Abstract: An apparatus and method for interfacing with a hypervideo multimedia application when composing and playing same is disclosed. A novel hypervideo control and interface provides for either user-actuated or automatic transitioning between a plurality of video, graphics, textual, animation, and other types of multimedia files. A hypervideo control preferably transitions through distinct lifecycle phases and events as it is presented and removed from an interface display to visually convey to a user the present availability and impending removal of the control from the interface display, thereby providing an intuitive means for navigating a hypervideo application. In one embodiment, a hypervideo editing system includes a wordprocessing system and a separate video playback system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for displaying user selectable attributes for a first item contained within a set of items are provided. Attributes previously configured for the first item are displayed in a user interface so as to indicate their status as previously configured for the first item. Attributes previously configured for other items contained within the set are displayed in the user interface so as to indicate their status as previously configured for the other items. Attributes not configured for any item contained within the set may be displayed in the user interface so as to indicate their status as not configured for any item within the set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are disclosed. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be switched dynamically by switching pointers to drawing procedures or switching data being supplied to these procedures. To buffer applications from the switchable nature of graphical user interfaces, colors and patterns used to implement the interface objects are abstracted from the interface by, for example, pattern look-up tables.

Abstract: A method for maximizing the amount of screen display real estate without sacrificing the user's ability to pan graphic and other data is disclosed which has application for use in computer controlled display systems. The CPU is capable of accessing and executing a computer program which includes a first event loop handler. The first event loop handler includes events, each which are selectively paired with a different set of screen coordinates, said set of screen coordinates comprising a first hot spot file. A user moves a pointer around on the screen display by using a pointer control device. The position of the pointer is monitored by the first event loop handler. The first event loop handler determines whether the position of the pointer corresponds to a set of screen coordinates in the first hot spot file which, in turn, corresponds to an event, most preferably, the display of a horizontal, vertical or diagonal scrollbar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a data collection within a data processing system, wherein the data collection includes a plurality of entries. First a control layer is displayed. Next, entries from the plurality of entries in the data collection are displayed within the control layer. In response to entries within the plurality of entries being undisplayed within the control layer, a secondary layer and entries from the additional entries from the plurality of entries are displayed within the secondary layer, wherein the data collection is efficiently displayed within the data processing system.

Abstract: An easy-operation selection item display system and method is provided for use in an information processing device. Specifically, an appropriate amendment method and display method can be automatically provided for various types of selecting operations to improve the efficiency of the users' selecting operations. The operation model learning device generates, for example, an operation model B.sub.1 by learning, using a probability model of the history of the past selecting operations of the user collected by the operation history collecting device for each of, for example, the selecting operation group A.sub.1. The operation model translating device translates, for example, an operation model B.sub.1, and generates, for example, the descriptions C.sub.1 of the display method. The selecting function providing device displays a selection item such as selecting operation group A.sub.1, etc. according to the display method specified by, for example, the description C.sub.1.

Abstract: A portable computing device has a processor and a touch-sensitive display. The display includes a touch-sensitive area superimposed on a viewing area, whereby the touch-sensitive area extends beyond the viewing area to form a border outside of the viewing area but within the touch-sensitive area. The handheld computing device has an operating system which executes on the processor to provide a graphical user interface environment capable of presenting a graphical window and a program taskbar within the viewing area. The program taskbar presents a program icon representing a program that is active within the graphical window. The operating system is configured to minimize the graphical window to remove the graphical window from the viewing area or to enlarge the graphical window to restore the graphical window in the viewing area in response to contacting the program icon.

Abstract: A help editor is provided that allows a help writer to display and interact with dialog boxes with graphical control objects (e.g., a graphical button) while writing help functions. The help functions provide context-sensitive help for the graphical control objects for dialog boxes used in a computer software application. The help editor generates computer source code that allows help writers to test context-sensitive help functions without executing the computer software application they will be used in. The computer source code is used to coordinate help functionality between help writers and software developers during the creation of a computer software applications.

Abstract: The present invention describes an integrated computer-based system, methods, and graphical interfaces, providing an environment for development and deployment of visual models of complex systems organized in discrete time and space compartments, used for graphic information storage and retrieval, visual modeling and dynamic simulation of said complex systems. In the current implementation the system comprises libraries of knowledge-based building-blocks that include sets of icons representing chemical processes, the pools of entities that participate in those processes, and the graphical description of those entities, encapsulating both information and mathematical models within the modular components, in the form of attributes or in the form of component icons, and a plurality of methods are associated with each of the icons. The models are built by linking each pool to one or several processes, and each process to one or several pools, resulting in complex networks of multidimensional pathways.

Abstract: A sub-tree bar control is provided that aggregates a group of sub-tree view controls. The sub-tree bar control contains user interface elements that are associated with sub-tree view controls. Each sub-tree view control enables an application program to display a list of items as a hierarchical sub-tree in a window. When a user selects the user interface element associated with the node, the sub-tree view control is displayed in a window. By displaying a sub-tree view control, the user views only the information that the user is interested in viewing. Since the sub-tree view control displays only a sub-tree, instead of an entire tree, it typically takes up less display space on the video display than a control that contains an entire tree. Additionally, the sub-tree view control automatically ceases to be displayed based on certain events. The window in which the sub-tree view control is displayed can be resized, either vertically or horizontally. Nodes in the sub-tree can be expanded or contracted.

Abstract: A process for conceptually modeling expertise on a computer system with a central processing unit, a central memory and a display working in multi-windows graphics mode. Each window is equipped with a system of local coordinates and a means of pointing in a window to at least one active zone capable of reacting to at least one unit of information made up of an outside event; the active zone is associated with a group of initial functions called editors, which have at least a second reaction function, and with activation, combining at least one window with a predefined number of conceptual objects composing a body of knowledge organized on four layers of modeling of expertise. Each window takes into account connections between the different conceptual objects, updating or changing a conceptual object and automatically updating the connections.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a plurality of user interface objects related into groups are displayed on a desktop; when the user selects one object, such selected object is highlighted on the desktop. The objects related to the selected object are then highlighted using a different intensity. The color of the titlebar of each window in addition may be changed associating a different color to each of such groups of related objects. A pushbutton is also provided on such objects for bringing the related objects to the foreground and moving them near to the selected object.

Abstract: This invention addresses the management of window geometry (or layout) in a distributed data processing system. In this invention, a client server model includes an application executing on a client system with graphics being drawn on the server system for the end user. Each client application interacts with the user by defining client windows into which are placed graphical data and where input data may be entered by the user. The application software together with the graphics software is provided in the client processor. The server processor includes the ability to display data to the end user. The application data for display, in the form of a window, includes a special designated area within the window to provide user access to the application.

Abstract: A computer system has an improved graphical user interface feature. The improved graphical user interface displays a target image representing a retracted slide out command bar containing a set of selectable computer resources. When the user moves a display pointer to a location near the target image, the target image is replaced by the slide out command bar. The slide out command bar remains visible and its computer resources accessible via the mouse-controlled display pointer until the user either clicks the mouse or moves the display pointer outside an extended detection region of the graphical user interface associated with the unretracted slide out command bar.

Abstract: A flexible system for changing the physical manifestation of an object in an object-oriented computer environment is provided. The object to be manifested (a "costume" object) is associated with a target object having a corresponding physical appearance. The costume object responds to requests that it physically manifest itself by transmitting a message to the target object requesting that the target object manifest itself, but also including parameter values describing the costume objects on-screen location or similar properties. In this manner, a costume object is capable of presenting itself wearing the target object's "costume" or appearance.

Abstract: A process in a data processing system for handling messages received in a message queue in a message handling process for a graphical user interface. In response to receiving a message in the queue, a determination is made as to whether the error is a message. In response to an identification of an error message, that message is intercepted before processing by the message handling process. A determination is made as to whether a corrective action is required in response to the error message and as to whether the error message should be reformatted. If corrective action is required, that action is initiated by the process. Additionally, if the message should be reformatted, the process then reformats the message and returns the message to the message handling process for further processing.

Abstract: A color coded electronic user interface system is provided for use between an end user and a computer system. The system includes a graphical user interface that presents information to the user from the computer system on a display device. This information preferably includes instructional icons having associated therewith a computer system procedure from different predetermined functional categories and a color. In addition, a user input device receives user instructions for initiating computer system procedures. The user input device includes a function key having a color which corresponds to each of the instructional icons. Also, the system includes a controller which initiates the computer system procedure based on which function key is actuated. As a result, the user can associate and initiate computer system procedures based on a uniform color coding scheme of associated instructional icons and function keys.

Abstract: In a data processing system with built in audio capability, audio setup instructions are provided. Delivery of the instructions begins after the system is plugged in. Once a video connection has been established, the audio instructions may be supplemented with directly relevant visual information. The object of each instruction may be tested for successful completion. Additional instructions and information may be provided, or optional instructions and information skipped, depending on the requirements of the individual setup.

Abstract: Avatars representing participants in a graphic chat session are periodically animated to produce a gesture that conveys an emotion, action, or personality trait. Each participant in the chat session is enabled to select one of a plurality of different avatars to represent the participant in a graphic chat session. Associated with each avatar is a bitmap file that includes a plurality of frames illustrating the avatar in different poses, actions, and emotional states. Selected frames are displayed in rapid sequence in accord with a script file to create an animation effecting each gesture. The same script file is used to define a gesture for all of the avatars used in the chat session. A selected gesture can be transmitted with a text message to convey the user's emotional state. A gesture associated with the avatar is automatically displayed from time to time when the avatar is not otherwise gesturing or moving. The user can determine participants in the chat session with whom the user will interact, e.g.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an enhanced visual appearance to a graphical user interface are described. Control elements portrayed by the graphical user interface on a display are associated with at least two states. When transitioning between states, an animated transition effect can be provided to provide further user or designer customization of the interface appearance.