Abstract: A bookmark set is created from search results. First, a search request from a client browser is sent for pages in a distributed database which satisfy a search condition. A set of pages which satisfy the search condition are returned. In the page which presents the search results, each page is associated with a user input sensitive selection means, such as a checkbox. Responsive to user input, i.e. selection of certain pages, a bookmark set comprised of a path to selected pages is created. The created bookmark set is served as a unit to the client browser.

Abstract: Concurrently displaying a set of pages in a distributed database with a minimum of user interaction is disclosed. A set of bookmarked web pages in a browser interface are concurrently displaying a list of bookmarks in the interface, each bookmark associated with a respective one of the web pages. At least a subset of the web pages are displayed in a cascade of windows, each web page assigned to a respective window in the cascade in the order in which the associated bookmark is listed in the list of bookmarks. Each window in the cascade is arranged so that a title bar is visible and the alphanumeric content of the title bar can be easily related to an entry in the bookmark list.

Abstract: A method for displaying an executing application in an HTML page includes the steps of receiving an indication that execution of an application should begin, determining the parameters of a window in which the executing application will be displayed, creating a communication channel to the HTML page using the determined window parameters, and displaying the output of the application, which is executing on a server, in the window via the communications channel. A related apparatus includes a parameter handler and a network executive. The parameter handler determines the parameters of the application window and passes the parameters to a network executive. The network executive uses the parameters to begin execution of the desired applications program on a server and causes the output of the program to be displayed in the window.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a enterprise-wide work flow system that may encompass multiple geographically separate sites. The sites may be either permanently or transiently linked. A single computer network may accommodate multiple work flow systems and a single work flow system may be distributed over multiple local area networks. The system maintains the paradigm of one global queue per service and provides for individual work flow systems to export services to one another in an enterprise.

Abstract: A document management system is provided to manage electronic documents in connection with copyrights. Herein, copyright management information is set with respect to a constituent element of a document that a user produces. The constituent element corresponds to a chapter, a paragraph, a sentence, a figure or a table, for example. The copyright management information represents copyright information regarding the use of the document, which is classified into prescribed levels such as a reference level, a copy level and a print level. In addition, it represents prescribed conditions as to whether the use of the document is allowed with payment of fee, with filing of application and with display of copyright or not, for example. Further, the content of the copyright management information can be changed in response to user levels respectively. The copyright management information is connected with information representing the constituent element.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of annotating a geometric figure displayed and manipulable in three-dimensional representation on a display of a computer system with a pointer is described. The pointer is also displayed and manipulable in three-dimensional representation on the display. The method associates multimedia functions with the geometric figure. The pointer is positioned to point at an area of the geometric figure using a control device. The geometric figure is displayed in a particular view orientation when the pointer points at the area of the geometric figure. The pointer is then oriented three-dimensionally such that the pointer can point at the area of the geometric figure at a desired angle. The particular view orientation of the geometric figure with the pointer can be preserved such that the particular view orientation of the geometric figure with the pointer can later be retrieved. The pointer can be activated by attaching a marker to the pointer using the control device.

Abstract: A computer system, program product and method implement enhancements to the functionality and power of aliases in accessing documents stored in a computer system. An alias may be automatically or manually generated and/or later refreshed based upon content data retrieved from a document that is stored at a predetermined storage location. An alias generated based upon such content data may also be displayed on the computer system. The content data is retrieved in conjunction with the retrieval of a portion of the document, and is defined to exclude the title data for a document. In addition, multiple aliases may be associated with a predetermined storage location. The multiple aliases may be selectively displayed in lieu of one another on a computer system, with the display of a second alias replacing the display of a first alias. Furthermore, the multiple aliases may be stored with one another in an alias group data structure that includes a single location identifier associated with each of the aliases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting structure information from an unstructured electronic document is described. The method includes the step of identifying a structural type for each instance in the electronic document by examining presentation attributes associated with each instance. Examples of presentation attributes which are examined include numbering formats, indentations, and font sizes and weights.

Abstract: A method for limiting movement and copying of word processing text within a single document and among documents when the text to be moved includes hyperlinks wherein the hyperlinks link to information that is document specific, processing can be limited in any of several different ways including prohibiting movement, notifying an operator and facilitating movement, notifying an operator and allowing the operator to choose movement and so on.

Abstract: A technique for representing a visual scene as a directed acyclic graph of data and operators that generates a sequence of image frames over specified time intervals. The graph specifies temporal and spatial values for associated visual elements of the scene. Time is modeled in the inheritance properties explicitly defined within the scene graph hierarchy, by assigning temporal attributes to each media element. Branch nodes of the graph specify transforms for the temporal and spatial coordinate systems. To evaluate the appearance or behavior of the scene and in particular the global time values of particular elements at a given time instant, the graph is traversed in a direction from a root node down toward the leaf nodes, thereby causing temporal transformations specified along the branches of the graph to modify time parameters of the scene data at the nodes. Child nodes are preferably evaluated after being transformed, to determine the extent to which they contribute the data to the final scene.

Abstract: When the user directs to change the view point within a virtual 3-D coordinate space having thereon displayed reduced images as a list of data by successively inputting a view point moving in an arbitrary direction, a trace of the movement of the view point is displayed within the screen. Thus, it has become possible to visualize individual data files in the database and the relationship among each item of the data. Consequently, the user can readily manage the data and retrieve the information he needs.

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of sorting the images according to a principal criterion (width or height) and a secondary criterion (height or width) and after having indexed these images, automatically associating the image p−j and the image p+1+j with the same editing row so as to minimize the total useful width of the aggregation of the images, and calculates the maximum enlargement ratio for editing the aggregation of the images on a medium arranged in portrait or landscape mode.

Abstract: Described is a technique to produce a user interactive movie having the capability of switching perspectives at the option of the user. The movie is in the form of a computer memory means having certain information recorded thereon. The information includes a digital database and preferably sets of computer instructions. The digital database is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the digital database contains a chain of events as perceived from a first viewpoint and the second portion of the digital database contains the chain of events as perceived from a second viewpoint. The memory means preferably includes instructions for causing a computer to retrieve and output to a user through user interfaces the chain of events from either the first portion of the digital database or the second portion of the digital database, one at a time.

Abstract: A method and system in a computer network for assisting users in collectively creating documents with minimal document intrusiveness via the computer network. Initially, a document is displayed in a graphic interface of a computer in a computer network, such that the document may also be displayed at any one of a number of computers within the computer network. Next, portions of the document are designated which may be commented upon by users. These portions of the document are automatically associated with displayable interface wherein users may enter comments pertaining to the document. The displayable interface is then displayed within the graphic interface, in response to user input. A user is then permitted to enter comments pertaining to the document within the displayable interface, such that the comments may be separately stored, subsequently retrieved and utilized in the creation of the document without cluttering.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing broadcast program content and corresponding program commands of an Internet-Based broadcast. The method (and system) generates a plurality of time-indicative index values during a broadcast of a program, associates ones of the plurality of index values with respective commands in a command stream launched during broadcast of the program, transmits the commands and associated index values to one or more clients, and associates ones of the plurality of index values to respective video frames in a video stream of the program to indicate the relative time within the program at which the video frame occurs. The method (and system) uses the index values in the video stream to determine the timing and sequence of execution of commands in the command stream at the one or more client.

Abstract: A method for processing and accessing data objects including a step (II) of gathering collected data objects (D) into groups of objects (DP1, DP2, DPM) associated with respective geographical areas (P1, P2, PM), a step (III) of classifying each object according to several categories of objects (DB1, DR1, DN1), a first step (IV) of classifying the objects into at least one of the object categories (DB1) according to an index common to all the object groups (DP1, DP2, DPM), and a second step (V) of classifying a part of the collected objects forming a particular group of objects (CR1, CR2, CRM) according to a second so-called hierarchical classification scheme (PH) common to all the object groups (DP1, DP2, DPM). The method further includes a step of navigating through selected geographical areas via either of the first and second classification schemes (PT, PH). The method is particularly useful for distributing and accessing documents on medical and pharmaceutical regulations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus convert font outlines to rasterized bitmaps. The method accesses stored outline data representing an object in a first coordinate space and transforms the outline data to corresponding data representing the object in a second corrdinate space. Regional relationship information is maintained in both corrdinate spaces through a non-linear transformation expressed as a plurality of linear transformation matrices, and a bit map, suitable for displaying the object, is generated as a result of the transformation. The apparatus of the invention analyzes Bezier curves and subdivides them as necessary until each portion is sufficiently flat to be approximated as a straight line, and calculates where line segments cross pixel midlines in order to fill the outline, and then generates the bit map.

Abstract: A data processor such as a household information system which is realized by an image display with which the initial image of the system changes every time the system is started, and the displayed object moves interactively, employing a small memory. When the power source of the processor is turned on, the initial image display processing unit is started. In the initial image display processing unit, the screen display update processing unit changes the image on the display unit every after a predetermined period of time based upon the state of the images that have been stored in advance in the state storage unit. Moreover, any input from the input unit is detected by the input detect unit. Then, the image state select processing unit selects the state of a new image that corresponds to the input and stores it in the state storage unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for simulating a multibody system on a computer. The invention provides for inputting into the computer a mathematical description of each body in the multibody system, specifying into the computer a force to act on one of the bodies, formulating a Jacobian matrix, solving kinematics constraints in the computer, graphically displaying a result of the solution of the kinematic constraints from the computer onto an electronic display, whereupon the user can interactively input a change to the multibody system into the computer and graphically display a result of the change to the multibody system from the computer.

Abstract: An integrated data structure is provided which can be maintained and managed by selectively using data storage forms for storing graphic data representing three-dimensional figures, such as houses, roads, underground piping and the like, according to the properties of an object figure and mixing the same. Three control flags respectively specifying three kinds of operations for extension to be carried out for extending two-dimensional graphic data comprising two-dimensional coordinates (x, y) can be selectively used. An extension 1 to specify the component points of a figure by coordinates (x, y, z), an extension 2 to specify a z-coordinate indicating the altitude of a figure for the figure, and an extension 2 to specify a value d and information f indicating the construction of a figure having a predetermined shape and a method of display are used individually or in combination to form a three-dimensional figure.