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

Abstract: A system identifies purchasable digital content to be used in development of a digital composition by receiving a request to identify a set of digital content, and retrieving access history for individual portions of digital content that match the request. The access history includes a number of times the individual portions of digital content have been accessed. The system then produces a set of digital content indicative of the access history for each individual portion of digital content, and outputs the set of digital content that matches the request, and that reflects the access history for individual portions of digital content.

Abstract: A redaction process obtains redaction data indicating content to be redacted in a document. In addition, the redaction process obtains non-redaction data indicating content not to be redacted in the document. Furthermore, the redaction process obtains proximity data indicating proximate expressions to be matched against the document. In this manner, the redaction process processes the redaction data, non-redaction data and proximity data against the document to produce a redact list and a potential list. Upon receiving user selections from both the redact and the potential lists, the redaction process applies a redaction function to the document to produce a redacted version of the document.

Abstract: Novel techniques and tools for authoring multimedia compositions are presented. The novel techniques and tools allow an author of a multimedia composition to create a multimedia composition by dragging assets from a first window containing a project's unused assets and placing the assets into a structural relationship in a second window. The author may also remove assets from the structural relationship in the second window and return the assets to the first window of unused assets. The novel techniques and tools allow an author of a multimedia composition to better keep track of the assets to be used in the multimedia composition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for a clip-beat aligner that identifies musical beats in an audio file. An editing mode is provided to associate the audio file with a media segment according to a timeline. The clip-beat aligner aligns a boundary of the media segment with a musical beat on the timeline. Upon performing an editing operation, the clip-beat aligner maintains that the boundary of the media segment is aligned with any one of the musical beats. To align a boundary of each media segment with a musical beat, the clip-beat aligner identifies a musical beat that is proximate to the position of the media segment's boundary. The clip-beat aligner then aligns the media segment's boundary with the proximate musical beat by, if necessary, automatically trimming the media segment's duration such that the media segment's boundary occurs at the same moment in time as the proximate musical beat.

Abstract: A content formatting process receives identification of selected content within an original document, and identifies formatting information associated with the selected content, but not contained within the selected content. The identified formatting information is applied to the selected content when the selected content is copied to a revised document. During the content formatting process, the original document is scanned to identify formatting characters within the document. The various types of formatting identified by the content formatting process are presented to the user, and the user is prompted to choose which types of formatting should be applied to a new, revised document. The content formatting process receives the selection(s) of the formatting types, from the user, and the chosen formatting types are applied to the selected content in the new, revised document.

Abstract: A system provides for synchronization of configuration settings in a plurality of applications by receiving a global configuration setting to be applied to the plurality of applications and by applying the global configuration setting to the plurality of applications so that operation of each of the plurality of applications conforms to the global configuration setting. The system detects a respective local configuration setting in use by each of the plurality of applications displays a synchronization indicator that indicates if the plurality of applications are operating using a common local configuration setting. The synchronization indicator can be a color settings synchronization indicator that indicates if a color setting used to render color on a display device is synchronized between applications in a graphics suite.

Abstract: A system selects objects within a graphical user interface by displaying a plurality of objects within the graphical user interface. Each object has an associated set of properties. The system receives a selection condition defining a relationship to be met between properties of an object, and then applies the selection condition to the associated set of properties of each of the plurality of objects to identify a set of selection objects in the plurality of objects that have an object state defined by properties that match the relationship defined by the selection condition. The system then identifies each object in the set of selection objects.

Abstract: A client computer converts selected content (e.g., an images, text, audio, etc.) into message formatted content to enable communication of the selected content in a respective message to a picture phone device in a cellular phone network. Additionally, the client computer converts the selected content into web formatted content to enable communication of the selected content to a web browser operating in a web network environment. To make the selected content available for distribution, the client computer creates a web page including a) the web formatted content and b) an address identifying a location of the message format content as it will be stored in a server. The client computer uploads the web page, web formatted content, and message formatted content to a selected server. Viewing of the web page in a browser enables a user to download the message formatted content in the server to a cellular phone.

Abstract: Example configurations herein include a media manager associated with a media player that monitors a media feed for available content. Based on monitoring the media feed (e.g., Really Simple Syndication “RSS” feed), the media manager can receive a pointer to a content playback file. According to one configuration, the content playback file specifies retrievable content (e.g., as specified by pointers therein) and includes instructions indicating how to play back the retrievable content. Upon execution of the content playback file, the media player initiates retrieval of the content as specified by pointers in the content playback file. The media player can initiate playback of the retrieved content in accordance with markup language type playback instructions as specified by the content playback file.

Abstract: In an application that uses a graphical user interface, a technique for automatically grouping graphical constructs receives a selection of a graphical construct for placement within a group of graphical constructs within a graphical work area of a graphical user interface. The system detects an existing group of graphical constructs already defined in a group and graphically displays an automatic grouping indicator that identifies, to a user of the graphical user interface, that the selected graphical construct can be automatically grouped within the existing group. The system receives, from the user, a selection of the existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed, and in response, automatically groups the selected graphical construct into the selected existing group of graphical constructs that has an automatic grouping indicator displayed on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A system produces certified content by receiving original content acquired from a content acquisition device and receiving a device identity associated with the content acquisition device. The system produces a certification value indicating the original content was acquired from the content acquisition device having the device identity. The system associates the certification value to the original content to produce certified content that can be verified to represent the original content that was acquired from a content acquisition device having the associated device identity while preventing modification to the original content by processing not associated with certification processing. This process is performed in an uninterrupted manner to ensure certified content reflects an accurate device identity. The system can be implemented entirely within a content acquisition device itself, or in a computer system coupled to a content acquisition device.

Abstract: A licensing server source distributes a so-called license configuration file to a client for purposes of enabling operation of a software application installed on a computer. When a user initiates execution of the vendor software for the first time, code associated with the software application accesses the license configuration file for purposes of obtaining authorization (e.g., one or more activation certificates) to operate the software application. Depending on the type of license configuration file forwarded to the respective client, the license configuration file can include either a corresponding activation certificate to operate the software or include an address of a remote source (e.g., address) in which to register and obtain authorization to operate the software application.

Abstract: A system displays a set of content slides on a graphical user interface. The system identifies navigation paths between content slides in the set of content slides, each navigation path indicating a destination content slide to be displayed after a source content slide upon user selection of a navigation choice during a presentation sequence of the content slides. For each identified navigation path, the system displays a visualization of that navigation path on the graphical user interface between the source content slide and the destination content slide associated with that navigation path. The system allows a user of the graphical user interface to alter a navigation path between content slides to change the association of that navigation path between at least one of the source content slide and the destination content slide to modify the presentation sequence of the content slides.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for setting alternate style assignments to menu elements of an application are presented. At least one menu element of an application is selected. An alternate style is assigned to the at least one menu element. The at least one menu elements of the application is displayed, wherein the at least one menu element is presented in the alternate style assigned to the element.

Abstract: A system for backing up and restoring data operates by persistently storing or backing up data from a first medium to a second medium for subsequent access by a user. In one configuration, the backup process is performed at no monetary fee or charge to the user for backup, but only charges for restoration of data. The system receives a request to restore the data and obtains or calculates a restore cost to restore the data. The system identifies a set of restoration parameters associated with the data to be restored and computes the restore cost of the data based on the set of restoration parameters. The system receives an indication that payment of a restore cost has been made to restore the data and in response, performs a restoration operation on the data to restore the data for access by a user.

Abstract: At a service provider, a system receives recipient information containing preferences to be used in an online transaction. The recipient information is received from a client. At the service provider, the system associates the recipient information with the client from which the recipient information was received, and stores the recipient information at the client. The recipient information contains preferences to be used in the online transaction.

Abstract: A system performs a pre-processing activity by identifying at least one file requiring a pre-processing activity to be performed prior to the file(s) being accessed by an application operating on a computerized device. The system schedules the pre-processing activity on the file(s) prior to receiving an invocation of the application that accesses the file(s). The pre-processing activity is scheduled to minimize a performance impact on the computerized device. The system then performs the pre-processing activity on the file(s) in accordance with the scheduling.

Abstract: To create a thumbnail version of an image associated with respective content (e.g., a web page), a computer process herein receives an identification of content formatted according to a first format. Based on the identification of the content to be converted into a thumbnail, the computer invokes a first service to utilize the content formatted according to the first format (e.g., HTML) and produce a rendition of the content according to a second format (e.g., a PDF format). The computer then invokes a second service to produce a rendition of the content according to a third format based on the rendition of the content according to the second format. The format of the thumbnail has a lower resolution compared to a respective imaging resolution associated with the PDF format to reduce network resources required to transfer the thumbnail rendition of the content to other users in a collaborative whiteboard session.

Abstract: A system renders a graphical user interface to allow editing of graphics within a work area. The system receives a start input to define a start of the work area at a start location of a pointing device on the graphical user interface. The system receives a motion input that alters a location of the pointing device on the graphical user interface from the start location to an end location. The system receives an end input to define an end of the work area at the end location of the pointing device defined upon receipt of the end input, and creates the work area in which graphics may be edited between the start location and the end location of the pointing device on the graphical user interface. The work area defines a graphics editing region confined between the start input and the end input.