Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Alexander Gournares

Leroy B Keely

Adrian James Garside

Marieke Watson Iwema

Jeffrey West Pettiross

Donald D Karlov

Erik Michael Geidl

Shiraz M Somji

Tobiasz Alexander Zielinski

Joshua Clow

Ravi Soin

Bob Dain

Grady Leno

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.

Method and apparatus for managing input focus and z-order

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Alexander Gournares