Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting an on-screen menu is provided. In the method, the speed of movement of a pointer between icons of different levels is made faster than the speed of movement of the pointer between icons of the same level.

Abstract: Managing a virtual private network includes providing a graphical user interface for displaying one or more virtual private network subscribers and one or more computers offering virtual private network functions. The graphical user interface is programmed to display tunnels associated with either the subscribers and/or the computers offering virtual private network functions based on user input.

Abstract: A virtual three-dimensional sound pattern generator is provided. A player character may move within a virtual three-dimensional space using a sound source object and a sound marker. The player character may use the sound source object to shoot sound signals at the sound marker. The sound marker may then provide sound information based on the relative position of the sound source object for the player character, and based on materials of virtual objects. Audible sounds at prescribed positions and in prescribed directions within the virtual three-dimensional space are then provided.

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: A method and system are provided for organizing, displaying, and accessing representations of one or more running tasks on a graphical user interface in a computer system. The system organizes like application files and clusters the corresponding taskbar buttons and, upon reaching a threshold limit, creates and displays a group button that contains the like application files and removes the like taskbar buttons from the taskbar. Further, upon reaching a second threshold limit, the system ungroups the application taskbar buttons, displays them on the taskbar and removes the group button from the taskbar.

Abstract: In a window design alteration method, a design of a window which is specified as an object of a design alteration from among windows being displayed on a screen is automatically self-altered by a design self-alteration function of the specified window to the same design as a design of a bit map selected from among bit maps that have been stored in a memory, and the automatic self-alteration is carried out so that a function included in the specified window is effective within an outline pertaining to a design after the automatic self-alteration.

Abstract: Client software may be used in conjunction with services offered by several entities such as network service providers. A user interface of the client software presents brand indicia relating to the network service provider that is currently being used by the software. The software is configured by selecting entities with which the software will be used. Once the entities are selected, an instruction server is queried to determine the location of branding data to be presented to the user, and a branding data server is queried to retrieve the branding data. The brand indicia are presented to the user according to the branding data each time the corresponding entity is accessed.

Abstract: A method and device for displaying history information are provided in which, when a plurality of image processings are carried out repeatedly, a plurality of images which have been subjected to image processing automatically remain as a history record, and this history record is displayed in image states which can be visually discerned, such that a desired image can be intuitively determined. When an image which has been subjected to image processing on an image-to-be-processed display screen is closed and subjected to another image processing, or is subjected to an additional image processing, images displayed on the image-to-be-processed display screen up to before a next image processing is carried out are displayed as icons in a past image icon display portion beneath the image-to-be-processed display screen. Thus, a function can be provided for listing up a history of image processings or providing a gallery stocked with image states which are results of intermediate processings.

Abstract: User interface apparatuses, data signals, articles of manufacture, image forming systems, and processor-implemented methods are provided. One aspect of the invention provides a user interface apparatus including a display device configured to display visual images; and digital processing circuitry coupled with the display device and configured to control the display device to display a range indicator corresponding to an adjustment range and comprising a plurality of positions, to display an active indicator relative to the range indicator at one of the positions corresponding to a plurality of values of a plurality of targets, and to display an inactive indicator relative to the range indicator at another one of the positions corresponding to the value of one of the targets.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying information on a display area of a screen of an electronic device. An initial page of information is displayed on the display area. A signal is transmitted from a user interface device operated by a user. A subsequent page of information is displayed on the display area in response to the signal, including at least one previously displayed line on a previous page, but moved away from an edge of the display area, and at least one newly displayed line between the previously displayed plurality of lines and the edge. Automatically upon display of the subsequent page, a visual cue is displayed on the display area between the previously displayed plurality of lines and the newly displayed plurality of lines in a manner to enable a user to distinguish the previously displayed plurality of lines from the newly displayed plurality of lines.

Abstract: The invention is an instruction presentation apparatus adapted to present a series of instruction screen displays to a user according to a predetermined sequence. Each instruction screen display includes both textual information describing the work to be done during execution of an instruction and graphical information correlated with the textual information graphically illustrating the machine that is worked on during execution of the instruction. The apparatus is configured to withhold display of a next instruction screen display in a series of instruction screen displays until the apparatus receives a user initiated command to display a next instruction screen display.

Abstract: Method for providing at least a portion of a disguised password in an undisguised form is described. More particularly, a program is described having a capability of displaying a single character at a time, more than one character at a time or all of otherwise disguised characters of a password in an undisguised form in response to a successful pre-password check.

Abstract: A display system and method for displaying information relating to data stored on a database. The system comprises a processor for obtaining information relating to data stored on a database, the information defining times at which the data changed. The processor generates display control signals to cause the display to generate an elongate display element extending along a time axis and which exhibits indicia defining the times of occurrence of changes in the data.

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: A memory in a video/audio-processing unit retains data of video and audio received from a video mail system and data of new input video and audio. According to user operations, a video/audio-processing unit creates metadata. The metadata includes range data representing a quotation range or ranges of the received video and audio, and information that represents the arrangement order of the new input video and audio. In response to the received video and audio, the video mail system transmits only the metadata and the new input video and audio to a video mail system. According to the contents of the metadata, the video mail system uses the transmitted video and audio and thereby reproduces the overall new video and audio.

Abstract: Techniques are described providing mediated information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from a first source an indication of a first value for an indicated one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, receiving from a second source an indication of a second value for the indicated state attribute, and, after an indication from a client for a value for the indicated state attribute, sending to the client a mediated value for the indicated state attribute that is produced by mediating between available values for the indicated state attribute including at least the first and second values.

Abstract: The present invention introduces an aliased selection system with audible cues to allow a user of a handheld computer system locate a desired item from a list of item. The aliased selection system allows a user to spell out a desired item by activating an input that specifies a subset that containing a next letter. In one embodiment, two different subsets are used: A to M and N to Z. When the user has entered information on enough letters such that the number of possibilities fits entirely on a display screen then a first audible cue is given. The user may enter additional information on until a single list item is uniquely identified. Once a single item is uniquely identified, the system emits a second audible cue that informs the user that a single item has been specified. The aliased selection system allows a user to select a desired item from a list with a single hand and without looking at the display screen. However, the user may shorten the selection process by looking at the display screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for displaying network information to a user connected to a network or sub-network manager of a hierarchical telecommunications network by providing a map on a visual display unit showing network elements and connections between network elements. A plurality of views may be selected which include not only a conventional physical view, in which all network elements and the optical fibre links between them are shown, but also one or more views showing connections at respective virtual container levels (e.g. VC-4, VC-12). In these views only the multiplexers are shown and virtual containers at the respective level are shown as lines joining the multiplexers which are their termination points.

Abstract: Collaboration space object model provides for a place consisting of rooms created by users interacting with a client browser. A skin (i.e., theme) may be used as template for creating places. PlaceBots (i.e., agents) provide for accessing, processing and managing data in a place. HTML may be dragged and dropped into a place, where it is parsed and corresponding place fields created. MS Excel or Word documents may be dragged and dropped into a place, which creates a corresponding form, and users may create new documents using that form. A place type comprising a template of an entire place, or collaboration space, may be used to create new places. Changes made to a place may be reported, subject to security controls, by selecting what's new. Task fields are provided allowing web browser creation of forms for work flow. Place enabled objects are provided for synchronous communications. A quick browse feature provides a simplified format for browser windows based on selection of HTML links.

Abstract: A network based product design system and method allows product design. The system comprises a central processing unit capable of product design; at least one communication link allows selective two-way communication to the central processing means; and a network selectively interconnects and communicates the central processing unit to at least one party through the at least one communication link. Each party that is connected to the central processing unit is capable of providing input regarding a product design, the network being capable of allowing the input to be simultaneously viewed by each party so that input made by one party is capable of being accessed by at least one other party.