Patent ID: 6928619

Claim:
A method of managing user inputs in a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of: displaying an application panel on said display, said application panel corresponding to an application operating on said computer system, and said application having an input focus of said computer system; displaying an input panel on said display while said application panel is displayed, said input panel corresponding to an input application of said computer system; receiving a first user input in said input panel, said first user input corresponding to entry of data, a command, or selection by said user to said computer system; determining whether said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel; and forwarding data corresponding to said user input to said application if said user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, wherein said application retains said input focus of said computer system after said first user input is received if said first user input is not to be consumed by said input panel, and said application retains said input focus of said computer system after said first user input is received if said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel, wherein said application panel displays a transient user interface element before said first user input is received, and said transient user element remains displayed after said first user input is received, and wherein said transient user element remains displayed for at least one second after said first user input is received.