Abstract: A system for viewing and manipulating information of various data types within a single document in an integrated computer system environment is disclosed. Each data type is maintained within a dataset. Datasets comprise logical information of a common data type along with the functions or processing logic to view and manipulate that data type. The logical types of information managed by datasets in the preferred embodiment include graphical objects, blocks of text, spreadsheet cells, and database records. Datasets also manage frames. Frames provide a means by which datasets are viewed and manipulated. Each dataset is responsible for managing the display of information inside one of its frames. Significantly, the present invention provides a logical independence between the information contained in a dataset and the manner in which the information is viewed and manipulated (i.e. frames). This independence provides a significant improvement in the ability to manipulate various types of information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating a teleconference between two or more digital processing systems. A method according to one aspect of the invention comprises retrieving information containing an address and configuration data for the teleconference and retrieving a teleconference application program and using the information to initiate a teleconference with the teleconference application program where the information is independent of the teleconference application program and may be shared or used by another teleconference application program and is typically stored independently of the teleconference application program. A method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of transmitting a representation of an image to a second processor and prior to receiving a confirmation of an acceptance to begin the teleconference, displaying the image at the second processor. Various examples of apparatuses which may perform these methods are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an improved stack comprises an advantageous indexing scheme and stack arrangement allowing more efficient performance of stack operations. The most-recently-used stack item appears at the top of the stack and the least-recently-used item is at the bottom of the stack. Values in between the top and bottom items are ordered from top to bottom with succeedingly less recently used items. An indexing scheme is used to indirectly reference locations of the stack items in the stack. A set of registers is used to reference the locations of the stack items in an embedded memory array. The registers function as pointers to the memory array locations. To promote an item to the top of the stack, the item is identified as the most-recently-used and the contents of the other registers are changed to specify the new locations, e.g. these pointers are shifted down one.

Abstract: A method for controlling a screen display of an electronic book. The contents of the book are displayed on a screen of the computer system as pages with which the user interacts by a pointer such as a pen or stylus. The content engine performs various functions including one or more of the following: (1) creating page displays for content of the book, (2) providing a navigation interface for identifying material in the book and moving to desired locations, (3) finding character strings located within the book, and (4) accepting handwritten information on pages of the book. The electronic book includes a "bookmark" button which when selected displays a bookmark icon and inserts a bookmark in the book at the page that is currently displayed. Thereafter the user can close the book or move to another page and automatically return to the marked page by selecting the bookmark icon.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining coherent image relationships within identified image groups in a memory system of a digital image capture device includes storing a plurality of groups of related images on a removable storage device in a hierarchical manner, and providing an alias identifier for an image file when the removable storage device has reached its storage capacity, wherein the alias identifier identifies the image file stored in a storage device of the digital image capture device. The method and system further includes providing the image file with a same file name and a substitute extension designation to correlate the image file on the storage device with an empty file of the same name on the removable storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for halftoning where at most one halftoned gray, or multi-level, pixel will occur in those halftone cells having a constant area of ink. The method and apparatus includes placing a threshold array and the pixel tonal values within the same range if the threshold array and pixel tonal values are in different ranges. The elements in the threshold array are then compared to the pixel tonal values in order to determine a resulting output value.The preferred apparatus for halftoning includes a memory for storing the threshold array; a multiplier for multiplying one 8-bit value representing the number of pixels in a halftone cell by a second 8-bit value which is a pixel tonal value; a comparator for comparing the results of the multiplier with an element from the threshold array; and a multiplexer for selecting a resulting output value based upon the output generated by the comparator.

Abstract: A method and system for processing active AFP sessions by a multithreaded file system process. The file server is coupled to entities on a network, wherein an open AFP session is created when the file server and an entity on the network establish communication, and an active AFP session is created when an AFP session has a pending request. The method and system comprises monitoring the file server for active AFP sessions. When a first active AFP session having at least one AFP request becomes available, the method and system assigns a first one of the threads to the first active AFP session for processing. The method and system preempts the processing of the first active AFP session by the first one of the threads when additional active AFP sessions are available so that the first one of the threads becomes available to process additional active AFP sessions, whereby equal processing time is provided to each one of the active AFP sessions.

Abstract: A multiple function peripheral connecting device that allows more functionality in the limited port space of a computer is disclosed. The connecting device provides the capability for external devices having different functions to be connected to the computer through a single port. This is accomplished by wiring a first function, internal to the computer, to certain pins of a modular connector, and wiring a second function, also internal to the computer, to a certain different combination of pins on the same modular connector. Because differently sized plugs can fit with the modular connector, peripherals associated with different types of systems can connect with the computer through the same single jack. Also, an adapter may be connected to the computer to allow simultaneous use of the two internal functions.

Abstract: The method and apparatus determine a specific position of a user-selectable region at a particular point in time within a sequence of display frames. The method and apparatus first interpolate between a first matrix representing the user-selectable region at a first point in time and a second matrix representing the user-selectable region at a second point in time. In one embodiment, the matrix generated by this interpolation is then applied to a region definition for the user-selectable region to determine the specific area occupied by the region at the particular point in time. According to one embodiment, the first matrix and the second matrix are both stored within the same sample of a container track. This sample corresponds to one or more frames of the sequence of display frames. In an alternate embodiment, the first matrix and the second matrix are stored in two separate samples of the container track.

Abstract: A window management mechanism allows a user to open a window as a drawer or, perhaps more appropriately named, a pop-up window. The drawer is an opened window that a user has dragged down to a drawer region at the bottom of the screen such that only the title bar or some drawer handle illustration is left showing. When the user does this, the window remains open but is kept offscreen. The user may momentarily pop the window back onto the screen by clicking on the window title bar or drawer handle, or by dragging the cursor into the window icon during a drag. The window stays onscreen as long as no other windows are selected. As soon as a user selects another window, or opens a file with a double click within the drawer, the window slides back offscreen. This allows the user to set up easy access windows. Another feature of a drawer window allows the user to open them during a drag. To do so, the user drags an object or the cursor into the drawer window that is desired to be opened.

Abstract: A display oriented software user interface for the generation and display of a secondary display region within a primary display region of a computer controlled information management system having windows or localized sections of displayable information and icons. The secondary display region, Desk Drawer, providing advanced capabilities to the management system by generating a readily accessible region wherein icons may be placed and always accessed thereafter when the secondary display region is present. The presence of the secondary display region may be governed by a separate screen region responsive to the cursor display position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing media data for transmission in a data communication medium. A set of data indicates how to transmit a time related sequence of media data according to a transmission protocol. The set of data, includes a time related sequence of data which is associated with the time related sequence of media data. The set of data may be utilized by a digital processing system to transmit the time related sequence of media data (e.g., by packets generated according to the transmission protocol and the set of data).

Abstract: A supervisory control system for a networked multimedia computing system includes an observation feature which enables a teacher, or other supervisory person, to observe a reduced view of multiple workstations at one time. The teacher is provided with a good representation of the entirety of each of the multiple screens, which enables the teacher to comprehend the type of subject matter currently being viewed by the student. If a particular student's screen is of interest, the teacher can readily select that student's screen and obtain a full-sized view thereof. In this mode, the teacher also has the option to control the student's workstation. If the number of students selected for observation is greater than the number of screens that can be presented at one time, the observation function cycles through groups of compressed screens, to permit the teacher to view all students of interest.

Abstract: Improved techniques for formatting annotated text are disclosed. Among other things, the techniques can be implemented to avoid overlapping of rubi characters to improve readability of text documents that use rubi annotation characters. One technique provides for tracking base text when an overall length of spaced apart rubi characters is greater that the overall length of the underlying selected base text. Another technique allows rubi characters to be tracked out when the overall length of the underlying selected base text is greater than the overall length of suitably spaced apart rubi characters. Yet another technique allows a rubi character to overhang with respect to a right or left edge of the selected base text.

Abstract: Enclosure panel for a mobile computer, the enclosure panel including a panel housing coupled to a portion of the mobile computer. The enclosure panel can have cosmetic or functional attributes or both. To achieve cosmetic individuality, the enclosure panel housing is made of a durable substance like transparent or colorful plastic or stainless steel, or is covered by a textile, vinyl, leather, or elastomeric material. Functional attributes include enclosure panels with pouches for storage, additional electronic component configurability, a solar power source, or a transporting means. The enclosure panel housing is interchangeable with other enclosure panel housings, providing the user with reconfigurability of a mobile computer design.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically switching the resolution of an image stored in a memory when the memory can no longer store another image with the present resolution. A processor first determines the amount of available memory in the memory for storing image data. The resolution is then automatically switched from a high resolution to a low resolution when available memory is above a first predetermined level and below a second predetermined level.