Abstract: In a method for storing and accessing electronic content (e.g. for a Website), content objects are stored in a structured manner in a content store. Some of the content objects in the content store are identified as shortcuts, pointing to other objects in the content store. When a shortcut is accessed, the target object pointed to by that shortcut is automatically accessed from the content store and returned in place of the shortcut object. This provides a powerful way of structuring websites and other forms of content delivery.

Abstract: A method for creating and accessing a graphical user interface in the overscan area outside the area of the display normally visible to users of the common operating systems. This normal display area is generally known as the “desktop”. The desktop serves as the graphical user interface to the operating system. The desktop displays images representing documents and applications available to the user (icons). The desktop is restricted in the common environments to a predetermined set of resolutions (e.g., 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768) as defined by VGA and SuperVGA standards. Displayable borders outside this area are the overscan.

Abstract: A murmur frame for a participant to communicate expressive information with other participants in a meeting includes a personal information section that contains a name of the participant, one or more icons indicating inputs and reactions of the participant related to a subject matter or other aspects of the meeting, and one or more annotation banners containing comments or questions of the participant. The input may include pictorial, textual, and audible inputs. The murmur frame is subdivided into sub-areas each dedicated to a specific aspect of the meeting. The choice of a sub-area in which an icon is displayed is significant. The murmur frame containing the expressive information may be transmitted to the other participants through a computer network system to advance communication for the meeting.

Abstract: An electronic board system includes an electronic board having a screen for displaying information of interest to a work group or community, an input device for receiving information from users in a group or community to be displayed on the electronic board, a memory for storing information received from the input device and a processor for selecting which information stored in the memory to display on the screen, where and how to display the selected information on the screen and displaying the selected information on the screen. The processor selects which information to display in accordance with a predetermined relationship based on a group-based recommendation criteria and user interest. A plurality of sensors disposed behind the screen detect user interest in information displayed on the screen near the sensor. User interest may also be determined by monitoring user requests for copies of information displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A method and system for switching between windows running on a multiwindow computer system that retains the user's points of interest is disclosed. The method and system includes allowing a user to register at least one specific point of interest in each of the windows, and displaying a persistent mouse pointer on each of the registered points of interest in the inactive windows. In response to the user making one of the inactive windows active, an active mouse pointer is displayed at the location of the persistent mouse pointer in that window.

Abstract: A shortcut key manager and method is provided for managing shortcut key assignment to non-command user interface items. In response to receipt of an item identification that identifies a non-command user interface item type and a key identification that identifies a shortcut key, the shortcut key is assigned to the non-command user interface item type that defines the non-command item. When the shortcut key is input, an instance of the non-command user interface item is presented to the user in response to the user input of the shortcut key.

Abstract: A method for stateful toggling of check box status, implemented as a software program installed and operating on a computer comprising a computer processor coupled to computer memory. Embodiments of the invention include detecting a touch event on a first check box, toggling the status of the first check box to a new status, and repeatedly, for a multiplicity of repetitions, carrying out the steps of detecting a drag event for each additional check box onto which a user drags the pointer, wherein the user drags the pointer onto at least one additional check box, and statefully toggling the status of each additional touch box for which a drag event is detected to the new status of the first check box.

Abstract: A method and system for helping a user perform tasks in software. Graphic elements (e.g., icons) are rendered and displayed regardless of which task is being performed. An element can be either active or inactive; user selection of an element with the element active initiates an action in response to the selection while user selection of the element with the element inactive will not initiate the action. Some elements are activated and other elements are deactivated according to which task is to be performed. The elements are selectively activated and deactivated to guide the user through the tasks according to the order in which the tasks are logically performed. The elements thus suggest an order for performing the tasks, guiding the user through the tasks without the need for a help utility such as a wizard.

Abstract: Enhanced delivery of services are provided through a wireless mobile device and one or more location service channels, preferably at the direction of the user of the mobile device requesting the desired service through common context-based user interfaces. The mobile device communicates with local and remote service providers. The context is determined by accessing information in the user profile, by sensors on the mobile device identifying items of interest, or by identifying the location of the mobile device. An aggregator server maintains a registry of location service channels and manages the access to the channels by the mobile device users and the service providers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for summarizing a news video stream using a synthetic key frame based upon news video text. The method according to the invention generates the synthetic key frame by allocating different importance measures according to an icon text region and a general text region.

Abstract: A method for tracking a user flow of Web pages of a Web site to enable efficient updating of the hyperlinks of the Web site. A Web page is accessed out of a plurality of Web pages of a Web site. A set of actions available to a user are determined for the Web page. A set of the next pages linked to the Web page are determined for the Web page. A set of rules are defined that modify the set of actions available to the user or the set of next pages linked to the Web page in accordance with an identity of the user. The set of actions, the set of next pages, and the set of rules are stored in a table data structure for the Web page to track a user flow of the Web page. The table data structure enables the user flow of the Web page to be changed by altering the corresponding set of rules in the table data structure for the Web page.

Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying transparency characteristic aids are provided. A user interface is displayed comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system. Responsive to an initiating event, placing a transparency characteristic aid within the display area in association with the initiating event, such that the at least one displayable object is not obscured by the transparency characteristic aid. The transparency resource aid may indicate resource usage of hardware, software, and graphical characteristics.

Abstract: A method for simultaneous multi-path, multi-modal, and multi-user interface to users is discussed, where multiple inputs during the same user session arriving from different devices are handled properly. Each input is assigned a unique identifier, clocked with a counter and associated with an address. Other inputs that attempt to arrive at the same location are discarded.

Abstract: A system for dynamically configuring a user interface display, including image elements for prompting user data entry, includes an input data processor for receiving input data via a prompt element for display in the user interface. A database associates a condition with input data received via the prompt element An image element processor determines whether the received input data satisfies the condition and at least either activates or inactivates an image element in the user interface display in response to the determination.

Abstract: A remote control, operating an on-screen set-top box (STB) menu, has a force sensitive resistor (FSR) for coarse or free navigation and a keypad, placed around the FSR, for fine navigation. A user gets feedback by a highlighted item or an on-screen cursor when operating the FSR and by the highlighted item for close-by navigation. Pushing down on the FSR, which also doubles as an OK- or select-key, results in the selection of highlighted option.

Abstract: The present invention allows a user to graphically create a refreshable Web Query by selecting tabular data displayed in a Web page. When the user invokes the refreshable Web Query command, an Internet browser module is launched within a Web Query dialog box open in the spreadsheet program. The user then graphically selects at least one instance of tabular data to import to the spreadsheet program. The invention also makes Web queries more accessible to a user and is embedded in a software utility, known as a Web Query Smart Tag (WQST) utility. The WQST utility allows a user to create Web queries directly from an Internet browser module in one of several methods. The first method, known as a “Copy-Paste Web Query,” begins when a user pastes the tabular data into the spreadsheet program and determines whether the Web Query command should be presented to the user. If the decision is made to present the Web Query command to the user, a Web Query option appears on a special drop-down menu.

Abstract: A method of mapping screen display objects located by spatial coordinates into a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) table. The spatial coordinates for each screen display object are determined, and an HTML table having rows and columns is created, wherein row heights and column widths are determined by the spatial coordinates. The screen display objects are then loaded into cells of the HTML table for display, as determined by computation based on the spatial coordinates.

Abstract: A programmable controller has a processing unit, a display screen, an operator unit, and signal inputs and signal outputs. The processing unit, the display screen, the operator unit, the signal inputs, and signal outputs are accommodated in a common housing, and switching functions can be programmed by the user on the basis of predetermined functions by using a menu-assisted user interface on the display screen. A button of the operator unit can be switched to an active button through the use of a programmable function, such that the sequence of a switching function depends on operation of this button.

Abstract: A user friendly visual programming system with a visual programming interface that allows a user to visually create multimedia programs in real-time. In this system, input and output functions are represented as graphical input and receive interface leads, respectively. A user with no programming skill easily links desired transmit interface leads to desired receive interface leads. In real-time, the output devices perform the functions associated with receive interface leads and any changes to the receive interface leads that occur as a result of any links to transmit interface leads. The user may create complex programs by encapsulating input and receive interface leads in an endless number encapsulation layers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a progress associated with an executing process are disclosed. A progress report is generated in a progress reporting language, the progress reporting language indicating a progress of one or more steps in the executing process. The progress report is then provided to a user interface mechanism capable of interpreting the progress reporting language, where the user interface mechanism is adapted for generating a user interface indicating the progress of the one or more steps in the executing process. The user interface mechanism receives the progress report, ascertains the progress of the steps in the executing process from the progress report, and generates a user interface indicating the progress of the steps in the executing process.