Abstract: A system and method that selects applications that are allowed to be performed by a particular user using a particular workstation is provided. The system identifies one or more roles that have been assigned to the user and matches the identified roles with one or more roles that have been assigned to the workstation. Roles that are allowed for both the workstation and the user are enabled to be used by the user using the workstation. In one embodiment, a user may be allowed to perform multiple roles from the user's workstation. The available roles are selected using an interface, such as a pop-up menu. In one embodiment, the desktop packages and components are received by, displayed on, and launched from a operating system platform-neutral shell application, such as a Java software application running on a Java virtual machine. In this manner, the packages and components are platform-independent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information to a user of products, including adhesives, sealants, coatings, lubricants, cleaners, specialty chemicals and related equipment and services, comprise displaying an image of an object representing at least one application area for at least one of said products, in response to navigation over a portion of said object by a user, presenting said user with an indication that at least one product application exists for said at least one application area, and in response to an input from said user, displaying a list of said at least one product application for said application area. The information may be provided on-line, may reside locally with a user, or a portion of the information may reside locally with a user and a portion of the information may be accessed over a network.

Abstract: A system and method in which a graphical component determines its appearance and runtime behavior based upon the type of container to which it belongs is provided. The container type corresponds to an implementation construct such as a class in C++ and Java, or a struct in C. This implementation construct is referred to as the classtype. The graphical component determines the classtype of its parent container at runtime and dynamically alters its appearance and behavior based upon a programmatic heuristic or a configuration file. For example, a smart graphical component placed inside of a container with a classtype of “desktop” may display descriptive text, however, the same component may not display the descriptive text when in a toolbar. Runtime behavior may also be determined based upon the classtype of the parent container. Component behavior resulting from user activation can also vary depending upon the parent container classtype.

Abstract: A system for enabling touch and feel over the internet provides a three-dimensional representation of a good being sold, that three-dimensional representation being viewable from a number of different directions. The good being sold is in a package and the package is displayed from the number of different directions. The present invention has the good being a book, and the inside and outside covers of the book are displayed and specified pages of the book can be displayed. The user can read from either the label or the covers just like as if the were actually handling the good.

Abstract: A method of visualizing and exploring tree structures whose interior nodes represent substantial amounts of logically related textual information. The method includes methods for partitioning tree-structured textual material into topically related clusters of adjacent items, then developing digests of each cluster. The digests include both shorter overviews and arbitrarily long summaries. The tree-structured material involved could be for example, but is not limited to, trees containing the messages and postings of an archived discussion within a newsgroup, discussion list, or on-line forum. This invention also provides methods for partitioning a two-dimensional tree visualization, called a treetable, into conveniently sized segments for detailed exploration.

Abstract: The present invention is a new 3D graphical user interface (3D GUI) technology that seamlessly integrates personal computer (PC) desktop, web portal, and data visualization functions in an intuitive 3D environment. This new paradigm in human computer interfaces provides a seamless and intuitive ability to create a 3D website, “walk” or navigate from one 3D website to another, and allows multiple users to collaborate and interact with each other and the website. The invention dynamically creates a customized 3D environment that allows intuitive access to complicated websites as well as seamless multi-user collaboration and interaction. —In a preferred embodiment of the invention—The 3D GUI installs as the active desktop on a PC, replacing the user's “wallpaper” with the 3D GUI. —In another embodiment—The 3D GUI is accessed via a standard web browser window (i.e. using Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer).

Abstract: A message object corresponding to an input voice signal moves upward as time passes, like a bubble, after the voice signal is input. Accordingly, the user can recognize the input data easily and intuitively. The user selects a desired recognized message object and drags and drops the message object to a desired destination object. In this way, the user can transmit a voice signal associated with the message object to the terminal corresponding to the destination object.

Abstract: A message viewer for generating a prioritized view of a plurality of messages stored in an email mailbox is disclosed. The viewer includes a script for defining one or more concepts against which a message can be prioritized, the or each concept comprising one or more conditions against which a message can be tested. A display script operates on each message, to generate a fit to a selected one or more of the concepts, the fit corresponding to whether or not the message fulfils the conditions. Once complete, the display script creates a display representative of the respective fits of the messages to the one or more selected concepts.

Abstract: A method for pre-segmenting a large tree or treetable for purposes of visualization and deeper exploration of individual nodes, with the segments sized so as to allow inclusion of at least some amount of content-indicative text for each node. This invention pre-partitions a tree or treetable into segments of related nodes whose approximate maximum dimension permits significant text to be presented for each node. The segments can be visually differentiated in an outline depiction of the tree or treetable as a whole, and individual segments then extracted for deeper exploration. The segments may also be constrained to represent only nodes within the same logical grouping, which may be an identified subtopic, or collection of less-focused material, or other type of grouping. When the segments are so constrained, regions of adjacent segments associated with each such grouping can also be visually differentiated from other such regions.

Abstract: On a screen of a display unit, all NODEs in a ring network to which a connected node (NODE) belongs are minimized and displayed on a screen of a display unit, and a line connecting NODEs with each other is displayed between respective NODE icons. Display colors of the NODE icon and the line icon are changed depending on presence/absence of a failure. Further, a display color of each object displayed in each window varies in a plurality of stages in accordance with a degree of a failure.

Abstract: A method of managing context-sensitive help data for a computer system includes displaying a plurality of program components to a user for interaction, and retrieving from a first memory area having a first access time first help data corresponding to a first of the components, where the first component is not interacted with by the user. Then store the first help data in a second memory area having a second access time less than the first access time. Subsequent to storing the first help data, determine whether the user has interacted with the first component, and responsive to the determination, retrieve the first help data from the second memory area and display the first help data to the user.

Abstract: Data or a message is displayed in a specific area of a display of a computer or an interactive terminal by using a local access network (LAN) card having processing resources and connected to a network, and a video card having a frame buffer. The LAN card takes control of the video card frame buffer independently of an operating system running into the computer or interactive terminal. Preferably, the LAN card and video card are connected to the computer by a PCI bus and the frame buffer of the video card is controlled by a PCI bus master mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for clustered, collaged, and artistically integrated, presentation of digitally stored objects and their images. The clusters are each embedded with each of its own link-tokens and connected to a different set of related information and objects. The clustering also enables simultaneous and collective access of information associated to all objects in the cluster. A method and apparatus for composing the clustered image from individual images, partitioning existing integrated images or photograph of multiple objects, and composing and partitioning clustered images from multiple sources, for the purpose of presenting, associating, and grouping access of categorically related objects and their associated detailed information.

Abstract: An instance browser including a repository of class and relation definitions, a server for responding to queries relating to class and relation definitions in the repository, and a graphical user interface including icons for representing instances of classes. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A support information communication system for transferring requests for information support that is to be used by personnel performing servicing, mounting and/or dismounting of a bearing and/or a seal. The system includes one or more information terminals and an information support computer.

Abstract: A method and a device for menu-assisted operator control, in particular for motor vehicles, using a multifunctional operator control, includes a multifunctional display device and a processing device which controls the display build-up of the multifunctional display device and which is able to access electronic devices to be operated and/or controlled. Assisted operator control of the electronic devices is provided in that, at least within one selection menu that is able to be displayed on the multifunctional display device, functions of one or more of the electronic devices are grouped by related objects and are displayed as object icons on the multifunctional display device.

Abstract: In an information processing apparatus and an information display method of this invention, user operates client computer to connect it to server computer by using communication line to carry out, when user accepts offer of service, e.g., offer of information, video viewing or order of goods, etc., an operation to display entrance hall within virtually actualized space on the display of the client computer, and to further display thereon plural shops by a specific pattern in relation to the entrance hall. As an example of the specific pattern, there is used a pattern such that entrance hall is disposed at one side of polygon, respective shops are disposed at other respective sides, and the entrance hall is caused to have a height capable of viewing other respective shops by bird's eye. Thus, in the three-dimensional GUI, the retrievability and the functional availability are increased.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide ways to include emotive content in written communication. The emotive content serves many needs not currently addressed in written word computer applications and text generation aids such as word processors, web publishers, email, file archives, faxes, cell phones, PDAs other applications. Adding emotive content to messages adds information, which can help to interpret and amplify the text message, improve the message integrity and fidelity of communication. Emotional content can contain and convey the subliminal messages, which are vital to a user's interaction with one another via modern communication technologies. Aspects of the invention provide ways for the sender or author to add emotional content, which can capture, maintain, and focuses a receiver's interest. Current expression of emotive content and emotive intensity in written word are rarely used because of lack of writing ability, lack of facilitation or lack of capability.

Abstract: A conversation support system and a conversation support method for providing a realtime communications environment in which a plurality of users simultaneously participate in a virtual world built and provided on a computer network for realtime talking. A shared virtual space accommodates remote communications infrastructures such as mobile telephone, PHS, and public telephone. Avatars can have a talk with each other by use of these infrastructures regardless of the locations of the communicating avatars, namely regardless of whether each avatar is inside or outside its aura. Namely, the avatars can communicate each other beyond a single shared virtual world. The PHS owned by each avatar can communicate with any PHS in another virtual world or even in the real world.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed which may adopt one of many personas, depending upon the role that its owner is currently playing. The computer system includes a central repository of extensible personas available to all applications running on the computer system. Each such persona has associated therewith a suite of parameters, or specific values for parameters, which are appropriate for conducting computer implemented transactions under a particular persona. The computer system further includes a graphical user interface which allows the user to switch from persona to persona by selecting a particular persona from a list of available personas displayed on a display screen of the computer system. By selecting such persona, the user causes the computer system to globally change the entire suite of parameter values so that subsequent transactions conducted with the computer system employ the parameter values of the current persona.