Semi-transparent Highlighting Overlay for Electronic Document Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for highlighting selected objects in electronic documents often obscure the original text colors and visual formatting properties, and may not provide sufficient contrast, especially when the RGB color range of the object and background are similar, making it difficult for users to distinguish the selected object from its background.

Innovation Solution

Generating an off-screen bitmap image to create a semi-transparent highlighting overlay with a path around the selected object, using semi-transparent lines for a border and filling the interior with a color matching the system's background color, allowing the original object properties to be visible through the highlighting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If inverse colors are used for highlighting selected objects, then contrast is improved, but original text colors and visual formatting properties become invisible

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecontrastVSAvoidoriginal text colors and visual formatting properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by using a semi-transparent highlight color overlaid on the selected object rather than inverting the original colors. This allows the original text colors and visual formatting properties to remain visible while still providing contrast through the semi-transparent overlay effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite visual effect by combining the original object with a semi-transparent highlight layer. This composite approach allows both the original object properties and the highlight contrast to coexist, resolving the contradiction between visibility and information preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If inverse colors are used for highlighting, then contrast is improved, but additional color application is required when RGB values are similar

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecontrastVSAvoidadditional color application

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of color transparency by using a semi-transparent highlight color with an alpha value less than 255. This single parameter change allows the highlight to provide contrast while automatically blending with the background, eliminating the need for additional color application steps when RGB values are similar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If semi-transparent highlighting is used, then original object properties remain visible, but contrast may be reduced compared to full opacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoriginal object properties visibilityVSAvoidhighlight contrast

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the highlight color selection and transparency level to achieve the right balance. By carefully choosing the highlight color and its alpha value, the system maintains original object properties visibility while providing sufficient contrast for user perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS7479968B2Semi-transparent highlighting of selected objects in electronic documents

Publication Date: 2009.01.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Highlighting selected objects in an electronic document is provided in a manner such that a highlighted object maintains coloring and formatting properties to allow for a maintenance of visual fidelity with a pre-highlighted view of the highlighted object and that allows for a semi-transparent background underneath a highlighted object that allows a user to see and appreciate the coloring and any visual properties applied to the background underneath the highlighting applied to the selected object.