Abstract: A device for storing information electronically and which has a pen-sensitive screen enabling a user to make freehand input has the screen divided into two areas--a main area and a subsidiary area adjacent the main area.The user can tag items of freehand input causing a tag item to be displayed alongside the freehand input and can subsequently manipulate (eg delete, move, copy) the freehand input by selecting and manipulating the associated tag item.Tag items provide a permanent way of structuring data and are an elegant way of uniting several data manipulations.

Abstract: A method for automatically assigning multimedia features to map views selected "on the fly" in a computer-based multimedia atlas program. The atlas program allows a user to pan and zoom over the globe so that the map views selected by the user are not necessarily the best-view map of any particular map entity. The multimedia atlas program assigns a "place context" to a selected map view, which identifies and serves as the title of the map. The place context is a particular map entity that has an associated set of multimedia features, such as videos, music, pictures, etc. Control items associated with the multimedia features for the place context are then displayed for selection by the user. A "parent context," which identifies a larger map that the selected map view is a part of, is also assigned to the selected map view. The user may select a parent context control item to cause the control items for selecting the multimedia features for the parent context to be displayed for selection by the user.

Abstract: A system for designing a multimedia application (27) is provided. The system includes an assembly template (14, 16, 18) having predetermined processor operating commands and related data. The assembly template (14, 16, 18) is adapted to allow a user to add to and modify and the processor operating commands and related data, and to generate multimedia application navigator system controls (22). A processor (10, 56) receives the modified processor commands of the assembly template (14, 16, 18) and generates the multimedia application navigator system controls (22).

Abstract: A system for creating and manipulating groups of graphic objects using enclosures. A persistent graphic object, such as a closed loop is drawn around a set of graphic objects as an enclosure. When the enclosure is selected the enclosure and the set of graphic objects within are grouped. Besides moving graphic objects into and out of the enclosure, the contents of a group can then be modified by 1) graphically altering the enclosure loop to include or remove graphic objects, 2) fusing groups by moving one of them so that their enclosure loops overlap (i.e., they "fuse" into one), 3) fusing groups through gestures which "touch" enclosure loops of the groups to be fused or 4) splitting the group into multiple groups through a splitting gesture.

Abstract: Text of a predetermined class is recognized in a body of text. After recognition, operations relevant to the recognized text may be performed. For example, text such as telephone numbers, telefax numbers, and dates can be recognized in a body of text. Options are provided for selecting and running operations and programs relevant to the recognized text, such as, telephone dialers, telefaxing programs, writable databases etc. Libraries of subroutines are provided for each class of text to be recognized. Each library typically includes a plurality of operations which may be run on the particular class of text. The libraries are recognized at run time of an application, so that additional libraries and operations may be added without a need for recompiling. A single class of text is recognizable in a number of formats without limits as to the origin of the body of text.

Abstract: An image display apparatus is disclosed in which a graphic image of, for example, the earth, a message, and a calendar are displayed on a display unit. This image display apparatus is practical and prevents an operator from losing his/her interest in looking at the display.

Abstract: Besides fixed display element information for merely displaying a fixed screen, variable display element information for variably displaying a variable display element whose display content changes, input element information representing the relationship of correspondence between the input means and an operation switch contained in a relevant component, and the operation program information for operating the relevant component as required, which are necessary for the relevant component to completely function as a component, are capable of being set and registered with respect to component data. In addition, the set and registered component is allowed to be handled in a component data unit when user screen data is generated. Accordingly, if the components are registered in a library, the possibility of use by a third party can be drastically increased, and the number of work steps during the screen generation by the user can be drastically decreased.

Abstract: The information search apparatus of the invention includes: a memory for storing character information therein, a display tablet having a function of displaying at least one character information and a function of inputting data, a detecting section for detecting a position at which an input pen has come into contact with the display tablet, and a control section for performing a control such that a function cursor, used for searching for arbitrary character information through the character information, is displayed at the detected position. In the information search apparatus, the control section extracts a plurality of character information from the character information for searching for the arbitrary character information through the character information.

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: A user interface with embedded or linked objects is enclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a computer program, operating with a GUI and capable of linking or embedding an object from an application program into the GUI. The program includes instructions for determining a size of the object, instructions for determining whether the object is in an active mode, instructions for providing a first frame size of a container if the object is not in the active mode, and instructions for providing a second frame size if the object is in the active mode. The frame can simply represent the size of the container or an actual border around the container. The computer program also provides a first client window that is responsive to whether or not the object is active. Furthermore, the computer program adjusts the location of the object on the display when the object is in the active mode, provides space for controls of the objects server application, and provides appropriate pop-up menus for the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically arranging windows on a display device where each of a first set of the plurality of windows includes a class designation, and the class designation for each window of this first set of windows can be different. The method identifies the class designation for each window of this first set of windows and arranges the first set of windows on the display according to the class designation of each window of the first set.

Abstract: Software implementing a display technique called "miniviews." Miniviews provide a single viewing mechanism for information from a variety of sources and keep supplemental and related information within easy reach by a user without interrupting the flow of a main information concept. Miniviews are displayed when predetermined portions of the surrounding browser is expanded and can be displayed in any order as predetermined by the author, depending on the portions of the surrounding browser expanded by the user. Miniviews reference the original copy of the information displayed therein, such that if the information at the single location is changed, information displayed in the miniview is also changed. A miniview of information attempts to duplicate the appearance of the native browser for that information. At the same time, where a native browser allows the user to range freely through a certain type of information, miniviews only allow a predetermined amount of information from given source to be displayed.

Abstract: A method for designing networks including placing device icons representing intelligent device objects on a network design sheet, selecting a media type representing an intelligent media object, and connecting the media type to a first one of the device icons. The method further includes validating the connection to the first one of the device icons.

Abstract: A screen conversion mechanism is disclosed that converts character-based data information from multiple screens to graphical-based data information for display in a single graphical panel. The screen conversion mechanism allows the functions and options available in character-based applications, typically located on a host system and often across several screens, to be converted on the fly for display on graphical-based user terminal. The single graphical panel allows the user to access all functions or options.

Abstract: A programmable, medical imaging system which incorporates algorithms for enhancing the usability of the system for clinicians is described. With respect to programmability, and in one aspect, the present invention relates to a programmable system which includes a learn mode usable for script generation. In the learn mode, a user can rehearse a sequence of actions and save those actions to be replayed later. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to an algorithm which provides a non-blocking, synchronous interface to an underlying asynchronous architecture. Generally, the algorithm decouples the client-server portion of the application from the synchronous development environment. Using this algorithm, a programmer can develop a non-blocking, highly interactive, client-server application without having to resort to asynchronous programming techniques.

Abstract: Manual actuation of a stop/eject button on a computer causes a signal to be sent to both the computer's operating system and to a wireless communication controller. The operating system interprets this signal in a manner analogous to a conventional signal to open the drawer, or door, of a compact disk drive device when a compact disk is not currently present in the drive device. If a compact disk is present in the device, the operating system ignores the signal. In this case, the communications controller operates in a normal fashion to interrupt access to the compact disk, instruct the operating system to unmount the disk, and thereafter eject the disk by opening the drive door.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simplifying active window selection and shared command execution in a computer system generates a menu corresponding to a first application of a plurality of applications which can be executed concurrently in the computer system. The menu identifies a subset of the plurality of applications whose corresponding windows can be made currently active. Additionally, one or more of the subset of applications is installed but is not executing at the computer system. A selection identifying one of the subset of applications is then received, and a window corresponding to the identified one of the subset of applications is made the currently active window. In one embodiment, the menu also includes a set of shared commands which can be executed in the computer system. These shared commands perform the same function for each application of the subset of applications. In this embodiment, upon selection of one of the shared commands from the menu, the selected command is executed.

Abstract: A method and system of sequencing menu items of a menu-driven user/system interface includes a resequencing of the menu items in response to the frequency of selection and/or a shift in the primary responsibility of a user. In one embodiment, an initial sequence of the serially presented menu items is stored. The selection of each menu item is counted. The menu items are then rearranged to provide a frequency-based order that presents the most often selected items before the less likely to be selected menu items. The step of resequencing the menu items may be limited to input of a resequencing command by a user or may be limited to predetermined time periods. As another optional feature, the "learning" that occurs by counting the selections can be downloaded from one system and uploaded to another system. In a second embodiment, the rearrangement is task-based.

Abstract: A method for designing networks including auditing a network to discover a present network configuration, creating a network design sheet from the discovered network configuration, placing device icons representing intelligent device objects on the network design sheet, selecting a media type representing an intelligent media object, and connecting the media type to a first one of the device icons. The method further includes validating the connection to the first one of the device icons.

Abstract: A computer system includes a information type source file, an information value file and a dynamic dialog box processor. The information type source file includes a plurality of text entries in, for example, ASCII text form, which can be easily edited by an operator. The information value file includes a plurality of value entries each for storing a value used in other processing by the computer system. The dynamic dialog box processor uses the text entries from the information type source file to generate a dialog box for display to an operator, and receives information values provided by an operator in connection with respective information text entries to update the values in the value entries in the information value file. Since the ASCII text entries in the information type source file can be easily edited, the particular types of information to be provided through the dynamic dialog box can be easily modified by the operator with a minimum of programming and debugging effort.