Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise a design tool for designing an application interface. The design tool includes a graphical user interface (GUI) that visually represents a hierarchy of data and the relationships between the data. Thus, the design tool eliminates the need for an interface designer to have independent knowledge of the structure of the data (i.e., the data fields and relationships between the data). The design tool's GUI represents the data and the relationships between the data in a hierarchical display referred to as a data palette. An output hierarchy comprised of output levels is created as the user selects fields from the data palette to be displayed in the application's interface. When a data field is selected, the design tool automatically determines the appropriate interface component and output level of the output hierarchy using the relationships defined for the data. Output levels are associated with interface components that comprise the application's interface.

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: Systems and techniques related to generating a GUI. In general, in one implementation, a GUI may be generated by grouping objects into object groups; defining an arrangement for the object groups, where each object group corresponds to at least one relationship in the arrangement; assigning a graphic pattern that is distinct for each relationship; generating a graphical structure for each object to be represented in the GUI; generating a background region for the GUI for related graphical structures associated with an object group; and, generating the GUI such that one or more related graphical structures are within the background region. In that case, each background region is based on a distinct graphic pattern for the relationship corresponding to the object group. The technique can include displaying the GUI. Also, the graphic pattern assigned to a relationship may represent a color to be displayed in a background region.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are used to place virtual objects in video programs. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The available virtual objects available are categorized and the categories are correlated to subscriber information. When a frame of a program includes a virtual object location, a default or an alternate virtual object is displayed. The virtual object location may change over space or time. The virtual object may be interactive, and may be used to link a subscriber to a remote location, such as an Internet web site. An operations center or a cable headend may generate a group assignment plan that assigns the subscribers' terminals to groups, based on factors such as area of dominant influence and household income. A placement plan may instruct the television terminals to display the desired virtual object.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a graphical program which accesses registers of a hardware device. In one embodiment, a register access node or primitive may be included in a graphical program, such that when the graphical program is executed on the computer system, the register access node is operable to access (i.e., either read or write) registers of a hardware device in the computer system. The method may comprise first displaying a register access node in the graphical program in response to user input. For example, the user may select the register access node from a palette and drag and drop the register access node onto a window of the graphical program being created. The user may then configure the register access node to access one or more registers of a selected hardware device, e.g., by using a user interface for performing this configuration.

Abstract: A system and method enables one or more directories or qtrees on one or more volumes associated with one or more storage appliances (filers) to be combined or consolidated into arbitrary groups so that statistical information related to performance, operational status and other usage-based parameters can be made available to interested parties associated with the group. The directories can draw from different volumes and grouped so as to allow administration and access by a common group of administrators or users. The statistical information can be compared to threshold values to generate events. The events can be e-mailed or otherwise transmitted to interested parties. The statistical information can also be organized and displayed in a variety of formats as a web page on a graphical user interface that resides on a management station and/or client display of an interested party.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates remote browsing, viewing, and manipulating any suitable number of media items from a host location. In particular, the invention involves pulling desired media items from one or more host locations to view and/or edit them on a remote interactive media display, thereby freeing up use of the host location/computer. The media items sent to the remote interactive media display via wireless or wired connection are easily edited, organized, and viewed in any suitable order, arrangement, and timed-cycle with respect to per item viewing as well as viewing of items coincident with a real time calendar. The media items can be annotated and otherwise modified from the remote display and saved to the host location. The remote interactive media frame also includes a local storage for storing media items, thereby facilitating portability of the media frame when disconnected from the host.

Abstract: Data is collected and retrieved in the form of a data picture using an interface that has a portion for presenting a data palette and another portion for presenting a data canvas. The data picture is created by a user selecting one or more data parameters from the data menu of the user's choice, and arranging such on the data canvas. The data parameters can relate to perceptions, impressions, rationales, motivations, etc., so that subjective user preferences can be easily captured in a user-friendly fashion. Moreover, the data parameters can be arranged in different graphical arrangements and rankings to enhance capturing of the user's preferences. In this manner, a user can effectively express input data in a visual depiction or picture form concerning a particular action/transaction, without having to respond to lengthy questionnaires, forms and screens requiring numerical input, etc.

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.

Abstract: A visualization-based interactive legal research tool that generates from a multi-dimensional citation network a semantics-constrained citation sub-network that focuses on one individual issue in which a user is interested, and puts the sub-network on an interactive user interface (“UI”), which allows the researcher to browse, navigate, and jump over to start new sub-networks on different issues that are relevant to original issues.

Abstract: Adapting information to a user of an application program is provided. An arbiter receives a request object from the application program. The request object contains profile elements that convey characteristics of the user. The profile elements are analyzed by the arbiter, and, based on the outcome of the analysis, the arbiter selects a personalization engine from a plurality of personalization engines. The request object is passed to the selected personalization engine, which accesses a content database to retrieve a personalized content object comprising information tailored to the user. The personalized content object is sent to the application program, which interprets it for the user. Various embodiments include an expert-system arbiter, and an arbiter comprising computer code that is provided according to conventional object-oriented analysis and design methods executing on a programmable processor.

Abstract: A display unit includes a touch point locus detector that detects a locus of a touch point on the touch panel, and a suspended touch detector that detects that the touch is suspended when the touch point remains at rest at one spot for at least a predetermined time period while the locus is detected. The display unit also includes a graphics identifying section that identifies a graphics indicated by the locus when the suspended touch is detected, and a graphics display section that displays the locus on a display screen, erases the displayed locus after the graphics identification is finished, and displays a graphics obtained through the identification on the display screen.

Abstract: A graphical user interface that presents document organization in terms of objects readily familiar to the user is provided by the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing documents in a computer system includes a step of producing a representation of a document that indicates to the user the contents of the document. A step of associating the representation with the document in the memory of the computer is also part of the method. The method includes a step of displaying a document closet image on the display. The document closet image can include a plurality of document images. A step of selecting a document image from the document closet in response to an input from the user is also part of the method. The method can also include turning the document image selected for display to the user so that the user can readily view the representation of the document's contents.

Abstract: Techniques are presented to display values for a set of icons by controlling their assignment to a set of rows and their placement within these rows. A plurality of icons to be displayed is determined. An abacus attribute taking a finite set of values is associated with the set of icons. Icon groups are formed for each abacus attribute value and optionally ordered based on each of one or more sorting attributes. Inter-group indicators such as display characteristic changes, spacing and the like are determined. The inter-group indicators separate each group of icons within a row. An ordering of the icons is determined based on the abacus attribute value and the one or more optional sorting attribute values. The icons are laid out in the display space ordered by the values of the primary abacus attribute and the secondary optional sorting attributes.

Abstract: In a user-interface application, a computing apparatus has a user-interface to assist the user in searching for information from a data array. In an example embodiment according to the present invention, the data array is an ordered list of addresses. In a UI so equipped, the user experiences a particular sequence of events. The user begins at a point on a list of addresses. After the user presses the scroll key, the list rolls down a low rate. As the user continues to hold down the scroll button the scroll accelerates. After a predetermined time, a helper character is displayed. This character may represent a first letter of a name or a first digit of a telephone number. The UI displays the helper character to the user. The user continues to hold the scroll button until a help character, corresponding to his/her desired selection, appears. The user releases the scroll button and may slowly browse among a smaller group of data to locate the particular selection.

Abstract: A quantity totalizer for a three-dimensional arrangement and adjustment CAD includes integrating means for referring to parts information stored in the three-dimensional arrangement and adjustment CAD and associating line information, which is separated from the parts information for storage and which is unique to a line, with the parts information to generate integrated information in which the quantity of parts is totalized; numbering means for systematically numbering the integrated information and outputting a quantity totalization result; and comparing means for comparing the quantity totalization result output by the numbering means with a parts number column in a design drawing produced with the three-dimensional arrangement and adjustment CAD to check the parts having the same parts information and line information against each other and replacing parts numbers in the parts number column in the design drawing produced with the three-dimensional arrangement and adjustment CAD with parts numbers in the

Abstract: A user interface method for executing one or more operations in a computer for interfacing an associated user with a knowledge portal (10) that is operatively associated with a plurality of data objects in a data store (12) includes the steps of: receiving a user input (202); updating, based upon the received user input, one of a current object identity (82), a preview object identity (86), and a K-map parameter (84); updating a K-map conditional upon updating one of a current object identity (82) and a K-map parameter (84); displaying in a document pane (72) at least a portion of the current object; displaying in a map pane (74) the K-map; and displaying in a preview pane (76) contents associated with the preview object.

Abstract: Included in the invention are systems and methods of full time recording network traffic to a hierarchical data storage. Also included in the invention are systems and methods of retrieval of recorded network traffic from a hierarchically organized network data repository. Additionally included in the invention are systems and methods of efficiently filtering data in a hierarchically organized network data repository. Systems and methods of displaying recorded network data utilizing the retrieval systems are also included in the invention. Further included in the invention are systems and methods of providing sliding time window selection user interfaces. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for use in a computing environment for representing files stored in stacks. The method includes providing a set of stack icons, each icon in the set having a stack height representing a range of stack sizes. The method additionally includes determining a stack size for a selected stack and selecting and displaying an appropriate stack icon from the set of stack icons based on the determined stack size. The selected stack may be stored within one of multiple libraries. Accordingly a distinct set of icons relevant to each library may be stored for each library. The icons may visibly convey information pertaining to the relevant library. Accordingly, the method may include representing a selected stack by determining an appropriate library and an appropriate stack height and displaying a corresponding icon. The system may additionally include an empty stack icon, a generic stack icon, property based icons, and custom thumbnail icons.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implement techniques for rendering application user interfaces. Application data is displayed in user interface elements including two or more independent elements and one or more dependent elements. One of the independent elements can have the property of being the selected element and the application data displayed in the dependent elements is made to correspond to the application data displayed in the selected element. User input is received from a user to establish a normal mode or a decoupled mode of user interface operation. Navigation input is received to navigate from one user interface element to another user interface element. In the normal mode, navigation to an independent element causes the independent element to become the selected element. In the decoupled mode, navigation to an independent element does not change which, if any, of the independent elements is the selected element.