Abstract: A display device configured to display a list of programs stored in a storage device includes: a cutout image acquiring section which acquires a cutout image obtained by cutting out a scene in a program; a distribution date-time acquiring section which acquires distribution date and time when the program is distributed; and a three-dimensional display section which displays a three-dimensional space applying axes respectively of a time, a day of the week, and a week, and which arranges the cutout image acquired by the cutout image acquiring section in a position corresponding to the distribution date and time acquired by the distribution time-date acquiring section in the three-dimensional space.

Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a method for interfacing an access control system and an input device, comprising the steps of displaying, on the input device, a set of choices from a plurality of choices, receiving one choice, and modifying the displayed set of choices based on the one choice, wherein modifying is performed by a heuristic method and/or a usage-based method. The heuristic method determines if one choice is a request for additional information, and, if it is, modifies the choices to include the additional information, and to exclude advanced and typical choices; and, if not, modifies the choices to include the advanced and typical choices. The usage-based method comprises incrementing a choice counter, if the counter is greater than multiple choices, modifying the choices to extra emphasize the choice, and if not, modifying the to emphasize the choice.

Abstract: A display device of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention is a display device of an electronic apparatus for setting a plurality of conditions for a process of the electronic apparatus through an input portion 57 while displaying the conditions before the electronic apparatus performs the process in accordance with the conditions. The device comprises a determination portion 58 of determining whether or not each of the conditions has not yet been set, and a liquid crystal display panel 41 of displaying notifying information indicating to what degree conditions remain to be set. The liquid crystal display panel 41 displays buttons for setting the respective conditions on a screen thereof, and displays button(s) which have already been pressed as being unfilled and the number of buttons which have not yet been pressed. Therefore, by viewing the screen, the number and types of conditions which have not yet set can be known.

Abstract: A system and method for visualizing and navigating dynamic documents including data from an ongoing process and including instances of specified search terms. A summary view including a condensed abstract representation of a dynamic document provides a global overview of the distribution of search terms. The invention updates the document and aggregates the instances of search terms when the representation includes a nonlinear scale or uses multiple display regions having different resolution levels. The invention supports rapid skimming of dynamic documents and dynamic document collections, including enhancements triggered by cursor brushing, while keeping the user in context. Navigation to a segment of the dynamic document by selecting a corresponding portion of the summary view can replace the use of conventional scrolling techniques.

Abstract: A computer system executes a host application that generates a graphical user interface for display on a respective user's display screen. In addition to executing the host application, the computer system (or other computer) provides an environment for executing a so-called help agent (e.g., a plug-in module) associated with the host application. The help agent can initiate display of a help window along with a graphical user interface displayed by the host application. Depending on the embodiment, the help agent can provide one or more functions such as retrieval and display of help information links in the help window to different types of help information, application of commands to the graphical user interface application via input with respect to the help window, and viewing of application hint information in the help window.

Abstract: Automatically completing a GUI task. Exemplary embodiments a method including providing a user configurable auto-completion application operating in the background of a computer operating system and executing on a computing device, the auto-completion application monitoring and archiving user activities, wherein certain actions by the user are parsed and indexed, analyzing the parsed and indexed actions of the user to determine at least one of relationships, user interactions, user statistics, various states of the user's actions over time, and images or video of the user's interaction to create an index of the user's typical interactions with the system and providing a fast-forward functionality based on the index such that a tree structure is presented to the user on a display device of the computing device, the tree structure indicating the user's current state in the system and one or more future states the user typically takes based on a past act.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to assist a user in selecting, identifying, and handling email messages. A selection color module may provide for the display of color coding and selection highlighting. The selection color module may provide a secondary highlighting color to indicate messages related to a selected message. A category navigation module may provide one or more of the following: an indicator that provides the user with a number of items that are off the screen for a particular category, a command that causes the first entry for a category to be scrolled into view, a label to indicate the number of items in a particular category matching a particular criteria, and/or a control for scrolling between next or previous categories.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology to assist users with data access activities and that includes such activities as routine web browsing and/or data access applications. A coalesced display or montage of aggregated information is provided that is focused from a plurality of sources to achieve substantially one-button access to user's desired web or data source information/destinations in order to mitigate efforts in retrieving and viewing such information. Past web or other type data access patterns can be mined to predict future browsing sites or desired access locations. A system is provided that builds personalized web portals for associated users based on models mined from past data access patterns. The portals can provide links to web resources as well as embed content from distal (remote) pages or sites producing a montage of web or other type data content. Automated topic classification is employed to create multiple topic-centric views that can be invoked by a user.

Abstract: The current status of a list of tasks to be performed is dynamically displayed. The tasks may be performed by a user (e.g., data entered by the user, words spoken by the user, actions taken by the user, and so forth) or alternatively by a computer (e.g., the steps it follows in carrying out a programmed task). At least a portion of the list is displayed at any given time along with an indication of which task is the next task to be performed. As the tasks are completed, the current status of the progression through the items on the list is dynamically updated so as to readily inform the user (or someone else) as to what the current task is that needs to be performed, as well as what tasks have already been performed and/or what tasks remain to be performed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to a page flow framework. In aspects, a page flow engine includes logic to navigate between pages. To make its determination of what page is next, the page flow engine uses an indication of the current page and may also use properties associated with the pages. These properties may be filled in as a user enters values on the pages, for example. The page flow engine does not need any additional information to determine the next page besides the current page and the properties. The page flow engine may also store the pages visited in a travel log. This may be used to return previous pages. The page flow engine allows the page flow logic to be removed from the pages and placed in a centralized component. This simplifies creation and maintenance of page flow.

Abstract: A interface unit, which while displaying a current content, receives input of reference information specifying a target content that will be switched to and viewed from the current content. A content sequence creation unit creates a content sequence in which one or more intermediate contents, which have been identified as related to at least one of the current content and the target content, are inserted between the current content and the target content. A display control unit controls content display by passing data to a display apparatus so that a content display is made in accordance with the created content sequence starting from the current content, proceeding through the intermediate contents which are inserted in order, and finally ending with the target content.

Abstract: Help information for a software application is provided based on a user help knowledge base. The user help knowledge base includes a user help profile indicating help information previously selected by the user. Examples of data tracked for the previously selected help information include the application context in which it selected, a presentation mode in which it was presented, at least one associated help topic, and a help content format. The user help knowledge base can further comprise a user profile maintained by the software application. Based on the information in the user help knowledge base, as well as the current context of the application and/or user data entered, the help module selects help information pertinent to the user and the current context of the application. A presentation mode, for example a video mode, an audio mode or a display mode, is selected for the help information as well based on the user help knowledge base.

Abstract: A random yet smart selection of layouts is provided when viewing a set of photos. A set of layouts may be chosen such that a reasonable sense of variety and uniqueness is provided when viewing the photos. For instance, photos may be randomly assigned to one of a plurality of groups, where each group may have its own layout type and its own number of photos. An iterative algorithm may be applied to determine which photos are assigned to which groups. In addition, smart cropping of photo thumbnails may be provided to fit frames provided in the various presented layouts. The amount and/or type of cropping provided may depend upon the aspect ratios of both the thumbnail and the frame in which the thumbnail is to be placed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for creating a voice application, the method being implemented by a computer system and comprising generating a graphical user interface comprising a text-to-topic button; receiving first input identifying a location of a text file; receiving second input selecting the text-to-topic button; partitioning content associated with the text file into subjects in response to receiving the second input; and storing information on the partitioning.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a system for providing help information supporting at least one executable application. The system can comprise an interface processor for receiving user-entered data representing a help message conveying help information, a creation time indicator identifying a creation time of the help message, and an identifier for identifying a help information repository associated with the help message. A data processor can store the help message in the help information repository in order of creation by using the creation time indicator.

Abstract: “In-situ editing” of a control property within a design surface is provided. “In-situ editing” refers to a feature that can allow a user (e.g., developer) to easily perform multi-pass configuration operations on their user interface (UI) components. This can be achieved by introducing the concept of a new editing mode or view to the integrated development environment (IDE)—(e.g., a Property Editing View (PEV)). The PEV mode can be active. In other words, the user will be presented with a mechanism of viewing and editing all properties without having to move off of the design surface. For example, editing can be performed in-place eliminating the conventional need to enter a property grid.

Abstract: A system and method which may be implemented at least partly by a computer, are provided for developing a support system. A virtual representation of a device is generated for display on a user interface. Links between components of the virtual representation, which represent components of the device, and corresponding cases in a searchable knowledge base (SKB) are stored. Users can navigate the SKB in search of a solution to a problem with the device with the assistance of the virtual representation which enables actuation of the existing links. The users are able to create new links, each new link linking a component of the virtual representation with a case in the SKB which the user identifies as providing a solution to the problem with the device which is related to the component. The new link is stored for future use by the user or by other users.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for downloading map data. A database of layers of map data is maintained. The map data may be representative of at least one map image of a geographic area. Each layer may provide progressively more detailed display information. Map data is downloaded to a client computer, and the may data may be sufficient to allow a user to navigate within a geographic area without requiring new map data to be downloaded.

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: A method for doing business, wherein a web server maintains a commercial subscriber database including a plurality of records each containing data relating to commercial subscribers including at least name, address and category, and imposes a periodic subscription fee on at least some of the commercial subscribers. On receiving from a client machine connected thereto a request to download data relating to at least one specified category of commercial subscriber, it extracts from the commercial subscriber database respective records and sends to the client machine for display thereby, allows receipt of an update from one or more commercial subscribers in respect of substitute or supplementary data to that contained in the respective database record of the commercial subscribers, and updates the commercial subscriber database as required.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for displaying categorized information on a user interface is provided, in which the user may choose one or more categories of information. In response, data associated with the chosen category is retrieved. The display of the categories and the retrieval of the data is performed independently, so that the displayed categories remain responsive to user interaction while the data is being retrieved. In one implementation, the display of the categories and information on the user interface is handled by the main thread and the retrieval of the data associated with the chosen category is performed by a worker thread executing asynchronously with respect to the main thread.

Abstract: A system for user-directed acquisition over a wide area network includes a client computer, a database having information data relating to user-entered text of HTML pages, and a server computer having a program software stored on the storage device to receive a user-entered word data in a first language from the client, to receive a user-entered geographic search area data from said client, and wherein the program software is associated with software for generating a translation language pair data and for translating the word data in accordance with the language corresponding to the user entered geographic search area data, software for accessing said information data as a function of the translated word data, and software for transmitting the accessed information data to the client-computer. A method is also provided.

Abstract: The innovation relates to a system and/or methodology for the creation and management of industrial automation services and design templates. In addition, it allows for users to view processes, applications, protocols, data types, and so forth as semantically intuitive graphical objects that can be dragged, dropped, and tagged to allow for combining functionalities and/or integrating disparate applications or systems through a services model. Additionally, the innovation provides a library for user management of the services and templates.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided for performing at least one service operation in association with at least one inspected item.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus, system, and method for visual contextual searching in a computer application that has a graphical user interface (GUI). The apparatus includes a selection module that defines a selection area of the GUI that is displayed on the computer display. The user provides the necessary input defining the selection area using an input device such as a mouse to define the boundary of the selection area. A topic module determines a set of topics related to the GUI elements that are displayed within the selection area defined by the user. The topic module may make the association using a visual map. A display module then displays these results for the user in a results section that is shown on the display. The apparatus may apply filter rules to restrict the number and types of topics that the display module lists. Users may also associate topics with a particular GUI element or disassociate topics with a particular GUI element.

Abstract: A display control apparatus includes an image creating section creating a first image having a predetermined number of drawing areas each onto which a thumbnail image is drawn, and an erasing section erasing at least one drawing area from the first image in response to an instruction from a user to display the first image. The number of drawing areas erased is the same as a number that is determined by subtracting the number of thumbnail images to be drawn in the first image from the predetermined number of drawing areas of the first image. The apparatus also includes a drawing section drawing a thumbnail image in each of the unerased drawing areas remaining in the first image, and a display controlling section controlling display of the first image including the thumbnail image drawn in each drawing area.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating patent grant and patent application claims examination; including the functions of automated importing of patent claims, automated parsing of the claims into their hierarchy, and compression/expansion of the parsed claims to/from the independent claim level.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products verify compatibility between a document to be published for access via a server and capabilities of the server to support features of the document. A method involves receiving a document, scanning the document for features, comparing the features to the capabilities of the server, and determining whether the capabilities of the server support the features of the document. The method also involves generating an incompatibility notice for a feature of the document when the feature is not supported by the capabilities of the server.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide for aggregating person-centric data from one or more data sources and for providing the aggregated data to a user via a computer-displayed user interface that is keyed on or otherwise associated with an identified name in electronically presented text or data. A name in the text or data of an electronic document is identified and is associated with a unique identification, such as an electronic mail address. The unique identification is used by a persona menu application to obtain person-centric data from a variety of data sources. Example data sources include electronic mail contact files, electronic mail and calendaring system free/busy status files, directories of person-centric data related to persons associated with a distributed computing network, and instant messaging files. A data structure is populated with the returned data.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method, computer system and computer program product for creating graphical assignments between objects. An object hierarchy (110) and an object type selector (130) are displayed on an output device. The object type selector (130) proyides a plurality of predefined object types (131-134). A rule database stores for each object type at least one predefined object type assignment. A first object (111) is inserted (438) into the object hierarchy (110) in accordance with one of the object type assignments, wherein the first object (111) has a first object type (131) and is graphically assigned to a second object (112) haying a second object type (132). An object type can result from a combination of a predefined object type (134) with an object instance of any predefined object type. Graphical assignments between objects of at least two object hierarchies can also be created.

Abstract: Media center icons are used to navigate a media center. The media center icons may include media device icons, a remote control icon, and media player icons. The media center icons may be used during a setup process, to select between media devices, and to navigate between media devices and media content.

Abstract: Integration of navigation both external to and internal to web-based applications is disclosed. A hidden history frame is used for storing the desired navigation URL that is intended for adding to the browser history. The hidden history HTML frame is created on the browser when the client side application framework is loaded. Only the navigation entry from the hidden history HTML frame is pushed out to the browser history.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a navigation list allowing a user to quickly navigate to any desired panel of an application wizard. In one embodiment, the navigation list may be displayed with the application wizard. The navigation list may include links to each panel included in the application wizard. The user may select the link to a particular panel to navigate to that panel, without also having to pass through any intervening panels. Further, the navigation list may display names and settings for parameters included in each panel, thus allowing the user to quickly locate and evaluate each parameter setting included in the application wizard.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for displaying categorized information on a user interface is provided, in which the user may choose one or more categories of information. In response, data associated with the chosen category is retrieved. The display of the categories and the retrieval of the data is performed independently, so that the displayed categories remain responsive to user interaction while the data is being retrieved. In one implementation, the display of the categories and information on the user interface is handled by the main thread and the retrieval of the data associated with the chosen category is performed by a worker thread executing asynchronously with respect to the main thread.

Abstract: A system and method for providing help contents uses a framework for unified help access that provides a single point of entry through which a user may access help contents relating to all system software and hardware components. The help contents from different sources are organized into a taxonomy structure that allows a user to navigate easily to locate relevant help topics. The contents of the help topics may reside locally or be accessible over the Internet, and may contain static as well as active components. The unified help framework is extensible, allowing the help topics and the taxonomy to be updated by means of update packages. The application for providing the unified presentation of help topics may be launched by a user as well as from programs.

Abstract: A color display called a Resource Tepee depicting, at a glance, resource utilization across functions and over levels of an organization. The display is constructed by starting with a resource utilization matrix whose elements are resources utilized at each combination of function and level. A matrix of co-ordinates is computed using the resource utilization matrix. This matrix contains the nodes of the Tepee. Boundary lines to separate the colors of the Tepee are obtained by connecting co-ordinates in each column of the matrix of co-ordinates. Colors representing distinct functions are applied to the spaces between boundary lines to obtain the Resource Tepee.

Abstract: A shell navigation tool for a personal computer having a multiple page shell user interface and a shell component. The shell user interface utilizes navigation between multiple layers of pages to organize and display links to local and remote documents, programs, web links, tasks, services, devices, and the like. At the top level of the multiple-page shell user interface, a start page provides access via hyperlinks to lower order pages, as well as links to system settings, and a limited number of local and remote documents, web links, and programs. Lower pages in the hierarchy, referred to as “Activity Centers” may be scoped to define activity types or groups (e.g., games, web, photography, personal finance). An Activity Center page provides links to local and remote programs documents, and web links, that are related to the defined activity.

Abstract: A method of displaying heterogeneous information includes executing an application program to process one or more activities. Each activity has information nuggets and next step links, and each information nugget is extracted from one or more heterogeneous information sources. Also, each next step link is associated with one or more information nuggets. One of the activities is selected, and an information nugget of the selected activity is displayed in a first region of the graphical user interface. A next step link associated with the displayed information nugget is displayed in a second region of the graphical user interface.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for providing improved wizard navigation. A roadmap for the wizard is provided that enables non-sequential navigation through the wizard. Wizard steps that are not enabled for user interaction may be available for viewing by the user in a disabled mode, in which the user controls are deactivated and explanatory text may be added. The roadmap may also be dynamically updated according to user interaction with the wizard. Branches or loops of the wizard may be indicated in the roadmap to guide the user as to the structure of the wizard. In response to the user input, the roadmap may be instantly updated to reflect the revised structure of the wizard after the user input. User input may also be used to update a title of a roadmap stop. Enabled/disabled or visited/unvisited status of the roadmap stops may also be indicated.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a dialysis system is provided. The dialysis system includes a display device and a web browser and web server embedded in the dialysis system. The browser and the server operate with the display device to display a number of dialysis therapy set-up procedure screens that require operator input, and to display a number of dialysis treatment screens that graphically illustrate the progress of at least one step in the dialysis therapy in at least substantially real time.

Abstract: Various technologies for generating a quick reference card. In one implementation, system settings information about a computing system may be read. Optional settings information about the computing system may then be queried and received thereafter. The system settings information and the optional settings information may then be displayed on the quick reference card.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems that assist a user in navigating lists of ordered items are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a character scroll mode enables a user to conveniently and efficiently traverse a list in accordance with one or more significant characters of the items in the list. In one implementation, the list is a list of media items that are arranged in an ordered way. For example, the media items in the list can be arranged alphabetically. Besides the character scroll mode, the user is able to traverse the list in a quantity scroll mode, which may or may not provide acceleration.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting information organized by hierarchy levels displays navigation bars related to the hierarchy of nodes from the root node to the one or more sub-nodes having the lowest hierarchy level and hides unrelated sub-nodes, such as siblings of ancestors of the lowest hierarchy level node. The relevant levels of the hierarchy are displayed as a stacked box metaphor to provide strong state information for information associated with a desired sub-node of the lowest selected hierarchy level. Index tabs provide a view of heterogeneous sections sliced across a desired attribute to provide rapid navigation through a hierarchy of non-homogeneous classifiers to find information having an indexed attribute. Activation of a sub-node navigation bar displays information associated with the sub-node or displays child nodes and hides sibling nodes of the activated sub-node. An activation icon associated with navigation bars allows a user to browse upwards in the hierarchy level as desired.

Abstract: A method and system of graphically displaying relationships among a hierarchy of descriptors facilitates an easy-to-read depiction of the relationships. Descriptors are grouped into a first, second, and third set of descriptors. These three sets of descriptors are assigned places in a hierarchy. A first set of relationships is defined between the first set of descriptors and the second set of descriptors. A second set of relationships is defined between the second set of descriptors and the third set of descriptors. The first, second, and third sets of descriptors are graphically displayed as first, second, and third descriptor lists. The first and second sets of relationships are graphically displayed as first and second relationship grids.

Abstract: A computer system, method, and apparatus for editing an interactive image video tour. The system may include a computer including an image editor for providing a visual program interface for editing an interactive image video tour; a database in communication with the computer containing data associated with a plurality of images comprising a portion of the interactive image video tour; and a viewer in communication with the computer for displaying the plurality of images. The method may include selecting a data file that includes image data and displaying an image associated therewith on a computer, the data file being stored in an image database containing a plurality of images for creating an interactive image video tour; and modifying one aspect of the image data contained in the selected data file. The apparatus may include a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for editing an interactive image video tour.

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: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for presenting a help source. A help system is maintained that comprises a single set of one or more help source files. A request is received by the help system to present one or more of the help source files (or information from within one or more of the help source files). A help history file is obtained in response to the request, wherein the help history file stores information relating to a usage of the help system. A customized presentation of the help source file is then displayed based on the information stored in the help history file.

Abstract: A system and method for visualizing and navigating document content using a condensed representation of a document to provide both a global overview of the distribution of key search terms as well as their immediate context. The invention supports rapid skimming of documents and document collections and enables efficient information finding, in some cases entirely eliminating the need to scroll within a document as with a conventional browser tool. The invention is of particular utility with personal digital assistants, which generally have small displays and limited storage capacity and communication bandwidth in comparison to personal computers. Documents may include conventional text and image files, web pages, audio files, and video files. The invention may also apply to collections of documents.

Abstract: A map display method, a map display device and a map display system which improve visibility by changing its display mode when a map is to be displayed on the screen. A predetermined map is displayed on the screen, a route is specified on the map displayed on the screen, the area having a predetermined width of this specified route is displayed clearly, and the other area is displayed less clearly.

Abstract: In a point-of-interest (POI) icon display method for displaying a POI icon at a position of a point of interest on a map, when a large number of POI icons are densely displayed, one representative icon is displayed instead of these POI icons. When the representative icon is selected, the original individual POI icons or detailed information of the POIs corresponding to the original individual POI icons are displayed. In a case in which a POI is displayed by a polygon on the map and the POI icon is present within the POI polygon, the POI icon is displayed in the central portion of the polygon.