Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for managing security in a database system. The method includes producing a plurality of task groups, the task groups including actions that may be performed on the database. Functional roles are created from these task groups, and a security profile for a user is created by assigning to the user at least one functional role. In one embodiment, the security profile for a user may only be created by assigning functional roles to users. Thus, users may only perform actions on the database that are dictated by defined task groups and functional roles. This allows database security to be controlled by controlling definitions of task groups and functional roles, without requiring exhaustive examination of security profiles for large numbers of individual users.

Abstract: A builder, tester, and runtime integration system and method for a graphical touch user interface, such as a point-of-sale (POS) touch screen interface system, is provided. The system and method may include a builder tool to create and modify the graphical interface, a tester tool for testing the interface, and a run-time system for actually executing the interface logic. Because the interface may be designed, modified and tested external to the run-time system, the design and maintenance may be performed by a non-programmer without ever changing run-time code. Additionally, the builder and tester may be designed to be general-purpose, and the run-time code may be reusable.

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: In an Internet chat environment, chat feedback indicators show receiver users of a chat application that at least one sender is in the process of preparing a message for viewing by chat environment participants. As a sender types text, a length of the text is sent to the receivers via unreliable data packets. Thus, the receivers are shown mask characters that correspond to the number of textual entries mede by the sender. The sender is, therefore, provided with some sense of security in that the typed text will not be displayed to the receivers until complete. In addition, the receivers are provided with an indication that something is being prepared for display to them.

Abstract: A graphical user interface ("GUI") incorporating one or more subpanels. Each subpanel has a presentation control and can have one or more GUI objects displayed on the computer screen. Each subpanel may be toggled between an expanded state or a collapsed state by operating the presentation control. Expanding and collapsing the subpanels changes the appearance and the functionality of the GUI, but the size of area of the screen used by the subpanels remains unchanged.

Abstract: Multiple images are displayed on a screen of a computer system to reflect a temporal relationship among them. Based on date and time when an image is obtained in relation to other displayed images, its size is set accordingly. Namely, the more recent the image, the larger its size on the screen. In addition, the larger the size of the image, the more processing operations, including graphical or text processing functions, are available to a user to be performed on that image.

Abstract: The GUI edition aiding apparatus is for editing a display screen that a computer application program provides. In this apparatus, predetermined data that composes display parts is input. In addition, a selecting command for selecting a first display part from the display parts displayed on the display screen is issued. Moreover, a converting command for converting the first display part is issued. Thus, the first display part is converted into a desired second display part corresponding to a display state of the GUI. With the apparatus, GUI parts can be easily selected corresponding to the display state of the GUI. Thus, a user-friendly GUI can be effectively edited.

Abstract: A custom segment that includes softkey prompts which are included as icons in the display. A number of keys are associated with the display. Several functions are assigned to the same key. The prompts that must be displayed for each function so that the operator or user of the device in which the display is used could easily operate the keys to obtain those functions were identified at the start of the device design effort. The prompts were assigned to the keys in a logical manner so that in each state of each operating mode of the device an easy to understand set of prompts appear on the display.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling parameter values. One such system includes a number of functions for controlling parameter values, i.e. "parameter control functions," to enable a user to quickly and easily control variable parameter values using a graphical user interface and to enable the user to obtain the desired precision of control of such variables. One such system provides four control functions: a data entry function, single step function, a scroll function, and a translation function. The user can select the particular control function used to control a parameter value in light of the particular amount or type of control that needs to be accomplished.

Abstract: In a user interface conversion method of converting a picture interface provided by an application program running on an operating system having a graphical user interface to generate and provide a new picture interface, picture information of the application program is acquired in response to, as a trigger, a change in the picture provided by the application program. A target point in the acquired picture information is determined. Converted picture information is generated from the determined target point by referring to conversion template information. A converted picture is displayed in accordance with the generated converted picture information. A user interface conversion apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for altering the appearance of an icon box when an event effecting the icon box occurs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pointer entering an icon box or exiting an icon box is detected and an icon property is set accordingly. Also detected is an icon being set to activate its underlying function and the actual activation of an icon's underlying function. Another icon property is set based on whether an icon is set to be activated or has been activated. A repaint procedure is used to retrieve a new icon image and replace the image in the icon before the event occurred. The repaint procedure uses an icon label and the icon property states to determine which image to retrieve and place in the icon box. The repaint method retrieves an image from a plurality of images reflecting different states of the icon. The icon is also capable of communicating any events effecting it to its parent object, such as a toolbar, thereby allowing the parent object to behave in an appropriate manner.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for controlling multiple appearances of data on a display. A Controller is provided for receiving user instructions for data to be displayed, and for generating model management and view management instructions for controlling the appearance of data to be displayed. A Model is connected to the Controller for receiving model management instructions from the Controller, and for keeping track of changes to the appearance of data to be displayed. A ViewProxy is connected to said controller for receiving view management instructions, and connected to said Model for receiving model change notifications responsive to changes in the appearance of data to be displayed. Multiple Views are connected to the ViewProxy for receiving model change notifications. The ViewProxy determines to which Views the model change notifications are to be sent, and sends model change information to only those Views affected by said model changes.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for displaying a graphical representation on a display screen of a data processing system in a manner that optimizes screen "real estate" and ease of information viewing. The graphical representation may be a tree hierarchy including a plurality of expandable and collapsible nodes. The method begins as the hierarchy is displayed within a primary display window on the display screen when the user selects a node to be expanded . In response, a first display region is output within the primary display window and includes a set of one or more subnodes associated with the selected node. If a first subnode in the first display region is then selected for expansion, a second display region is then output within the first display region, and the second display region in turn includes a set of one or more subnodes of the first subnode. This generation of new "nested" display regions then continues as the user continues to explore deeper into the tree hierarchy.

Abstract: An improved apparatus is provided to attain enhanced convenience in controlling display of an electrical program guide with a smaller number of manipulating keys. An EPN mode for displaying the electrical program guide includes a main mode to display program information in a main window, a command mode to display EPN command icons in a command window, and an input mode to display an input window for entry manipulation corresponding to a specific command item. And the operation is shiftable to any of such modes selected by manipulation of a command key or an EXE key. In the main mode, there is set either a mode to display broadcast program information or a mode to display recorded program information on the basis of tape library data.

Abstract: In an information processing device, in the case where a window is edited by a user referring to data of a window which is positioned behind all the other displayed windows, the window to be referred to is touched, a function key displayed on the left bottom corner of the display screen is pressed, and a portion of the window to be referred to is dragged by a pen so as to specify a region to be referred to. This allows the portion of the window specified by the pen to be displayed in front of the window to be edited. As a result, in the case where editing of data is carried out on an active window referring to a window which is not an active window, the window to be referred to and the window to be edited are both clearly recognized without carrying out a complicated operation.

Abstract: Scroll bars conventionally used in a graphical user interface are replaced with "more" bars at each edge of a display bordering a direction in which more information is available for viewing. Actuation of a cursor on one of the more bars scrolls the display in the direction of the more bar. The more bars provide an intuitive mechanism for controlling the display of graphical user interface.

Abstract: This invention provides a data record/playback device that retrieves stored data by specifying user-input data, and makes the retrieving easier.

Abstract: A method for assisting window selection in a graphical user interface determines one or more current top-level windows to be displayed to a user for selection by the user. The user is then able to select a particular window of the one or more windows being displayed. In some embodiments, the one or more current top-level windows are displayed as translucent windows. Additionally, in some embodiments, a user is able to cycle through multiple sets of one or more windows in order to locate a particular window.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically creating a desktop icon for access to a remote resource. A text drop event in a desktop area of a user interface is identified, and the associated dropped text is analyzed. It is determined whether the dropped text is a recognized format for a path name to a remote resource. If the dropped text is a recognized format, a desktop icon is created for access to the remote resource based upon the recognized format and the dropped text.

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.