Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for manipulating screen objects utilizing multiband regions of influence. Positioning a reference point of an object within a particular band invokes a particular functionality or operation related to that band. In one embodiment, three types of functionality are provided. Moving a reference datum (for example, a line representing an edge or a user defined reference point) of an object A into a first band of an object B places object A under the influence of object B's gravity, causing object A to be pulled into precise alignment with object B. Moving the reference point of object A from the first band into a second band turns off object B's gravity, allowing object A to be freely moved to any arbitrary position near the object B. Moving the reference point of the object A to a position outside all bands causes object B's gravity function to be turned back on.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for delivering an interactive multimedia work from a storage device, for example a hard disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a network server, etc. to a playback device, for example a personal computer, in a manner that provides improved performance regardless of the playback sequence selected by a user. In one embodiment of the present invention, for each segment of an interactive multimedia work, a probability factor is assigned to each possible alternative succeeding segment. In addition a retrieval and delivery time cost factor is also assigned to each possible succeeding segment. In one embodiment of the invention, the time cost factor for each resource is assigned a fixed value. In another embodiment, the time cost factor is recalculated periodically to reflect changes in location and status of resources. The probability and time cost factor for each possible succeeding segment are combined to produce a relative priority ranking.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for manipulating screen objects utilizing multiband regions of influence. Positioning a reference point of an object within a particular band invokes a particular functionality or operation related to that band. In one embodiment, three types of functionality are provided. Moving a reference datum (for example, a line representing an edge or a user defined reference point) of an object A into a first band of an object B places object A under the influence of object B's gravity, causing object A to be pulled into precise alignment with object B. Moving the reference point of object A from the first band into a second band turns off object B's gravity, allowing object A to be freely moved to any arbitrary position near the object B. Moving the reference point of the object A to a position outside all bands causes object B's gravity function to be turned back on.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for displaying anti-aliased text. Text on a computer display device typically contains "jaggy" edges (referred to as aliased text). The method of the present invention smoothes such "jaggy" edges by blending the edges of text into the color background the text is being rendered on. A mask or alpha channel is created through which the text is rendered. The mask is created by drawing the text at a larger size (typically 4 times the size) and shrinking the image down or by using an outline vector extraction method. The mask is used to blend a bitmap representation of the text into the background. The present invention utilizes run-length compression to encode the alpha channel data. Additionally, to avoid the need for an original bitmap, the present invention encodes the text color information into the mask data, creating a unique bitmap/mask hybrid. Due to the creation and storage of a hybrid bitmap/mask, the memory requirements are significantly decreased.

Abstract: A computer program displaying a plurality of panels on the display of a computer system. Each panel contains one or more sets of tools, commands, and information displays that can be used to modify the contents of a window or document within the computer system. The panels can be docked by dragging a first panel and dropping it in proximity with a second panel while holding down a modifier key. When the panels are docked, a docking wedge is created between the panels. Docked panels can be moved as if the panels were a single panel. In addition, docked panels can be reduced in size by pressing a minimize button on any one of the docked panels. Panels can be undocked by either pressing the docking wedge or dragging a panel while holding down a modifier key. In response to either method of undocking, the docking wedge is removed and the panels become separate.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically spacing characters by an output device, such as a printer or printing press onto a medium. The automatic spacing process utilizes kerning pairs and associated kerning values as input and results in an output of characters onto a medium having a desired amount of white space or "color" associated therewith.

Abstract: A system and method for generating real time calligraphic curves from an input source. The input can be a stylus and the angle of attack of the line with respect to a surface can be fixed or variable. The calligraphic curve can have a fixed or variable width which can be point by point edited to form a new calligraphic curve.

Abstract: A multimedia authoring program includes a multimedia effect tool for applying and controlling direction of motion, visual, and sound effects for multimedia objects, including text, graphics, and the like, in a multimedia art work. The tool provides a set of palettes, each including a plurality of icons representing different motion and visual effects. The effects are applied to an object in each of a number of time segments that partition the overall duration of the object. The time segments can be enlarged or reduced as desired. For some time segments, including an entry and an exit time segment, there is an associated motion direction and visual effect palette. The motion direction palette allows selection of an icon representing a particular motion that is applied to the object during the runtime of the multimedia art work, whereby the object moves in the selected direction during the associated time segment.

Abstract: The present invention is for a system and process for simplifying complex graphical paths. The process first analyzes individual curve and straight line segments of the path, possibly splitting curved segments at local extrema points. Next, the process creates a list of points which includes the endpoints of all the original curve and straight line segments, as well as generating intermediate points along the curve and straight line segments. The process also flags each point in the list indicating what kind of point it is, or what the original path looks like at each point. Thereafter, the process flags any and all extrema points of the types the user specified. Then, the process uses a curve fitting routine for refitting each section of the path with new curves. The process tries to find a minimum set of curves which will reproduce the original path into a simplified version within the tolerances the user has specified.

Abstract: A system and method in which derived graphic elements are generated automatically upon changes made to the defining graphic elements or generation parameters. A user need only modify the defining element(s) and the system will eliminate any originally derived elements and substitute therefor any newly created derived elements. The system is arranged to inhibit the generation of the derived elements until all of the changes associated with all of the defining element(s) have been made. The regeneration of the derived elements is performed once even if multiple defining elements have been modified.

Abstract: A video graphics system and method for creating variable width lines such that the lines may be easily edited. As a line image is created, a center point of that image along its length is temporarily established having width information at various points. This width information is used to create an outline of image of the desired shape, the outline having point data spaced at intervals. This point data can then be edited by a user to create different shapes. In situations where a pressure sensitive stylus is used to create the variable length line, a look-back technique is employed to insure that the line remains wide at the end point even though the user is reducing pressure as the system is removed from the pad.

Abstract: A hardware and software system and method for a personal computer such as the Macintosh allows recording, editing, and playback of sound. The system includes a sound editor which displays sound waveforms, and permits the user to mix together several simultaneously displayed waveforms, and to change the pitch and amplitude of one part of each waveform by means of a novel screen display.

Abstract: A hardware and software system and method for a personal computer such as the Macintosh allows recording, editing, and playback of sound. The system includes a sound editor which displays sound waveforms, and permits the user to mix together several simultaneously displayed waveforms, and to change the pitch and amplitude of one part of each waveform by means of a novel screen display.