Abstract: A method of sizing or moving application windows in a windowed operating system environment. The method described allows application windows to be moved or sized without blocking application processing from proceeding in other application windows in the environment. The method comprises the steps of establishing at least one filter between an application window to be sized or moved and the windowed operating system, intercepting messages travelling between the operating system and the application window, processing those messages, and returning a neutral message to the windowed operating system. The neutral message does not require the windowed operating system to take further action, thereby permitting the windowed operating system to proceed with application processing tasks in other windows.

Abstract: A three-dimensional geometry processing system generates an intersection curve between two surfaces, an intersection point between a surface and a curve, an intersection point between three surfaces, and a parameter of a surface at a given point. In this system, candidate points for endpoints of an intersection curve between surfaces are generated and stored in a table, a judgment is made whether or not a tracing of intersection from one of the candidate points in the table can be performed, and, if it is judged that the tracing can be performed, a direction in which the tracing is performed is determined. Convergence calculations are performed so that a leading point of a tracing vector lies on both the two surfaces.

Abstract: Scalable three-dimensional borders are provided in the user interface of an operating system. The borders are scalable in several respects. First, the dimensions of the borders are scalable relative to the resolution of a video display upon which the borders will be drawn. Second, the colors used in the borders are scalable based upon the range of luminances available on the video display. The borders are colored to provide the visual illusion of depth such that the borders appear to be three-dimensional.

Abstract: A method for generating and maintaining drawings for an industrial facility by a) entering drawing information into a computer-aided drawing work station to produce a drawing in a format adapted for conversion to a form suitable for comparison with a master database and rule set; b) converting the drawing information into a form suitable for comparison with the master database; c) comparing the converted drawing information to the master database and rule set; d) generating a discrepancy report of any discrepancies between the drawing and the master database and rule set; e) resolving any such discrepancies; f) entering the converted drawing information into the master database; g) editing the master database; h) transferring an edited copy of the master database to the graphics system; i) importing the edited copy of the master database into the graphics section and updating symbology as appropriate; and, j) generating a human readable copy of the drawing.

Abstract: A system and method for use as an authoring system for the development of CD-ROM products containing interleaved digitized audio and graphic images and other information which may be read and displayed or played under control of a computer. The graphic images and other computer information are stored in a file on the CD-ROM such that when the CD-ROM is accessed by a user, the graphic images and other computer information are displayed and made available to the user synchronously with the playing of the audio information. Combinations of several streams of audio and graphic/computer information can be interleaved into the same file. The system enables an editor to combine various audio files in synchronization with multiple graphic images into a single file which can then be stored on a CD-ROM. Other computer information can also be interleaved with the graphics and audio to allow for control over the playback at runtime.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating conceptional drawings for explaining the operation of a machine displays operation symbols corresponding to elements of the machine, selects predetermined symbols and arranges the selected symbols, connects the symbols with segments in a manner corresponding to the form of the machine, adds operation symbols for indicating the operation directions of the symbolized elements, and forms a conceptional view for explaining the operation of the machine. The apparatus may include a memory unit, an auxiliary memory unit, a display, a drawing formation unit and an input unit.

Abstract: An engine for the interactive delivery and presentation of multimedia data. The delivery mechanism is premised on a topic and panel metaphor. A topic is comprised of a series of panels. Each panel further defines the multimedia data which will be used when the panel is displayed. Each panel may also contain control and qualifier elements which are used to determine the next panel to be displayed. Control elements are used to solicit information from the user. The information is then used by the qualifier elements in determining the next panel to be displayed. Each element is stored in a database as a discrete object. This allows sharing of objects amongst different panels or topics. Prior to delivery and presentation of the data, the topic must be set-up. Set-up occurs by retrieving all the necessary panel, control qualifier and data descriptor objects. The actual data associated with multimedia data objects is only retrieved when the data is to be displayed.

Abstract: Multimedia data objects in memory need not be processed serially from beginning to end but may instead be defined as algorithmically generated data streams. This functionality is provided through an architected application programming interface with a mechanism for defining a method of composing a complex object from smaller objects, for defining a behavior for the complex object, and for allowing that behavior to be varied based on external events.

Abstract: A graphic editing system and method uses a terminal for editing line graphic data stored in a host computer. The graphic data of a drawing to be edited is retrieved from a common file and is loaded onto the host computer's work area. The graphic data is then loaded onto the terminal's memory and displayed on the terminal. A line of the drawing to be edited is selected on the terminal. The line to be edited is then searched in the host computer's work area and stored in the host computer's edit area, where it is edited. The edited line is then loaded into the terminal's memory from the edit area and displayed on the terminal.

Abstract: A graphic editor for performing various editing processes such as inputting, moving, copying, and deleting a graphic pattern and a line on a display screen in a graphic editing system such as a CAD, etc. The graphic editor realizes a user interface for simultaneously selecting an object to be processed and a function, thus improving the efficiency of the editing operation. The editor comprises an area specifier for specifying an area as a rectangle having a diagonal whose start and end points are specified by the area specifier, and a graphic operating unit for determining the existence of a symbol or a line in a specified area to give a predetermined process on the symbol or the line. The predetermined processes can be identified by determining whether or not a symbol and/or a whole or a part of a line exists in or crosses a specified area.

Abstract: An image reading unit reads a plurality of original images so as to provide the corresponding image information. An input size specifying unit specifies input sizes according to which the image reading unit respectively reads the plurality of original images so that the resulting image information represents the specified input sizes of the plurality of original images, wherein the input sizes may be identical to one another. A first storing unit stores the resulting image information therein. A first image indicating unit indicates the image represented by the image information stored in the first storing unit. A image processing unit appropriately processes the image information stored in the first storing unit so as to create image information representing at least one finished image. An output size specifying unit specifies an output size according to which the image processing unit processes the image information so that the finished image has the specified output size.

Abstract: The presence of a non-text object is sensed in a mixed object document to be archived in an information retrieval system. In addition to text objects, a mixed object document can contain non-text objects such as image objects, graphics objects, formatted objects, font objects, voice objects, video objects and animation objects. This enables the creation of key words which characterize the non-text object, for incorporation in the inverted file index of the data base, thereby enabling the later retrieval of either the entire document or the independent retrieval of the non-text object through the use of such key words.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically generating a graphical user interface control program. Part definition information is read which defines display parts of a user interface such as a main window, a button switch, a sub-window and a dialog box, size and position information of the parts, and information defining relevancy of the parts. The part definition information, position information and relevancy information are recognized from the read information. A relational structure between the part structure and the parts is analyzed based on the recognized part definition information, position information and the relevancy information. A procedure for constructing a graphical user interface control program is generated based on the part definition information, the position information, the relevancy information and the relational structure between the part structure and the parts resulting from the analysis.

Abstract: A graphic processing system having a graphic element managing table storing the graphic information of graphic elements and a dimension-geometry constraint managing table storing the dimensional and geometric constraints for graphic elements. The system includes a dimension-geometric constraint succession judging table referred to for judging whether or not the dimensional and geometric constraints of a graphic are to be succeeded. Thereby, the system automatically determines whether the constraint information in the dimension-geometry constraint managing table can be succeeded as they are or must be deleted when editing is further applied to a graphic which has been already formed. The automatic determination is achieved by referring to the dimension-geometry constraint succession judging table which updates the constraint information without manual operation by the user.

Abstract: An information display apparatus having a multiwindow system designed to achieve high speed image drawing without impairing the operability of the multiwindows. In this apparatus, a communication controller sets an exclusive mode discrimination flag when a request to do so is generated by an application program. The displaying capability for all other application programs is then suspended. If another application program then generates a request with respect to window management, the communication controller checks an application program management table. When the result of the check indicates that the request is generated by a suspended application program, the request is stored in a communication buffer and processing of the request is suspended unless the suspension of the processing is cancelled.

Abstract: A system and method of precision automatic scrolling for use in an image display system. Upon selecting a displayed entity having an off-screen end or other point which is desired to be brought into view, the entity's definitional vector coordinate characteristics are compared to the coordinates of the selection point on the display screen. The results of the comparison provide the XY coordinates of the entity which are furthest from the point of selection. The resulting XY coordinates are then made the new center point of the area in view. The current level of magnification is maintained during this operation. The present system and method thus eliminates the need for manual panning/scrolling or demagnification to bring the desired endpoint into view. The present system and method can also be applied to locate and display a nearest endpoint or a closest point of intersection between two entities.

Abstract: Programs written for an action oriented graphic user interface are transferred to an object oriented graphic user interface. Upon installation of a program the data file types cognizable to the program are recovered from an association table for the program. A template is generated for each data file type and an icon is set on each template. Each template is then placed into an associated templates folder.

Abstract: Partial layout templates are prepared for respective partial logical structures of a hierarchical logical structure of a document. Each partial layout template expresses rules for producing a layout of the corresponding partial logical structure. A partial layout generator produces a partial layout structure by recursively calling itself or by calling a content layout system while referring to the partial layout template, and pours the generated partial layout structure into a lowest-rank frame. A layout of the entire logical structure is produced by sequentially performing the partial layout operations.

Abstract: A help guidance method utilizing an animated picture, used for an information processor including a memory for storing a help control program for controlling help guidance, animated picture help data, text help data and voice help data used for carrying out the help guidance, and a table for showing the correspondence relationship among the animated picture help data, the text help data and the voice help data.

Abstract: A method and system for specifying the arrangement of windows on a display device [is provided]. [In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a] A selection grid is displayed on the display device. The selection grid has a bounding rectangle which represents the bounds of the display device and has a plurality of lines extending vertically and horizontally across the bounding rectangle. A user selects which line segments should be removed from the selection grid. A line segment is defined by the intersection points of the vertical and horizontal lines. As the user selects a line segment, the line segment is removed from the selection grid. The line segments that are not selected define the arrangement for the windows. The computer system then arranges the windows on the display in accordance with the specified window arrangement.