Multi-Layer Computer Application with a Transparent Portion

Abstract

An application in which a portion of a layer is transparent. When the application is a first state (with a first layer on top), a transparent portion of that layer may make a portion of a second layer visible. The first layer may include various menus and the second layer may have a feature that displays web page content in a position that overlaps the transparent portion of the first layer. In a second state, the second layer is rendered on top making the web page feature visible and accessible and, since nothing in the second layer overlays the menus, those menus are also visible and accessible. When needed, the application switches to a first state, for example, to expand a menu's display on top of (i.e., covering) some of the web content, while leaving the uncovered portion of the web content visible through the transparent portion.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . In a computing environment in which an application is used to display or edit electronic content, a computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying an interface of the application on a computing device, the interface comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a transparent portion and controls from a first source external to the application, the second layer comprising content from a second source external to the application and different from the first source, at least a portion of the content on the second layer visible through the transparent portion of the first layer;   receiving input on the user interface selecting a control of the controls on the first layer; and   based on receiving the input, selecting the control on the first layer and performing an operation on the content on the second layer.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented of  claim 21 , wherein the second layer comprises a content area to display the content, wherein the content area of the second layer corresponds to the transparent area of the first layer with respect to shape, size, and position. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 displaying a non-overlapping portion of the first layer and the second layer, the non-overlapping portion comprising the controls of the first layer;   displaying an overlapping portion of the first layer and the second layer, the overlapping portion comprising the transparent area of the first layer and the content of the second layer;   in response to the first layer becoming active, changing the interface such that the controls of the first layer are visible and such that the transparent area is layered over the content of the second layer; and   in response to the second layer becoming active, changing the interface such that the content of the second layer is layered over the transparent area and such that controls of the first layer are visible in the non-overlapping area.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the interface is provided as a web page in a browser, wherein the web page is provided as a hypertext markup language (HTML) page containing a first HTML node for the first layer and a second HTML node for the second layer. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein the web page uses absolute positioning to force the browser to display the first layer and the second layer at specific positions so that the second layer fits in the transparent area. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein the web page uses a z-index to make either the first layer or the second layer active. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein, when the second layer is active, the controls of the first layer are accessible to perform the operation on the content on the second layer. 
     
     
         28 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a system to at least:
 display an interface of an application on a computing device, the interface comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a transparent portion and controls from a first source external to the application, the second layer comprising content from a second source external to the application and different from the first source, at least a portion of the content on the second layer visible through the transparent portion of the first layer;   receive input on the user interface selecting a control of the controls on the first layer; and   based on the input, select the control on the first layer and perform an operation on the content on the second layer.   
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the firs layer comprises an area non-overlapping with the second layer, wherein the controls are displayed in a component of the first layer, wherein the component overlaps the non-area non-overlapping with the second layer. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein the component further overlaps at least the portion of the content of the second layer. 
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein the component is a dialog box. 
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the application is configured to perform the operation on the content of the second layer based on a selective activation of the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 32 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to at least:
 activate the second layer by at least obstructing the transparent area of the first layer;   receive a user selection of an item from the content of the second layer to be edited;   determine whether to activate the first layer to edit the item;   in response to determining that the first layer is to remain inactive, maintain the second layer in an active state, present the controls of the first layer to edit the item, and maintain the obstruction of the transparent area; and   in response to determining that the first layer is to be activated, stop the obstruction of the transparent area, present the controls of the first layer such that a portion of the controls overlap the transparent area.   
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 32 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to at least:
 in response to receiving a user selection of an item from the content of second layer, select between the first layer and the second layer for activation based on an operation to be performed on the item according to the user selection, wherein activating the selected layer causes the application to perform the operation on the item.   
     
     
         35 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to at least:
 display an interface of the application on a computing device, the interface comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a transparent portion and controls from a first source external to the application, the second layer comprising content from a second source external to the application and different from the first source, at least a portion of the content on the second layer visible through the transparent portion of the first layer; 
 receive input on the user interface selecting a control of the controls on the first layer; and 
 based on the input, select the control on the first layer and perform an operation on the content on the second layer. 
   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein, upon an activation of the first layer, all of content of the first layer is visible. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first layer and the second layer each correspond to content that is executed according to a different execution framework. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the controls of the first layer comprise components for editing the content of the second layer. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the content of the second layer is interactive content and the controls of the first layer comprise components to edit the interactive content. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the interface is provided as a web page in a browser, wherein the web page is provided as a hypertext markup language (HTML) page containing a first HTML node for the first layer and a second HTML node for the second layer,   the web page uses absolute positioning to force the browser to display the first layer and the second layer at specific positions so that the second layer fits in the transparent area, and   the web page uses a z-index to make either the first layer or the second layer active.