GUI window with portal region for interacting with hidden interface elements

摘要

A computer is operated by displaying a window on a display device, where the window is an opaque window overlaid on the entirety of a system desktop that includes graphical representations of system controls and application controls. The window displays user interface elements of an application program executing on the computer, and also includes a portal region displaying an image of the system desktop including counterparts of the system controls and application controls. The computer provides user-controlled operation of the system controls and application controls based on simulated user interaction with the counterparts of the system controls and application controls in the portal region. The application program can effectively coordinate the use of the display by itself and by the system and other applications using the system desktop, relieving the user of this task.

主权项

1. A method of operating a computer using a plurality of modes associated with pointer operation, comprising:
displaying a special window on a display device of the computer, the special window being opaque and being overlaid on a system desktop that includes desktop objects for user interaction with the computer, the desktop objects being in an occluded region behind and occluded by the special window, the special window displaying user interface elements of an application program executing on the computer; and in a portal region of the special window, displaying an image of the system desktop including a counterpart of the occluded region and the desktop objects therein, wherein the desktop objects include user-activated desktop objects providing visual feedback of user activation of the desktop objects in the form of corresponding simulated user interaction with the counterparts of the desktop objects in the portal region, and wherein the plurality of modes comprises a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein in the first operating mode a system pointer is active in the special window outside the portal region, and wherein in the second operating mode a pass-through property is applied to the special window so that input events are passed through the special window to the desktop objects in the occluded region of the system desktop.