Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system for efficiently managing a plurality of displayable objects within a display. Graphic selections of displayable objects arranged in a substantially circular formation are displayed in conjunction with a rotatable pointer or bar which is rotatable about a pivot point within the graphic selection arranged in a substantially circular formation. A moveable control element may be provided along the rotatable pointer or bar. The rotatable pointer or bar also includes one end which may be utilized for designating one of the graphic selections. The display of the displayable object may be altered in response to a selection of one of the graphic selections utilizing the end of the rotatable pointer or bar and in response to a manipulation of the moveable control element.

Abstract: A computer-assisted method for presenting a multi-media plurality of elements. Each element, including, for example, video images, still images and documents, is stored by assigned index number in an appropriate input device such as a VHS recorder or laser disk reader (video and stills) or an optical or magnetic disk reader (documents). The input devices are addressed by such index numbers to thereby call up and display selected elements in a WINDOWS format. The format is adjustable from a basic default setting to enable the user to customize frames prior to entry into a script buffer. Thereafter the script buffer is addressable, permitting the frames constituting the presentation to be entered into a script file in a preferred presentation sequence. The presentation is made by addressing the script file to recall selected frames. The method allows the user to preview frames one at a time and allows the user to reformat each frame prior to public display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing real-time computer animation of data used to simulate physical phenomena is disclosed. The animation system generates floating point geometrical element simulation data and byte width variable simulation data with a processing unit. The floating point geometrical simulation data is supplied to a graphics processor which generates element transformation matrices. The variable simulation data is applied to each of the element transformation matrices by the graphics processor to generate a plurality of layer transformation matrices. The layer transformation matrices are then applied to a stock piece-wise polygonal surface to generate a plurality of layer elements. The layer elements are displayed on a graphics display unit in real-time in the form of glyphs which animate the physical phenomena.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system having a display device for efficiently managing the display of an image. The image includes a number of segments, wherein only a portion of the segments may be simultaneously displayed within the display device at a selected resolution. The method and system of the present invention provides a substantially circular control icon having a defined periphery. One or more of the segments within the image may be associated with selected points along the defined periphery. A rotatable pointer element rotatable about a point within the substantially circular control icon is also provided. The portion of the segments displayed within the display device is selectively altered in response to a rotation of the rotatable pointer element. The display of the image also may be altered in response to movement of a slider or some other control element within the rotatable pointer element.

Abstract: A computer interface system employing a menu-graphical graphical user interface for the entry of text data in a data store receives user inputs for controlling the graphical user interface, which interface provides a document form display including at least one data entry field for text entry. The system is invested with the ability to generate a pointer in the display which is positionable in response to a control input from a user. The system is responsive to a selected positioning of the pointer and to a further control input from the user for varying the size of the data field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing a sequence of compressed frames of digital motion video information in a circular buffer is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, compressed digital motion video information is written from a storage device to the circular buffer. A host pointer is set equal to the location corresponding to the end of the last frame of motion video information written to the circular buffer, and the positions of a microcode pointer and the host pointer are compared. Based on these positions, determinations are made regarding (i) whether a compressed frame of digital motion video information is present in the circular buffer and ready for decompression and (ii) whether a portion of the circular buffer can be re-written with compressed digital motion video data based on the positions of the microcode and host pointers.

Abstract: A graphical interface for visually specifying the behavior of combinations of finite-state and continuous-state actors. The state of an actor may be controlled by the states of other actors. The motion of continuous-state actors is constrained by functions represented as, and analogous to, grooves, sockets, pins, glue, springs, and boxes. These functions may be represented graphically on the actor so that the system of constraints is readily ascertainable to the user.

Abstract: A computer program displayed as text on a graphical display has each line of code divided into segments that can be highlighted. The code is being executed by a number of processors in parallel. A highlight, preferably a background color, which causes a code line segment to look like a large cursor, is associated with each processor. When a processor is executing a line of the program code, the highlight associated with that processor is used to highlight or light up the segment associated with that processor on the line of code being executed by the processor. In a preferred embodiment, the segments for a given processor are of equal lengths and aligned in vertical tracks. This gives the visual effect of the colored background moving along the track as the processor executes the lines of code. Since there are many processors executing the code, there are many tracks on the screen. There can be more than one processor (colored cursor) associated with a single track.

Abstract: A simplified procedural user interface ("PUI") for controlling the operation of a computer, defined in terms of the steps or procedures required to do a given operation. The PUI acts as a graphical checklist that indicates to the user what has to be done and then controls the operation of the computer required to implement the operation. The PUI provides a linked icon representation of a user's task in a series of hierarchical panels. The linked icons indicate the steps a user must go through to complete a task using the computer. The hierarchical panels on which the icons reside provide a means to logically group related task steps. The underlying concept is to simplify the computer operation by only presenting the capability required to do a particular task at a given time.

Abstract: A graphic data output apparatus for creating and outputting graphic data including text or character data is provided with a superimposed text extracting device for extracting text superimposed on other text, a frequency measuring device for measuring the frequency of superimposition of the text at each available angle of the superimposed text and a text angle changing device for changing an angle of superimposed text so as to minimize a frequency of superimposition of the text. The superimposed text extracting device includes an approximation unit for approximating each superimposed text and other text into a rectangle or a circle. The frequency measuring device includes a text detecting unit for detecting text superimposed on an origin of other text and identifying the text from the other text. The text angle changing device includes an origin including text processing unit for changing an angle of the text from which text superimposed on an origin of other text is excluded.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a document structure generation system in which logical structure generation rules are established between a logical structure satisfying the restrictions of a generic logical structure which restricts the logical structure of an input document or documents and a logical structure satisfying the restrictions of a generic logical structure which restricts the logical structure of an output document or documents. A logical structure of an output document can be automatically generated from a logical structure of an input document according to the rules.

Abstract: Graphical, video, and audio dam is integrated into a single processing environment. The present invention employs an integrated graphics/video controller (IVC) which interfaces with application software through a graphics API and a video API. The IVC receives graphics commands through the graphics API and video commands through the video API. A mask driver produces information from the graphics commands including clipping information, graphics information and mask information. A blender uses the mask information, the graphics information, and the clipping information for combining or compositing graphics images with video images. The video commands of the video command stream provide functions for configuring the operation of the IVC. These functions include commands for loading software video decoders in a decoder block within the IVC. Video data transferred to the IVC via the video API may be encoded in a variety of different formats.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for multi-window display with enhanced window manipulation facilities. In the apparatus, window images to be displayed in multi-window display are stored in a bit map memory. Various image processing operations are performed on the window images stored in the bit map memory, by regarding the window images as graphic images. Appropriate sections of processed window images are transferred to a frame buffer by using a bit block transfer device, and the image in the frame buffer is displayed on a display device.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for predicting which 3270 Attention IDentifer (AID) keys are likely to be requested by the user, based upon the prior key sequences and the actual screen displays. If the predicted key is the same as the actual key, then the 3270 screen is refreshed accordingly. If the predicted key is not the same as the actual key, then the actual AID key request is sent and the system will synchronize itself to get back to where it would have been, but for the sending of the predicted key. The system is table driven using an AID key History Buffer, a Screen S6gnature History Buffer, an AID key Probability Table, and a Screen Signature Application Table.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of synchronizing actions and sounds for display on the visual display in a computer-system. The invention also includes a simulation including synchronized actions and sounds. Specifically, the method of synchronizing actions and sounds for display on a computer system having a visual display includes determining locations in a sound recording where predetermined actions are tobe displayed, measuring the time that elapses when the sound recording is played from reference point to the locations in the sound recording where the predetermined actions are to be displayed, associating the predetermined actions with the locations in the sound recording where the predetermined actions are to be displayed, and saving the locations and their associated actions.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a record of set-creating data processing activities and associated data sets. The method includes the steps of creating and displaying a plurality of visual representations, one for each of the set-creating activities, and arranging the visual representations to indicate a hierarchical relationship within the set-creating activities. The visual representations may be used to select for viewing a particular one of either the set-creating activities or the associated data sets, and displaying them on the data processing system. The display may correspond to a duration of an operator input activity, or to a time interval defined by an initiating operator input at a terminating operator input. In its simplest form, the method requires the arrangement of the visual representations in a hierarchy which corresponds to set-creation chronology.

Abstract: A user interface includes a process model unit (34) for predicting one or more allowable next states, from a current state of a process, and a display processing unit (26) for deriving, for each of the allowable next states, a representation of the allowable next state. The display processing unit has an output coupled to a display screen (30) for displaying each of the representations (30b-30g) in conjunction with a representation (30a) of a current state of the process. The user interface further includes an actuator control unit (22) that is coupled to an input mechanism whereby a user selects one of the displayed representations of one of the allowable next states. The motor control unit controls the process to cause it to enter a new current state that corresponds to the selected derived representation.

Abstract: As user is allowed alternatives for selecting computer application program actions which are dependent on the position of a computer display cursor. If the cursor is located at the position where the action is desired, the computer's user selects a textual or symbolic description of the action, thereby causing the action to be performed at the cursor's position. If the cursor is not located at the desired position, user moves an icon associated with the desired action to the desired position, thereby moving the cursor and causing the action to be performed at the desired position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating direct icon manipulation operations in a data processing system. A selection icon is generated which corresponds to an operator's selection of data fields from a plurality of data fields. The selection icon may be applied to a particular category of software objects to automatically include or exclude selected data fields in a direct icon manipulation operation, such as a drag-and-drop operation.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a stream of video image data so as to create a video representation that multiplexes data corresponding to resolution or bitstream scales. This representation is such that the identity of the basic MacroBlock (MB) structure of the MPEG-1 ISO standard is preserved across all resolution and bitstream scales, e.g. by scaling across four levels of resolution. A MacroBlock is associated with a series of attributes which contribute to the amount of overhead data incorporated in an MPEG-1 compressed data stream, so that by preserving the MacroBlock identify across multiple resolutions and bitstream scales, these scales can share this overhead, thus requiring it to be included only once in the data stream. Preserving the MacroBlock identify also simplifies significantly the derivation of motion estimation vector data for all resolution scales other than the highest resolution.