Patent ID: 9563328
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06T,G09G

Claim:
1. A method for notifying a user via a graphical user interface that is physically generated on a hardware display device by a computing device, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a first notification and a first relevance associated with the first notification; generating, as part of the graphical user interface, a first discrete visual element comprising the first notification, the first discrete visual element having a first size, a first shape, a first color intensity and a first transparency, wherein at least one of: the first size, the first shape, the first color intensity or the first transparency are selected based on the first relevance so as to cause the first discrete visual element to visually appear as if it is floating in a container of opaque liquid at a depth corresponding to the first relevance and being observed by the user from above; subsequently obtaining a second relevance associated with the first notification, the second relevance representing a change from the first relevance; and regenerating, as part of the graphical user interface, the first discrete visual element by modifying at least one of: the first size, the first shape, the first color intensity or the first transparency in accordance with the second relevance so as to cause the first discrete visual element to visually appear as if it is rising within the container of opaque liquid towards the user if the second relevance is greater than the first relevance or to visually appear as if it is sinking further away from the user within the container of opaque liquid if the second relevance is less than the first relevance.