Abstract: A method for generating multiple windows frames, an electronic device thereof, and a computer program product using the method are provided. In the present method, first, a touch trajectory generated by continuously touching a touch panel of the electronic device is detected, wherein the center of the touch panel is a display area, and a non-display area surrounds the display area. Then, whether the touch trajectory is started from one side of the non-display area and passed through the display area to be extended to another side of the non-display area is determined. If so, the display area is split according to the touch trajectory to display at least two windows frames. As a result, an intuitional and convenient method for generating multiple windows frames in the display area is provided, and the operation of the electronic device is made very convenient.

Abstract: Described are methods that utilize a geographic location technology (e.g., GPS) to determine user location data, and existing network-based websites (e.g., Internet websites) for searching and accessing data related to the location data such that the user context can be developed and stored. A location component is provided that determines location data of a wireless communications device of a user. A context component is provided that accesses context data based on the location data to define a context in which the device is located. Activities, goals, and overall context of a user can be inferred through statistical fusion of multiple sources of evidence. The context data is presented to the user via the wireless device such that the user can make decisions as to where to go, for example. User preferences can be accessed and applied to filter context data according to what the user desires to see and access.

Abstract: A touch sensor detects contact input by a finger or the like, and includes two sensor modules. Each of the sensor modules has many sensors arrayed linearly. The operation state of each sensor module is set under the control of a control unit. When a user touches a sensor of the sensor module, the control unit energizes only the sensor which the user has touched and neighboring sensors to detect an input from the user, and does not energize the remaining sensors on the same sensor module.

Abstract: A graphical user interface, a display apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes: a display unit which displays thereon an image comprising a plurality of user interface (UI) objects and a pointer; a pointer adjuster which generates the pointer and moves the pointer based on a user command for moving the pointer received from an input device; and a controller which controls the pointer adjuster to adjust a moving speed of the pointer according to a density of the UI objects displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image processing unit which processes and displays an image; a recognizing unit which recognizes a pointing operation input from a pointing device; and a control unit which executes during an execution a predetermined function when a first pointing operation which selects the predetermined function and a second pointing operation which confirms whether to execute the selected predetermined function are input from the pointing device, and controls the image processing unit to process the image in response to the execution of the predetermined function. With this configuration, it is possible to more precisely detect a pointing operation input from a pointing device according to user's intention and allow a user to serve the user's intention using the pointing device.

Abstract: A system for controlling movement of a cursor on a display device, the system comprising: a substrate having a position-coding pattern disposed on or in a surface thereof; a sensing device comprising: an image sensor for optically imaging the position-coding pattern; and a processor configured for: generating absolute motion data by determining a plurality of absolute positions of the sensing device relative to the surface using the imaged position-coding pattern; generating orientation data indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the substrate; and using the orientation data to translate the absolute motion data into relative motion data, said relative motion data being indicative of relative motion of the sensing device from the perspective of a user; and communication means for communicating the relative motion data to a computer system; and the computer system configured for: receiving said relative motion data from the sensing device; interpreting said relative motion data as curso

Abstract: Moving a pointer in a graphical user interface environment is provided. An input comprising an initial delta value determined by a device driver is received from the device driver. The initial delta value is located in a data structure. A new delta value associated with the initial delta value is selected from the data structure. A new position of a pointer in the graphical user interface environment is calculated based on the new delta value. The new position of the pointer is sent to the graphical user interface environment for rendering.

Abstract: The present invention is a graphical user interface in a computing device having a processor running an operating system and a display. The graphical user interface comprises a touch screen and a driver coupling the touch screen to the operating system. The driver can display a plurality of icons on the touch screen, or a plurality of screen images having at least one icon, with each of the icons associated with operations on the display and/or the touch screen. Other embodiments include the touch screen having unactivated and activated states, as well as the presence of an application programming interface that enables an application to display at least one image on the touch screen.

Abstract: A user interface of an electronic content rendering device implements gravity-based link assist to enhance user experience when browsing linked content. As a user moves a pointer along a trajectory across various links and objects, gravitational fields surrounding the links and objects provide a pulling effect that draws the pointer toward these fields. Responsive to pointer deceleration being detected when the pointer resides within a gravitational field, the link assist repositions the pointer to a center of the link or object relative to the trajectory of the pointer within the field.

Abstract: A fuzzy, or ambiguous, keyword searching process and systems for implementing the fuzzy keyword searching process are provided. In general, one or more keyword search terms are first identified for a search. Next, a user is enabled to adjust a logical fuzziness, or logical ambiguity, for each of the one or more keyword search terms. As used herein, logical fuzziness of a keyword search term refers to the extent to which associated keywords are considered for the search. In one embodiment, the user may also be enabled to view and adjust keyword associations for each of the keyword search terms. A search is then performed based on the one or more keyword search terms and the logical fuzziness of the one or more keyword search terms, and results of the search are presented to the user.

Abstract: A contact position detecting unit 122 detects the position on the touch panel touched by a controlling object. A rendering unit 104 determines the layout of a document file including a link and display the document in the layout thus determined. A link position specifying unit 106 specifies the position of the link in the screen. A detection area setting unit 114 sets an object detection area for determination that the link is selected by the user as a result of contact with the controlling object associated one-to-one with the link, such that the object detection area occupies a range different from that of the link and is spaced apart from an adjacent object detection area by a predefined minimum distance, that the display mode of the link is maintained, and that the object detection area is superposed on the link.

Abstract: An automatic pointing device mapping method (400, 420) and associated apparatus for automatically remapping the active area (12) of a graphics tablet (10) to a plurality of displays (122, 124), such as might be used in conjunction with a graphics program (130), a CAD program, or the like. Proximity zones (230, 232) are established along the edge of the active area (12). When a stylus (146) is moved into one of the proximity zones (230, 232), the graphics tablet (10) is switched to control the display (122, 124) in the corresponding direction, provided such a display (122, 124) exists in that direction. In one embodiment data regarding an elapsed time data (220), which is the time the stylus (146) has remained in the proximity zone (230, 232) is monitored, such that the multi-display system (110) is not remapped until the stylus (146) has remained in the proximity zone (230, 232) until a preset time (218) has elapsed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing customizable, immediate and radiating menus for accessing applications and actions. Upon initiation of a predetermined user action, such as a right-click operation, a primary menu is displayed and a second radial menu is displayed proximate the primary menu with the cursor position at a predetermined location for minimizing cursor manipulation for selecting a menu item from the second radial menu.

Abstract: Sectors including selection elements are scaled (405) according to the location of a selector pointer so that a selector comprising several selector elements can also be implemented on a small screen and that the selection element is sufficiently large before selection.

Abstract: The present invention can include three-dimensional remote control systems that can detect an absolute location to which a remote control is pointing in first and second orthogonal axes and an absolute position of the remote control in a third orthogonal axis. Remote control systems of the present invention can employ absolute position detection with relative position detection. Absolute position detection can indicate an initial absolute position of the remote control and relative position detection can indicate changes in the position of the remote control. By combining absolute and relative position detection, remote control systems of the present invention can track remote controls more precisely than systems that only employ absolute position detection. The present invention also can include methods and apparatus for zooming in and out of an image shown on a display based on the absolute position of the remote control in the third axis.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus is provided with a display section, and can be instructed to be operated by a pointer displayed on the display section, and includes a detection section for detecting, from an input image of a hand, a position of the hand in the image, an operation section for obtaining a probability that the hand exists in the image by using the latest detection result detected by the detection section, and a value of a probability distribution function having a peak at a position which has been evaluated last time as a position at which a probability that the hand exists is high, and a pointer display section for moving the pointer, on the basis of an evaluation value obtained from the probability, to a position at which the probability that the hand exists is the highest and displaying the pointer at the position.

Abstract: An apparatus and automated method are disclosed for alignment of objects in a document which allows saliency within one or both objects to be a factor in the alignment. The method includes, for an input electronic document, identifying first and second objects to be aligned on a page of the document. A one dimensional guideline profile is generated for at least the first object based on a detection of saliency for the first object. The first and second objects are aligned based on the guideline profile to form a modified document and the modified document is output.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to assisting users to position a pointer on a target. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer-readable medium that guide a pointer toward a target. After the pointer is located on a target, pointer movement continues to be adjusted so that the user may easily keep the pointer located on the target.

Abstract: A quasi analog knob control method for controlling a function status of a display device by imitating the rotation of an analog knob includes providing at least two reference points for generating light of a predetermined spectrum and defining a predetermined area; providing an image sensor to point inside the predetermined area; receiving the light of the predetermined spectrum by the image sensor to form a digital image; identifying image positions of the reference points on the digital image and obtaining a first parameter; rotating the image sensor for imitating the rotation of the analog knob and obtaining a second parameter; and calculating a rotation angle difference between the first and the second parameters to control the function status of the display device accordingly.

Abstract: A multi-model magnification system is described that can be used with multiple forms of input, including natural input such as touch-based devices. Users can zoom in/out and pan with their preferred mode of interaction, including mouse, keyboard, pen, and touch interactions. The system provides dedicated features for some modes, such as pinch/scroll gestures for touch input, that allow users to easily zoom in/out and pan the magnified area (e.g., on a touch laptop). The system provides an interactive panning mode in which the user the user can interact with the desktop or applications (e.g., clicking on icons) and pan using special gestures. When the system is in the panning mode, the system consumes received gestures or other input, otherwise the system passes received input to a magnified application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a video server that can detect and track the image of a pointing indicator in an input video stream representation of a computer display. The video server checks ordered frames of the video signal and determines movements for a pointing indicator such as a mouse arrow. Certain motions by the pointing indicator, such as lingering over a button or menu item or circling a button or menu item can provoke a control action on the server.

Abstract: A magnifying tool that enlarges a selected region of displayed image surrounding a cursor in a graphical user interface (GUI), and superimposes the enlarged region directly over the selected region (and a portion of the adjacent non-selected region). The location of the cursor relative to the enlarged region is co-located with the location of the cursor relative to the selected region such that the locations are identical.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cursor displayed on a display device is provided. A three-dimensional environment is displayed on a display device. A cursor and a plurality of objects are displayed on the display device within the three-dimensional environment. The cursor comprises a zone defining a volume to identify at least one object that is at least partially located within the volume. The size of the volumetric activation zone is dynamically adjusted so that a predetermined constraint is satisfied. The predetermined constraint is a function of at least a relationship between the volumetric activation zone of the cursor and at least one of the plurality of objects.

Abstract: A touchpad controlling method and a touch device using such a method are provided. The touch device is applied to an electronic appliance. The touch device includes a touchpad and a coordinate transformation program. The touchpad is used for detecting a number of touching points in response to the touching gesture on the touchpad and the position of each touching point. If the number of touching points is equal to 1, the electronic appliance is operated in a relative coordinate mode. Whereas, if the number of touching points is greater than 1, the electronic appliance is operated in an absolute coordinate mode.

Abstract: A method for processing information fed by a user via an inputting means is provided. The method enables, firstly, receiving a set of directional elements via a user interface. The set of directional elements represent textual or non-textual information fed by the user. Secondly, the method enables interpreting the set of directional elements. The set of directional elements are identified as a combination of motion of the inputting means on the user interface and one or more inputs from the inputting means. Further, the method enables converting the directional elements into a sequence and translating the sequence into the textual or non-textual information using a mapping format. The mapping format corresponds to a predetermined mapping format or a new mapping format. Finally, the method enables rendering the textual or non-textual information on the user interface in the form of one or more symbols.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for facilitating data entry into an electronic device via a touchscreen. As a user places his or her finger on the touchscreen, a cursor may be displayed at a location relative to other items displayed on the touchscreen that is proximate the physical location where the user touched the touchscreen. Because the cursor is likely now obscured by the user's finger, the items displayed on the touchscreen, including the cursor, may then be shifted or scrolled so that the cursor is offset from the physical location where the user touched the touchscreen. At the same time, the items displayed on the touchscreen may be magnified in order to further facilitate data entry. At this point, the user may shift or tilt his or her finger in order to achieve the desired cursor placement.

Abstract: There is described a method, to a program and to a system for graphically displaying and projecting at least one network of devices of an automation system, a high density of information usually occurring at the user interface. To allow a user to selectively display devices in a network, in addition to a large quantity of overview information, a solution is proposed in which a user can display individual devices in more detail in an overview. The user can therefore select a device, the instantaneously non-visible details of which he wishes to access, and change the appearance of the device from a not very detailed display to a very detailed display by way of further interaction. This applies to any desired number of devices which can be simultaneously displayed in detail. One advantage is that the network interfaces of devices may also be displayed which cannot be displayed with all network interfaces in the overview without the user being forced to have to change to a different, detail-oriented view.

Abstract: Described are methods that utilize a geographic location technology (e.g., GPS) to determine user location data, and existing network-based websites (e.g., Internet websites) for searching and accessing data related to the location data such that the user context can be developed and stored. A location component is provided that determines location data of a wireless communications device of a user. A context component is provided that accesses context data based on the location data to define a context in which the device is located. Activities, goals, and overall context of a user can be inferred through statistical fusion of multiple sources of evidence. The context data is presented to the user via the wireless device such that the user can make decisions as to where to go, for example. User preferences can be accessed and applied to filter context data according to what the user desires to see and access.

Abstract: An image reproduction method includes: a reduced-size image reading step of reading a plurality of reduced-size images from a recording medium and storing the reduced-size images in a memory; a display step of multi-displaying the plurality of reduced-size images on a monitor; a cursor movement detection step of detecting a moving speed of a cursor indicating a selected reduced-size image from the plurality of reduced-size images displayed on the monitor; and an image read-ahead step of reading images from the recording medium according to the moving speed of the cursor and storing the image in the memory.

Abstract: Gesture feedback techniques are discussed that provide prompt feedback to a user concerning the recognition of one or more gestures. The feedback may be employed to confirm to a user that a gesture is being correctly recognized.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a multi-axis input device such as a rollerball, trackball, joystick or touchpad, allowing the focus of a user interface program to be moved about a display from one screen object presented on that display to another. Up to four screen objects are presented on the display, each of those screen objects being positioned towards a corner of the display to enable a user to blindly operate the multi-axis input device, making use of a capture effect in which the focus of a user interface program is resisted from moving beyond an edge of the display, to guide movement of the focus to a given one of the up to four screen objects.

Abstract: An insertion marker that is displayed on a touch screen may be moved by a user via an insertion marker placement aid. The insertion marker placement aid is displayed on the touch screen after a contact with the touch screen is detected. The insertion marker placement aid provides visual feedback to the user, indicating that the insertion marker is subject to repositioning by the user. When the contact is moved across the touch screen, the insertion marker and the insertion marker placement aid is moved in accordance with the movement of the contact. When the contact is broken (i.e., no longer detected), the insertion marker placement aid is removed from display and the insertion marker comes to rest.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system and process that controls a group of networked electronic components using a multimodal integration scheme in which inputs from a speech recognition subsystem, gesture recognition subsystem employing a wireless pointing device and pointing analysis subsystem also employing the pointing device, are combined to determine what component a user wants to control and what control action is desired. In this multimodal integration scheme, the desired action concerning an electronic component is decomposed into a command and a referent pair. The referent can be identified using the pointing device to identify the component by pointing at the component or an object associated with it, by using speech recognition, or both. The command may be specified by pressing a button on the pointing device, by a gesture performed with the pointing device, by a speech recognition event, or by any combination of these inputs.

Abstract: In a method for integration of vectorial and/or tensorial measurement data into a representation on a screen of an anatomical image exposure acquired with an imaging medical examination apparatus, upon and/or after selection of, and/or upon and/or after sweeping over, image points of the anatomical representation by means of a screen representation that is associated with at least one control tool operable by a user, the screen representation and/or the speed of movement of the screen representation is varied dependent on the direction information provided by the measurement data.

Abstract: A message that is to be processed according to an electronic messaging protocol is associated with a sender of the message. The message also includes an attachment from an attaching entity. The attachment is associated with a unique property of the attaching entity. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention is a graphical user interface in a computing device having a processor running an operating system and a display. The graphical user interface comprises a touch screen and a driver coupling the touch screen to the operating system. The driver can display a plurality of icons on the touch screen, or a plurality of screen images having at least one icon, with each of the icons associated with operations on the display and/or the touch screen. Other embodiments include the touch screen having unactivated and activated states, as well as the presence of an application programming interface that enables an application to display at least one image on the touch screen.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a mouse cursor is presented. During the mouse cursor update display cycle, a test on the current mouse speed is made. If the mouse cursor's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated and displayed on the computer screen. According to one embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by increasing the size of a standard mouse cursor in proportion to the speed of the mouse cursor. According to an alternative embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by interpolating the mouse cursor's path and adding a motion-blur effect along the interpolated path. According to yet another embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by interpolating the mouse cursor's path and a plurality of mouse cursor images are displayed along the interpolated path.

Abstract: A resource manager receives selection of a particular icon from an expandable tree of icons displayed in a first region of a display screen. The selected particular icon represents a corresponding group of resources associated with a storage area network. In response to receiving the selection, the resource manager displays a set of selectable view mode icons in a second region of the display screen. The set of selectable view mode icons enable a user to select different subsets of resources from the corresponding group of resources in the first region for viewing in a table. The table is also displayed in the second region of the display screen. After initially populating the table, the resource manager provides the selectable view mode icons in the second region of the display screen along with the table to enable further selection of different subsets of resources for viewing in the table.

Abstract: A user desiring to import digital images from a specified location may select that location. In response, a graphical element such as an arrow will be displayed with the beginning point of the element visually associated with the location. The user may then select a destination for the digital images. In response, the graphical element will be displayed with the ending point visually associated with the destination. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by having an arrow point as the graphical element. In one embodiment, graphical controls are located on the arrow. In response to a user clicking these controls, the digital images may be imported from the origin to the destination, or the process may be cancelled.

Abstract: A notepad computer with a page display region displaying a page of a document on which a user can write using a pen or stylus type writing tool is provided. Associated with the page is an interface that can be used with the pen. The interface includes a core task tool region adjacent to the page where tool icons are partially visible until the pen is brought near one of the icons. The tool icon becomes fully visible when the pen is within the region of the icon. The tool when activated can pop-up a radial pop-up menu located at an edge of the document where all the menu choices are located in a semi-circle away from the edge so that the users hand while holding the pen and making a selection does not block the choices. A page flipping tool is located in a corner of the page and is an explicit two-stroke menu allowing selection of a next or previous page.

Abstract: Moving a pointer in a graphical user interface environment is provided. An input comprising an initial delta value determined by a device driver is received from the device driver. The initial delta value is located in a data structure. A new delta value associated with the initial delta value is selected from the data structure. A new position of a pointer in the graphical user interface environment is calculated based on the new delta value. The new position of the pointer is sent to the graphical user interface environment for rendering.

Abstract: Properties of real nodes are selected by which to organize the real nodes as leaf nodes in a tree graph. A number of virtual nodes are provided, each representing a value of a selected property for at least one of the real nodes. The virtual nodes and real nodes are organized into the tree graph, the virtual nodes positioned along branches starting at a root node and ending at a real node, the virtual nodes in a unique path from the root node to a real node representing the values of the selected properties for the real node. The tree graph is displayed, and can be reconfigured by dragging and dropping a virtual node to a different level in the hierarchy of the tree graph.

Abstract: A graphic object designating apparatus for designating a graphic object to be edited among graphic objects present in an edit area of a graphics editing system according to the position of a mouse cursor. The apparatus includes an object managing section that manages object information and the mouse cursor position, and a rule storage section in which assignments of key entries for indicating a direction in which the mouse cursor should move and for designating an object directly under the mouse cursor have previously been stored as rules. A trigger processing section generates a mouse cursor moving trigger or an object designating trigger according to the key entries and the rules. An object designating section moves the mouse cursor or designates the object to be edited on the basis of the object information and the triggers. The apparatus allows an operator to designate a desired object easily within the object display screen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a two-handed input control system that dynamically changes an input-to-object mapping for mapping movement of a graphical object on a display of a virtual scene as the viewpoint of the virtual scene changes. As input to the system for changing the position of the graphical object occurs, the mapping is revised to reflect changes in the viewpoint so that the object moves as inherently expected. That is, changes to the viewpoint change the mapping so that a correspondence between the viewpoint and the input space is always maintained. During movement of the object a screen cursor is visually suppressed so that the movement of the graphical object and the screen cursor do not split the attention of the user. The screen cursor is always maintained within the visual display region of the virtual scene even when the object moves out of the visual display region by moving the cursor to a center of the screen when it reaches an edge of the screen.

Abstract: A system and method for improved directional focus navigation in a user interface is provided. The directional focus navigation engine may receive directional input for changing the input focus of a user interface object in the user interface. A target candidate selector may select target candidates in a direction of travel among one or more user interface objects for receiving the input focus. A target candidate scorer may score the target candidates selected and the directional focus navigation engine may change the input focus to user interface object based upon the scoring. Scoring the target candidates may be biased when navigation continues in the same traversal direction for changing input focus.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing navigation of a topology within a visual display. A system is disclosed including: a system for displaying an enhanced mouse pointer in a current view, wherein the enhanced mouse pointer includes an indicator that points to a resource outside the current view; and a processing system for calculating the indicator by analyzing resources in the topology.

Abstract: A display method for displaying a plurality of icons in list form on a display device by a list-form displaying section and for enlarging and reducing an icon. When a first icon is selected while second icon previously selected is being enlarged, the second icon is enlarged to a predetermined size, and then after the enlargement, the enlarged second icon is reduced so as to have a size substantially equal to the size of each of icons which are not selected.

Abstract: A right link of each button to be displayed on a display device is set in such a way that the position of an anchor moves through all the buttons from the left to the right. In response to an initial input of the right direction key, the position of the anchor moves from the button currently pointed to by the anchor to a button of the right link destination. In response to a continuous input of the right direction key, the position of the anchor moves to the button of the right link destination when one of buttons other than a button at the right end is currently pointed to by the anchor, but does not move when the button at the right end is currently pointed to by the anchor.

Abstract: An image display apparatus which is capable of operating smoothly over a plurality of image display devices. When a pen has come into continuous contact with a first display screen, a system controller determines whether or not the pen has got out of contact with an edge of the first display screen. When the system controller determines that the pen has got out of contact with the first display screen at the edge thereof, a time period elapsed is measured while the pen is held out of contact with the first display screen at the edge thereof. When the measured time period is less than a predetermined time period, the system controller outputs pointing information indicative of a position of the edge of the first display screen with which the pen got out of contact, to indicate that the pen has been held in the continuous contact with the first display screen.

Abstract: A graphical user interface system may position and orient a user interface element to be displayed on an optically-sensitive display surface. The position of the object may be based on the position of a point of contact that an object (e.g., a person's finger, a block of wood, etc.) makes against the display surface. The orientation of the object may be determined using the shadow cast by the object on the surface. An axis may be determined between the shadow and the point of contact, and the axis may be used as a frame of reference (e.g., a vertical axis) for the orientation of the interface element. Further movement of the object and/or shadow can either result in further movement/reorientation of the interface, or as an actual input to the interface. If used for an actual input, the interface may be fixed at its initial position and orientation to allow the additional movement to be interpreted.