Patent ID: 7176937

Claim:
An apparatus for displaying a plurality of data categories each having a plurality of data subcategories, the apparatus comprising: a display with a current luminous output capacity that is configured to concurrently produce a first visual presentation of a first data subcategory and a second data subcategory of a first data category of the plurality of data categories and a second visual presentation of a fourth data subcategory and a fifth data subcategory of a second data category of the plurality of data categories; and a processor that is configured to control said display during said concurrent production of said first visual presentation and said second visual presentation to generate: a luminance difference between the first data subcategory and the second data subcategory of at least thirty percent (30%) of the current luminous output capacity of said display, wherein one of the first data subcategory and the second data subcategory has a luminance greater than or equal to ninety percent (90%) of the current luminous output capacity of the display; and a transparency for the fourth data subcategory and the fifth data subcategory selected to provide at least partial visibility of said first and second data subcategories through said fourth and fifth data subcategories; a common luminance for the fourth data subcategory and the fifth data subcategory that is thirty percent (30%) to sixty percent (60%) of the luminous output capacity of said display; and a color saturation for the fourth data subcategory and the fifth data subcategory that is greater than seventy-five percent (75%).