Abstract: A computer-implemented method renders hierarchical multi-attribute data in a comparative layout on a display device. The method allocates graphical areas for value partitions of the normalized hierarchy of value partitions within a graphical user interface on the display device. The allocating follows the structure and the order of the normalized hierarchy of value partitions, such that the graphical area for a parent value partition contains the graphical area for its children value partitions in a first dimension. For a proportional layout, lengths of the first dimension of the graphical areas for structurally parallel value partitions are equal, and a ratio of lengths of the first dimension of the graphical areas for comparable value partitions equals a ratio of maximal values among structurally parallel value partitions for each corresponding comparable value partition. The method renders a graphical representation of values within the graphical areas of the value partitions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method renders hierarchical multi-attribute data in a comparative layout on a display device. The method allocates graphical areas for value partitions of the normalized hierarchy of value partitions within a graphical user interface on the display device. The allocating follows the structure and the order of the normalized hierarchy of value partitions, such that the graphical area for a parent value partition contains the graphical area for its children value partitions in a first dimension. For a proportional layout, lengths of the first dimension of the graphical areas for structurally parallel value partitions are equal, and a ratio of lengths of the first dimension of the graphical areas for comparable value partitions equals a ratio of maximal values among structurally parallel value partitions for each corresponding comparable value partition. The method renders a graphical representation of values within the graphical areas of the value partitions.

Abstract: A method determines an amount of time consumers are viewing an advertising display. A sequence of images is acquired by a camera of a scene in front of an advertising display. Faces are detected in the sequence of images. For each detected face, determine an orientation of the face with respect to the advertising display and an amount of time each face is oriented towards the advertising display. The times for each of the faces are summed to determine a total face time.

Abstract: Described are a variety of techniques for viewing multimedia-based information in accordance with user controls for the speed and direction of the multimedia presentation. Different techniques for presenting multimedia data items are disclosed. User controls providing control for speed and direction in accordance with a user selection device being in a particular location. When a user device is within the defined area, the speed and direction control are on. When the user selection device leaves the defined area, the speed and direction are off. Also described is a system using a browser tool for displaying multimedia data in accordance with these viewing techniques. Multimedia data items displayed with the viewing techniques are indices into multimedia presentations. A user selection is made by viewing the multimedia data items and control is transferred accordingly to an appropriate application to present a multimedia presentation corresponding to a selected multimedia data item.

Abstract: A method presents a rank-ordered result set for a probabilistic input query. Terms in the query are recognized and a probability is assigned to each term. The probability expresses a confidence in correctly recognizing the term. A database is searched for items corresponding to the probabilistic query using the terms and the assigned probabilities to produce a result set. The result set is then highlighted according to the probabilities and presented to a user.

Abstract: The invention provides sensors and event monitoring to a cellular telephone to perform surveillance. Using audio and visual sensing capabilities, an environment can be monitored to detect significant surveillance events and to trigger surveillance alerts in response to the events, or to report current sensor information in response to an in-coming call.