Abstract: An application assistance user interface guides, educates, and provides application functionality to a user to reach a goal that relates to their application. For example, a goal may be to provide marketing assistance while creating a publication using a publishing application. Rather than requiring the user to extensively search through menu items in order to complete the project and meet their goal, a user may selectively determine whether or not to perform any of the provided tasks within the application assistance user interface. The interface combines tasks within an interface that may be accessed by the user to complete at least a part of the goal. Selecting one of the tasks leads the user to application features, help topics, Web site locations, or to further tasks that may be used within the scenario to complete the goal.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying an annotated file are described. The method includes associating an annotation with a programming module of a baseline file and displaying in a window of a graphical user interface the baseline file as a tree structure having a plurality of nodes. Each node represents a programming module of the baseline file. The method also includes displaying the annotation proximate to the node that represents the programming module with which the annotation is associated. The annotation includes at least one message indicative of a modification made to the baseline file by a contributor.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for displaying nodes on a display device, wherein the nodes have a hierarchical context. Positional information associated with a plurality of nodes is used to generate a display for the nodes in response to a change in focal position. The generated node display maintains hierarchical contextual information about the nodes.

Abstract: In menu operating method and device and an image processing apparatus using the same, a setting frame for operating a setting menu is constructed by a setting menu display area and a hierarchical menu display area. A setting menu to be operated is displayed in the setting menu display area, and menu item buttons corresponding to setting menus on respective layers contained in a hierarchical menu are displayed in a listing style according to its hierarchical structure in the hierarchical menu display area. At this time, an operator can obtain information such as the hierarchical structure of menus and the position of a setting menu being operated on each setting frame, and the operability of the hierarchical menu is enhanced.

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: The invention relates to a method for graphical presentation of objects and/or technical processes on a screen as well as to a system for implementing the method. In some cases different views may be frequently selected, and these views may be presented in different display windows. To edit the totality of views or subsequently look at them, a frequent change of view may be required. Such changes of view may be cumbersome and tedious and take time. To resolve this problem, the display area (3) is equipped with a least one element, (4) which can be activated by an input device (5). Activating the element (4) expands or contracts the contents of the display area (3) by a graphical object (6). In this way a frequent change of view is avoided, which provides ergonomic benefits to a user working with the graphics.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating efficient local search using acronym are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, a graphic user interface is provided to accept inputs from a user; letters successively entered as the inputs from the user are received; and titles are then progressively reduced and displayed in accordance with the letters, wherein the titles have words each beginning with one of the letters.

Abstract: An interactive tool for viewing and manipulating a virtual content repository (VCR) having an application program interface (API), comprising providing a first graphical user interface (GUI) configured to present a hierarchical namespace wherein the namespace includes at least one element, and wherein one of the at least one element can be selected, providing a second GUI configured to present and to enable editing of content associated with the selected element in the first GUI, providing a third GUI configured to present and to enable editing of schema associated with the selected element in the first GUI, and wherein the VCR includes at least one content repository, and wherein the at least one content repository includes a service provider interface (SPI) compatible with the API.

Abstract: A context of media content is represented by hierarchical context description data for describing a plurality of segments. Each of the segments represents a scene of media content. Scores that are attribute information of the media content, and for representing a degree of importance of each of the plurality of segments based on a context of the media content including scenes, is input and/or appended, as an attribute, to a number of the hierarchical layers of the description data. The description data also includes a viewpoint of said media content represented by at least one keyword describing the scenes. One of said plurality of segments is selected based on the viewpoint and/or said the One of the plurality of segments can then be selected based upon the scores.

Abstract: A method for arranging a set of graphic assemblies within an area includes associating a presentation of a first graphic assembly with a tree structure to form a candidate tree; modifying the candidate tree to form at least one alternate candidate tree by associating each presentation of a subsequent graphic assembly with at least one available location in the candidate tree; computing scores for each alternate candidate tree with the subsequent graphic assembly in each possible presentation in the at least one available location on the candidate tree; selecting the alternate candidate tree having a best score; designating the alternate candidate tree having a best score to be the candidate tree; repeating modifying, computing, selecting and designating for all remaining graphic assemblies; and arranging the set of graphic assemblies within the area in accordance with the candidate tree.

Abstract: A context of media content is represented by hierarchical context description data for describing a plurality of segments. Each of the segments represents a scene of media content. Scores that are attribute information of the media content, and for representing a degree of importance of each of the plurality of segments based on a context of the media content, is input and/or appended, as an attribute, to a number of the hierarchical layers of the description data. One of the plurality of segments can then be selected based upon the scores.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for displaying a first selectable indicia that, when selected, produces a document of first help information relating to a first topic. The system and method also displaying a second selectable indicia that, when selected, produces a document of second help information relating to a chapter that includes the first topic.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment, a method of providing a skin model for use in rendering a skin comprises receiving a skin definition file that contains information associated with a skin, and one or more other files that are associated with the skin; providing at least some of the one or more other files directly into computer memory, without the files entering a computer file system; and processing the skin definition file to provide a hierarchical data structure that describes the skin.

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: Methods and computer readable media for generating displays of user-defined blocks of networking addresses on a map of an associated address space are provided. Each block of networking addresses is described in a user-defined table with a start address and a map size. The display for each block of network addresses may be rendered on the map at a location based on the relative position of the start address within the associated address space and of a size based on the mask size in relation to the associated address space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for building and/or simplifying structured-document path-language expressions are described. One of these systems or methods enables a user to graphically select structured-document path-language functions and addresses. With these addresses and functions, a structured-document path-language expression can be built without a user having to fully understand or type in syntax for the expression. Another of these systems or methods simplifies structured-document path-language address and function syntax. This simplification can aid a user in building and easily understanding a structured-document path-language expression.

Abstract: A method of highlighting linked-to document sections for increased readability uses standard <h1>, <h2> . . . <h6> tags or like to identify different sections within a page, and then highlights from the beginning of a newly-linked-to section up to the beginning of the next section that has an equivalent header tag or a header tag which is higher in the tag hierarchy.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are provided that display images in a manner that provides for effective space management. At least one item is horizontally displayed in a first display area. Upon selection by a user of at least one item from the first display area, an indication of the at least one item is vertically displayed in a second display area.

Abstract: A method of parsing a markup-language document includes detecting, in a markup-language document, a start of a first data node of a first node type and identifying a first data definition associated with the first node type. The method further includes adding a first entry associated with the first data node to a data structure and reading contents of the first data node. Additionally, the method includes determining an acceptance status of the first data node based on the first data definition. Furthermore, the method also includes identifying an end of the first data node based on the acceptance status of the first data node and, in response to identifying the end of the first data node, removing the first entry from the data structure.

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 mapping language, insertable into a DTD, allows automatic mapping from data sources into XML. A mapping results from the establishment of a correspondence between entities in a data source on the one hand and lists and scalars on the other hand. The language maps the lists and scalars to XML elements and attributes. The mapping language includes two constructs: the binding specification and the value specification. The value specification associates with a value or choice declaration. The binding specification includes at least one variable/expression pair. The constructs are insertable into a DTD to create an annotated DTD.

Abstract: Join expressions, expressed in terms of objects, are translated into a relational database join statement by generating a parse tree based on the join expression. The parse tree is traversed to build the relational database join statement.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and user interface are provided for managing e-mail rules and alert subscriptions from multiple sources. Alert messages and persistent state objects, such as cookies, are examined to determine whether they relate to an alert subscription. If an e-mail message or persistent state object is determined to relate to an alert subscription, a network address for a subscription source identified by the contents of the e-mail message or state object are added to a list of subscription sources. A request may then be received to manage one or more alert subscriptions. In response to the request, each subscription source identified in the list of subscription sources is validated. Each validated subscription source is added to a current subscriptions list, which is displayed to a user. Each subscription in the current subscriptions list may be modified or deleted by the user through a unified user interface for managing e-mail rules and alert subscriptions.

Abstract: Techniques for increasing the amount of information that may be displayed in a graph produced by a visualization system and simplifying the specification of the information. With regard to nodes of the graph, locations relative to the displayed node at which values of attributes of the displayed node are effective may be specified. 17 locations may be specified using values that indicate compass directions and whether the location is inside or outside the boundaries of the node. Among the attributes whose locations may be specified are content attributes whose values are strings or images and action attributes which specify actions that occur in response to mousing actions at the specified locations. Specification of attributes of nodes and also of links is simplified by the use of inheritance. Also disclosed are an API for setting and reading attributes and a technique for producing compressed representations of nodes at rendering time.

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: Embodiments of the invention generate a primary interface to display data in a flat format. A secondary interface is generated at the request of a user to display the same data in a tree or similar hierarchical format. The secondary interface is initiated from the primary interface. A user selects data in the secondary interface and thereby navigates to the corresponding data in the primary interface. This system improves user productivity by increasing the speed at which a user finds and interacts with stored data in the supply chain management system.

Abstract: A method implemented in a scalable auxiliary graph for simultaneously displaying both traditional hierarchical information and auxiliary information at the same time. The method provides for a scalable auxiliary graph that shows feature interdependencies between a selected feature or sub-feature and any related interdependent primary features and/or sub-features. Here, the scalable auxiliary graph includes a visual anchor connecting the plurality of primary features and sub-features. A visual link is used to connect a currently selected feature or sub-feature to the visual anchor. Visual connector lines are used to link the visual anchor to related interdependent primary features or sub-features. This allows the user to simultaneously visualize relationship between the selected feature and any related interdependent primary features and/or sub-features.

Abstract: A method in a computer system is disclosed for enabling authors to work on hierarchical documents. The method comprises retrieving a hierarchical document from a server computing device, modifying the retrieved hierarchical document, sending an indication of the modification to the server computing device, and when the modification cannot be applied on the server computing device, reverting the modified hierarchical document to a current form of the hierarchical document on the server computing device.

Abstract: A selection screen is displayed on an operation panel. The selection screen contains a plurality of menu icons each corresponding to an instruction arranged in an arch shape. When a user selects one menu icon at the selection screen, a selection screen after change is displayed. In the selection screen after change, the selected menu icon is displayed on a certain position and non-selected menu icons are displayed while maintaining their positional relation with the selected menu icons.

Abstract: Electronic equipment capable of registering and changing shortcut functions. When a menu is displayed on an LCD of electronic equipment, a list of shortcuts assigned to respective function keys on a home screen is displayed in the form of a split screen as a result of operation of any of the function keys. When a user selects a function to be assigned from the menu and selects a function key to be assigned, a selected function is assigned to the newly-selected function key.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program code are provided for accessing unique hierarchical data. A tree structure for a document is analyzed. A determination is made as to whether a set of unique paths exist in the tree structure. Responsive to an existence of the set of unique paths, a unique path identifier is assigned to each of the set of unique paths to create a set of unique path identifiers and assigned unique path pairs. Then, the unique path identifier and a node address for the unique hierarchical data for each of the set of unique path identifiers and assigned unique path pairs is stored into a header in the document disk page.

Abstract: When displaying various types of information, an application may identify whether any related entities exist. For example, when displaying an e-mail message, the sender information may relate to a contact entity. As such, information associated with the contact entity may be displayed along with the message. The related entity data (e.g., contact entity data) may be displayed in a subregion of the display area corresponding to the parent entity data (e.g., an e-mail message information) and/or differentiated in various manners. An application interface may further be configurable to control an amount of related entity data that is displayed. A property picker system may also be used to allow a user to specify the properties that he or she wants to make available for display in the interface.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide multiple levels of digest streams for multimedia contents with small amount of additional storage using a multiple level digest segment information scheme. In the present invention, a multiple level digest segment information is contained in the content-based data area of the multimedia content by representing a level information of each digest segment by multiple levels in a content-based data area of a multimedia content, describing the digest level of the digest segment and the time range information of the digest segment in the digest segment information scheme, and outputting digest segments whose digest level is less than or equal to requested digest level by decoding, upon receipt of the digest level of the digest segment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an aggregated event stream that indicates activities to a user across a range of online services. Embodiments may include a web site, a client application, or mobile device. In particular, a display is provided to a user that indicates various events in a “stacked” format. Each block of the stacked format represents one or more events originating from the user's own activities or activities of the user's contacts in their social network. Activities may originate from accounts on other online services that the user linked to their account or profile. The stacked format is updated in substantially real time to provide the user a sense of the activities of their social network around them.

Abstract: A method, in one embodiment, of displaying items arranged in a hierarchy, the hierarchy having predetermined levels and divisions. The method comprising: displaying divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction; and displaying the items on a plane in perspective view, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction. It is preferred that each of the items has associated with it a value, such as a time value, that can be represented on a scale. The divisions of the first level of the hierarchy are first units of the scale, such as years, and the items are arranged at positions corresponding to their value with respect to the first units.

Abstract: A method of displaying correlations among information objects comprises receiving a query against a database; obtaining a query result set; and generating a visualization representing the components of the result set, the visualization including one of a plane and line to represent a data field, nodes representing data values, and links showing correlations among fields and values. Other visualization methods and apparatus are disclosed.

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: Disclosed herein is a method comprising presenting to a user a tag cloud at level n; wherein the tag cloud comprises an icon located next to each tag in the tag cloud; selecting an icon from the tag cloud at level n; and presenting to the user a tag cloud at level n+1, wherein the tag cloud comprises an icon located next to each tag in the tag cloud at level n+1; wherein the tag cloud at level n+1 comprises a query that comprises the users tag selection from level n in addition to a set of tags from level n+1 that comprise subject matter related to the tag selected at level n; and wherein n is an integer greater than zero.

Abstract: A service management method of the present invention is provided so as to enable a service provider to easily obtain information on a user's usage conditions after the sales of a software package, and to provide the user with service to give him a chance and motivation to use a function which is available in the software package but is seldom used. To attain these objects, the service management method of the present invention includes a step for preparing a file showing usage conditions of a plurality of functions constituting the software package, a step for detecting that a function is selected or performed, and a step for updating the file so as to distinguish the detected function from an undetected function.

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 method and device for accessing data objects includes the receipt of a first attribute selection. This may be received by a processing device from an input device. Based on this attribute selection, the method and device dynamically generates a first hierarchical display which includes a visual display of data objects based on the selected attribute. The method and device further receives a second attribute selection and thereby dynamically generates a second level hierarchical display of data objects based on the second attribute selection. Thereby, a virtual folder structure is dynamically created by the selection of the attribute data to define the folder structure and subsequently allow interfacing with stored data objects.

Abstract: A composite user interface element can be assembled from plural sub-elements. A simplified view of the representation of the user interface element can be provided wherein the composited user interface element appears to be a single element. When defined, various nodes for representing the user interface can be designated as selectively exposable. Such selectively exposable nodes can be ignored when performing operations via the simplified view. Accordingly, programmers can write code that need not take the complexity of the composite user interface element into account. Property determination can be done in light of the selectively exposable nodes. A simplified view can support nested user interface elements having respective selectively exposable nodes.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first user operation corresponding to a first item in a directory structure. The directory structure represents a hierarchical arrangement of a plurality of items, including the first item, in a memory. The first user operation indicates a start of an item action with the first item. The method also includes, in response to detecting a second user operation corresponding to a second item in the directory structure, creating a virtual target in the second item in the directory structure. The virtual target is a possible location for completion of the item action with the first item. The method further includes, in response to a third user operation indicating completion of the item action with the first item in the virtual target, completing the item action with the first item in the virtual target.

Abstract: Executing a desired processing immediately by a simple operation using a jog dial for example. The display unit (3) has a jog dial (4) (a first operating means) and a back button (5) (second operating means) provided vertically at the right upper corner thereof. The jog dial (4) can be rotated and pushed. The back button (5) is to undo an operation having been made by pushing the jog dial (4), and it is located near the jog dial (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a computerized method for a user to create an advertisement by displaying a plurality of advertising formats for selection by a user; displaying a template corresponding to a selected advertising format; displaying a plurality of product references for selection by the user; displaying on the template a selected product reference to create a proposed advertisement; and creating a preview of the proposed advertisement, all of which may be implemented using the Internet. The invention further relates to a computerized system for creating an advertisement that comprises a template database for storing advertising formats; a product database for storing product references; and a computer to access the databases.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for generating a tree-style graphical representation that depicts simultaneously hierarchical and non-hierarchical interrelationships among a set of entities. Two sets of specifications are acquired. One set describes a set of hierarchical interrelationships. The other set describes a set of non-hierarchical interrelationships among the same set of entities. Based on the two sets of specifications, a tree-style graphical representation is generated that depicts both hierarchical and non-hierarchical interrelationships. The generated tree-style graphical representation is displayed, as a graphical user interface, on a display device.

Abstract: Described is a data entry graphical user interface (GUI) system for facilitating entry of incontinence product information by a consumer. The data entry GUI system includes several layered interfaces that may be accessed in sequence and/or at discretion by a user. Each of the layered interfaces facilitates entry of specific incontinence product information for storage in a manufacture database. The entered information may be used to fulfill product acquisition requests, forecast future use of incontinence products, or provide simulation data relating to incontinence product use.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a UI generating part to generate a first user interface including at least one UI menu item to select a function; a user input part to receive a user instruction to adjust a size of the UI menu item; and a controller to control the UI generating part to increase or decrease the size of the UI menu item of the first user interface depending on the user instruction, and display the UI menu item with the increased or decreased size.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a details area containing first detail information for a first object instance. The first object instance is part of a hierarchy that includes several object instances of more than one object. The first detail information is presented using at least one GUI component associated with the first object instance. Included in the details area is a hierarchy GUI component that presents at least a portion of the hierarchy including the first object instance, and providing for user selection of any of the several object instances in the hierarchy. The details area is updated to instead contain second detail information that is for a second object instance selected using the hierarchy GUI component and that is presented using at least one GUI component associated with the second object instance. The details area can include GUI components associated with any of the several object instances.