Abstract: An information management and distribution system is disclosed. The information management and distribution system includes a client-side application and a server application that interact to facilitate the controlled exchange of contact information over a network. The client-side application can provide creation and design, rolodex, exchange, and update features. The information management and distribution system can also include a corporate administrator application. Still another aspect of the invention is that contact information can be distributed to registered users in a common format.

Abstract: A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing intuitive navigation within a menuing system. In a first mode of operation, an electronic display of the thermostat displays a population of tick marks arranged in an arcuate arrangement including a plurality of background tick marks, a setpoint tick mark representing a setpoint temperature, and an ambient temperature tick mark representing an ambient temperature, the setpoint temperature being dynamically changeable according to a tracked rotational input motion of a ring-shaped user interface component of the thermostat. In a second mode, the a plurality of user-selectable menu options is displayed in an arcuate arrangement along a menu option range area, and respective ones of the user-selectable menu options are selectively highlighted according to the tracked rotational input motion of the ring-shaped user interface component.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention provide an approach to organize a user interface, such as a computer desktop, based on the role or activity of the current user. Specifically, a display area configuration of a user device is defined by selecting resources from a plurality of available resources to include in a display area configuration, building a profile from the selected resources to preserve the display area configuration, and saving the profile. The display area is then built on a user device when the profile is selected from the user device.

Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting at least one first touch on a displayed content region, determining an area of a first rectangle formed by the at least one first touch, determining an area of a second rectangle formed by at least one second touch moved from the at least one first touch, comparing the area of the first rectangle with the area of the second rectangle, determining a function of the touch on the content region, and displaying the content region corresponding to the determined function of the touch.

Abstract: A method of controlling display of information on a touch-sensitive display of a portable electronic device includes displaying selectable elements in an application screen. The first selectable element is located at a first location and, in response to receipt of an input, entering the display control mode of the portable electronic device. The method also includes, while in the display control mode and in response to receipt of a gesture on keys on a mechanical keyboard, moving, by an operating system on the portable electronic device, the application screen on the touch-sensitive display such that the first selectable element is moved to a second location. In response to detecting a touch at the second location while the first selectable element is displayed at the second location, utilizing, by the application, the touch to select the first selectable element. Returning the application to an original location on the touch-sensitive display when exiting the display control mode.

Abstract: A method is provided to place new slides on zooming user interface canvas is provided that includes: receiving user request to add a new slide; determining whether a zoom level of a current viewing window has changed to meet a prescribed threshold zoom level since addition of a previously added slide; in response to a determination that the zoom level has changed, using a current viewing window zoom level as a reference zoom level; in response to a determination that the zoom level has not changed, using a previous viewing window zoom level as the reference zoom level; and determining a placement of the new slide with reference to the reference zoom level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method for editing a product. The product comprises three-dimensional modeled objects. The method comprises the step of displaying a three-dimensional representation of a hierarchy of the three-dimensional modeled objects. The three-dimensional modeled objects are displayed three-dimensionally in the representation. The method further comprises the step of selecting at least one of the displayed three-dimensional modeled objects. The method further comprises the step of performing an action on the selected object. The hierarchy is edited upon the performing of the action.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which a client device associated with a first user: receives from a server computer information about a plurality of other users associated with a meeting spot; displays an identifier for the meeting spot and at least some of the information for the plurality of other users; receives from the first user a selection of information that corresponds to a second user associated with the meeting spot; displays information about a third user, wherein the third user is associated with the first user and is also associated with the second user; receives from the first user a request to communicate with the third user; sends a communication to a client device associated with the third user; and participates in an online communication with the client device associated with the third user and a client device associated with the second user.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a display controller that controls a user interface to display a first object; and a detection unit that detects an input received at the user interface, wherein the display controller performs a predetermined operation corresponding to the displayed first object based on a first input detected at a first position at which the first object is displayed and a second input detected at a second position in which the object is not displayed.

Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device. While media is playing, the device detects a contact at a touch-sensitive surface location associated with a first media playback control. If the device is operating in a first media playback mode, the device performs a media playback operation associated with the first media playback control when a characteristic intensity of the contact remains below a first intensity threshold. If the device is operating in a second media playback mode, and a characteristic intensity of the contact exceeds the first intensity threshold, the device performs the media playback operation associated with the first media playback control. If the device is operating in the second media playback mode and the characteristic intensity of the contact remains below the first intensity threshold, the device continues playing the media on the device without performing the media playback operation associated with the first media playback control.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention provide an approach to organize a user interface, such as a computer desktop, based on the role or activity of the current user. Specifically, a display area configuration of a user device is defined by selecting resources from a plurality of available resources to include in a display area configuration, building a profile from the selected resources to preserve the display area configuration, and saving the profile. The display area is then built on a user device when the profile is selected from the user device.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a system that tracks a user's pupillary response to content located on a web page. The system then determines a cognitive load for the user that is based on the measured response. Cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental activity imposed on working memory in any one instant. Further, the system may aggregate the cognitive load data for one user over time, for many different users, and/or for many different users over time. The cognitive load may be determined for different portions of a displayed page, such as a document object model (DOM) included on the page. The cognitive load may be specified for different elements that make up the DOM. Also, cognitive load may be apportioned over several different DOM elements at one moment in time or over a period of time. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods for presenting a change contact entries option to a user of a first communication device, and causing a contact entry corresponding to the first communication device to be replaced with a contact entry corresponding to a user group to which the first communication device belongs. The first communication device is configured to communicate with one or more servers responsive to being addressed both with a first unique identifier assigned thereto and a first group unique identifier assigned thereto as a member of the user group.

Abstract: The automated social networking graph mining and visualization technique described herein mines social connections and allows creation of a social networking graph from general (not necessarily social-application specific) Web pages. The technique uses the distances between a person's/entity's name and related people's/entities names on one or more Web pages to determine connections between people/entities and the strengths of the connections. In one embodiment, the technique lays out these connections, and then clusters them, in a 2-D layout of a social networking graph that represents the Web connection strengths among the related people's or entities' names, by using a force-directed model.

Abstract: An exemplary method for handling a hidden dialog in a media centered graphical user environment is presented including: detecting the hidden dialog; determining whether the hidden dialog is an approved dialog; if the hidden dialog is an approved dialog, providing a notification to a user of the hidden dialog such that the media centered graphical user environment is interrupted; and if the hidden dialog is not an approved dialog, ignoring the hidden dialog such that the media centered graphical user environment is uninterrupted. In some embodiments, the hidden dialog originates from any WINDOWS™ compatible program. In some embodiments, the hidden dialog is a pop-up notification. In some embodiments, the approved dialog is user configurable. In some embodiments, the approved dialog may be: a programmatic subscription dialog, a programmatic update dialog, a programmatic alert dialog, and a system alert dialog.

Abstract: A method, system, and graphical user interface for meeting-spot-related online communications are disclosed. A “meeting spot” is a specific physical location where two or more people can arrange to meet face to face. One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which a server computer receives meeting spot data that correspond to a plurality of meeting spots selected by a computer user at a client device and sends information concerning other computer users that have also selected two or more of the meeting spots selected by the computer user to the client device for display.

Abstract: An image display system includes a server having a first image database that stores a first image having a first file format for movable image display; a second image database that stores a second image having the same display contents as the first image and a second file format for static image display; and an image distributor for distributing, in response to an image display request from a user terminal, the first and second images corresponding to the request. The user terminal has a movable image display unit for movably displaying the first image from the server; a static image display unit for statically displaying the second image; and a switch for switching the movable image display unit and the static image display unit.

Abstract: A method, system, and graphical user interface for meeting-spot-related contact lists are disclosed. A “meeting spot” is a specific physical location where two or more people can arrange to meet face to face. One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which a computer generates a contact list for a first user, wherein the contact list includes an identifier for a meeting spot and an adjacent list of contact information for other users associated with the meeting spot.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles for displaying data distributions in data trees are provided. An example method retrieves a data tree organized into a plurality of nodes that store a data parameter and identifies a parent node from among the plurality of nodes, the parent node being linked to a plurality of child nodes in the data tree. The relative distribution of the data parameter among the plurality of child nodes is determined and a plurality of graphical connectors that visually link the parent node to the child nodes are displayed on a computer display, each of the graphical connectors including a data distribution indicator that indicates the relative distribution of the data parameter among the child nodes.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for setting alternate style assignments to menu elements of an application are presented. At least one menu element of an application is selected. An alternate style is assigned to the at least one menu element. The at least one menu elements of the application is displayed, wherein the at least one menu element is presented in the alternate style assigned to the element.