Patent ID: 7114130

Claim:
In a computer system having an operating system, the operating system configured to display windows in a window hierarchy, each window being associated with a state indicator including a first state and a second state, a control container window being superior to a subordinate control window in the window hierarchy, a method of displaying a keyboard cue comprising: dynamically determining a change in a user preference by recognizing a change in input events, each of the input events being triggered by an input device, an input event invoking the creation of a window in the window hierarchy; if the change in the user preference is determined, causing the state of the state indicator to be changed to reflect the change and determining if the window is the control container window in the window hierarchy; in response to the first state of the state indicator, displaying the window with the keyboard cue display; in response to the second state of the state indicator, displaying the window with the keyboard cue hidden; if the window is the control container window in the window hierarchy, causing all of the subordinate control windows in the window hierarchy to be updated to reflect the changed state indicator; and if the window is not the control container window, passing to a parent window of the window a request to change the state of the state indicator to reflect the changed user preference.