Abstract: A programmable remote control is implemented using a standard personal computer. The computer controls the output of, for example, an infrared transmitter to control various devices such as televisions, stereos, videocassette recorders or cd players. The computer can alter the type of commands issued from the transmitter based upon a command structure stored on a hard disk within the computer. This database is updatable from a variety of sources.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting priority assigned to execution of applications, tasks, or workspaces. A display of visual indicators is provided, corresponding to a differing task. By selecting an indicator, priority given to task execution is altered as the task is moved into a focused state as a result of such selection. A window manager between a server and application registers in the server adjusted state of a particular application as either in focus or cleared. An application, through its corresponding window-id, detects from the server that an adjustment in priority is desired. A mapping function such as a lookup table maps the window id to a corresponding process-id which is then utilized by the application in a process table. The information from the window manager passed through the display server is utilized by the application to adjust its own priority relative to the remaining applications in the operating system's process table. A WM.sub.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a three-dimensional (3-D) mouse in a graphic-user-interface based operating system, such as the WINDOWS operating systems from Microsoft Corporation, is provided. This method allows the 3-D mouse to emulate the functions of the IntelliMouse from Microsoft Corporation, including control of the scroll bars of the active window and special functions such as the auto-scrolling operation and the fast-scrolling operation. Provided that the active window is able to read IntelliMouse-compliant windows commands, the 3-D mouse can also be used to carry out the standard IntelliMouse functions, such as scrolling the scroll bars and resizing the active window.

Abstract: A user friendly remote interface system which provides previews in a GUI and viewing environment for a computer user is disclosed. Upon highlighting a selection on a menu, the system accesses and displays a description of the selection stored apart from the selection without having to retrieve into memory the entire application corresponding to a selection. The description may include text, audio, and video descriptions of the selection. Further, the description may be independent from the content contained within the application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing access to a first application in a graphical user interface is described. For a first window having the current focus, a determination is made as to whether the first window is associated with the first application. A menu icon is placed within a title bar of the first window if the first application is not associated with the first window. A menu associated with the first application is provided if the menu icon is selected. A method of proportionate placement of the menu icon when resizing or switching between windows is also described. A computer implemented method of repositioning a menu icon is provided to maintain proportional location of the menu icon when switching from a first application window to a second application window or when forming a second application window by resizing the first application window.

Abstract: The invention concerns using multiple computers to hold a conference. Under the invention, an application program can run on a single computer, yet remote participants can issue commands to the program. Remote participants can watch the program operate, because the invention replicates the display window of the running program onto the displays of the remote computers. Any participant can make annotations on the participant's own computer display. The invention copies the annotations to the displays of the other participants.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for organizing and accessing visual objects includes a navigable structure. The navigable structure includes a sequence of one or more levels with each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links. The visual objects within a level are interconnected to visual objects within adjacent levels using vertical links. The visual objects within a level may also interconnected to visual objects within non-adjacent levels using hyperspace links. A navigator is provided that allows the user to follow the links included in the navigable structure. At each destination reached by the user, the navigator allows the user to access the visual object.

Abstract: A signage display apparatus 6 is provided for use on a kiosk or automated teller machine 8 for displaying information concerning a service offered by the provider of the drive-through or teller machine services. The apparatus includes a base 18, a pair of opposed, upstanding panels 20 that are sealed together along the side edges thereof, and an elongated hood 22 received over top edges of the panels. A gasket 32 is sandwiched between the hood and the top edges of the panels to seal them against the passage of moisture between the top edges of the panels. The base 18 is secured to the kiosk or teller machine 8 within the line of sight of users such that the apparatus displays information concerning a service offered by the service provider to anyone making a transaction.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus with which a user can establish a personal information environment in a group work by enabling the user to individually control information from his viewpoint, which is distributedly controlled by respective unique control methods in a variety of systems concerning the group work, and user can arrange information freely and without any distinction between files managed by a group and personal local documents.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for converting images to an arbitrary palette in a computer. A map table is created from the palette, wherein index entries referencing color values in the palette are stored at nodes in the table having coordinates derived from the referenced color values. For each pixel of an input datastream, the coordinates of the node in the map table representing a color value closest to the color value of the pixel are calculated from the color value for the pixel. An output datastream is created using the color value in the palette referenced by the index entry stored in the node.

Abstract: A method of producing a network navigation device which includes writing machine-readable data (16) to a substrate (12), and writing a human-viewable image (14) to the substrate (12). The machine-readable data (16) provides an instruction for linking to a resource in an electronic network (20). The human-viewable image (14) is associated with the resource.

Abstract: A computer method for utilizing a Virtual Tesseract, having all the features, and exercising all the potential for multiple movements of objects, conditions, arrays, interphasing and intra-relating on an integer base by simple computer register shifts.

Abstract: A search interface is provided that is easy to use and understand. A unique visual metaphor in the form of a "highlight" tool is used for this purpose. The highlighting tool is used to identify search terms. In one embodiment, a user uses the tool to mark text on a document, such as an HTML document displayed in a Web browser. Upon selection of this text, and preferably following a time delay, a pop-up menu appears that offers the user the option of searching for this text. After searching and receiving the results, the user can again use the highlighting tool to mark one or more words/terms (or other information, such as a URL) within the results listed.

Abstract: Interface object classes providing a template class (402) for list boxes (500) and a template class (410) for combo boxes (506) which encapsulates a linkage mechanism to associate the items listed in the list box and combo box to objects (614) in a business object (612). When an item is selected in a list box or combo box, the object associated with the selected item is referenced automatically without explicit coding.

Abstract: A tree view control is provided as a system resource that may be used by application programs. The tree view control enables an application program to display a hierarchical list of items. The hierarchical list of items may be expandable or collapsible so as to vary the view of the hierarchical tree that is visible to a user. The expansion and collapsing of the tree is performed by a mechanism that is independent of the selection mechanism that is used to select items in the hierarchical tree. An in-place editing mechanism is provided to facilitate the in place editing of labels of items in the hierarchical tree. As an optimization, the tree view control may provide for deferred evaluation of items such that the display information needed to display an item on an output device is not evaluated until needed.

Abstract: Provided is a dynamic control (dycon). A dycon is a conventional control coupled with a dedicated display means, coordinated by data processing. Preferably, the dedicated display means is affixed to the control. A dycon has one, and only one, dedicated display means which depicts information for only that particular dycon. A dycon's dedicated display means has one, and only one, mechanical control for which it displays meaning. Information displayed on the dedicated display means assigns a current meaning to the dycon. A dycon may have many meanings over a period of time as indicated by the many variations in what is displayed for the dycon.

Abstract: An electronic publication publishing and distribution system is provided for dissemination of written materials that can be read on a portable electronic book. A host computer contains an inventory of written materials in electronic form, that can be selected and then downloaded into the portable electronic book's memory. The host computer keeps track of the transactions, and encodes the data prior to downloading, using an encryption system involving a security number that is unique to the portable electronic book. The encrypted data cannot be decrypted until it is resident in the memory of the portable electronic book. Upon receipt of the encrypted data, the portable electronic book decrypts the data, and can display the text of the original material on its display screen. The portable electronic book has a central processing unit with an operating system for controlling the functions of the portable electronic book.

Abstract: The system, method, and program of this invention allows a user to specify one of a plurality of print layout combinations. Upon specifying a specific combination, an animation, embedded in the graphical user interface and within the dialog for making the selection, shows the page layout and rotates the sheet, about the applicable axis of the sheet, from front to back to show how the selected page layout would appear. Numbers on the animated sheet are used to show the layout of sequential pages. Numbers are used instead of displaying specific page content. The animation gives a clear practical way of visually conveying to a user how a specified page layout combination would appear when printed.

Abstract: A remote control system for remotely controlling a Microsoft Windows or other GUI-based first computer from a second computer over the internet using only a standard world-wide-web hypertext browser on the second computer. The second controlling computer may be dissimilar from the first controlled computer user interface, underlying operating system, and hardware architecture.

Abstract: A method for selecting data storage media for demount in an automated storage library, and an automated storage library and program product therefor are disclosed. Preemptive demount of storage media is permitted when all peripheral storage devices in the library are occupied and one or more of such devices remains inactive for a predetermined time. Storage media may be demounted to service existing mount requests, provided the peripheral storage devices in which the media are mounted are inactive. There is also a need, however, to ensure the availability of an empty device to service future mount requests, particularly in libraries having only a single gripper mechanism. Thus, even when no mount requests are pending, the status of the peripheral storage devices is continually monitored.