Abstract: A method and apparatus for the distribution of arbitrary media are provided. In one embodiment, during the preparation of an electronic mail item, the invention searches a electronic mail inbasket for items received from the address to which the electronic mail item is to be sent. A list of any such inbasket items is presented to the user before the item being prepared may be sent. The user is offered the option of viewing any such received items, editing the item being prepared, sending the item being prepared without further editing, or aborting the item being prepared. In another embodiment, upon the dialing of a telephone call, the invention searches a voice mail inbasket for recorded audio messages received from the telephone whose number has been dialed, and offers the user similar options if any such inbasket items are found.

Abstract: The invention discloses a security foil which covers a security module, wherein the security foil comprises a shielding from electromagnetic radiation from inside and outside. In a preferred embodiment the security foil comprises a metal lattice with defined lattice distances. The lattice distances can be used to change characteristics of the shielding from electromagnetic radiation, in particular the relevant spectra. The invention is especially applicable in electronic payment transactions. The invention permits effective and low-cost shielding of security modules against electromagnetic radiation from inside and outside. Additional time and labor is saved because existing components can be used.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for generating a low-discrepancy sequence at high speed, comprising means for expanding an i-th coordinate value u.sub.n.sup.(i) (1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.k) of an n-th element of the low-discrepancy sequence (u.sub.n.sup.i, . . . , u.sub.n.sup.(k)) in b scale, and storing m components created by the expansion of each value in sequence into a first storage means, wherein the above n is an integer equal to or more than 1 and the above b is a prime number equal to or more than k; means for expanding the number n in b scale, and storing the created expansion (n.sub.m, n.sub.m-1, . . . , n.sub.1) in sequence into a second storage means; means for scanning the second storage means in sequence, and detecting a minimum order j wherein nj is not equal to b-1; and means, respondent to the means for scanning, for reading out j-th row components of a low-discrepancy generator matrix T.sup.(i) stored in advance for an i-th coordinate value (1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for camping on an electronic calendar. In one embodiment, the invention determines, in response to an input of a date, a time and a duration of a proposed meeting between a meeting requester and a target, that a conflicting event appears on the target's electronic calendar, monitors the target's electronic calendar to detect the removal of the conflicting event, and schedules a meeting between the requester and the target on their electronic calendars in response to the detection of the removal of the conflicting event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the overflow routing of incoming telephone messages to an electronic mail inbasket. In one embodiment, the invention queries the capacity of a telephone answering system to store an audio message from an incoming telephone call for later play. Upon determining that the telephone answering system lacks the capacity to store the audio message, the invention converts the caller's audio message to text and routes the text to an electronic mail inbasket, preferably the inbasket of the intended recipient of the call.

Abstract: A technique for evaluating the topicality of keywords assigned to references retrieved from a database, so that interesting topics may be extracted. Since the number of references containing a specific keyword increases at a certain time and then gradually decreases with the passage of time, the topicality of a keyword can be evaluated by quantifying this phenomenon. Keywords are sorted based on the value of their topicality and displayed either as a list or as a graph in which the level of topicality is displayed along the time axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing improved controls in a graphical user interface. One feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to assign multiple values to the control. This multi-value field control includes an extension to known controls that allows the user to enter more than one value into the control. After a value has been entered into the multi-value field control, the user can modify or delete the value. Another feature of the present invention provides a control that enables a user to efficiently specify multiple sort criteria for the control. This sort order control lists all of the possible sort criteria together with a selection indicator next to each sort criteria. When the user selects a sort criteria, the sort order control indicates the selection of the sort criteria in the selection indicator and places a numeric character representing the order in which the sort criteria was selected next to the sort criteria.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for prioritization of the display order of received mail items. In one embodiment, the invention associates a priority sorting attribute with a first email item, sorts an inbasket list of email items by any priority sorting attribute associated with any email item in the inbasket list, said inbasket list including a listing for the first email item, and displays at least a portion of the sorted inbasket list in the sorted order. The priority sorting attribute may be associated with the first email item by either the sender or the receiver of the first email item. A priority sorting attribute may be associated by the sender with some but not all of the intended recipients of the first email item and the priority sorting attribute will then be associated with the first email item only as it is sent to those recipients with whom the priority sorting attribute has been associated.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling access to a data processing system through the use of a variable password. In one embodiment, the invention substitutes the value of a variable into an expression contained in a predefined password, evaluates the expression and password, and compares the result of the valuation of the password to a character string input to the data processing system, granting access if they are identical. A range of values of certain characters of the password may be permitted. The password may require that certain characters be entered within a defined time interval measured from the entry of other characters. The values of environment variables, which are referenced by the variable password, may change from time to time, as a function, for example, of the current time or temperature or system utilization.

Abstract: A method and data processing system are disclosed for audio media boundary traversal. In one embodiment, the invention transforms a multimedia data stream or file to an audio stream that is understandable to humans and then transforms the audio output back to the original multimedia data stream or file without loss of information. The embodiment processes an input file including both audio or audible, and non-audio components; writes the audio components to an output file; determines locations among the audio components of the non-audio components; transforms the non-audio components to audio components; writes the audio components and the locations of the non-audio components to the output file separately from the audio components; and produces an audio output file. The audio or audible components of the input file remain understandable by humans in the produced output.

Abstract: A method and data processing system are disclosed for automatically creating voice processing template entries. In one embodiment, the invention automatically assembles a plurality of commands received by the data processing system, at least one of said commands having a voice recognition criteria component associated therewith, counts the occurrences of the plurality of commands, assembles voice recognition criteria components associated with the plurality of commands, and, as a result of the occurrence count exceeding a predefined minimum, constructs a voice recognition template entry by associating the assembled voice recognition criteria components with the assembled plurality of commands.

Abstract: Complete navigation of electronic media through very fine movements of a pointing device by application of a directional actuator having a next page actuator, previous page actuator, and media movement actuator. Errors associated with coarse pointing device movement are removed, and the usable display area inside the window frame is increased. Complete navigation includes horizontal, vertical and diagonal movement with a gradient of speed.

Abstract: A data processing system displays options for selection by a user as a hierarchical tree form diagram. When a user indicates his first selected option to the data processing system it calculates what further selections are and are not available as a result of the selected option. It then modifies the display to show the options which are available for selection and those which are not. A selection list is stored and updated by the data processing system and the options input by the user are executed when the selection list is complete.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for graphical manipulation of encryption. In one embodiment, the invention provides an encryption work area window within a graphical user interface. A user may encrypt an unencrypted object by dropping an icon associated with the unencrypted object on the encryption work area. An encrypted object located within the encryption work area is decrypted when opened and encrypted when closed. An encrypted object located within the encryption work area is decrypted if it is dragged and dropped outside the encryption work area and decryption is selected; alternatively, the encryption of the encrypted object is maintained if it is dragged and dropped outside the work area and maintain encryption is selected.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention permit users to associate conditions of interest, such as keywords or originator identities. In response to the sending of a message, the data processing system determines which user conditions are met by the message input into the system and may associate the identities of such users with the message. In one embodiment, the system returns to the sender of the message the identities of users whose conditions are met by the message. In another embodiment, the system routes the message to users whose conditions are met by the message and, optionally, returns a confirmation of the delivery of the message to the sender. In either embodiment, a user can designate himself as "invisible", so that the system will not report the invisible user's identity to the sender.

Abstract: A method and a data processing apparatus are disclosed for marking characters of a character string, which string is resident in the data processing system. The disclosed invention finds, in the string, a first character that matches a character of a predefined set of characters; as a result of finding the first character, identifies a character predefined as paired with the matched character of the predefined set of characters; finds, in the string, a second character that matches the paired character; and marks the characters of the string between the first character and second character.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for playback conflict detection. In one embodiment, the invention determines a time interval for the playback of the isosynchronous data object, said time interval including both a beginning time and a duration, and determines whether any calendar event falls at least partially within the time interval for playback. The invention may be initiated by opening the isosynchronous data object for playback. The user who requested the playback will be notified of any potential conflict between the complete playback of the data object and any events scheduled on the user's electronic calendar.

Abstract: A graphic-transforming apparatus and method are provided for freely transforming an object graphic with easy operations. A curve or polygonal line to be transformed, that is, the object graphic, and a pattern consisting of a closed curve and functioning as a ruler are set up and a transformation is executed in which a part of the object graphic is replaced with a part or the whole of the pattern by specifying a transformation range, that is, by specifying a starting point, an ending point, and the direction of the route according to certain rules. The pattern consists of any line drawing such as a circle or polygon, which can be moved (and also rotated, enlarged, and contracted) and freely operated on the object graphic like moving a ruler on a drawing paper. The following rules are applied to the starting point, ending point, and route. The starting point must be an intersection between the object graphic and the pattern. The ending point must be a point on the pattern.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system for modifying an image source data file to compensate for distortions resulting from a projection of an image source onto a surface that is not perpendicular to an image source projection system. A data processing system image source data file is identified and a test pattern is displayed utilizing a data processing system visual output device. A user is permitted to enter a distortion compensation factor, the displayed test pattern is modified utilizing the distortion compensation factor. Once a final distortion compensation factor is selected in response to the appearance of the modified test pattern, the data processing system image source data file is modified, utilizing the selected distortion compensation factor, thereby enhancing the projection of an image source onto a surface that is not perpendicular to an image source projection system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of the alternately displaying two separate data entry views of an electronic mail object. A first data entry view graphically displays a visual metaphor of at least one sheet of note paper partially overlying an envelope, with only a portion of the envelope visible in the display. A second data entry view graphically displays a visual metaphor of an envelope overlying a portion of at least one sheet of note paper, with only a portion of the sheet of note paper visible in the display. In either view, the overlying displayed sheet of note paper or envelope is active for the entry of message text or destination information, respectively, while the partially displayed envelope or sheet of note paper is inactive to such data entry.