Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling access to a resource. Visual representations of the resource and an entity are included in a display. A movement in the display of the entity representation to a position proximate to a boundary of the resource representation is detected. An attribute assigned to the entity representation is determined to not satisfy an access control requirement assigned to the resource representation. The entity is not permitted to access the resource based on the attribute not satisfying the access control requirement. Based on the entity not being permitted to access the resource, a visual cue is presented that indicates the entity representation is prevented from moving in the display across, and being placed within, the boundary of the resource representation.

Abstract: Information concerning a set of recipients of previously conveyed messages from a sender can be collected. Patterns between content of the previously conveyed messages and each of the set of recipients can be determined and stored. Information can be selected within a user interface to share with others. The selected information can be analyzed and matched against the stored patterns. A subset of the recipients can be automatically determined. The subset can be those recipients likely to be interested in the selected information based on results of the analyzing and the matching. The information can be conveyed within at least one message from a sender device of the sender to one or more remotely located devices. Each of the one or more remotely located devices can be devices associated with at least a portion of the subset of the recipients.

Abstract: Methods and systems for connecting people for real time communications via a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: receiving a call for a real time communication session at a virtual object presented in a virtual reality world; indicating to a plurality of residents of the virtual reality world that the virtual object is being called; and responsive to an input from one resident of the plurality of residents, connecting the call to the resident for a real time communication session.

Abstract: A technique is provided for enhancing the performance of an interface device. A collection of device elements having properties including a visual representation and a functionality are instantiated in a global container. The global container includes the device elements that are required for various screen views. Device elements that are not required in a currently displayed screen view are torn off in the global container so that memory and processing requirements are reduced, while increasing the speed and performance of the interface, particularly in switching between screen views.

Abstract: A user-interface program includes a space that defines adoptable properties as a function of position in said logical space. Chameleon program objects adopt those properties as a function of their positions in the space. The chameleon objects on a display have appearances that correspond to their adopted properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for implementing shared editing of a document, including: dividing a document into multiple portions; when a user modifies the document, providing at least one portion of the multiple portions for the user to modify, wherein the at least one portion is prohibited to be modified by another user at the same time; and storing the modified by the user. Therefore, multiple users may edit a same document simultaneously by utilizing a docbase management system, and the modifications made by each user to the document can be stored wholly. Moreover, because the document is managed by one party, the security of the document can be guaranteed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for managing open windows in a desktop GUI are disclosed. In various implementations, within a three-dimensional desktop, the open windows can be displayed in a three-dimensional browsable parade. As the user browses through the open windows in the browsable parade, the open window passing through a designated primary location of the three-dimensional desktop becomes the current active window of the desktop. An application menu bar of the current active window can be displayed on the three-dimensional desktop. The application menu bar and the active window together provide the full range of interactive capabilities that the native application environment of the open window would allow, even though the open window is currently displayed within the browsable parade.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling the appearance of application windows on a computer display screen. A user identifies either an application window currently running on the computer or a new application to be started. The user also identifies a size, shape, and screen location by inputting a geometric shape, such as by drawing a rectangle with a pen or stylus input device, on the display screen. The appearance of the application window is set based on the geometric shape. The application window is resized and moved, for a currently running application, or created, for a new application, on the display screen.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for providing recommendations for an in-person meeting group, the method comprising: collecting user information, wherein the user information provides information related to topical interests and location information for at least one of a plurality of users; comparing the user information with a topical listing of in-person meeting groups in the same geographical region as the at least one user, wherein the in-person meeting group is formed and maintained through a web-based meeting facility; and providing an in-person meeting group recommendation to the at least one user based on the comparison.

Abstract: A computer system and method according to the present invention can receive multi-modal inputs such as natural language, gesture, text, sketch and other inputs in order to manipulate graphical objects in a virtual world. The components of an agent as provided in accordance with the present invention can include one or more sensors, actuators, and cognition elements, such as interpreters, executive function elements, working memory, long term memory and reasoners for object placement approach. In one embodiment, the present invention can transform a user input into an object placement output. Further, the present invention provides, in part, an object placement algorithm, along with the command structure, vocabulary, and the dialog that an agent is designed to support in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for performing message interactions in a multi-tab application program. The method includes creating one or more page windows corresponding to respective tabs in the multi-tab application program as one or more top-level windows and receiving an input message corresponding to a user operation with respect to a particular tab. The method also includes sending the input message to one of the page windows corresponding to the particular tab by a main frame window of the multi-tab application program in a non-blocking message sending mode, without sending any associated system message to the page windows. Further, the method includes continuing to handle messages for other page windows by the main frame window regardless whether the one of the page windows is hung.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying a virtual PIN pad and a virtual non-PIN pad on a touch screen having a screen area. Electronics in electrical communication with the touch screen are operative to provide the virtual PIN pad on the touch screen in a payment mode and provide the virtual non-PIN pad in a non-payment mode. The virtual PIN pad has a first plurality of virtual buttons and the virtual non-PIN pad has a second plurality of virtual buttons, the first plurality of virtual buttons being greater than the second plurality of virtual buttons. The electronics are operative in the payment mode to render the virtual PIN pad having the first plurality of virtual buttons and determine a numerical sequence entered by a user at the virtual PIN pad. The electronics are operative in the non-payment mode to render the virtual non-PIN pad having the second plurality of virtual buttons determine selections entered by a user at the virtual non-PIN pad.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a remote wand controlling the operations of the electronic device is provided. The wand may include a motion detection component operative to provide an output reflecting the motion of the wand to the electronic device, such that the movements of a cursor displayed by the electronic device may be related to the output of the motion detection component. The wand may also include an input mechanism operative to receive user inputs. Using the input mechanism, the wand may detect a user's inputs and direct the electronic device to zoom or scroll displayed objects. The electronic device may display a screen saver by which the user may select particular media items for playback while remaining in the screen saver mode. In some embodiments, the electronic device may display video with a scroll bar that includes a preview window of the video.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes presenting a first window in a graphical user interface. The method includes presenting at least a portion of each secondary window. The method includes presenting one or more indicators indicating that additional windows exist. The method includes receiving a first user selection of a first one of the indicators. The method includes bringing at least one of the additional windows to the foreground, moving the at least one of the additional windows across the graphical user interface to be in view of the graphical user interface, sending the first window and the secondary windows behind the at least one of the additional windows, and moving at least one of the first window and the secondary windows across the graphical user interface to be out of view of the graphical user interface.

Abstract: An electronic device and method are provided to enable a user to control characteristics of graphical objects of a graphical model environment without requiring manual entry of characteristics into each object. Propagation of characteristics from one or more objects to one or more objects may be specified and performed without requiring manual entry of characteristics into each objects. Examples of graphical model environments can include block diagrams, data-flow diagrams, state-based diagrams, circuit diagrams, mechanical diagrams, biological diagrams, network diagrams and software diagrams.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that allow a user to efficiently move their online presence from a current location in a virtual world to a target location near a friend or character. The target location may be in another instance of the virtual world or in another virtual world. Further, the movement of the user—referred to as a jump—may be in response to a request from the user to jump their online presence to the target location of a friend or character. In the other direction, a user can send a “jump to me” request to their friends.

Abstract: A network-management device includes a map storing unit and a map state storing unit. The map storing unit stores therein a map created based on information on network devices. The map state storing unit stores therein a creation state indicating that creation of the map is in process or completed in association with the map. When creation of the map is in process, disclosure of the map is prohibited, and all the network devices are notified that creation of the map is in process. When creation of the map is completed, it is checked whether all the network devices are laid out on the map. When all the network devices are laid out on the map, disclosure of the map is permitted.

Abstract: Various systems, processes, and products may be used to modify numeric data presented on a display. In particular implementations, a system, a process, and a product for modifying numeric data presented on a display may include the ability to generate a user interface including a section that has numeric data in a report format and to determine when input via one or more user digits contacting a display presenting the user interface has been received. The system, the process, and the product may also include the ability to determine whether the digit input is a command regarding the numeric data and to generate, based on the command determination, a user interface that modifies the presentation of the numeric data and represents at least the majority of the numeric data.

Abstract: Creation of an application having a user interface is supported by linking a UI design environment to an application development environment. A user interface (UI) requirement is received, applying to creation of a UI object that is to be included in an application to be created. An input from a UI designer is received to create the UI object, the input being made in a UI design environment in which the UI requirement is available to the UI designer. The UI object and the UI requirement are provided to an application development environment for an application developer to create the application that includes the UI object. The UI requirement may be received through a top-down approach or through a bottom-up approach. A system may have a linking element between the UI design environment and the application development environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing vehicle information. The vehicle information is displayed on a display system for a vehicle. The vehicle information is for operating the vehicle. An item in the vehicle information is placed in a group of items of interest in response to receiving a user input selecting the item from the vehicle information as an item of interest. A number of items in the group of items of interest is displayed in association with a number of graphical indicators on the display system. The number of graphical indicators identifies the number of items as a number of items of interest.