Abstract: A navigation manager component cooperable with a user interface renderer is described. The navigation manager manages one or more navigation units and maintains a navigation unit cursor. Each navigation unit is associated with another navigation unit managed by the same navigation manager. The navigation manager provides a range of navigation services, which operate upon the navigation unit cursor. These services include a service to navigate forwards and a service to navigate backwards. These services take into account the associations between navigation units in order to determine the correct sequence of navigation units for forwards and backwards navigation. The services also determine whether the items represented by each navigation unit include eligible items or items for which data entry is incomplete. In this way, navigation units for which all the items represented by the navigation unit are ineligible can be passed over by the navigation services, to that they never become current.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manipulating multiple multimedia objects in a computer. The method comprises the steps of: storing a multimedia production as a set of layers, where each of the layers has objects independent from each other, displaying a plurality of tabs, each of which refers to a page representing one of the layers, selecting one of the tabs, and displaying the page referred to by the selected tab and the objects of the layer marked on the selected tab upon the displayed page.

Abstract: There are provided an image display apparatus and method which are always capable of displaying the whole of menus at a plurality of hierarchical levels and realize a user-friendly interface, a menu display system including at least one menu display apparatus of the above type, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the menu display method.

Abstract: An AV device controller for controlling networked devices with a graphical user interface (GUI). An interface section obtains GUI information from a controlled device. A GUI storage section stores the GUI information. A GUI display section displays GUI parts. An input device selects the GUI parts. By selecting a GUI part displayed on the GUI display section with the input device, a predetermined processing assigned to the GUI part is started.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for storyboard thumbnail and video rights metadata insertion is provided for preventing unauthorized use of restricted video frames of a previously encoded MPEG video file. It can insert video rights metadata in the timecode packet of the affected video frame of the MPEG video file; if requested. To allow automatic recreation of a storyboard file from the MPEG video file, it can insert thumbnail status metadata in the timecode packet of the selected video storyboard thumbnail frame of the MPEG video file. If requested, it can update the video rights metadata in a video catalog record and in the timecode packet of the affected video frame of the MPEG video file. When needed, it can update the thumbnail status metadata in a video catalog record and in the timecode packet of the selected video storyboard thumbnail frame of the MPEG video file.

Abstract: A method is provided of adapting a user interface to the user's current situation. The method involves a user specifying a home-area interface (83), for example, a web browser home page, and an “away” interface (84). When the user connects to a network (10) using a device (20) and calls up his/her browser home page, a determination is made of the location of the device in order to decide which version of the home page is to be served back to the user device by the home-page server of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the “away” home page (84) includes specific types of local data of interest to the user (such as best local restaurants). When asked to provide the “away” home page, the homepage server uses this information to find the URLs of local special interest web sites (122) carrying the relevant type of data, the server inserting these URLs in the “away” home page (84) before providing it to the user device (20) concerned.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement over previous Electronic Programming Guides (“EPG”) in that it provides, among other things: Improved viewer interaction capabilities with the EPG; improved viewer control of video recording of future-scheduled programming; improved features to the EPG display and navigation; parental control of the EPG display; improved television program information access by the viewer; improved opportunities for the commercial advertiser to reach the viewer; improved product information access by the viewer; creation of a viewer's profile; utilization of viewer profile information to customize various aspects of the EPG; and utilization of viewer profile information to provide customized presentation of advertising to the viewer.

Abstract: A home automation system interface and method for interfacing with a system that automatically controls controlled devices throughout a home. A unique architecture of occupancy sensors includes entry/exit sensors for detecting movement through doorways that separate rooms in the home, room motion sensors for detecting room occupancy, spot sensors to detect occupancy of specific locations within the rooms, and house status sensors to detect the status of certain parameters of the home. A central controller communicates with the sensors and controlled objects over a communications network, where the sensors and controlled objects can be added to the system in a ‘plug and play’ manner. The central controller controls the controlled objects in response to the entry/exit sensors room motion sensors, spot sensors and the house status sensors.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for communicating messages between windows or frames in a computer display. A computer system suited for use with the invention includes a computer display providing a source window and a target window, as well as respective source display code and target display code associated with each window. A messaging module coordinates the communication of messages and supports a database of target identifiers that identify windows, functions, and message handlers associated with the windows. The source display code originates a message with selection information and provides the message to the messaging module, which uses the selection information to determine which window to send the message to based on the target identifiers in the database.

Abstract: The present invention describes a revolutionary new device bridging the gap between the virtual multimedia-based Internet world and the real world, best exemplified by print media. More particularly, the invention relates to communicating multimedia information using a scanner for machine-readable code containing a link information corresponding to a provider information depicted on the printed medium, a user interface for obtaining user input information corresponding to the provider information, a communications bridge for sending the link information and the user input information via the network, a receiver in communication with the scanner, capable of receiving the link information and user input information, and further capable of receiving and playing a multimedia information sequence, and a portal server in communication with the scanner via the network capable of selecting a multimedia information sequence corresponding to the link information and the user input information.

Abstract: Operations relating to objects in a window [301] are automatically included in the window based on the capabilities of the window and based on the resources required to implement the operations. The operations are stored in an operations repository [303]. An operations manager component [302] interfaces the windows [301] and the operations repository [303]. The operations may be operations related to elements of a telecommunications network and may be made available to the end-user by automatically adding buttons to menus in the window that invoke the operations.

Abstract: Smoother transitions between changing cursor images which are less stressful to the interactive user of a computer controlled display are provided by apparatus for changing the cursor image, including a frame buffer for storing the display screen image as a pixel array, a separate display buffer for storing the current cursor image as a pixel array, together with apparatus for storing an alternate cursor image as a pixel array during the display of the current cursor image, and means for replacing the current cursor image with the alternate cursor image. In raster scan apparatus for maintaining screen images in the frame buffer on said display screen, there are means for effecting the replacement of said cursor images during a vertical blanking period in said raster scanning.

Abstract: Graphical user interface and computer program products are disclosed for providing a unique user interface that allows a GUI developer significant flexibility and strength in designing a layout for an application user interface in a Java™ environment. This is done while keeping the process for the developer simple and efficient. The developer can “drag and drop” components from a palette to a container. Once in the container, the developer can specify row and column types and attachment/alignment options for the component. This can be done using a simple icon set. The developer can also dynamically add new rows and columns to the layout design. Adjustments to the position and size of a component are made automatically and numerous row and column types can be specified.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a user interface for controlling software components through a user control point device. The user interface system provides multiple software components that each can provide a user interface component. Each user interface component provides a user interface for the corresponding software component. A user control point component requests each software component to provide its user interface component. The user control point component then displays an indication of each software component. In response to the selection of a software component, the user control point component requests the user interface component for that software component to display its user interface through the control point device. When a user interacts with that user interface, the user interface component notifies the corresponding software component of the interaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human-computer interface. The interface includes provision of an application domain, for example corresponding to a three-dimensional application. The user is allowed to navigate and interact with the application domain. The interface also includes a personal domain, offering the user controls and interaction distinct from the application domain. The separation into two domains allows the most suitable interface methods in each: for example, three-dimensional navigation in the application domain, and two- or three-dimensional controls in the personal domain. Transitions between the application domain and the personal domain are under control of the user, and the transition method is substantially independent of the navigation in the application domain. For example, the user can fly through a three-dimensional application domain, and always move to the personal domain by moving a cursor near one extreme of the display.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for enabling keyboard accelerators in software applications implemented via a browser application are disclosed herein. Keyboard accelerators are enabled by intercepting keyboard data before it can be utilized by the browser application for its own purposes, such as initiation of a keyboard accelerator native to the browser application. The intercepted keyboard data is evaluated to determine whether it corresponds to a defined remote application keyboard accelerator, and if so, then a remote application function module is called to implement the feature mapped to the particular identified keyboard accelerator. The keyboard data may then be removed from an event queue or otherwise deleted such that the browser application continues to be executed without reference thereto.

Abstract: A network communications system comprises a plurality of user stations (16, 18, 20, 22, 24), each with respective processing and display capability. At least some of the stations are provided with a predictor mechanism which determines, for a given downloaded data page, the most likely next page, calls that data page up over the network, and downloads it to local cache storage whilst the user is still viewing the first page. To reduce some of the worst delays, due to graphic image downloads, one or more service provider host systems coupled via a data network such as the Internet packages all the graphics data for a particular group of pages into a single dummy page which the user systems then background-download to cache.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for scannable executable design. In a first aspect of the present invention, a system and method for developing an executable includes scanning an image and identifying a representation of a user interface element included in the scanned image. An executable is then formatted to include a user interface element corresponding to the identified representation of the user interface element. In a second aspect of the present invention, a representation of a user interface element suitable for scanning includes an object capable of being positioned on a medium, the object representing the user interface element. The object is capable of being identified as corresponding to the user interface element so that when the object is scanned, a executable is formatted to include the user interface element corresponding to the identified representation of the user interface element.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a controllable virtual environment includes a computer (11) with processor and a display coupled to the processor to display 2-D or 3-D virtual environment objects. Speech grammars are stored as attributes of the virtual environment objects. Voice commands are recognized by a speech recognizer (19) and microphone (20) coupled to the processor whereby the voice commands are used to manipulate the virtual environment objects on the display. The system is further made role-dependent whereby the display of virtual environment objects and grammar is dependent on the role of the user.

Abstract: A web site provides educational information over a computer network such as the Internet. The web site includes a plurality of web pages that can be displayed by the user. The web pages have a particular construction and content to facilitate review by the user. A first web page can be displayed that includes a combination of original information on a given educational topic, a hypertext link corresponding to the educational topic linked to a third party site and customized information corresponding to the third party site. The original information can be comprised of text and/or graphical images. The customized information comprises text in a form designed to encourage curiosity and visitation of a third party site for more information on the given educational topic.