Abstract: Provided are a method and a software-implemented mechanism for assisting a user of a graphical user interface (GUI) with the task of positioning an input device pointer (or otherwise indicating a position selection) when selecting a GUI element such as a button or other icon. The software identifies those GUI elements which are valid selections for the current application state and so are potentially the next element that the user will interact with. Then a predefined set of characteristics for the identified GUI elements are compared to predict which of these GUI elements will be the next GUI element that the user will interact with. The result of this prediction is indicated by moving the pointer to the position within the GUI of the predicted GUI element or by adding emphasis to the predicted GUI element. The user then decides whether this GUI element is required.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing digital image data representing first and second images I1 and I2 with overlapping image content to produce digital image data representing a composite image I3 spanning the overlap region O. The method comprises processing image data which corresponds to the overlap region in the first and second images I1 and I2 such that the proportions of first image data and second image data contributing to the overlap region O in the composite image I3 vary along the length L of the overlap region O. Preferred methods include defining a non-straight line J extending along the length of the overlap region O, and performing said processing by reference to said non-straight line J such that the ratio of the proportions of first and second image data contributing to the overlap region O varies for different sections S of the overlap region O along the length L thereof.

Abstract: A reticle for an object measurement system comprises a pattern 10 having a plurality of pairs of contrasting elements in the form of black (11′, 11″ . . . 14′14″) and white (21 . . . 24) wedges. Each black/white wedge pair defines a path towards a pattern origin 19 such that an edge of an object 50 occluding the path causes a change in contrast adjacent an edge point along the path. The pattern has a series of Gray-coded elements 15 associated with each pair of black/white wedges. The Gray-coded elements are indicative of an absolute coordinate of each edge point at which an object edge crosses a path. A series of triangles 16 associated with each pair of black/white wedges, whose absolute coordinates are known, allow a measurement system to provide accurate coordinates for each edge point.

Abstract: Provided is a method and a system for automatically controlling display of video or image data in dependence on content classification information which is integrated within the data by means of invisible digital watermarking techniques. A controller decodes the watermarked content codes and then prevents displaying of certain material, by overlaying the display with blanking data, if the codes match certain stored codes which the controller has been set to respond to. The use of invisible digital watermark codes by a controller which operates in response to the watermark codes provides reliable control since the codes are more difficult for unauthorized persons to detect and remove than other embedded codes would be.

Abstract: A method and data processing system are disclosed for controlling the access of a plurality users to a computer system connectable over a network to a plurality of computers. The data processing system has facilities for restricting user access to the data processing system which includes a user authentication procedure in which at logon a user's identity is compared with a list of authorized users. In addition, the data processing system has a system-wide profile referenced by all users of the system at logon and temporary access control facilities for temporarily preventing access to the system by a normally authorized user or users. The temporary access control facilities allow a privileged user of the computer system to create a list of temporarily unauthorized users that is referenced by the system-wide profile at logon.