Securing a window system supporting transparency

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9760256-B1
Application number	US-201414319710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 30, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

According to an aspect, a computing device may include a window system configured to receive window region information and transparency information for a window rendered from an application. The transparency information may indicate that transparency is enabled for the window. The window region information may define a region within the window. The window system may be configured to modify an original frame of the window to create a modified frame based on the window region information and the transparency information such that the region within the window for the modified frame meets a threshold level of transparency. The computing device may include a graphical user interface configured to provide a display of the window with the modified frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for rendering a window of an application, the method comprising:
setting a threshold level of transparency for all applications in a computing device, the threshold level of transparency being independent of the applications and being adjustable to any value below 100% transparency;
receiving, from a first application of the applications, window region information and transparency information for a window rendered from the first application, the transparency information indicating that transparency is enabled for the window, the window region information defining a hit-region within the window;
modifying an original frame of the window to create a modified frame based on the window region information and the transparency information such that the hit-region within the window for the modified frame is rendered with a transparency value satisfying the threshold level of transparency;
providing a display of the window with the modified frame;
detecting a first input event outside the hit-region;
adjusting, responsive to detecting the first input event and despite the threshold level of transparency having been set, the transparency value such that the transparency value no longer satisfies the threshold level of transparency;
detecting a second input event inside the hit-region; and,
adjusting, responsive to detecting the second input event, the transparency value such that the transparency value satisfies the threshold level of transparency.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold level of transparency limits the transparency of the hit-region such that the hit-region is at least partially visible to a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hit-region is an area within the window that accepts an input event.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the window region information further defines a pass-through region, the pass-through region being an area within the window that passes-through an input event to an underlying window or a desktop.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold level of transparency includes a first threshold level of transparency and a second threshold level of transparency, and the method further comprises creating the modified frame such that the hit-region satisfies the first threshold level of transparency and a pass-through region, defined by the window region information, satisfies the second threshold level of transparency, the second threshold level of transparency being different than the first threshold level of transparency.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a request for full transparency of the hit-region of the window, and
creating the modified frame such that the hit-region is completely or substantially transparent during a period of time after which the hit-region is constrained by the threshold level of transparency.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a filter based on the region defined by the window region information; and
modifying the original frame to create the modified frame by applying the filter to the original frame.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the modified frame is displayed within a browser.

9. A method for rendering a window of an application, the method being performed by at least one processor, the method comprising:
setting, by a window manager, first and second threshold levels of transparency for all applications in a computing device, the first and second threshold levels of transparency being independent of the applications and being adjustable to any value below 100% transparency;
receiving, by the window manager and from a first application of the applications, transparency information and window region information for a window to be rendered from the first application, the transparency information indicating that transparency is enabled for the window, the window region information defining a hit-region within the window;
generating, by the window manager, a filter based on the hit-region identified by the window region information;
receiving, by a visual processing unit, the filter generated by the window manager;
applying, by the visual processing unit, the filter to an original frame of the window to create a modified frame such that the hit-region of the window meets the first threshold level of transparency and a region outside the hit-region meets the second threshold level of transparency, the first threshold level of transparency being different than the second threshold level of transparency;
providing, by the visual processing unit, a display of the window with the modified frame on a graphical user interface such that the hit-region is at least partially visible to a user and the region outside the hit-region is at least partially transparent;
detecting a first input event within the region outside the hit-region;
adjusting, responsive to detecting the first input event and despite the first threshold level of transparency having been set, transparency of the hit-region such that the hit-region no longer satisfies the first threshold level of transparency;
detecting a second input event inside the hit-region; and
adjusting, responsive to detecting the second input event, the transparency of the hit-region such that the transparency of the hit-region satisfies the first threshold level of transparency.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transparency information and the window region information are received via an application programming interface (API).

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the window region defines a shape of the hit-region, the shape of the hit-region being rectangular.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the filter includes an arrangement of data adjusters that correspond to an arrangement of pixels of the original frame.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first application includes a remote application, and the window includes a browser window.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor are configured to:
setting, by a window manager, first and second threshold levels of transparency for all applications in a computing device, the first and second threshold levels of transparency being independent of the applications and being adjustable to any value below 100% transparency;
receive, from a first application of the applications, window region information for a window to be rendered from the first application, the window region information defining a first region within the window;
receive an original frame of the window rendered by the application;
modify the original frame to create a modified frame based on the window region information such that the first region meets the first threshold level of transparency and a second region meets a second threshold level of transparency, the second region being separate from the first region;
provide a display of the window with the modified frame such that the first region is at least partially visible to a user and the second region at least partially transparent;
detecting a first input event within the second region;
adjusting, responsive to detecting the first input event and despite the first threshold level of transparency having been set, transparency of the first region such that the first region no longer satisfies the first threshold level of transparency;
detecting a second input event inside the first region; and
adjusting, responsive to detecting the second input event, the transparency of the first region such that the transparency of the first region satisfies the first

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Weatherall James Neil
• Kacmarcik Gary
• Levin David Edwin

Classifications

• G06F2203/04804

  Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows · CPC title

• G06F3/0484 Primary

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06F9/451

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title

• G06F21/554 Primary

  involving event detection and direct action · CPC title