Abstract: An image administration method, apparatus or program for storing image data and for making contents of the image data to be browsed from outside of an image administration apparatus. The image administration method, apparatus or program comprising the steps or means of: managing image data by a directory employing a user name and a job name; controlling the image administration apparatus so that the image data, identified by the user name, is accessed by inputting the user name; and generating thumbnail image of at least one page of the image data, provided with a file name relating to the job name, so that the thumbnail image is browsed from outside of the image administration apparatus.

Abstract: In an operation method for processing data file of the present invention, reduced-size images and file icons of small area associated with the reduced-size images are displayed in pairs at predetermined interval between a reduced-size image and a file icon in each pair, and at least the data file is processed with a function as selected or the display position of the reduced-size image is changed by performing drag-and-drop operations on the file icons instead of performing a drag-and-drop operation on the reduced-size image directly as in the conventional method. According to the foregoing arrangement of the present invention, the reduced-size image can be displayed without reducing the size even while a drag-and-drop operation is being performed, and it is therefore possible to identify each data file based on the reduced-size image.

Abstract: A method of constructing a data transformation block includes selecting a first discrete logic visual icon and a second discrete logic visual icon from a logic repository. A combination valid state is established when the first discrete logic visual icon can be combined with the second discrete logic visual icon. The first discrete logic visual icon and the second discrete logic visual icon are combined in response to the combination valid state to form a data transformation block. The data transformation block has a corresponding functional language source code description of the logical operations to be performed by the data transformation block. The data transformation block processes data to form transformed data. The data transformation block may be stored in the logic repository so that others can access it.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a network based graphical user interface allowing individuals at a facility such as a factory work to efficiently communicate problems at the facility in real time. The graphical user interface of is comprised of one or more icons, with each icon representing a work site in a facility. Using the icons, workers at a work site can quickly communicate problems about the work site. The present invention allows managers at the facility to use the same graphical interface to drill down and quickly obtain information about potential problems in the facility. The present invention also allows managers to predesignate departments or individuals to respond to different types of problems at a work site, so that when a worker at a work site identifies a problem, notifications may be sent out in real-time to the department or individuals that need to respond to the problem.

Abstract: In order to display all information to be displayed on a computer screen in a manner which is easy to understand in hierarchical window displaying, an entire screen is taken as a root window, and display objects of windows and icons corresponding to child windows of the root window are arranged on the root window. Lower order windows and icons are also present within the child windows. The sizes of the windows are user-programmable, and each window has its own independent scale. The scales are decided in such a manner that a proportion occupied by the total surface area of the display objects within a window is fixed or does not exceed a fixed value with respect to the surface area of the window.

Abstract: A user interface for navigating among screens on a personal computer. The screens, which include layers of a shell user interface and various locations within applications, are presented as pages. In addition, commands and help information of an application are presented as a web of command pages. To this end, a unit of measure, called a “place” is defined. In general, an application is a place, and separate documents within an application may also define a place. Separate command windows and dialog boxes within an application or a document typically do not define a place. Backwards navigation takes the user to the previous place, and forward navigation (if possible) takes the user to the next place. Because the underlying data for a page may change between an initial visit to a page and navigation back to the page, data objects and page code are maintained separately, and are combined only when a request for a page is made.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically building a context sensitive composite icon are provided. A base icon is used to represent a particular object in a graphical user interface. This base icon has addition points where icon additions may be attached to the base icon, such as through an icon overlay process. By adding icon additions at the addition points of the base icon, a composite icon is generated and then registered with the graphical user interface. The icon additions that are used to generate the composite icon are selected based on a particular context in which the object associated with the base icon is being used. The use of icon additions with the base icon is determined dynamically as the context of the corresponding object changes. In this way, the same base icon may be used to represent a particular object with additions to the base icon being used to provide additional information that is important to the current context of the corresponding object.

Abstract: A new way of providing pertinent information about an item (e.g., a text file, a picture file, a music file, video file, or any other similar file) is provided. The invention provides graphical information about the item along with user-selectable properties that are specific to that item. The invention further provides a way of sorting the items by the user-selectable properties and communicating the sort order to the user. The invention thereby provides the user with a way of quickly finding pertinent information about the item.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved automated system and method for monitoring the states of other systems. In one embodiment, the inventive system and method may be employed by an operations console that is monitoring the state of one or more data processing systems. According to the invention, a set of states is defined to describe events or conditions occurring within the monitored systems. A set, or “family”, of files is defined, wherein the family includes an associated file for each of the defined states. When one or more of the monitored systems are determined to be in a predetermined state, data signals stored within the associated file may be used to generate some type of signal that may be readily perceived by the operator to determined the state. For example, the data signals may be used to generate a visual or audio representation of the state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing controls on the screen of a computer controlled display. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for quick and efficient activation and deactivation of controls by designating a number of controls as a control grouping. The preferred embodiment then collectively activates or deactivates the designated number of controls using an identifier for the control grouping. Additionally, after a user terminates cursor movement, the preferred embodiment automatically positions a cursor on an ideal control. The preferred embodiment determines the ideal control (1) by removing from consideration any controls which are (a) not visible to the user, or (b) located at non-optimal positions on the screen, and (2) by calculating a weighted distance for each remaining control. The preferred embodiment calculates the weighted distances by comparing the previous cursor movements made by a user with application specified parameters.

Abstract: A method and system for web based control components. Specifically, the present invention describes a method of rendering user interface button and tab control components within a hypertext markup language (HTML) web page. The present invention generates an HTML table that comprises a plurality of cells. For a button component a two row by three column table is generated. For a tab component a five column table is generated. The present invention places a plurality of graphical corner images in the plurality of cells to produce corner outlines of the button or tab control component. Multiple button or tab components can be coupled together in a single table by repeatedly adding more of the plurality of cells associated with button or tab components, respectively. In addition, the control component has the ability to accommodate word wrapping of the text contained within the control component.

Abstract: A multi-component icon and system and method of generating thereof. The multi-component icon is generated from characteristics of a data object or data objects where the characteristics include data object content and data object metadata. The multi-component icon includes a plurality of visual traits. Each visual trait has a plurality of variations, such as different shapes, colors, and/or patterns. The visual traits are variably assignable to any one characteristic of the data object such that each variation of the characteristic is visually represented by the icon by a corresponding variation of the variably assignable visual trait.

Abstract: The Brain system employs a graphical user interface to facilitate user interaction with highly flexible, associative “matrices” that enable users to conveniently organize digitally-stored “thoughts” (inter-related information) and their network of inter-relationships. The Brain system offers a solution that facilitates the capture of information from a company's repositories and showcases it in an engaging and dynamic visual interface. The Brain accomplishes this by providing a connector system that serves as an interface between the Brain server and whatever repositories are employed to store data. By use of a special type of connector, the Brain can permit a single user to collaborate with a number of different repositories at different locations and of different sorts under a single associative interface. A client can also interface directly with multiple data stores that are configured for interaction with the associative interface described herein.

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.

Abstract: A file management method prohibits a thumbnail image of an arbitrary file. The method displays files as thumbnail images on a display each of which show contents of the file, and detects a drag and drop operation between a specific thumbnail image and the arbitrary thumbnail image. The thumbnail image subject to the drag and drop operation is prohibited from displaying on the display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining and displaying icons representing files containing text, such as e-mail, web pages, text documents, word-processor documents, etc. In particular, the system determines the content of the text by examining words in the document. For example, if words relating to cars appear several times in the document, then the document's topic probably relates to car. Next, the system searches in a database of icons, which are labeled according to type. For example, the database may contain graphics relating to transportation (cars, planes, trains, etc.) computers (hard disk, monitor, keyboard, etc.), animals (mammal, reptile, amphibian), and many other categories. The system chooses the closest icon available and displays it as the icon representing the text document. (For example, the system may associate the document on cars with a car icon, and the car icon is displayed in appropriate regions of the desktop such as in file listings, desktop shortcuts, menus task bars, etc.).

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an operation detecting unit which detects a predetermined operation performed on a first icon which has been dragged to a second icon, the first icon moving with movement of a pointing device, and includes a condition update unit which updates a processing condition in information processing based on the detection by the operation detecting unit. The condition update unit updates the processing condition based on the detection by the operation detecting unit and accordingly the user can update the processing condition with a simple manipulation.

Abstract: To display a window for displaying auxiliary information near a window for displaying main information. When a drag operation is performed to move a multiuser window to a predetermined position and display there, if the distance of the multiuser window to the main window when the drag operation is cleared is within reference value LR and the distance of the top side of the multiuser window to the top side of the main window is within reference value HR, then the multiuser window is automatically moved such that the side of the multiuser window comes in contact with the side of the main window and the top end of the multiuser window comes in alignment with the top end of the main window on a horizontal line.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented method for interfacing with a resident application of a computer system. Upon receipt of a data file in a background space of the computer system, a user interface having plural command interfaces is generated. By selecting a first one of the plural command interfaces, an instruction is issued to the resident application. If a first one of the command interfaces is selected, the data file is transferred to a foreground space of the computer system and opened. Conversely, by selecting a second one of the plural command interfaces, the data file is deleted without opening or transfer to the foreground space.

Abstract: Jigsaw connector pieces representing tasks to be performed are displayed on a computer screen, preferably hierarchically in a tree, to elucidate the relationships between tasks. To perform a task, a user positions an attachment jigsaw piece next to its corresponding connector piece. The user is then prompted to input or verify preferences in a properties panel. For example, a printer may be installed by interconnecting an attachment piece (corresponding to the printer to be installed) next to the printer connector piece in the tree. The user may be aided in the process of matching connector and attachment pieces through the use of matching colors and images on the pieces.

Abstract: In an interactive display interface, an implementation for highlighting all icons in any set of a plurality of the icons, wherein each icon in the set is within a predetermined distance of an approaching pointer or cursor. In other words, the point of the pointer or cursor may be considered to be surrounded by a circular halo with a radius of said predetermined distance. The user moves the cursor in a standard manner. However, if the icons that the moving cursor is approaching are so densely spaced that more than one icon comes within the halo, then all of the icons within this set of the plurality of icons is highlighted to give the user a more distinct choice. The highlighting of each of the highlighted icons is ended when the pointer moves outside of the predetermined distance or halo radius.

Abstract: System and method for specifying timing or triggering (TT) in a graphical program (GP). A first polymorphic timing or triggering node (PTTN) is displayed in the GP in response to user input. TT type options for the PTTN are presented in response to user input. User input specifying one of the TT type options is received, and a second TT node (TTN) determined in response which corresponds to the specified type, and which provides TT functionality for the graphical program according to the type. The second TTN replaces the first PTTN in the GP, and connects to function nodes in the GP to provide TT functionality in the GP according to the type. The TTN includes a front panel with controls and/or indicators for interactively setting and/or displaying parameters according to the type, and a block diagram graphically representing the implementation of TT functionality according to the type.

Abstract: A Graphical User Interface or “GUI” for use with a computer operating systems that operates dynamically according to the user's preferences. Each element of the GUI is surrounded by a dynamic edge which allows the user to combine two or more elements together to create a visually coherent unit in real time. Users can merge or fuse together two or more edges together thus creating a combined group that has aspects and qualities from the constituent elements. Particular colors and color combinations can be created by the user along with the user selected shapes and sizes of individual elements selected from a library of element shapes and sizes. The grouped elements can then be separated back to the individual elements for use in different applications or other groupings as later desired by the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for accessing data objects from a storage medium includes rendering a combination of graphical structures. Each graphical structure depicts a storage hierarchy or logic, and can include a link or reference to stored data objects. The combination of graphical structures defines a number of graphical objects. Each graphical object is associated with a coordinate display and linking mechanism to access one or more data objects represented by the graphical object. Thus, a number of collections of data objects is represented graphically for quick access.

Abstract: A computing system for providing a user interface control to modify properties of items within a main application window. The computing system has a main application window, a gallery control window, a control object selection processing module, and a control object focus processing module. The main application window contains one or more application items, each application item having one or more control properties affecting a behavior of the application item. The gallery control window contains a list of one or more control objects for modifying control properties of the application items located within the main application window. Each of the control objects in the list of control objects includes a graphical icon having a selection portion and a properties portion and one or more control properties that affect one or more items within the main application window.