Abstract: Information presentation system comprises a computer device having a display terminal for providing a graphical user interface (GUI), capable of generating a cluster of items comprising graphical or textual elements for display thereof according to a fractal appearance. Each item in a cluster represents information having a degree of relatedness with information represented by other items in a cluster. A control mechanism is provided for controlling the spatial extent, nesting and arrangement of items within a cluster according to a specified criteria, which spatial extent and arrangement is controlled to provide optimal display and conserve screen display space on the display terminal. Users may manually enter a criteria for organizing and adjusting the spatial extent of a cluster in order to provide continuous display space on the computer display terminal.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method for controlling selection of data displayed on a display device. A desired area of the displayed data is selected using an input device, and a processor compares a size corresponding to the selected desired area to a maximum storage capacity of a memory device that stores the selected desired area. The processor controls the size of the selected desired area not to exceed the maximum storage capacity of the memory device.

Abstract: A method and system for im porting database information or data is disclosed. Generally, the method includes the steps of receiving first information relating to the first database, extracting from the first database second information, processing the second information to provide at least a first expanded name relating to a first item of the second information, and storing the first expanded name, for example in a database structure, such as a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (“LDAP”) directory. Thereafter, the method may include the step of processing a query directed to obtaining information from distributed database, including the first database.

Abstract: Self-describing information is included within a device and contains information relating to a graphical representation of the device, the controls available on the device and the interface required to access those controls. The self-describing information is preferably embedded within a ROM within the device and is read by other devices coupled to the device for presenting a graphical user interface through which the device can be remotely controlled by a user. The self-describing information can also include an address from which additional information about the device and upgrades are automatically obtained. This address is either an internet address or points to a location within a network of devices. The address can also be modifiable. Alternatively, the self-describing information also includes driving software for enhancing the graphical user interface and controlling the operation of the device through another system.

Abstract: A system that includes a pop-up graphical user interface that includes menu bars overlapping marking menu zones. The interface pops up at the current position of the cursor when the space bar is held down. The menu bars are positioned around a central marking zone with the common menu bars located above the central zone and task specific menu bars located below the central zone. The common application menu bar is positioned outer most and the common window menu bar is located inner most. The menu bars are sized in a “stair-step” pattern and the commands therein are left and right justified to fill the menu bar evenly. The menu bar menu items are accessed just like menu bar items typically found at the top of windows. The menu bars mimic the menu bars that a user may need to use during tasks that users typically perform using the menu bars found in application windows.

Abstract: An internet on-demand system for television presents internet content and traditional television programming as part of a single coherent interface. The user can select a channel from a rotary menu wheel. The system includes a server and a client capable of providing a dynamic graphical user interface. The system can display an internet gateway interface which actively scrolls through and highlights links to selected web pages which are organized according to templates corresponding to their content. The web pages are presented on the graphical user interface as channels as part of the same milieu as channels of traditional television programming. An intelligent agent passively filters selected web pages for a user to explore based on the user's past pattern of usage of the client.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for utilizing a Desktop user interface to access remote FTP hosts. The present invention is intended to eliminate the context switch between user interface metaphors when users want to utilize FTP and its associated file transfer functionality to access data on remote filed systems. A method and system in accordance for allowing a remote host using a user interface of a processing system comprising the steps of identifying a plurality of programming interface operations for the remote host and mapping a user interface code to the programming interface operations to allow for the user interface to be utilized when accessing the remote host The system and method in accordance with the present invention maps the FTP command line operations to iterations on and between objects that are already present in a user interface metaphor of the operating system of a computer system. In so doing, the FTP host appears to be an extension of the computer system.

Abstract: A user interface component and method of using the same graphically display linked records with node display elements representing individual records, and optional link display elements representing the links therebetween. The user interface component may be automatically and dynamically generated during navigation between linked records, such that whenever a new link is taken from a record represented by a node display element, a new node display element is generated. In addition, the user interface component may further be configured to graphically represent the particular location of a particular link within a record, as well as a scroll display element associated with selected node display elements such that specific data or locations within the records associated therewith may be accessed. Moreover, the user interface component may also be configured to incorporate a retrieve progress display element that indicates a current status of a retrieve operation for a record.

Abstract: A method and system is presented which enables the user to maintain the receipt of information from an application bar while the application bar is minimized. In addition, the conveyance of information and availability of controls to the user is maintained while the user moves the window which the application bar is docked to off or around the presentation space.

Abstract: A network communication system is disclosed that does not require modification of or addition to software at a manager or agents. An agent-specific information-common conversion processor carries out conversions between agent-specific information, which is information that can be recognized by exchanges, i.e., the agents, and common information, which is information that can be recognized by the network management system, i.e., the manager that manages the agents. In addition, an interface conversion processor selects the most suitable program and GUI application files for executing set functions and services and notifies the manager.

Abstract: A graphical user interface permits a user to graphically designate a range within data files as input to operations that manipulate the data and permits the user to graphically represent operations that thereafter can be selected for execution. In this way, a user can graphically designate a range of records within a data file on which a desired data manipulation operation will occur and can graphically represent the desired data manipulation operation with a single icon that can be selected for execution.

Abstract: Multi-user communication of multimedia content in a client-server system is provided by dividing a client's scene into non-shared and shared parts. In one embodiment, the non-shared parts of the scene are organized into one or more MPEG-4 Group nodes. The shared parts of the scene are organized into one or more multi-user group nodes, each of which is an extension of an MPEG-4 Group node. In addition to the functionality provided by an MPEG-4 Group node, a multi-user group node provides boolean exposed fields that act as switches to control initiation of interaction, update control, privacy, and object accessibility.

Abstract: Computerized apparatus for identifying human difficulties in operating a computerized system, the apparatus including a human difficulty identifier operative to identify putative instances of an end user's experience of difficulty in operating the computerized system, an operation recorder operative to store a record of the end user's operations during each such putative instance, an intention recorder operative to prompt an end user to indicate his intention during each such putative instance and to store the intention in association with the record of operations for the putative instance and an output generator operative to generate an output indication of the record of operations and of the end user's intention for each of the putative instances of experiences of difficulty.

Abstract: In a computer employing a graphical user interface (GUI), a method for displaying controls in command bars, which replace conventional menu bars and toolbars. Command bars employ a unified data structure that allows all types of controls to be included in both menu-like command bars and toolbar-like command bars. Command bars may be customized by dragging controls from a list of available commands or from another command bar. By not restricting the types of controls that can appear in each command bar, controls may be grouped to associate drop down menu controls with pushbutton controls. Menu-like command bars and toolbar-like command bars may be merged in a way that provides an intuitive and advantageous listing of commands. Menu popups may be torn off using a clearly indicated drag handle.

Abstract: An information management and synchronous communications system and method facilitates database equilibrium and synchronization with wired, wireless and Web-based systems, user-friendly and efficient generation of computerized menus and reservations for restaurants and other applications that utilize equipment with nonstandard graphical formats, display sizes and/or applications for use in remote data entry, information management and communication with host computer, digital input device or remote pager via standard hardwired connection, the internet, a wireless link or the like.

Abstract: An architecture for facilitating Web based Calendar client side event scheduling and, the association process between Java calendar applet (“Capplet”) and calendar event. Intent scheduling and calendaring groupware that coordinates group schedules. It features concurrent Capplets running within any of the four calendar grids, namely, monthly, weekly, multiple days and daily.

Abstract: A method and apparatus implementing a separate child context for each applet (or similar element) of a browser. A described embodiment of the present invention provides one or more child contexts that correspond to elements in the HTML for a web page displayed by a browser. For example, each applet executed by the browser has a corresponding and separate child context that points to an associated portion of a browser memory. The browser also has a parent context, which each child context points to. When a graphic is displayed via a widget, the widget draws the graphic (such as a panel or a non-pressed button) in the child context of the applet and sets a “damage” flag in the child context. When the browser performs its main browser loop, it checks the status of the damaged flag for each element (including each applet).

Abstract: A system and a method in accordance with the invention utilize hidden links, mapping and unmapping to enable single-screen visualization of hyperbolic space with multiple path links. In the preferred embodiment, the hyperbolic space is a display of a tree structure having nodes in which each child node has a single primary parent that is linked to the child node by a primary path. The nodes also include secondary paths. The system includes a multi-path processor that is used to manage three basic processing elements. As a first element, a multi-path property is added to each child node to indicate whether the child node has at least one secondary path in addition to its primary path. As a second element, an examiner checks each child node's multi-path property when a user focuses on that child node. If the node has at least one secondary path, the multi-path processor invokes the proper actions, such as mapping and unmapping.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a hardware graphics accelerator for use in a computer system having a data processor, a system bus, and a memory subsystem including both main memory and video memory. The hard-ware graphics accelerator includes a datapath controller connected to the system bus and to the memory subsystem for receiving data from the memory subsystem, performing an operation upon the data, and returning the data to the memory subsystem; and a memory controller connected to the system bus, to the datapath controller, and to the memory subsystem for controlling the memory subsystem such that at one time the datapath controller receives the data from the main memory and at another time the datapath controller receives the data from the video memory.

Abstract: An improved graphical control for desktop computing systems utilizes one or more control devices with adjustable opacity and size to allow an operator to perform desired operations or edit object properties while also minimizing screen clutter. According to the illustrative embodiment, the graphical control is implemented as one or more “rollerballs” having a peripheral border defining a central interior region. The speed with which the selected value scrolls is dependent upon the active region of the rollerball currently selected. Values associated with the data entity may be scrolled at a rate, which increases nonlinearly as the selected portion of the active region progresses from the central interior region toward the peripheral border. A group of rollerballs, each representing a different entity may be moved collectively about the desktop and ordered in accordance with a predefined criteria, such as frequency of user selection.