AU748738B2 - User interface method and apparatus - Google Patents
User interface method and apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU748738B2 AU748738B2 AU59477/00A AU5947700A AU748738B2 AU 748738 B2 AU748738 B2 AU 748738B2 AU 59477/00 A AU59477/00 A AU 59477/00A AU 5947700 A AU5947700 A AU 5947700A AU 748738 B2 AU748738 B2 AU 748738B2
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- interface
- selection
- displayed
- computer
- user
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
Landscapes
- User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)
Description
U
S&FRef: 519780
AUSTRALIA
PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT
ORIGINAL
000.
0 .00 0 00.0.
0 0 0 0:.0.
Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ohta-ku Tokyo 146 Japan Timothy Merrick Long Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 User Interface Method and Apparatus ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) AU PQ3068 [32] Application Date 24 Sep 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815c -1- USER INTERFACE METHOD AND APPARATUS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to computer program graphical user interfaces and, in particular, to selection operations on computer program graphical user interfaces. The invention also relates to a computer program product including a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for managing selection operations on computer program graphical user interfaces.
o* Background Art Many computer based applications utilise shared graphical user interfaces where oooo users approach and leave a device displaying the graphical interface freely (eg. an on-line library catalogue), in the operation of the application. Typically, an element of the graphical user interface is selected by a user and visually highlighted, in order to establish the subject of a subsequent action in many of the known user interfaces. The element is selected by the user using a computer mouse, touch-screen or keyboard operation. The subsequent action can be generally selected by a menu item, keyboard command, or onscreen button, for example. In some cases, menu items, keyboard commands and onscreen buttons are not enabled, or even visible until an appropriate selection is made.
In many existing systems, once a selection has been made the selection, represented by associated user interface elements, remains static until some subsequent action is performed. In systems where users approach and leave an interface freely as discussed, a static selection which remains from a previous users interaction may cause confusion.
Summary of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to ameliorate one or more of the limitations of the existing user interface systems described above.
519780.doc According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface elements, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring a user activity associated with said displayed computer interface selection; removing said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements from said user interface, if said user activity does not occur within a first predetermined period, wherein said computer interface selection and associated interface elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period; and restoring said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements to full status, if said activity is performed within said second predetermined period According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided A method 5.55 oo o 15 of operating a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface elements, wherein if no user control action is taken on said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements oeo• within a first predetermined period, said displayed computer interface selection and •associated interface elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second 0 20 predetermined period, wherein if user control action is taken on said displayed computer i interface selection or said associated interface elements within said second predetermined period then said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are restored to full visability.
According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for operating a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer Sinterface selection comprising associated interface elements, said apparatus comprising: 519780.doc monitor means for monitoring a user activity associated with said displayed computer interface selection; removal means for removing said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements from said user interface, if said user activity does not occur within a first predetermined period, wherein said computer interface selection and associated interface elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period; and restoration means for restoring said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements to full status, if said activity is performed within said second predetermined period.
According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to operate a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface oooo S o 15 elements, said program comprising: code for monitoring a user activity associated with said displayed computer interface selection; code for removing said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements from said user interface, if said user activity does not occur within a S 20 first predetermined period, wherein said computer interface selection and associated interface elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period; and code for restoring said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements to full status, if said activity is performed within said second predetermined period.
/xc/ -519780.do 51 9780 .doc According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to operate a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface elements, wherein if no user control action is taken on said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements within a first predetermined period, said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period, wherein if user control action is taken on said displayed computer interface selection or said associated interface elements within said second predetermined period then said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are restored to full visability.
Brief Description of the Drawings A number of embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 15 Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a general purpose computer upon which preferred embodiment of the present invention can be practiced; and Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the method of operating a computer graphical user interface in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention; 3A shows a display device displaying several graphical user interface S 20 elements; and Fig. 3B shows the display device of Fig. 3A with an interface element shown fading in accordance with the method of Fig. 2.
WDetailed Description Where reference is made in any one or more of the drawings to steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features are for the purposes of the description the same, unless the contrary appears.
The preferred embodiment is a method of operating a computer graphical user interface whereby a displayed interface selection, represented by associated interface elements, is removed without user intervention. The preferred embodiment removes a static selection once sufficient time has passed to make it clear that the user will not take any action on the selection.
I,
519780.doc The method of operating a computer graphical user interface is preferably practiced using a conventional general-purpose computer system 100, such as that shown in Fig. 1. The processes of the preferred method can be implemented as software, such as an application program executing within the computer system 100. In particular, the steps of the preferred method are effected by instructions in the software that are carried out by the computer system 100. The software may be stored in a computer readable medium, including the storage devices described below, for example. The software is loaded into the computer from the computer readable medium, and then executed by the computer. A computer readable medium having such software or computer program recorded on it is a computer program product. The use of the computer program product in the computer preferably effects an advantageous apparatus for operating a computer graphical user interface in accordance with the embodiments of the invention.
The computer system 100 comprises a computer module 101, input devices such as a keyboard 102 and mouse 103, output devices including a printer 115 and a display device 114. A Modulator-Demodulator (Modem) transceiver device 116 is used by the computer module 101 for communicating to and from a communications network 120, for example connectable via a telephone line 121 or other functional medium. The modem 116 can be used to obtain access to the Internet, and other network systems, such as a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN).
The computer module 101 typically includes at least one processor unit 105, a memory unit 106, for example formed from semiconductor random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM), input/output interfaces including a video interface 107, and an I/O interface 113 for the keyboard 102 and mouse 103 and optionally a joystick (not illustrated), and an interface 108 for the modem 116. A storage device 109 is provided and typically includes a hard disk drive 110 and a floppy disk drive 111. A magnetic tape drive (not illustrated) may also be used. A CD-ROM 519780.doc -6drive 112 is typically provided as a non-volatile source of data. The components 105 to 113 of the computer module 101, typically communicate via an interconnected bus 104 and in a manner which results in a conventional mode of operation of the computer system 100 known to those in the relevant art. Examples of computers on which the embodiments can be practised include IBM-PC's and compatibles, Sun Sparcstations or alike computer systems evolved therefrom.
Typically, the application program of the preferred embodiment is resident on the hard disk drive 110 and read and controlled in its execution by the processor 105.
e.
Intermediate storage of the program and any data fetched from the network 120 may be accomplished using the semiconductor memory 106, possibly in concert with the hard disk drive 110. In some instances, the application program may be supplied to the user encoded on a CD-ROM or floppy disk and read via the corresponding drive 112 or 111, or alternatively may be read by the user from the network 120 via the modem device 116.
Still further, the software can also be loaded into the computer system 100 from other computer readable medium including magnetic tape, a ROM or integrated circuit, a magneto-optical disk, a radio or infra-red transmission channel between the computer module 101 and another device, a computer readable card such as a PCMCIA card, and the Internet and Intranets including email transmissions and information recorded on websites and the like. The foregoing is merely exemplary of relevant computer readable mediums. Other computer readable mediums may be practiced without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
The method of operating a computer graphical user interface may alternatively be implemented in dedicated hardware such as one or more integrated circuits performing the functions or sub functions of the preferred method. Such dedicated hardware can include one or more microprocessors and associated memories.
519780.doc -7- The preferred embodiment will now be explained with reference to the following example.
Fig. 3A shows the display device 114 with several graphical user interface selections 301, 303 and 305 shown displayed. Each of the selections 301, 303 and 305 are represented by a plurality of user interface elements. The selection 303 includes a scroll down menu selection 307 that can be used by a user to select, using the mouse 103, the subject of a subsequent action. In the present example the menu selection 307 includes three options open, close or print). The user subsequently selects the print option which is shown highlighted. As a result of the user's selection action, associated graphical user interface elements (not labelled) representing the selection 305 are displayed. The selection 305 includes an on-screen button 309 that the user can ;I subsequently select to complete the print operation. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the user does not select the on-screen button 309 after a first predetermined period of time, then the interface selection 305 is gradually removed from the display device 114, by fading the associated user interface elements out using gradually increasing transparency. The fading interface selection 305 is shown in phantom in Fig. 3B.
Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the method of operating a computer graphical user interface, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The process begins at step 201, where a user makes a selection on the display device 114 selecting an element of the user interface using the computer mouse 103 or keyboard 102. At the next step 203, the selection represented by associated graphical interface elements is displayed on the display device 114 as a result of software instructions performed by the processor 105 in response to the user's selection action.
The process continues at the next step 205, where after a first predetermined period of time, the displayed selection and associated interface elements are gradually removed 519780.doc -8from the screen by fading them out using gradually increasing transparency. The displayed selection and associated interface elements are faded out over a second predetermined period of time.
Simply removing the selection in a single instant is not preferred since the user may just be in the act of selecting an action on the selection when the selection disappears, possibly causing the user to erroneously activate a control underneath the removed one. By fading the selection and associated user interface elements out slowly, the user can still see them while they are active, but can also easily ascertain when the selection and associated user interface elements will not be active. Therefore, the user can abort any control action that they had been about to make.
The process concludes after the second predetermined period times out and the fading selection and associated user interface elements are completely removed from the video interface 107. Alternatively, at step 207, if upon realising that the fading selection is about to become inactive, the user would like to take control action using the fading selection, then the user can select any of the associated user interface elements and the process will proceed to step 209. At step 209, upon selecting an associated interface element of the fading selection, the fading selection and associated interface elements will be restored to the full status (eg. brightness, colour etc) that the fading selection and associated interface elements were before the fade-out on the display device 114 began.
The fading selection and associated interface elements will be restored to full status as a result of software instructions performed by the processor 105 in response to the control action taken by the user.
The first and second predetermined periods can be any time period, in accordance with the preferred embodiment. Preferably, the first and second predetermined periods are user selectable.
519780.doc -9- In situations of shared graphical user interface devices, the removal of the selection in accordance with the preferred embodiment preferably causes the interface and any associated application program to return to its base state. Therefore, the graphical user interface will always be ready for the next user without the previous user having to do any specific action.
The method of operating a computer graphical user interface in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention has several advantages. Firstly, while a selection is being displayed at full status, additional user interface elements, which apply to that selection, can be placed over other non-selected data. The obscurement of the non-selected data is not important since the user need only wait a small period of time for the data to become visible again. Secondly, any application program associated with the user interface can return to a base state in which there is no selection present, which allows the user more immediate access to commands only enabled in the base state.
The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the context of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely" or "having" or "including" and not "consisting only of'. Variations of the word comprising, such as "comprise" and "comprises" have corresponding meanings.
519780.doc
Claims (11)
1. A method of operating a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface elements, said method comprising the steps of: monitoring a user activity associated with said displayed computer interface selection; removing said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface .oe e elements from said user interface, if said user activity does not occur within a first predetermined period, wherein said computer interface selection and associated interface 10 elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period; and restoring said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements to full status, if said activity is performed within said second predetermined oooo period. 15
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are completely removed after said second predetermined period.
3. The method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said first and second predetermined periods are user selectable.
519780.doc -11-
4. The method according to claims 1 to 3, wherein said user interface is returned to an initial state upon removal of said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements.
5. A method of operating a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface elements, wherein if no user control action is taken on said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements within a first predetermined period, said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period, wherein if user control action is taken on said displayed computer interface selection or said associated interface elements within said second predetermined period then said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are restored to full visability.
6. An apparatus for operating a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface elements, said a. a apparatus comprising: monitor means for monitoring a user activity associated with said displayed a. computer interface selection; 20 removal means for removing said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements from said user interface, if said user activity does not occur within a first predetermined period, wherein said computer interface selection and associated interface elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period; and 519780.doc 12- restoration means for restoring said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements to full status, if said activity is performed within said second predetermined period.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are completely removed after said second predetermined period.
8. The apparatus according to claims 6 or 7, wherein said first and second predetermined periods are user selectable.
9. The apparatus according to claims 6 to 8, wherein said user interface is returned to an initial state upon removal of said displayed computer interface selection and 0 0 °coo associated interface elements.
10. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to operate a graphical user 0. interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface elements, said program comprising: code for monitoring a user activity associated with said displayed computer interface selection; code for removing said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements from said user interface, if said user activity does not occur within a 519780.do 519780.doc -13- first predetermined period, wherein said computer interface selection and associated interface elements are removed utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period; and code for restoring said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements to full status, if said activity is performed within said second predetermined period.
11. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are completely removed after said second predetermined period. S12. The computer readable medium according to claims 10 or 11, wherein said first and second predetermined periods are user selectable. i o, 13. The computer readable medium according to claims 10 to 12, wherein said user interface is returned to an initial state upon removal of said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements. oooo 14. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to operate a graphical user interface having at least one displayed computer interface selection comprising associated interface elements, wherein if no user control action is taken on said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements within a first predetermined period, I" 9 jK&, k aid displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are removed 519780.doc -14- utilising increasing transparency over a second predetermined period, wherein if user control action is taken on said displayed computer interface selection or said associated interface elements within said second predetermined period then said displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements are restored to full visability. A method of operating a computer graphical user interface, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 16. An apparatus for removing a displayed computer interface selection and associated interface elements from a user interface, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. i 17. A computer readable memory medium for removing a displayed computer i interface selection and associated interface elements from a user interface, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments as illustrated in the S° accompanying drawings. o• S DATED this thirteenth Day of March, 2002 oooo Canon Kabushiki Kaisha 5.55 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON 519780.doc
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU59477/00A AU748738B2 (en) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-09-19 | User interface method and apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPQ3068 | 1999-09-24 | ||
| AUPQ3068A AUPQ306899A0 (en) | 1999-09-24 | 1999-09-24 | User interface method and apparatus |
| AU59477/00A AU748738B2 (en) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-09-19 | User interface method and apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU5947700A AU5947700A (en) | 2001-03-29 |
| AU748738B2 true AU748738B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 |
Family
ID=25632414
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU59477/00A Ceased AU748738B2 (en) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-09-19 | User interface method and apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU748738B2 (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0605945A1 (en) * | 1992-12-15 | 1994-07-13 | Firstperson, Inc. | Method and apparatus for presenting information in a display system using transparent windows |
| GB2340706A (en) * | 1998-08-18 | 2000-02-23 | Ibm | Conveying urgency via a control |
-
2000
- 2000-09-19 AU AU59477/00A patent/AU748738B2/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0605945A1 (en) * | 1992-12-15 | 1994-07-13 | Firstperson, Inc. | Method and apparatus for presenting information in a display system using transparent windows |
| GB2340706A (en) * | 1998-08-18 | 2000-02-23 | Ibm | Conveying urgency via a control |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| DERWENT ABST. ACCESSION NO. 98-425507, RD 411119-A 20 JUN 98 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU5947700A (en) | 2001-03-29 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US6609146B1 (en) | System for automatically switching between two executable programs at a user's computer interface during processing by one of the executable programs | |
| US8140971B2 (en) | Dynamic and intelligent hover assistance | |
| US6429883B1 (en) | Method for viewing hidden entities by varying window or graphic object transparency | |
| CA2151749C (en) | Windowed computer display having overlaid iconic timekeeping button bar | |
| US8607149B2 (en) | Highlighting related user interface controls | |
| US5854629A (en) | Enhanced scrolling technique for context menus in graphical user interfaces | |
| US7346855B2 (en) | Method and system for switching between multiple computer applications | |
| US7249326B2 (en) | Method and system for reducing notification area clutter | |
| US6008807A (en) | Method and system for controlling the display of objects in a slide show presentation | |
| CN102073491B (en) | Multi-mode user interface | |
| US8418080B2 (en) | Computer system with enhanced user interface for images | |
| US20020135619A1 (en) | Method of using physical buttons in association with a display to access and execute functions available through associated hardware and software | |
| JP2009521762A (en) | User customizable drop-down control list for GUI software applications | |
| US8745520B2 (en) | User interface including a preview | |
| US6335745B1 (en) | Method and system for invoking a function of a graphical object in a graphical user interface | |
| US5745713A (en) | Movie-based facility for launching application programs or services | |
| US20150121302A1 (en) | Information processing methods and electronic devices | |
| AU748738B2 (en) | User interface method and apparatus | |
| TW200839593A (en) | Interactive computer graphical user interface method and system | |
| US8788970B2 (en) | System, method and computer-readable medium for online marketing and visual presentations of software programs | |
| US9086780B2 (en) | System, method and computer-readable medium for visual presentation of aspect of software programs | |
| US7761798B1 (en) | System and method for controlling the screen display appearance for a data processing system | |
| US6275218B1 (en) | Information processing device, control method for the same device and control program recording medium for the same device | |
| EP2071440A1 (en) | Dynamic repositioning of a drop down page/window | |
| JPH10207678A (en) | Display switching method for window, and system for the same |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) |