Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a system and method for scrolling or dragging information on a display. A panning tool is provided that may scroll information, such as a web page, on a display in tandem with movement of a cursor. If interactive elements are present on the page or document, an interactive element may be activated as desired. Scrolling may be accomplished with the panning tool either on non-interactive elements or interactive elements that are not required to be activated. Furthermore, inertia of movement of the information on a display is optimized and autoscrolling is provided in which a page or document may be scrolled without dragging.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system is provided for presenting published information in a browser. Aspects of the preferred embodiment include providing a user control via a browser that allows for controlling a pacing of presentation of published information in the browser; receiving a pace setting from the user control; associating the pace setting with a subscription; and queuing published information corresponding to the subscription for presentation in the browser based on the pace setting.

Abstract: Techniques for providing visual feedback to illustrate the effects of editing operations are provided. This visual feedback may be provided in the form of an animated image that visually represents the pre-operation data gradually “morphing” into the data as affected by an operation. The data may be digital signal data that represents a recording of sound, for example. In response to a user's activation of a particular editing operation that affects the data, a resulting visual representation is generated. The resulting visual representation represents the data in the post-operation state, after the effects of the particular editing operation have been applied to the data completely. However, before the resulting visual representation is displayed, intermediate, interpolated visual representations of the data are generated and displayed.

Abstract: A method and system for managing complex projects uses a framework having workflow maps containing activity blocks that provide detailed, easily accessible information within the framework about the project. The framework links functional groups, their associated activities, and the dependences between activities. The detailed, prescriptive instructions provided at each stage in the process creates in-process quality control, reducing the likelihood of costly mistakes and turnbacks. Implementing the framework as a web-based application allows easy access to the framework as well as data entered into the framework for future analysis, making it easy to identify improvement opportunities in the framework.

Abstract: A system and method for managing non-user initiated focus changes in a computing device detects, in one embodiment, an operating system generated message indicating a focus change from a first window to a second window. Once detected, user input is inhibited for a predetermined time. The predetermined time is configurable by the user. After the predetermined time elapses, subsequent user input is permitted to be sent to the second window, which has the focus.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for maintaining the visibility of a priority page in the background of a software application window while simultaneously displaying unrelated content from a content tab. The content displayed in the content tab can be obtained from a web page. A user can resize or minimize the content tab, but the background priority page is always visible in the window. The priority page can be a friends lists displayed in the background of an instant messenger application. Content from a content tab is simultaneously displayed in the instant messenger window with the friends list.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes receiving a user input, the user input having been input in a user interface in one of multiple modalities. The method also includes accessing, in response to receiving the user input, a multi-modality content document including content information and presentation information, the presentation information supporting presentation of the content information in each of the multiple modalities. In addition, the method includes accessing, in response to receiving the user input, metadata for the user interface, the metadata indicating that the user interface provides a first modality and a second modality for interfacing with a user. First-modality instructions are generated based on the accessed multi-modality content document and the accessed metadata, the first-modality instructions providing instructions for presenting the content information on the user interface using the first modality.

Abstract: A personal computer (101) includes a control signal output unit (104) that outputs, to a display device (113), a control signal for switching between a TV format video signal and a computer format video signal while the display device (113) includes an input switching unit (114) operable to perform, based on the control signal outputted from the personal computer (101), input switching, for display, between the TV format video signal and the computer format video signal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for processing a set of links in a document. In response to receiving the document, the set of links in the document is displayed as being validated. The set of links are then processed to determine whether the links are valid or invalid. Whenever one of the links in the set of links is identified as being valid, the display of the link is changed to indicate that the link is valid. Whenever a link in the set of links is identified as being invalid, the display of that link is changed to indicate that this link is invalid.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product that have a graphical user interface capable of easily generating different kinds of items on a canvas by a user by operation of a mouse pointer on the canvas without requiring movement of the mouse pointer between a palette and the canvas are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a system is provided which comprises displaying means to display a pointer and a positional reference on a display screen; input means to accept an operation by a user; and control means to control a position and a function of the pointer on the display screen in response to the operation; wherein the control means determines the function of the pointer according to a distance between the position of the pointer and the positional reference.

Abstract: Visualizing Internet web traffic is disclosed. In one embodiment, a number of windows are displayed, corresponding to a number of clusters into which users have been partitioned based on similar web browsing behavior. The windows are ordered from the cluster having the greatest number of users to the cluster having the least number of users. Each window has one or more rows, where each row corresponds to a user within the cluster. Each row has an ordered number of visible units, such as blocks, where each block corresponds to a web page visited by the user. The blocks can be color coded by the type of web page they represent. In one embodiment, the corresponding cluster models for the clusters are alternatively displayed in the windows.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a system and method for scrolling or dragging information on a display. A panning tool is provided that may scroll information, such as a web page, on a display in tandem with movement of a cursor. If interactive elements are present on the page or document, an interactive element may be activated as desired. Scrolling may be accomplished with the panning tool either on non-interactive elements or interactive elements that are not required to be activated. Furthermore, inertia of movement of the information on a display is optimized and autoscrolling is provided in which a page or document may be scrolled without dragging.

Abstract: A variety of performance control mechanisms are disclosed, allowing a user of a processor-based system to adjust performance criteria such as processing speed and fan speed. A performance control apparatus includes one or more user-accessible knobs and a display. The knob(s) enable the user to select from a variety of processor and fan speed settings. Other performance-related criteria may also be controlled using the knobs. The display communicates the effect of a change in performance criteria in a manner useful to the user. A performance control application program enables the user to independently pre-select performance criteria for each application program or group of application programs. A performance control icon provides the ability to select performance criteria from within an application program.

Abstract: A method for selecting skinnable interfaces and a system for implementing the same. The method discloses accessing user specific information upon installation of an application on a computing resource. The computing resource is associated with a user that is associated with the user specific information. The method continues by associating the user with a selected selected skin from a plurality of user interface (UI) skins. The association between the user and the selected UI skin is based on the user specific information. Thereafter, the method continues by configuring the application to display the selected UI skin as a default UI skin for the application.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a CPU core, and displays a related image according to selection of a main menu icon. For example, in a case that a timer counting for each frame holds a predetermined value, it is determined whether or not the display of the related image has to be switched. If it is determined that the switch is necessary, the display of the related image is switched, and if it is not necessary, the display of the related image is not switched. The time is reset when the selection of the main menu icon and the display of the related image are changed. For example, in a case that selection of the main menu icon continues to be quickly changed, the timer does not reach the predetermined value, so that the related image is never switched.

Abstract: In a scrollable user interface window including two or more panels, a single scroll bar scrolls all of the panels. Panels move in lock-step with one another at certain times, but not at other times, depending on whether the lock-step scrolling would cause blank areas to be displayed. If the user's scroll commands would result in a blank area of a panel being displayed, the scroll command is not performed; rather, the panel remains frozen in its current position, even while other panel(s) do scroll. Thus, the present invention ensures that useful content is displayed at all times in all panels, and no screen real estate is wasted due to scrolling operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interfacing with playback of media by a media player are provided. By combining the functionality of fast forward and skip forward into a single button control, the invention reduces the numbers of control buttons that need be included on a device, reducing device costs and consumer “button overload.” In one embodiment, by pressing (and releasing) a forward button, media being rendered by a media player skips to a predetermined location in the media. By pressing and holding (and then releasing) the forward button, the media being rendered is fast forwarded according to algorithms for fast forwarding. A backward button covers skipping backward and fast reversing in a similar fashion. A device including a play/pause button and the described forward and backward buttons advantageously reduces the number of buttons required by two buttons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adaptable user interface. The adaptable user interface provides a more error free input function as well as greater ease of use when being used during certain events such as while moving. A user interface in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises a user input, at least one sensor, and a display unit functionally in communication with the at least one sensor and adapted to change its user interface input mode. The user interface is capable of adapting its user interface input in response to a stimulus sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A method for automatically filling an electronic timesheet includes extracting one or more calendar entries from an electronic calendar and matching each calendar entry of the one or more calendar entries to a corresponding project of a list of projects. An electronic timesheet is then filled based on each calendar entry matched with the corresponding project.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to assisting users to position a pointer on a target. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer-readable medium that guide a pointer toward a target. After the pointer is located on a target, pointer movement continues to be adjusted so that the user may easily keep the pointer located on the target.