window shape on a computer screen as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of determining a boundary of content includes setting the border to values specified in a document displayed in a window whose shape is being adjusted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method for dynamically adjusting a window shape on a computer screen as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of determining a boundary of content includes setting the border to a system evaluated value which is based on statistical data of past behavior.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method for dynamically adjusting a window shape on a computer screen as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of determining a boundary of content further includes retrieving threshold values which represent maximum and minimum size of a window; and the step of adjusting further includes adjusting the border to be within the threshold values.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method for dynamically adjusting a window shape on a computer screen as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of adjusting further comprises: adjusting a border of the graphical user interface window to a size based on one of the boundary of content displayed and a predetermined boundary setting.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for dynamically adjusting a window shape on a computer screen as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of determining includes: determining a boundary of a pictorial image displayed on a graphical user interface window.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method for dynamically adjusting a window shape on a computer screen as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the pictorial image includes an icon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
105 words
A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects, the method steps comprising: determining an object overlying a selected hidden object; and graphically attributing a degree of transparency to the overlying object such that the selected hidden object can be viewed through the object having the degree of transparency, said attributing being performed automatically based on a predetermined criteria associated with the selected hidden object, said criteria computed based on statistical data of a user's past behavior.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
105 words
A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for enabling a view of one or more objects hidden by one or more overlapping objects, the method steps comprising: determining an object overlying a selected hidden object; and graphically attributing a degree of transparency to the overlying object such that the selected hidden object can be viewed through the object having the degree of transparency, said attributing being performed automatically based on a predetermined criteria associated with the selected hidden object, said criteria computed based on statistical data of a user's past behavior.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said overlying object includes a GUI window.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The program storage device as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said selected hidden object includes a GUI window.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-30 | 2006-12-30 | 2007-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-30 | 2010-12-30 | 2011-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-30 | 2014-12-30 | 2015-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |