Abstract: A user interface for a TV recommender system includes a display screen having a first region for displaying a rating derived from a previously defined TV viewing preference profile contained in the recommender system; and a second region displaying preference settings in the profile which were used to derive the rating. The user interface enables the preference settings to be changed if the rating derived by the profile is incorrect. Additionally, the user interface allows for new features to be added to the profile, which were not previously a part of the profile.

Abstract: A presentation service architecture in a netcentric computing system that includes a client connected with a web server. A desktop manager service for allowing users to manipulate files and launch applications that are located on the client. The presentation service architecture includes a direct manipulation service, a form service, a input device service, a report and print service, a user navigation service, a web browser service and a window system service. Each of these services of the presentation service architecture provides an optimal arrangement for a business enterprise to use in a netcentric computing system.

Abstract: A control panel for an electrical/electronic device allows a user to use the control panel without looking at the control panel. The control panel is formed by a graphic user interface (GUI) having a display for displaying various control icons for controlling the device. The display is touch sensitive so that a user is able to select the control function by pressing on the appropriate control icon. The display further has touch detectability for enabling a user to distinguish between the icons by touch. The touch detectability may be in the form of the surface of the display having raised portion in the vicinity of the control icons. While the positioning of the raised portions may be fixed, to allow for changing layouts of the control icons, the display may be flexible and an array of actuators may underlie the display whereby the actuators are selectively activated to press against the underside of the display thereby raising the upper surface of the display in the vicinities of the control icons.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed comprising a videomark controller and videomark computer software for creating videomarks for a video program. When a user desires to mark an event in a video program the user sends a videomark creation command to the videomark controller. The videomark controller creates a videomark that corresponds to the time of receipt of the videomark creation command and enters a user annotation that references the content of the video program. The videomark controller is capable of creating a file that contains a plurality of videomarks for the video program. The videomarks may be displayed in a videomark menu or in a videomark timeline in which a videomark display icon represents each videomark. Each videomark may be selected to access its respective portion of the video program.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modifying the manner in which a themed computer user interface element is rendered. The method includes obtaining source data defining the rendering attributes of the user interface element. Parameters are then provided for modifying the source data. The source data is then modified in accordance with the parameters to produce transformed source data reflecting the desired rendering attributes for the user interface element. The transformed source data is stored on the computer to enable displaying the user interface element using the transformed source data. The user interface element may then be rendered to, for example, a computer monitor using the transformed source data. The parameters may, for example, direct modifications to the brightness, contrast, color, volume, or other attributes of the source data.

Abstract: There is provided asystem and architecture for accessing and communicating with digital image devices. The system is provided in the form of software components that are platform independent for the development of software for managing or controlling digital image devices. The software components are easily integrated with existing development tools, have native functionality, and can be implemented independently of Common Information Model or Simple Network Management Protocol architectures.

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 with handwritten/voice modifications 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, printer or the like.

Abstract: A loading and linking process allows for the flexible loading and linking of software modules into a memory space, without regard to the order in which symbols are defined and referenced in such software modules, and without generating dangling references. An unloading process allows for software module unloading/unlinking from an already linked set of software modules, also without generating dangling references. A loading/linking system may be used to perform these processes.

Abstract: Computer software allowing enhanced control of the playout of audio/video works on a computer system. In various embodiments, the software allows key events from dedicated audio/video keys, whether part of a full sized keyboard or on a hand held remote, to control the actions of an audio/video playout program without requiring the user to direct the key event focus of the operating system to the audio/video playout program. Also, the invention distinguishes between key presses from a local, full sized keyboard and key presses from a remote keyboard so that the audio/video playout program can enlarge its screen display when a key event is received from the remote keyboard. In one embodiment, the invention constantly instructs the operating system to move the focus to the audio/video playout program. In another embodiment, if the focus is received by any of various windows in a display, software associated with the window forwards to the audio/video playout program any key events received from audio/video keys.

Abstract: Methods, computers, and computer readable media are disclosed for recording user-driven events within an application running on a computer that utilizes a graphical user interface. Changes of focus of the application are detected and entries for the resulting focus are logged. While the changes of focus are being detected, the application is monitored for a window message that signifies user activity. When a window message occurs, the activity of the window message is used to specify the user-driven event. A focus of an entry previously logged may also be obtained and used to specify the user-driven event, such as a mouse click on a specific tool bar button of the graphical user interface. A series of user-driven events can be recorded up to the occurrence of an application malfunction, and then the recorded events can be followed by a user to reproduce the malfunction and begin debugging the application.

Abstract: A data processing controlled display system for the interactive display and control of a hierarchical trees of elements or objects in which multiple tree views are presented to the user. The objects in the views are selectable to display detail views of the objects, particularly attributes of the child objects of the selected parent object. The multiple tree views may be of different portions of the same tree or of different trees. The tree views are thus available for side by side comparison and detailed study, after which the system provides the capability to transfer objects from tree view to tree view, e.g. by drag and drop means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for searching and browsing multimedia, and more particularly, to a video skimming method and apparatus which is capable of summarizing the full content of a subject video data within a short time and rapidly moving to a desired section by skimming the content of the video based on scenes and shots formed by shot clustering and shot segmentation. The video skimming apparatus selects scenes to be reproduced and scenes to be skipped based on content-based video skimming, and then continuously reproducing a pertinent section in a shot of the scene or partially reproducing the same by utilizing a skipping technique.

Abstract: A method and system for performing text-entry by facilitating construction of a canned message on a wireless handheld device, the canned message being comprised of at least two canned message segments (i.e., words and/or phrases). A user selects a first canned message segment from a first set of canned message segments displayed on the handheld device. Upon selection of the first caned message segment, the handheld device may display a second set of canned message segments. The second set of canned message segments may have at least one canned message segment that grammatically continues the first canned message segment selected. The user may select a second canned message segment from the second set of canned message segments. A composite of the first canned message and the second canned message may define the canned message.

Abstract: A system and method for navigating graphical images is presented. A display shows a matrix of thumbnail images currently with a larger master image. A user selects a thumbnail image and a corresponding larger image is displayed in the master image. The user may scroll through thumbnail images left and right, or up and down. The master image viewing is retained during the thumbnail scrolling. The user may change the resolution of the thumbnail images and master image. The user may also change the thumbnail matrix configuration or select an auto configuration mode.

Abstract: A system for displaying a user's personal digitized photographic image data in a comparable manner to a photo album is described. The system comprises a combination of: a gaming console for playing a video game; a domestic television for displaying the video game to the user when connected with the console; and a CD including the user's digitized photographic image data and a viewing application program. The viewing application program is arranged to configure the gaming console to display the digitized photographic image data on the television when the CD has been read by the gaming console. The system can be configured to permit simultaneous viewing of the user's image data at remote locations connected by the Internet.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture providing an “append” extension to cut and copy commands for a clipboard function in a computer system. Data is displayed on a monitor of the computer and a first command is received from an operator to select a portion of the data displayed on the monitor. A second command is then received from the operator to copy or cut the selected portion into a clipboard in a memory of the computer, wherein the second command indicates whether to replace the contents of the clipboard with the selected portion or whether to append the selected portion to the contents of the clipboard.

Abstract: A method for delivering information to a person having a terminal with an associated display upon which the images are visually perceived by a person using the terminal and a cursor whose position is controllable by the person includes the steps of providing a display iframe upon the visual display and providing initial signals to establish a primary image area on the display iframe, the primary image area including information that is visually perceivable by the person and a sub-area of the primary image area within the display iframe. The person is enabled to control the cursor to position the cursor on said sub-area of the primary image to provide a selected sub-area whereupon the person is automatically provided with additional visually perceivable information associated with the selected sub-area.

Abstract: A hybird Notes/DB2 environment provides a requisition catalog on the Web. Client browsers are connected to a GWA infrastructure including a first network dispatcher and a virtual cluster of Domino.Go servers. The network dispatcher sprays out browser requests among configured .nsf servers in virtual server cluster. Communications from this virtual server cluster are, in turn, dispatched by a second network dispatcher servers in a Domino cluster. External objects, primarily for a GUI, are served in a .dfs and include graphic files, Java files, HTML images and net.data macros. The catalog is built from supplier provided flat files. A front end is provided for business logic and validation, as also is a relation database backend. HTML forms are populated using relational database agents. A role table is used for controlling access both to Notes code and DB2 data. Large amounts of data is quickly transferred using an intermediate agent and window.

Abstract: A system and method of creating and using a graphical task scheduler. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) allows a user to graphically build a real time flow task scheduler by providing a “click & drag” functional palette which contains graphical flow chart elements. By creating this graphical flow chart, the user is able to associate a plant layout, or any subpart of the entire plant, to its associated mathematical model. With a graphical flow chart, the user can define one or more exit branches for each task. For tasks with more than one exit branch, the user can specify the conditions causing the sequence to use each branch. Once the flow chart is set up, it can be used as a sequence editor or scheduler. The sequence editor defines the sequence of tasks that will be performed by an on-line application, such as optimization, and also allows scheduling of the on-line application at specific times or periodic intervals. The scheduler controls the running of each sequence based on the scheduling information.

Abstract: System to optimize received power at an input to a component in a network element that forms part of an optical network. The system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) that guides an installer to allow optimal setting for a variable optical attenuator (VOA) to be determined, thereby using the VOA to optimize the received power at the component. Power parameters are determined for each card in a signal path from the VOA to the input, and as part of the GUI, the system provides a display of calculated and received power to the user, thereby allowing the user to determine the optimal power setting.