Abstract: A technique and system for the realistic simulation of visual scenes reduces the three-dimensional computation to two additions and further reduces the need for three-dimensional computations by displaying several screen pixels per three-dimensional computation. The approach when implemented in hardware or software significantly speeds up scene generation time while improving the resolution and realism of the rendered scene.

Abstract: When a pointer is clicked on a connector (subicon) graphically attached to a source object (text file icon) to be transferred, the connector moves together with the pointer. The source object and the connector are connected with a connection line. When the source object is connected to a socket of a destination object, and all preparations for transfer are made, data is transferred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a computer having a graphical user interface, including a desktop, displayed on a computer screen. The system is designed for controlling the execution of a computer application program, and the relative position of a window associated with said application along a z-axis defined as extending perpendicular to the surface of the computer screen. The invention includes a new graphical user interface element in the form of a handle positioned along a peripheral edge of a desktop. The handle is configured so that it is always visible on the desktop, and the position of the handle is user defined or programmable according to a convention. A link is provided between the handle and an associated application so that when handle is activated by means of a pointing device, a window associated with the application will be displayed as a foreground window on the desktop. The system permits the application to be efficiently and quickly accessed by activation of the handle.

Abstract: A client-server network management system includes: a plurality of managed computer network elements, a managed element server that executes on a first computer; and at least one managed element server client that typically executes on a second computer. The managed element server and managed element server client are computer processes that execute from memory of their respective computers. The client-server network management system is really two applications in one: a visual element manager builder and a manager. The manager provides the run-time environment in which element managers are executed to monitor and manage computer network behavior such as network throughput, collision rate, and number of duplicate IP packets, to name a few. The manager portion of managed element server is independent of any graphic user interface. The logic and structure of the manager of managed element server is cleanly separated from the graphic user interfaces.

Abstract: A plurality of data items are stored in a storage medium, and time information of each of the plurality of data items is obtained. In a display window on a display screen, a time axis, having a spiral shape, which includes arrangement positions, each corresponding to a predetermined period of time, is displayed. At each of the arrangement positions, on the time axis, corresponding to time represented by the obtained time information of each of the plurality of data items, information (data icon) representing the corresponding data item is displayed. The display sizes of the data icons are reduced toward the center of the spiral time axis, thereby depth can be expressed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for generating a submap for nodes located within a flat network without reproducing the entire flat network in the submap. One method for implementing a flat network in a hierarchical network management system includes the steps of selecting a node of the flat network to create a submap having a node symbol, wherein the node symbol corresponds to the node, and generating a temporary symbol, in accordance with a predetermined criterion, for a link originating from the node symbol and terminating at the temporary symbol to represent a connection between the node and a second node of the flat network, wherein the temporary symbol maintains a characteristic of the second node. One system for establishing a submap for a flat network includes a processing unit coupled to a network processor and a storage unit coupled to the processing unit for storing data.

Abstract: For visual user-presentation of a compilation system for multiple audio and/or visual items each item is associated with various attributes that each express a category, a value, or a label, and through selection among the items produces a compiled subset of items. In particular, the presentation is multidimensional in parallel over the various attributes, that each allow said selection therein on a uniform level. Through each selection presentation of items that discord with the actual selection is suppressed, so that each selection diminishes the multidimensionality of said presentation. Furthermore, a selection of effectivity controls is displayed.

Abstract: A method and system for accelerating a user interface on a display of an image capture unit is disclosed. The image capture unit includes a plurality of image files for providing a plurality of images, the image capture unit further includes controls for allowing an image to be viewed on the display and for allowing navigation between the plurality of images. In a first aspect a method and system in accordance with the present invention comprises providing a low resolution image, medium resolution image and high resolution image within each image file and allowing the medium resolution image to be viewed on the display. In a second aspect a method for accelerating a user interface on a display of an image capture unit in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of image files for providing a plurality of images, each image file includes a high resolution image therein.

Abstract: Print support may be added to a software component forming part of an existing application by checking the component to determine if it belongs to a class for which print support was originally available. The component may belong to a class having print support available but fail to specifically address print support in its coded methods, or it may belong to a class for which print support was not intrinsically available. If the component belongs to the requisite class, print support may be wired in by simple adding a "dip" component to the subject components' notification methods. The "dip" component provides the necessary dialogs and interfaces to the available print support. If the component is not dippable, or capable of keeping track of dip components, it may be morphed into a dippable component by instantiating a subclass component having the same properties, events, and methods as the undippable component as well as code for keeping track of a dip component.

Abstract: Mutatably transparent controls are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a system includes an operating environment, and at least one computer program. The operating environment has a graphical user interface. Each computer program has at least one display displayable within the graphical user interface. The system is configured so that the opacity of the at least one display changes in response to a particular event. Desirably, each display comprises a control.

Abstract: A DVD system includes a graphic user interface which is constructed during information playback from commands and attributes extracted from the DVD data stream. The extracted commands are presented to an intelligent DVD browser engine which gathers information about the shape and location of a user menu from the navigation data in the DVD data stream and other sources. The browser engine operates with a database containing sets of predefined images which depict controls, buttons and other graphic images that form part of the user menu. The browser engine uses the command information to construct a query in the database. The query is applied to the database to extract a set of images which form the complete user menu. The extracted images are then used to display the menu on a visual display along with the multimedia information. The images are updated as new commands and attributes are received.