Abstract: Systems and methods for providing related commercial content to a user. Systems and methods can include extraction or development of data from metadata and searching for related commercial content based upon the extracted or developed data.

Abstract: Instances of media items are generated from a selection of media items. The instances are scaled and rotated within a display environment.

Abstract: A video device displays a video event in a view context. In response to a menu command, the video event is displayed in a perspective view context and a playlist is generated adjacent the video event being displayed in the perspective view context.

Abstract: A search menu includes a search input field and input characters rendered on a multi-dimensional displacement surface that rotates in response to a user input. A highlight region intersects the multi-dimensional displacement surface and highlights input characters while the input characters intersect the highlight region according to the rotation of the multi-dimensional displacement surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems that improve the way media is played, sorted, modified, stored and cataloged are disclosed. One aspect relates to a browse window that allows a user to navigate through and select images that are related to media items. Another aspect relates to a graphical user interface of a media management program that utilizes multiple browse windows. Another aspect relates to simultaneously displayed media browse windows whose operations are integrated together so that the content shown therein is automatically synched when selections are made. Another aspect relates to resetting browsed content to the currently playing media.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing enhanced metadata to a user. Systems and methods can include extraction of data from metadata and searching for related metadata based upon the extracted data.

Abstract: The present invention can relate to an electronic device having one or more support tabs that protect a circuit board disposed inside the device from externally applied compressive forces. In particular, when a force is applied to a housing of the device, the support tabs can buttress the housing of the device, either directly or through other intervening components disposed within the device, to reduce the likelihood that the housing or intervening components will contact and damage the circuit board. The present invention also can relate to methods for manufacturing such an electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for graphically depicting program depth are provided. Systems and methods can include generation of an edit pane and a ribbon column. The edit pane displays the program code, while a ribbon column displays the depth of an associated row of program code.

Abstract: A cooling system for a computer is provided. In one implementation, the cooling system includes a heat spreader that is in thermal contact with a heat generating component in the computer, a frame casting, and a heat pipe to passively dissipate heat generated from the heat generating component in the computer to the frame casting. The heat pipe includes a first portion that is co-planar with and in direct contact with the heat generating component, and a second portion that is in thermal contact with the frame casting.

Abstract: A media device for storing and playing media such as audio, video or images, includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of media items in a digital format. The media device also includes a display configured to present a group of media items from the plurality of stored media items and to present a visual indicator that is capable of scrolling through the displayed group of media items in order to designate a specific media item from the group of media items. The media deice further includes a touch pad configured to receive input from a sliding motion or a tapping motion of a finger. The sliding motion of the finger controls the movement of the visual indicator through the group of media items. The tapping motion of the finger selects the specific media item that is designated by the visual indicator.

Abstract: A system and method of rendering overlapping layers in a computer display, such as a windowing system, employs front-to-back assembly of the displayed image. An arbitrary number of overlapping elements, such as windows, can be presented, without requiring temporary storage space or additional off-screen buffers. The front-to-back assembly technique minimizes the number of memory transfers performed in connection with rendering an image, and avoids unnecessary reading and processing of pixels that will not contribute to the final image. Special effects such as semi-transparency, shadows, and irregular shapes can be accommodated and processed in an efficient manner.

Abstract: User preferences and configuration information are determined automatically when a user account is created. The configuration information is derived from service configuration files. The user account and configuration information is stored in a directory such that it is accessible by a client and applied to applications executing on the client.

Abstract: In a pixel imaging method and system, pixel information is stored into backing stores in system memory of a computer. A graphics processing unit (GPU) composites the pixel information into a first assembly buffer that has a first color depth of at least greater than 8-bits per color component. The GPU dithers and filters the pixel information in the first assembly buffer into a second assembly buffer. The second assembly buffer has a second color depth that is different from the first color depth of the first assembly but is the same as the color depth of the computer's frame buffer. The GPU copies the pixel information from the second assembly buffer into the frame buffer (optionally modifying them such as, by filtering), and scan-out hardware outputs the pixel information in the frame buffer to a display of the computer.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) element permits a user to control an application in both a coarse manner and a fine manner. When a cursor is moved to coincide or overlap the displayed GUI element, parameter adjustment is made at a first (coarse) granularity so that rapid changes to the target parameter can be made (e.g., displayed zoom level, image rotation or playback volume). As the cursor is moved away from the displayed GUI element, parameter adjustment is made at a second (fine) granularity so that fine changes to the target parameter can be made. In one embodiment, the further the cursor is moved from the displayed GUI element, the finer the control.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronization including the use of a global equivalency identification datum or set of datum. A universally unique identification datum may be associated with each independently created associated data set. In some embodiments, a synchronization server software element may be responsible for maintaining synchronization for a plurality of clients, including software elements or devices. A record believed to be new by the software elements may verify that the record is actually new. In some embodiments, verification of the record's newness involves assuming that the local ID is a global identification datum and comparing that datum to the all the sets of datum that the Sync-Server knows about. The synchronization server software element may use a table to hold information for all of the records known to that element. In some embodiments these records may have been deleted in the past.

Abstract: A framework for performing graphics animation and compositing operations has a layer tree for interfacing with the application and a render tree for interfacing with a render engine. Layers in the layer tree can be content, windows, views, video, images, text, media, or any other type of object for a user interface of an application. The application commits change to the state of the layers of the layer tree. The application does not need to include explicit code for animating the changes to the layers. Instead, an animation is determined for animating the change in state. In determining the animation, the framework can define a set of predetermined animations based on motion, visibility, and transition. The determined animation is explicitly applied to the affected layers in the render tree. A render engine renders from the render tree into a frame buffer for display on the computer system.

Abstract: A method and data structure for improving the utility of graphics compositions is disclosed. In one embodiment, composition files are created through the connection of patches in a composition editor. Automatically included with the created composition file is protocol information. Preferably such protocol information is included as metadata in the header of the composition file, and can be constructed in any suitable fashion. So constructed, composition files can be grouped together in a physical or virtual repository accessible to other application programs. Another user can then pick an appropriate composition for a new project based on review and filtering of the protocols as contained in the header information of the repositoried composition files. Such review and filtering can be accomplished using a composition picker user interface in the user's application program. The repository can then be queried for composition files matching or otherwise compatible with the specified protocol.

Abstract: Multiple devices are automatically configured within a cluster through the use of exclusive file locks in a shared file system. The devices execute a process to determine the health of the enabled services and check for failed services. Actions are tailored based upon which services and roles are enabled for a specific device to maintain a relationship and sharing of information and data between the devices.

Abstract: Video data of a videoconference participant is generated and filtered versions of the video data are simultaneously displayed. One of the filtered versions is selected and transmitted to other videoconference participants.

Abstract: Resource restrictions are associated with a user identifier. A resource restriction agent receives operating system calls related for resources and provides resource request data to a resource agent. The resource agent determines whether the resource is restricted based on the resource request data and resource restriction data and generates access data based on the determination. The resource restriction agent grants or denies the system call based on the access data.