Abstract: A home entertainment system comprises a sub-system with audio/video functionalities, a computer and a device interface that interconnects the sub-system and the computer. The computer controls the sub-system through a software application The computer and the sub-system have separate user-controls. In case the computer crashes, the user can still control those audio/video functionalities of the sub-system that are independent of the computer.

Abstract: A system for modifying a cursor image, as displayed on a video monitor of a remote terminal, to a specific image having a desired shape and appearance. The system stores cursor image data corresponding to the specific image, and a cursor display code. The cursor display code contains information in response to which the cursor image is modified to the specific image. A server computer transmits specified information to the remote terminal. The information includes at least one cursor display instruction. The cursor display instruction is operable to modify, in conjunction with the cursor information and the cursor image data, a cursor image displayed by a display of the remote terminal in the shape and appearance of the specific image.

Abstract: A system and method for mode error troubleshooting including software system structure generation including prompting a developer to define a first plurality of tasks to be performed by a software system, to define a second plurality of modes in which the software system is to operate and to define for at least one task, at least one inappropriate mode in which the task cannot be performed and troubleshooting including prompting an end user to select a target task, searching for inappropriate modes in which the target task cannot be performed and providing an alert indicating when the end user is in one of the inappropriate modes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a non-native display is disclosed. A display application is loaded having a plurality of native window classes, a window frame, and a display bar located within the window frame. One of the native window classes is associated with a non-native window class by passing a value from a non-native file to the display application. A composite child window is created having a non-native display configuration. The composite child window is located within the window frame of the display application. The process of creating the composite child window involves the steps of creating an instance of the associated native window class, and creating an instance of the non-native window class. The display bar owned by the display application is controlled using the composite child window.

Abstract: An interaction framework is based on user configurable view links, where a view link is created by dragging an icon from a source view, and dropping it onto a target view. When a user subsequently selects an object in the source view, its contents are expanded in the target view. View links enable such multi-view extensions as link filters, in which functions are provided which can create dynamic linked content.

Abstract: A Universal Client with a self-contained scripting language called GUIScript allows computing systems of varying architectures linked to the Internet or connected by an Intranet to run the same application software without modification or recompilation. Preferably, the computer system includes a computer architecture independent device for generating and displaying a graphic user interface (GUI) on a client computer operatively connected to a server computer. More specifically, the device includes elements: for handling network protocols; for presenting a plurality of GUI objects to thereby form a GUI; for generating scripts defining respective ones of the GUI objects; for generating a GUIScript defining the GUI; for sending one of the scripts and the GUIScript; for receiving one of the scripts and the GUI script; and for scripting both behavior of a program responsive to operator interaction with one of the GUI objects and client-server commands unrelated to the GUI objects.

Abstract: A data processing system and methodology implement a graphical user interface for providing a graphical link map. In the graphical link map, various types of files and documents are color-coded and shape-coded for easy identification of placement within a linked environment of a web page. The methodology for implementing the graphical link map manipulates dynamic, complex linked programs or files in a virtual three-dimensional graphical display in a web page authoring program. This graphical display allows linked programs to be built, edited, combined, by presenting the representation on a workspace. An external user may thus access the entire linked program on a single screen of a graphical user interface of the web page developer to easily identify and manipulate differing authoring elements within that data processing environment.

Abstract: There is provided a system for a multifunctional printing system which controls a manner in which status message sets are displayed on a display screen of a corresponding user interface. As contemplated, a first service attribute designating set of information is displayed on the display screen at a first time and a second service attribute designating set of information is displayed on the display screen at a second time, with the second time being subsequent to the first time. In practice, a message manager determines whether a replacement operation has occurred with respect to the user interface such that a substantial portion of the first service attribute designating information set has been replaced visually by the second attribute designating information set. In response to determining that a replacement operation has occurred, at least a portion of a status message set currently being displayed is replaced with at least a portion of another status message set.

Abstract: A method for configuring an audio interface for a speech recognition application in a computer system comprises the steps of: (a) displaying a first graphical user interface (GUI) prompting a user selection of an audio input device between: a headset having a microphone and at least one microphone not forming part of a headset; (b) in the event of the user selecting the headset having the microphone: (1) displaying a second GUI for prompting a user to connect the headset, the second GUI including a picture of a headset; (2) displaying a third GUI illustrating proper placement of the headset and the microphone, the third GUI including the picture of a headset; and, (3) displaying a fourth GUI for adjusting audio recording volume, the fourth GUI including the picture of a headset; and, (c) in the event of a user selecting the microphone not forming part of a headset: (1) omitting displaying the second and third GUIs as in steps (b)(1) and (b)(2) respectively; (2) displaying a fifth GUI for prompting the user to

Abstract: A Menu Building Component (MBC) builds menus during a computer's idle time. The MBC builds a menu for each menu title on a Menu Bar and stores each built menu in the computer's random access memory (RAM). The MBC requests an allocation of idle time by registering with a Component Manager. The Component Manager notifies the MBC of the availability of idle time by sending a notification signal to the MBC. When the MBC receives the notification signal, the MBC builds the next unbuilt menu corresponding to a menu title on the Menu Bar. When the last menu has been built, the MBC unregisters with the component manager. If a user makes a menu demand for an unbuilt menu, the MBC will build the demanded menu on demand, rather than during an idle time. If the user makes a menu demand for a built menu, the built menu is recalled from RAM and displayed for use by the user. Because the MBC builds menus during idle times, start-up delays and menu demand delays are minimized.

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: A display element manipulation system and methodology for use in a signal measurement system having a graphical user interface. The display element manipulation system provides a user with the ability to graphically manipulate a selected positionable display element presented on the graphical user interface. The display element manipulation system includes a display element selector configured to determine permissible adjustment directions for a selected positionable display element. The display element manipulation system also includes a display element position determinator configured to determine an adjustment command representing a desired adjustment direction and position for the selected display element.

Abstract: Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) are routinely used to provide visual interfaces between applications and users. Typically, a GUI displays on a screen a menu containing a plurality of menu items. A new menu may be invoked by selecting one of the menu items from the screen. Unfortunately, available GUIs do not provide satisfactory continuity in the transition from a current menu to a subsequent menu. To overcome the shortcomings of the available art, an improved GUI provides an animation in the transition from a current menu to a subsequent menu. Specifically, after a menu item has been selected from a display screen, the selected menu item is continuously moved to the top position of the display screen, while the menu selection is being processed. In the meantime, the subsequent menu items resulting from the menu selection are continuously moved into the display screen.

Abstract: A graphical user interface includes at least one primary window that displays the contents of a hierarchical data model as a hierarchical tree. A secondary window is displayed which contains a subset of the contents, e.g., groupings based on search criteria, of the hierarchical data model as a flat-list. The primary window and the secondary window are displayed on a screen at the same time so that a user can see both the hierarchical relationship and specific groupings of the contents of the hierarchical data model. Several synchronization mechanisms between the primary window and the secondary window are provided. For example, a user can select an element of the flat-list in the secondary window and cause the display of the primary window to correspond to the user's selection of the element. In addition, multiple selected elements from the secondary window can be copied back to the primary window such that a common operation can be performed on the multiple selected elements.

Abstract: An interaction framework is based on user configurable view links, where a view link is created by dragging an icon from a source view, and dropping it onto a target view. When a user subsequently selects an object in the source view, its contents are expanded in the target view. View links enable such multi-view extensions as dynamic sources and dynamic targets, where a view link establishes a dynamic operation, in which a source and/or target relation is dynamically determined, e.g. by an active view.

Abstract: A help demonstration player program is provided which accepts a set of commands in the form of a script input and generates simulated keystrokes and mouse events. The keystrokes and mouse events are provided to the application program which then operates as if the user had generated the keystrokes and mouse events. The sequence of keystrokes and mouse events directs the application software to perform a task one step at a time. Since the task starts with the user's customized screen and detects and responds to the state of the user's desktop through the demonstration, the resulting animated display is tailored to the user's actual display, presenting much more meaningful and less confusing instructions to the user. The demonstration player creates sample data so that the user's actual data is not corrupted during the playing of the explanatory sequence and user control over the keyboard and mouse is disabled to prevent the user from interfering with the demonstration.

Abstract: In a history display method, positional information and type information are extracted from nodes to be displayed on respective metaphors, thereby allowing a user to intuitively comprehend the nodes in a sense of a map of routes followed among information sources. The history holding section 101 reads a history indicating the routes followed by user from the memory unit 105 and holds the history. The history geographical analyzing section 102 analyzes geographical information contained in the history. The history managing section 103 controls the result of the analysis of the history. The history display section 104 displays the history analysis result by use of metaphor display along with a node connection relationship. The novel constitution provides the user with a new clue namely geographical information for accessing desired nodes and displays the history on a map metaphor, thereby allowing the user to intuitively comprehend the nodes in a sense of a map of routes followed among information sources.

Abstract: A technique for providing a networked, distributed tutorial application having a direct manipulation graphical user interface displayable on an Internet client node is disclosed. The application has a first portion on an Internet server node and a second portion on the Internet client node, the first portion performing application specific subject matter processing and the second portion being substantially application independent in that this second portion is applicable in a wide variety of tutoring applications for generating and maintaining an appropriate user interface during user interactions. The second portion includes an Internet browser (e.g., a hypertext mark-up language browser) that is utilized for communicating with the server node to perform application subject matter specific processing.

Abstract: Text image on a monitor can be scrolled pixel-by-pixel instead of line-by-line or character-by-character. An application window (for showing images generated by an application) and a child window are generated. The text image is drawn on the child window instead of on the application window. The size of the application window is smaller than the child window. Only the portion of the child window overlapping the application window is displayed by a computer screen. If a user desires scrolling, the child window is moved, a pixel at a time, in a direction corresponding to the direction of scrolling. When a full line or a full character is scrolled, the child window clears itself and returns to its original position. At the same time, the text image is scrolled one line or one character on the child window so as to match the pixel-based scrolling. As a result, the user sees a smooth scrolling of a text image.

Abstract: A power search tool that enables a user to search an electronic program guide and other information resources with one search. A search tool window is displayed that enables a user to select filter elements used to search. Alternately, in one embodiment, the filter elements are automatically selected from predetermined program elements, such as title or subject, of a selected program in the electronic program guide. The search tool performs a search of the electronic program guide and information resource and modifies the display of the electronic program guide to identify those programs that are filtered from the search. Similarly, a window displays information indicating those portions of the information resource that have been filtered during the search. Preferably the information resource is the world wide web and the URLs of the web sites that include information relative to the filter elements are displayed.