Method and apparatus for managing input focus and z-order

US6928619B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Joshua Clow · Bellevue, US
• Adrian Garside · Sammamish, US
• Shiraz Somji · Kenmore, US
• Donald D. Karlov · North Bend, US
• Bob Dain · Redmond, US
• Jeffrey W. Pettiross · Seattle, US
• Tobiasz Zielinski · Redmond, US
• Alexander Gournares · Kirkland, US
• Leroy B. Keely · Portola Valley, US
• Ravi Soin · Kirkland, US
• Erik M. Geidl · Bellevue, US
• Marieke Iwema · Seattle, US
• Grady Leno · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 2002
• Grant date: Aug 9, 2005
• Expiry date: Oct 17, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F9/451
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An improved system for managing user inputs and z-order in a graphic user interface (GUI) environment is disclosed. A GUI element may include a plurality of keys corresponding to keys on a typical keyboard, and may serve as a replacement for the keyboard. The system permits an application having an input focus to retain the input focus while inputs are received in the GUI element, and even transient user interface elements (e.g., menus) will remain displayed in those applications after the user inputs are entered. Input pen and mouse events may first be forwarded to the input area application, which may remove the events from the normal circulation, preventing other applications from learning of the events, and then post those events to the input panel application separately.