Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of analyzing an unstructured document. The method receiving the unstructured document that includes a number of primitive graphic elements, each of which is defined as a single object in the unstructured document. The unstructured document has a drawing order that indicates the order in which the primitive graphic elements are drawn when the unstructured document is displayed. The method identifies positional relationships between successive primitive graphic elements in the drawing order. Based on the positional relationships, the method defines a single structural graphic element from several of the primitive graphic elements.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for defining a selection of text in an unstructured document that includes a number of glyphs. The method identifies associated sets of glyphs and a reading order that specifies a flow of reading through the glyphs. The method displays the document. The method receives a start point and end point for a selection of text within the displayed document. The method defines a selection of text from the start point to the end point by using the identified sets of glyphs and intended flow of reading.

Abstract: Described is a method and system a unified mechanism for storing device, application, and service state, as well as a rich notification brokerage architecture. Clients register with a notification broker to receive notifications for changes to state properties. When a registered state property changes, a notification broker determines which clients to notify of the state change and provides the client with a notification regarding the change. Clients may be notified whenever a state changes, when a state change meets a predetermined condition, or based on a schedule. An application may also be launched in response to a state change. An application programming interface (API) is provided that provides a unified way of accessing state change information across different components within the device.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which a portable communications device with a click wheel and a display detects a plurality of finger contacts with the click wheel. Each finger contact includes an angular displacement of the finger contact on the click wheel between an initial location and a final location of the finger contact. The device displays an image that includes digits arranged in a circle. The image rotates, in response to each finger contact, by an amount determined in accordance with the angular displacement of the finger contact. For each finger contact, the device determines a digit. The determined digit is independent of the initial location of the finger contact on the click wheel. The device performs a task using the determined digits. Exemplary tasks include dialing a telephone number and sending numeric input to a remote computer.

Abstract: Described is a method and system a unified mechanism for storing device, application, and service state, as well as a rich notification brokerage architecture. Clients register with a notification broker to receive notifications for changes to state properties. When a registered state property changes, a notification broker determines which clients to notify of the state change and provides the client with a notification regarding the change. Clients may be notified whenever a state changes, when a state change meets a predetermined condition, or based on a schedule. An application may also be launched in response to a state change. An application programming interface (API) is provided that provides a unified way of accessing state change information across different components within the device.

Abstract: Determining a semantic relationship is disclosed. Source content is received. Cluster analysis is performed at least in part by using at least a portion of the source content. At least a portion of a result of the cluster analysis is used to determine the semantic relationship between two or more content elements comprising the source content.

Abstract: Devices and methods for displaying a visualization graphic on an interactive display are provided. One disclosed device may include an interactive display configured to detect a tag positioned proximate a display surface of the interactive display. The device may further include a processor configured to execute an application program and an application programming interface (API) configured to receive a tag monitoring request from the application program. The tag monitoring request may include application-specific tag visualization settings. The API may be configured to receive a tag tracking message from the interactive display, and in response, send a visualization command to the interactive display. The visualization command may be based upon the application-specific tag visualization settings and may be configured to cause the interactive display to display a visualization graphic proximate the tag.

Abstract: Determining a semantic relationship is disclosed. Source content is received. Cluster analysis is performed at least in part by using at least a portion of the source content. At least a portion of a result of the cluster analysis is used to determine the semantic relationship between two or more content elements comprising the source content.

Abstract: Plural temporally overlapping drag and drop operations are performed by binding a first source to a first input and identifying a potential target of the first source. During a duration in which the first source remains bound to the first input, a second operation is initiated as a second source is bound to a second input and a potential target of the second source is identified. While both the first and second sources are bound to respective inputs, a request from the potential target of the first source is received to claim the first source and the first source is released to the potential target of the first source, completing the first operation. The second operation is completed as a request from the potential target of the second source is received to claim the second source and the second source is released to the potential target of the second source.

Abstract: The aggregation of multiple inputs in a touch-sensitive input device is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises receiving multiple inputs related to a virtual object, aggregating the inputs into an aggregated output, and providing the aggregated output to an application that controls the virtual object.

Abstract: A computing system. The computing system includes a display presenting a user interface, and a gesture input configured to translate a user gesture into a command for controlling the computing system. The computing system also includes a gesture-predicting engine to predict a plurality of possible commands based on the beginning of the user gesture, and a rendering engine to indicate the plurality of possible commands via the user interface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining a collection of test scripts. At least one test script module is identified that is common to at least two unmodularized test scripts that are each associated with a common application. The at least two unmodularized test scripts are divided into modularized test scripts that each comprise the at least one test script module. An update to the common application is received and at least one of the at least one test script modules is updated in response to the update of the common application. The updating of each of the at least one of the at least one test script module causes a corresponding update to the at least two unmodularized test scripts.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed that is configurable (e.g., by a programmer) so as to enable input from multiple sources to capture to multiple controls. Also or alternatively, the system is configurable so as to enable input from multiple sources to capture to a single control. The system also provides a consistent and extendable scheme for filtering out conflicting events for individual controls. In one embodiment, this means that the system is configurable (e.g., based on the programmer's asserted preferences) so as to enable a selective determination as to whether additional inputs can be captured for a given control.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which a portable communications device with a click wheel and a display detects a plurality of finger contacts with the click wheel. Each finger contact includes an angular displacement of the finger contact on the click wheel between an initial location and a final location of the finger contact. The device displays an image that includes digits arranged in a circle. The image rotates, in response to each finger contact, by an amount determined in accordance with the angular displacement of the finger contact. For each finger contact, the device determines a digit. The determined digit is independent of the initial location of the finger contact on the click wheel. The device performs a task using the determined digits. Exemplary tasks include dialing a telephone number and sending numeric input to a remote computer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for text entry includes receiving entered text from a user, selecting a set of candidate sequences for completing or continuing the sequence, and presenting the candidate sequences to the user, wherein the candidate sequences include partial words. The candidate sequences are identified based on usage frequency weights stored in a tree data structure. A graphical user interface for text entry includes displaying a current input sequence of characters and the identified partial words.

Abstract: A contextual computer workspace feature provides users with a mechanism to capture and output a state of a contextual computer workspace so that the user may continue working on a computer-based task as though no interruptions occurred. A state of a contextual computer workspace, including the window views and content thereof, is captured. Upon capturing a state of a contextual computer workspace, an indication to access the contextual computer workspace is received. The state of the contextual computer workspace is restored and the restored state is then output to communicate the contextual computer workspace to the user.

Abstract: A field guide for identifying objects, particularly natural objects, includes a database of a collection of related objects and provides for step-by-step searching to identify an observed object, eliminating all non-matching objects at each step of the search. One by one, attributes or characteristics are selected, and a value entered under a selected attribute, the value describing the observed object. Once a value is selected, any further attributes which become irrelevant or redundant are eliminated as choices in the continuing search. In addition, once a value is selected, all values under further attributes, which values become irrelevant or redundant as choices, are eliminated from further searching. These features make the search more efficient and ensure against a null result. Values are in a plurality of data types which may include text, number values, color images, sounds, moving pictures and/or silhouettes representative of groups of items.

Abstract: A client-side software registration component is leveraged to automatically obtain software registration information from a software distributor's server. The software registration information is then decoded to obtain a registration code for a software application. The registration code is then stored so that the software application can access it. Other instances include a server-side software registration component that interacts with an independent software vendor (ISV) to obtain software registration mechanisms for a software distributor. The software registration mechanisms are then utilized to encode software registration information. The software registration information is then made available to client-side registration components to facilitate in automatic software application registration.

Abstract: A method and a composition for delivery of a biomaterial to an animal cell or a tissue, the composition includes (a) a biomaterial; (b) a biodegradable cross-linker portion having a hydrolyzable bond, wherein the biodegradable cross-linker portion is covalently bound to the biomaterial; and (c) a substrate, wherein the substrate is covalently bound to the biodegradable cross-linker portion, provided that the biodegradable cross-linker is adapted to hydrolyze by breaking the hydrolyzable bond and thereby release and deliver the biomaterial. A process of making the composition is also provided.

Abstract: A device having polymeric filaments, wherein at least one of the filaments includes at least one groove for slidably retaining at least one other filament, such that the device is adapted to revert to a tubular lattice structure when allowed to expand from a collapsed state. A device as described above and further including a biologically active function, wherein the polymeric filaments of the device include an agent having a reactive group or a fiber adapted to covalently react with a biomaterial. Thus, the device of the invention has an active structural function such as the ability to regain a shape and, optionally, a biologically active function such as the ability to deliver a biomaterial to an organism or a cell. A process of manufacturing the device is also described.