Light dismiss manager

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9804767-B2
Application number	US-201514746817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2015
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A computing device may instantiate a light dismiss manager for an application user interface. The light dismiss manager receives a request to register an event pass area from a rendered user interface surface of the application user interface and receives a notification that a new light dismiss user interface surface is to be opened in the application user interface. The light dismiss manager determines a shape of a transparent blocking panel that excludes the event pass area. When the new light dismiss user interface surface is opened in the application user interface, the transparent blocking panel is rendered below the new light dismiss user interface surface. In response to an input event directed to a visible portion of the rendered user interface surface, the new light dismiss user interface is closed, and a command associated with the visible portion of the rendered user interface surface is executed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device configured to manage light dismiss behavior in an application user interface, the computer system comprising:
a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions; and
memory storing computer-executable instructions configured to:
instantiate a light dismiss manager for the application user interface;
receive, by the light dismiss manager, a request to register an event pass area from a rendered user interface surface of the application user interface;
receive, by the light dismiss manager, a notification that a new light dismiss user interface surface is to be opened in the application user interface;
determine, by the light dismiss manager, a shape of a transparent blocking panel that excludes the event pass area;
render the transparent blocking panel below the new light dismiss user interface surface when the new light dismiss user interface surface is opened in the application user interface;
detect, by the light dismiss manager, an input event directed to a visible portion of the rendered user interface surface; and
close the new light dismiss user interface surface and execute a command associated with the visible portion of the rendered user interface surface in response to the input event.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions configured to:
determine that the new light dismiss user interface surface is being invoked from an active light dismiss user interface surface;
keep the active light dismiss user interface surface open when the new light dismiss user interface surface is opened; and
close the active light dismiss user interface surface together with the new light dismiss user interface surface in response to the input event.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions configured to:
determine that the new light dismiss user interface surface is not being invoked from an active light dismiss user interface surface; and
close the active light dismiss user interface surface when the new light dismiss user interface surface is opened.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the input event is touch input from a user.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions configured to:
monitor the application user interface for dismiss events when the new light dismiss user interface surface is open in the application user interface.

6. The computing device of claim 5 , wherein the dismiss events include: input events directed outside of a boundary of the new light dismiss user interface surface, opening of another light dismiss user interface surface that is not invoked from the new light dismiss user interface surface, pressing of certain keys, and a loss of focus of the application user interface.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the light dismiss manager exposes an application programming interface including a method that is called by the new light dismiss user interface surface before the new light dismiss user interface surface is opened.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the application programming interface includes a callback method that is invoked to send a dismissal notification to the new light dismiss user interface surface when the input event is detected.

9. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the application programming interface includes a method that is called by the rendered user interface surface to register the event pass area.

10. A computer-implemented method for managing light dismiss behavior in an application user interface, the computer-implemented method comprising:
instantiating, by a computing device, a light dismiss manager for the application user interface;
receiving, by the light dismiss manager, a request to register an event pass area from a rendered user interface surface of the application user interface;
receiving, by the light dismiss manager, a notification that a new light dismiss user interface surface is to be opened in the application user interface;
determining, by the light dismiss manager, a shape of a transparent blocking panel that excludes the event pass area;
rendering the transparent blocking panel below the new light dismiss user interface surface when the new light dismiss user interface surface is opened in the application user interface, wherein the transparent blocking panel is configured to prevent execution of commands associated with visible portions of the application user interface that are outside of both the new light dismiss user interface surface and the event pass area; and
closing the new light dismiss user interface surface and executing a command associated with a visible portion of the rendered user interface surface in response detecting an input event directed to the event pass area.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
monitoring the application user interface for dismiss events including input events directed outside of the new light dismiss user interface surface and invocation of another light dismiss user interface surface that is not anchored to the new light dismiss user interface surface.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein executing the command comprises selecting a word in a document.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining that the new light dismiss user interface surface is being invoked from an active light dismiss user interface surface;
keeping the active light dismiss user interface surface open when the new light dismiss user interface surface is opened; and
closing the active light dismiss user interface surface together with the new light dismiss user interface surface in response to the input event.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the rendered user interface surface is a ribbon comprising a tabbed set of toolbars.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the event pass area is a custom exclusion zone inside of the transparent blocking panel.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the transparent blocking panel excludes multiple event pass areas registered by multiple rendered user interface surfaces.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to implement a light dismiss manager configured to:
receive a request to register an event pass area from a rendered user interface surface of an application user interface;
receive a notification that a new light dismiss user interface surface is to be opened in the application user interface;
exclude the event pass area from a transparent blocking panel that is to be rendered below the new light dismiss user interface surface when the new light dismiss user interface surface is opened in the application user interface;
monitor the application user interface for dismiss events when the new light dismiss user interface surface is open in the application user interface; and
send a dismissal notification to the new light dismiss user interface surface in response to detecting an input event directed to the event pass area, wherein the input event passes through the transparent blocking panel and executes a command associated with a visible portion of the rendered user interface surface.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the light

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Layne Jr Edward
• Yeo Il
• Long Timothy

Classifications

• G06F9/542

  Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications · CPC title

• G06F2203/04804

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

• G06F3/0488 Primary

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  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

• G09G5/14

  Display of multiple viewports · CPC title