Abstract: A new application sharing technology that enables sharing of many single-user non-modified applications between two or more workstations. It provides concurrent sharing of existing multiple applications with no change in a distributed environment. It permits real-time sharing of distributed applications based on a fundamental window hierarchical mapping and user interactions. Control is centralized but the data and program are replicated. It is event driven with agent assistance. The new event capturing capability is automatically triggered by user interactions on entering/leaving the shared window. The event capturing capability starts when the user moves the pointer into the shared windows. The event capturing ends when the user moves the pointer out of the shared windows. The new multicasting scope is defined in a shared window hierarchy data array. This global data array is dynamically created at run time on an as-needed basis.

Abstract: A separate window is provided for each of multiple OpenDoc Canvas objects, thereby effecting a multiple Canvas-per-compound document design. Possibility of one OpenDoc object drawing in another object's screen area is eliminated by clipping imposed by the graphics engine on a per-window basis. Multiple different rendering libraries may be employed for screen imaging. The raw window may be used for direct platform-specific drawing functions and other rendering toolkits. User interface elements associated with alternative graphical user interfaces may be used as the root of a window hierarchy. A PlatformCanvas represents a handle to platform-dependent data types which are passed directly to native drawing routines and which provides a generic entity for specifically handling platform-specific architectures, providing a generic representation of platform-specific structures.

Abstract: A process for a virtual windows desktop system visually organizing multiple computer application objects on a computer screen comprising the steps of: 1) providing for a virtual display with application objects arranged thereon and having a virtual area larger than the screen when the application objects are resolvable on the screen; 2) providing for a physical display for displaying the application objects; 3) locating the physical display at a position corresponding to at least one of the application objects on the virtual display; 4) viewing the application object through the physical display; and 5) moving the physical display or a larger group of application objects in one single, continuous movement or one discreet movement anywhere on the virtual display. The process extends the windows work area within the virtual display area, beyond the physical limitations of the system's display devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for painting a digital picture using strokes of a digital brush is provided. The painting strokes entered by a user is handled using a "lazy" processing approach, in which a region of the picture being painted is updated according to the entered strokes only when that region is to be displayed for viewing. To this end, the painting strokes are recorded as an ordered sequence of painting steps. The digital picture being painted is partitioned into a plurality of individual regions, and each region is assigned an age which indicates a painting step in the ordered sequence that is last applied to that region. When a region becomes visible, i.e., it is displayed for viewing, the age of the region is checked, and all of the painting steps in the ordered sequence that are after the step indicated by the age of the region are then applied to the region so that it becomes up-to-date. The age of that region is updated accordingly.

Abstract: An operating system provides extensions through which application developers may extend the capabilities of a shell of the operating system. For example, application developers may add menu items to context menus for objects that are visible within an integrated system name space. In addition, developers may add property sheet pages for such objects. Application developers also have the option of providing per-instance icons for each instance of an object. Application developers may provide data object extension handlers for customizing data sources on a per-object class basis and may provide drop target extension handlers on a per-object class basis to customize drop target behavior. Developers may additionally provide copy-hook handlers to regulate file system operations on objects. Developers may also extend the functionality provided by the shell of the operating system by adding their own custom name spaces to the integrated system name space.

Abstract: A method and system for graphic video image control of selected segments of video data from within a video presentation which includes a large number of video frames. The video frames are displayed in a stacked overlapping manner within a computer display system. Upon selection of a particular edge of the display of an uppermost frame, each frame is then slightly offset from an adjacent frame such that a small portion of each overlapped frame may be visually accessed. A user may then select some portion of the video presentation for display by observing the transition effects along the exposed edge of each frame and then graphically selecting a particular frame utilizing a graphical pointing device, such as a mouse pointer. The selected frame is then displayed and a particular portion of the video presentation, beginning at the selected frame, may then be presented, greatly enhancing the efficiency of video display control.

Abstract: An information processing system which includes control apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of information processing apparatuses. The control apparatus controls the information processing system to permit an application program stored in one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to be operated from any input device of the plurality of information processing apparatuses such that the results of information processing of the application program are displayed onto each display device. Each display device of the plurality of information processing apparatuses displays information regarding operation of an application program and an indication mark indicating an arbitrary position based on screen coordinates input from any input device of the plurality of information processing apparatuses.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a working window on a video monitor in a computer system is provided. The method comprises the steps of determining if a user has performed a first predetermined input stroke along at least a portion of a display screen. Upon determining that the user has drawn the predetermined input stroke, a plurality of icons are displayed. A user selects one of the plurality of icons via a second predetermined input stroke and a working window is scrolled onto the video monitor. A computer program that corresponds to the selected icon is then executed in the working window. The user can remove the working window from the screen by clicking and performing a third predetermined input stroke.

Abstract: A system for retrieving and displaying programming information in response to selection of a category of programming information. Programming information is presented via a schedule display having a category display, a subcategory category display, and a program display. The category display displays an array of category tiles representing categories of programming information. The subcategory display displays an array of subcategory tiles representing subcategories that are associated with the categories of the category display. The program display displays an array of program tiles that are associated with the subcategories of the subcategory display. A viewing panel extends along each of the displays for displaying one each of the category, subcategory, and program tiles. Classes of programming information are selected by scrolling the tiles of the associated displays until the desired class items are presented within the viewing panel.

Abstract: The present invention is a graphical user interface (GUI) for use in an Executive Information System (EIS) for managerial planning applications that experience long-range weather impact. The EIS is referred to as a Long-range Executive Weather Information System (LEWIS.TM.). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LEWIS.TM. system is used to calculate and display to a user the impact of weather on retail planning applications. However, the present invention applies to all industries beyond retailing that experience weather impact, including, but not limited to, personal care, utilities, energy, agriculture, consumer products, insurance, transportation, outdoor events, chemicals, pharmaceutical, and construction.

Abstract: An application, method and apparatus for revision of a title of a window containing objects as controlled by a computer system. The computer system has at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for operating applications within the computer system, and memory for storing the application therein. A title is generated for the window containing a list of all of the parent objects, either in the window or represented by child objects in the window. The title is revised dynamically to correspond with modifications in the parent objects. The title revision is done while the window is displayed. Also a means for retaining in the title the name of a parent object even if the parent object becomes temporarily unavailable while the window is displayed. Also a means for saving the revised title so that when the window is opened again in the future, the objects are displayed. Additionally a means for closing the window if all of the objects are deleted.

Abstract: A data processing method and apparatus, in which gestures and other characters or figures are discriminatively recognized even in an area for handwritten characters, in which effective gestures are defined in any input areas, and in which various gestures are recognized by using a simple method and means to enable reducing a load to the apparatus. The method and apparatus can be realized by using a small size device. Further, in the method and apparatus, kinds of commands to be selected by using a stylus are recognized in accordance with touches, moves, and halts of the stylus, or successive rules related to the states of the stylus.

Abstract: A user performs a manual selection or a gesture selection of a screen object (210, 220, 230) on a screen (150) of an electronic device (100) using a pointing device (190). After a manual selection, such as a single tap, the electronic device (100) automatically presents a temporary directional palette (450) having palette buttons (451, 452, 453, 454, 455) that explicitly state functions of the electronic device (100). Each palette button has a unique compass direction relative to the original tap area. By making a second tap on a desired palette button, a novice user learns available functions of the electronic device (100) and their corresponding directional gestures. Alternately, the user may perform a gesture selection of both a screen object and a function, such as making a double tap or drawing a line in the appropriate direction, before the directional palette appears on the screen (150).

Abstract: A method and system in a graphical user interface in a data processing system for associating and displaying a plurality of objects are described. A creation of a visually perceptible enclosure having a translucent surface is specified. A plurality of objects within the graphical user interface are specified. Each of the objects are associated with the visually perceptible enclosure. The enclosure is then created. The enclosure and each of its associated plurality of objects are displayed within the graphical user interface. Each of the objects are displayed within the enclosure so that they are partially visible through the translucent surface. The objects are inaccessible while they are displayed within the enclosure. Once the enclosure is removed, the objects are accessible. A code field may be associated with the enclosure. An entry of a valid code is required in order to remove the enclosure and permit access of each enclosed objects.

Abstract: A distributed object based system (10) comprising primary (P) and secondary (S) objects with provision for containership links between primary objects and objects which they contain and for weak links between objects. A weak link enables a user indirectly to insert an object (or other item, e.g., text) into a target object via an intermediate object weakly linked to the target object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying data on a computer display system. More specifically, with this invention location information of data from an application program is converted to location information for displaying data within a number of contours on a display device. With this invention display data for a logical display area on a first contour is converted to display data for a plurality of contours, where each of the later contours is a logical section of the former contour. More importantly, this conversion is transparent to the application program. The second display data is then displayed on the display device of the computer system.

Abstract: In a display system having a display surface of one or more physical surfaces, a method controls the presentation of application displays in a multi-window computer environment wherein multiple application displays are displayed. Further, any application display requested to be displayed is caused to be displayed by the method in one of the multi-windows in response to an operator select action. The method comprises the steps of outputting selectable options for each window as specified in a configuration file. The configuration file defines window properties for each window of the multi-window display. The selectable options provide indications of where application displays are to be presented. The option selected is read by the Workspace Management System. The application display is outputted to conform with the option selected, the option indicating the replacement of current application displays with subsequent application displays.

Abstract: A menu display device for indicating a relationship between a series of linked menu items that are listed in separate menus and displayed sequentially on a display screen to be selected by a cursor is disclosed. The plurality of menus are appropriately stored, and each menu item has a design for identifying their respective menu items. The menu items are connected so as to form a linked structure of the menus, and the linkage is also stored. A menu item display control unit is provided for retrieving the next menu, which is related to a selected menu item and for having that retrieved menu displayed by the display screen. A marker design generation unit can generate a new design, which includes at least a portion of the design for the menu item that was selected in the previous menu to thereby indicate, by the appearance of the cursor, a path through the linked menus.

Abstract: A configuration management system which generates and updates its own real-time dynamic database for representing a system configuration. The configuration management system includes an user interface for receiving user input of free-hand graphic drawings representing system configuration changes. The configuration management system further includes an interactive graphic interpretive and linking actuator which employs the user input of free-hand graphic drawings representing the system configuration changes for linking to sections of the database corresponding to the user input of configuration changes and updating data stored therein thus representing a new system configuration updated by the user input of the configuration changes. The user interface future includes a dialog box for receiving system parameters relating to the user input of free-hand graphic drawings representing the system configuration changes.

Abstract: A method and system for transferring data to common destinations using a common destination list is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a user uses a software facility ("the facility") that is preferably integrated into an operating system to transfer source objects using a list of common transfer destinations. By selecting a source object and issuing a transfer command, the user causes the facility to display in conjunction with the source object a list of common transfer destinations ("common destination list"). When the user selects a destination from the common destination list, the facility initiates a transfer of the source object to the selected destination. The destinations contained in the common destination list are preferably customizable by the user in a straightforward manner.