Abstract: The invention determines the number of items in a list from which at least one item is to be selected. Using the number of items in the list the invention determines the most appropriate number of items to display per page. Then it selects from eight possible central area configurations the one that permits the user to display any desired page with the fewest average number of mouse or keystrokes. The radial selection capability then permits selection of any desired item on the displayed page using either a single short mouse traverse and click or a fewest number of keystrokes on the cursor control keypad. For sufficiently long item lists the system generates a display containing two identical scrollbars; one immediately above and one immediately below the central area. This permits scrollbar usage with a traverse averaging approximately one-third the height of the display.

Abstract: A device for composing or editing a string of characters representing information, such as a text message, comprises a character string display for displaying a character string being composed or edited and a character selection display for displaying a set of characters for use in composing or editing the character string. The character selection display can be activated to display the character set in a display area in which at least some of the individual characters of the set are arranged relative to a designated location in the display area, such as the center of the display area, at distances according to decreasing frequency of use, e.g. a number of characters that are most likely to be frequently used are arranged in close proximity to the designated location. A cursor is displayed in the character selection display area and keys are provided for moving the cursor from one character to another in the character selection display for indicating a desired character to be selected.

Abstract: A portable computing device or “information appliance” having terse user input (e.g., limit set of keys) is provided with an improved user interface. A six-key embodiment is described that provides a “super-key” light entry and editing input system for ultra-portable devices, thus making it well suited for use with credit card-sized devices. In a preferred six-button embodiment, a credit card-sized device is modified to include an additional input button, an EDIT key. In user operation, pressing the EDIT key brings up a context sensitive pop-up menu, thus invoking the super-key feature. Customized user input controls, such as a Text Input Control (e.g., letter and number strips), are provided at appropriate times, for facilitating input. Underlying the super-key input is a heuristic sub-system that remembers and anticipates user input.

Abstract: Managing windows in a graphical user interface by receiving a signal indicating a gesture from a user, capturing pixels of a window, applying the captured pixels as a texture to a display object in a three dimensional window, and animating the display object to a first location in the three dimensional window corresponding to the window, when the gesture indicates deactivating the window. Further actions include moving the display object to a second location in the three dimensional window, displaying the window over the display object, and hiding the display object, when the gesture indicates activating the window.

Abstract: A system, method and product are provided for resolution-independent image translation. Such system, method and product convey, through the use of a resolution-independent coordinate system, a description of location, shape, color, spline, and other distinguishing characteristics of images, including edited effects, rendered on a low-resolution image. The low-resolution images upon which the effects are imposed may be user-selected without converting high-resolution, non-digital, images into high-resolution, digital, images. Such resolution-independent information based on low-resolution images may be applied automatically, ie., without human intervention, to reproduce the special effects on a corresponding high-resolution image. In a typical application, the user-selected, low-resolution, images upon which the effects are imposed are analog or digital video images. Also typically, the corresponding high-resolution images upon which the effects are automatically reproduced are film images.

Abstract: Method of navigating on a display. A cursor is displayed within a first portion of the display. The first portion has edges and displays a portion of information. In response to movement of a pointing device, the cursor is moved within the first portion of the display. If the cursor comes within a particular distance of an edge of the first portion of the display, at least a partially different portion of the information is displayed. In response to a command and in response to movement of the pointing device, the cursor is moved beyond the first portion of the display. The information may comprise a document, a graphic, or a document including at least a graphic. The display may comprise a display of a word processor, a display of a web browser, or other display. A method of navigating on a display is described. A method of navigating on a display of a web browser and system for navigating on a display are also described.

Abstract: A portable hand-held remote control unit device is disclosed which may be utilized for selecting designated functions in a plurality of remotely controllable multimedia processing units. Multiple user selectable screen objects may be created from a general purpose computer and transferred to the remote control unit. The screen objects include screen layout and descriptions of soft keys to be displayed on a graphic display of the remote control unit, as well as commands associated with the screen object, the soft keys and programmable keys on the remote control unit. The user may select any of the loaded screen objects for controlling various multimedia processing units, for performing complex functions of commands to various multimedia processing units.

Abstract: The Viewable Object Processor of the present invention utilizes object handles that allow users to perform operations on windows and other viewable objects (e.g., move or resize a window) without having to depress a key (or key sequence) on a keyboard or a button on a pointing device such as a mouse. Essentially, object handles are specialized regions created on a display screen. Associated with each object handle is a particular geometric shape and a object handle type. The shape of each object handle identifies the bounds of the particular object handle. To perform an operation on a viewable object, a user need only cause the cursor to enter into the object handle region of a handle that corresponds to the operation that the user wishes to perform.

Abstract: A system and method for a user interface to input URL address data obtained from captured video frames while simultaneously viewing a television broadcast, the system having a television with associated television screen, a set-top box, and a remote control. The invention also includes means for initiating a video-viewing mode (where the television receives a television signal via the set-top box and displays the television signal on the television screen), a capture manager for capturing image data frames from the television signal, an interface manager for displaying information windows on the display screen, and a search manager for retrieving data pages from a networked source such as the Internet.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product, user interface control and method indicate, on a data set user interface control, the size of a subset of data relative to an overall data set accessible by the control. The data set user interface control may be implemented in much the same manner as a scroll bar, including a slider control that can be manipulated along a scroll region of the scroll bar to adjust the parameters of the subset of data accessible through the window. Further, the length of the slider may be set relative to that of the scroll region to represent the size of the current subset relative to the overall data set. The length of the slider may also be manipulated by a user to adjust the size of the current subset. While a data set user interface control may be implemented in a wide variety of additional environments, one particularly suitable use is in a client-server environment where a data set is retrieved in the form of subsets from an external information source accessible via a server computer.

Abstract: A data entry apparatus (10) receives a first character key from a keypad (12). A set of characters associated with the first character key is displayed. A second character key from the keypad (12) is received, wherein a second set of characters is associated with the second character key. A character from the first set of characters is combined with a character from the second set of characters. A set of alternative n-grams is displayed, derived from the step of combining, in descending order based on a probability of frequency of use in a given language. When an alternative n-gram is detected as being actively highlighted, the n-gram is locked to create a locked n-gram and characters associated with subsequent character keys vary in their combinations with respect to the locked n-gram.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system for customizing a graphic user interface environment by utilizing graphic manipulation of selected graphic user interface elements in order to initiate the installation of optional functions and/or features. A graphical user interface element within a graphic user interface is displayed within a first region of a display screen. A data processing system user is then permitted to temporarily remove the graphical user interface element from that first region of the display screen by temporarily rendering that graphic user interface element transparent or by temporarily displaying that graphic user interface element within an alternate region within the display screen. Thereafter, a selected area is designated within the first region, and a user-selectable object which is representative of an optional function and/or feature is displayed at the selected area within the first region, in response to that designation.

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 described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be invoked by calling a corresponding theme engine. Theme engines can be hard-coded or data-driven.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for allowing selection of an icon most logically desired by the user in a graphic user interface when multiple icons are overlapping and the pointing device coordinates would force a given selection not desired by the user. A logical icon selector is provided that is coupled to the pointing device and provides a logic for selecting the desired icon based on proximity of the pointing device icon to the desired icon. Based on a calculation of the location of the overlapping icons to the pointing device icon, the icon having the closest proximity to the pointing device is selected.

Abstract: System for data input and storage and for correlation of such data against group data contained in a linked database. The data is input via a series of hierarchical menus, which menus may include sub-menus and fields that enable a user to directly input data for storage into the database. Data regarding an individual may be entered into the database directly by the individual using the hierarchical menu system.

Abstract: A data browser is described for accessing data defining virtual environments via the Internet/World Wide Web. In conjunction with at least one store (44) of virtual environment assets, such as audio, video, graphics textures and so forth, a list (62) is maintained recording the identity of the stored assets received via the Web, suitably in the form of their respective URL's. Browser applications requiring assets from the store (44) scan the master list to determine whether a particular asset is already stored there on encountering a program requirement for that asset to avoid the need to access the remote source of asset data via the Web. Where the assets are distributed over more than one storage device (44, 60), each device is suitably provided with such a contents list.

Abstract: Updating of local object databases at client computers, dynamic inheritance, and event notification methods cooperate to provide a persistent object oriented multi-user domain capable of supporting multimedia presentation features for large numbers of users over conventional networks like the Internet. This includes distributing the objects of such a domain between a server and multiple clients and providing the objects with multimedia presentation features. Such a domain includes the persistence of conventional text-based MUDs and MOOs while also giving users the ability to vary or control a wide range of object attributes and properties. As a result, multimedia (e.g., graphical) presentation capabilities are combined with persistence and variability features of text-based MUDs and MOOs to provide a rich, dynamic, multimedia virtual world environment suitable for standard networks.

Abstract: A window system is constructed by a checking section to check an overlapping state of a plurality of windows displayed on a display, a forming section to form window graphs each showing the positional relation of each window when the windows are seen from another direction such as vertical or horizontal direction different from the overlapping direction and each corresponding to each window, a display such as a color CRT or LCD display to display the window graphs, a detector to detect an overlapped portion of the window graphs from the window graphs formed, and a changing section to change an attribute of the window graph to clarify the overlapped portion of the window graphs when such a portion is detected. By performing a selecting or operating instruction by a mouse cursor or the like to a desired window graph, the window corresponding to the instructed window graph can be selected or operated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing multiple hierarchical lists of addresses for electronic data sources, or information sites, within a browser are provided. A method for managing addresses involves displaying an address manager interface as well as a plurality of associated address list identifiers, selecting an address list identifier, and displaying a list of addresses associated with the selected address list identifier. In one embodiment, an address associated with the selected address list is placed into a second address list. In such an embodiment, the address is selected, and a cutting or copying operation is performed to place the address into a memory buffer. Then, an address list identifier which corresponds to the second address list is selected, and a paste operation is used to move the address from the memory buffer to the second address list.

Abstract: An intuitive graphical user interface is based upon a geographic map structure, and includes a system for controlling remote external electronic devices. In the defined graphical user interface, each space of the geographic map structure is rendered on a touch screen display as a graphic image of a geographic space. Within each space are colored cartoon-like icons called "objects" which can be selected and manipulated by the user. Certain objects, referred to as portals, transport the user from one space to another space when Selected. Other objects, referred to as buttons, perform associated actions or functions when Selected. The graphical user interface is displayed on a hand-held display device used to control remote devices. Each remote electronic device transmits a user interface program object that defines a graphical user interface to the display device.