Patent US6072489A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6072489A
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Method and apparatus for providing translucent images on a computer display
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-30
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Granted: 2000-06-06
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Expires: 2013-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is described for producing a translucent image over a base image created on the display screen of a computer system by a selected first application program, and conducting image operations either on the base image created by the selected application program with reference to the translucent image produced, or conducting image operations on the translucent image with reference to the base image of the first application program. The first application program runs on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image, and another application program referred to as the overlay program is run to produce the translucent image such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the translucent image. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Gough
- 👤 Joseph J. MacDougald
- 👤 Daniel S. Venolia
- 👤 Thomas S. Gilley
- 👤 Greg M. Robbins
- 👤 Daniel J. Hansen, Jr.
- 👤 Abhay Oswal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:30
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G09G5/395; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04804; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/10; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/36; G09G3/3611; G09G5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for establishing a translucent window having a translucent window background and a translucent window frame on a display screen of a computer system, comprising the steps of: displaying a translucent window on a display screen such that a base window can be seen through said translucent window, and conducting image operations on at least one of said translucent window and said base window.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for establishing a translucent window having a translucent window background and a translucent window frame on a display screen of a computer system, comprising the steps of: displaying a translucent window on a display screen such that a base window can be seen through said translucent window, and conducting image operations on at least one of said translucent window and said base window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said base window is produced on said display screen by a first computer implemented process running on said computer system, and said translucent window is produced by a second computer implemented process running on said computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said second computer implemented process receives screen inputs which are associated with said translucent window and processes said screen inputs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said second computer implemented process receives screen inputs which are physically applied in connection with said translucent window and processes said screen inputs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said second computer implemented process receives screen inputs which make image contact with said translucent window and processes said screen inputs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein image operations are conducted with respect to said translucent window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein image operations are conducted below said translucent window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein image operations are conducted in connection with windows referenced by a cursor indication.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for displaying images on a display screen of a computer system, comprising the steps of: displaying a base image on a display screen of a computer system; and displaying a translucent image on said screen such that portions of said base image which are covered by said translucent image are at least partially visible through said translucent image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for displaying images on a display screen of a computer system, comprising the steps of: displaying a base image on a display screen of a computer system; and displaying a translucent image on said screen such that portions of said base image which are covered by said translucent image are at least partially visible through said translucent image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said base image and said translucent image are produced by independent computer implemented processes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said base image is active to receive user inputs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said translucent image is active to receive user inputs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said translucent image is made active by user action.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said translucent image is made active by positioning the cursor at a portion of the translucent image and conducting a select action.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said translucent image is made active by clicking a mouse when the cursor is over a portion of the translucent image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said translucent image and said base image are selectably active to receive user inputs.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for displaying images on a display screen of a computer system comprising the steps of: running an application program on the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image on a display screen coupled to said CPU; and running an overlay program on said CPU to produce a translucent image on said display screen such that portions of said base image are overlapped by said translucent image and are at least partially visible through said translucent image.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for displaying images on a display screen of a computer system comprising the steps of: running an application program on the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image on a display screen coupled to said CPU; and running an overlay program on said CPU to produce a translucent image on said display screen such that portions of said base image are overlapped by said translucent image and are at least partially visible through said translucent image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of running an overlay program comprises the steps of: displaying a translucent image on said display screen; intercepting screen inputs which contact the translucent image; processing said intercepted screen inputs in said CPU; and updating said application program based upon said processed screen inputs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of displaying a translucent image comprises the step of blending a translucent image with said base image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said step of blending is accomplished in said CPU.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said step of blending is accomplished externally to said CPU.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of processing said intercepted screen inputs includes redirecting at least one page of memory within the memory management means of said computer system.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of performing image operations in a computer system having a display screen, including the steps of: presenting a first selected image with respect to which image operations are desired, and producing a translucent image effective for overlapping at least a portion of said first selected image.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of performing image operations in a computer system having a display screen, including the steps of: presenting a first selected image with respect to which image operations are desired, and producing a translucent image effective for overlapping at least a portion of said first selected image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein said first selected image contains features of interest, and image operations are conducted on said translucent image with respect to said features of interest.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 23 wherein said translucent image contains features of interest, and image operations are conducted with respect to said first selected image based upon said features of interest.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
66 words
A computer system comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); screen means for displaying images, said screen means being coupled to said CPU; display means coupled to said screen means for displaying a translucent image on said screen means; and means for conducting image operations on a region including the level of a translucent image produced by said display means and the level beneath the translucent image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
66 words
A computer system comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); screen means for displaying images, said screen means being coupled to said CPU; display means coupled to said screen means for displaying a translucent image on said screen means; and means for conducting image operations on a region including the level of a translucent image produced by said display means and the level beneath the translucent image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system according to claim 26 wherein said means for conducting image operations performs image operations with reference to a translucent image on said screen means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer system according to claim 26 wherein said means for conducting image operations performs image operations selectably with reference to a translucent image on said screen means and below the level of a translucent image on said screen means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-06 | 2007-12-06 | 2008-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-06 | 2011-12-06 | 2012-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |