Abstract: An instrument includes a display screen which includes a bitmap graphical user interface including an on-screen menu, and a control element which enables movement of the on-screen menu corresponding to movement of the control element, enables the user to manipulate and select graphic images for executing selected instrument functions. The instrument is adapted to enable manipulation of a plurality of graphic elements in an on-screen menu such that the user is able to form a graphic image on the display screen.

Abstract: In a computer in which control software is installed, a display capability information receiving section conducts an information receiving process, receiving display capability information of a display device from a display capability information receiving/sending section of a printer beforehand. In printing job information settings, a display capability match/comparison section conducts a comparison process, comparing a user name and a printing job name inputted manually by a user or automatically by a job name and other data receiving section, with the display capability information received in the information receiving process, and determining whether the indication of the names is suitable for the display capability or not. A comparison result processing section receives the above comparison result, and when the indication is not suitable for the display capability, it conducts a notifying process, notifying the user to input the names using characters suitable for the display capability.

Abstract: The present invention involves a new system and process for dynamically displaying data objects or “information” on a computer display device based on a predefined priority associated with each individual element of the information. Consequently, more important information is displayed prior to less important information. The information may be either entered by a user, or automatically retrieved from one or more electronic data sources. For example, a large amount of different information is typically entered either automatically or by a user to fully describe a subject, such as, for example, a personal contact in an address book. Frequently, however, not all of the information to describe the contact is available. Further, the information that is available is typically more than can be easily displayed within a single concise window.

Abstract: A method for inputting information to a device connected to a deformable piece includes the steps of manipulating the deformable piece to provide a first morpheme input to the device. The first morpheme input normally triggers a first default action by the device, such as controlling a display, modifying a data structure, or communicating with another electronic device. When a user asynchronously manipulates the deformable piece to provide a second morpheme input to the device, the second morpheme input converts the normally triggered first default action to a second action generally not equivalent to the first default action. This mode of interaction allows formation of morphemic sentences to control a graspable device.

Abstract: A method for displaying an internet web page with an area of focus to reduce viewer distraction. The selected area of focus is displayed with the normal text, graphic and background color attributes as created by the web page designer. The area of focus may be, for example, a single sentence or a paragraph and may include one or more frames from the web page. Shading is applied to other portions of the displayed web page which become a less pronounced area out of focus. The area of focus may be moved with a pointing device such as a mouse or a keyboard. The degree of shading may be set by the computer user. The computer displaying the web page may be programmed to read the text in the area of focus with synthesized speech and to move the area of focus as the text is read.

Abstract: A system and method for user interface mirroring are provided. User interface objects are defined according to an object hierarchy that defines a logical relationship between a root element and one or more child elements. Additionally, the root element includes a directional property that is inherited by the child elements. A layout manager obtains the logical relationship and the specified directional property and correlates a set of physical coordinates for each display object according to the directional property, while maintaining the logical relationship. A renderer renders each of the display objects according to the specified directional property, while maintaining a truth table for graphical resources that could be rendered in one or more directions.

Abstract: A client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide data, schedules reminders, schedules program recordings, and parentally locks programs based on the expressions. Users' viewing histories may be tracked. The program guide server may analyze the viewing histories and generates viewing recommendations, targets advertising, and collects program ratings information based on the viewing histories.

Abstract: A multi-modal method for application swapping. An embodiment of a method includes, in response to a first key stroke, displaying a plurality of graphical icons corresponding to running applications, in response to a mouse input, selecting one of the graphical icons, and displaying the running application corresponding to the selected icon. The method enables a user to quickly and easily swap between currently running applications using a keyboard and a mouse.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for automatically recording information indicative of actions of an author in completing steps in an overall task performed on a user interface. Recording systems are used to record the steps taken to perform the task on different computers having different configurations. The recorded steps are then imported into an authoring component where the recorded steps are arranged into a desired content.

Abstract: A method for distributing windows in a computing device desktop, comprises opening at least one window in the computing device desktop. The method continues with distributing the at least one window in response to a control input such that at least one window is resized and located to fit the desktop such that the icons in the at least one distributed window can be viewed by a user of the computing device.

Abstract: The invention is a method, a computer readable medium and a system for improving performance of a graphical user interface (GUI). In one respect, the invention is a method for improving performance of a GUI. The method comprises identifying a plurality of links, wherein the identifying is performed in response to an initiation command. The method further comprises automatically processing the plurality of links, with each link being processed individually. In another respect, the invention is a computer readable medium on which is embedded computer software comprising a set of instructions for executing the above method. In yet another respect, the invention is a system configured to perform the above method.

Abstract: The degree to which a theme is applied to a graphical computer operating environment is modified. Elements of the graphical computer operating environment are displayed according to an applied theme and a specified theme intensity level. A new theme intensity level is received and the display of the elements of the graphical computer operating environment are modified accordingly. The modification of the elements of the graphical computer operating environment can comprise attenuation or amplification.

Abstract: A software development toolkit automates and eases the task of generating graphical human-machine interfaces that are interactive control modules or software necessary to control a process. A graphical human-machine interface is created on a computer using a first operating system. The graphical human-machine interface can be operated on a portable computing device that uses an operating system that is less capable than the first operating system. The graphical human-machine interface process control modules allow a user to control a process by using the portable computing device as a user control station. The operation of the graphical human-machine interface process control software on the portable computing device can be simulated on the computer that uses the first, more capable operating system. The portable computing device can be a handheld portable computing device. The second, less capable operating system can be Windows CE.

Abstract: A method for displaying location-dependent bookmarks ascertains a location for the computer. For this location, corresponding bookmarks are determined and displayed on the computer.

Abstract: A programming system includes a graphical data entry user interface for a plurality of sequential steps displayed to a user on a monitor. The user selects outputs to be activated for each of the sequential steps and any inputs to be monitored or timer to be enabled for the sequential steps. The inputs, outputs, and timer enable commands, and timer values identified by the user are converted into data tables each having a plurality of data elements. Each data element corresponds to one of the sequential steps. A programmable logic controller directs a process by reading the data elements corresponding to a sequential step and, for that sequential step, activating the outputs identified by the output data element, monitoring any inputs identified by the input control data element, and enabling a timer for a selected time period if identified in the input control data element.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention comprises a collection of techniques to infer the real construction of a collection of graphical elements. Typically the underlying graphical elements of a physical object have a parent-child relationship in the graphical display and picking database. The invention examines the children of a parent seeking relationships like co-linear, closed polygon, etc., and then answers “hit” detect queries for areas that are not specifically stroked, but are also inferred to be “real”, e.g., spaces in a dashed or patterned line, the area of a closed polygon, etc. Certain allowances and flexibility must be taken into account in this process. For example, one or more embodiments do not include “text” children on a stroke by stroke basis, but instead may look to the bounding box of the text for selection. One or more embodiments of the invention obtain a selection request from the user.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) view of a data collection based on an attribute is disclosed. A timeline is provided for displaying files and folders. The timeline may include a focal group that displays detailed information about its contents to the user. Remaining items on the timeline are displayed in less detail and may be positioned to appear further away from the user. A histogram may be provided as part of the view to allow the user to more easily navigate the timeline to find a desired file or folder.

Abstract: Animated indicators monitor the state of a software container and reflect the state of the container, potentially including information such as amount, type, and activity of the container. As the state of the container changes, an animation routine accordingly changes. Users are presented with up-to-date and detailed information about a container represented by a small graphic pictorial. Thus, the user receives a continuous supply of useful information about the container without having to specifically select and view the container as a full screen representation.

Abstract: At a first step, a disc is mounted on a playback apparatus. Subsequently, at a second step, CD-TEXT data recorded in the lead-in area of the disc is read out and decoded before being stored into a memory unit. Then, the CD-TEXT data containing character information is searched for a string of characters. The second step is followed by a third step to form a judgment as to whether or not a string of characters representing address information has been found in the search. If found, then at a fourth step, the string of characters found in the search is recognized as address information and displayed in a format for a string of characters representing a URL or an electronic-mail address. As a result, CD-TEXT data can be searched for a string of characters which is recognized as address information.

Abstract: A segmented-tree system for web browser display of a selected part of a tree-structured directory of hierarchically-related entities in a computer system. In the segmented-tree design of the present system, only the amount of information necessary to render the part of the tree in which the user is interested is transmitted from a server to the browser client. The server maintains information describing the complete tree, and it serves this information to the client in segments called ‘views’. The tree state for a particular client is maintained in relatively small data strings transferred back and forth. The server is thereby enabled to handle tree requests from many clients without special synchronization or the storage of the client state. Because the client/server tree state is kept in sync as the user navigates and modifies objects in the tree, the browser display always represents the true state of the tree.