Abstract: Entries within a participant list of an electronic communications system may be categorized automatically into one or more groups based on attributes of users represented in the participant list. Categorizing users includes maintaining a list of identifiers that are selected by a first user and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list. The list includes one or more categories into which the identifiers are categorized. At least one attribute associated with an identifier for which online presence information is to be made perceivable through the list and attributes stored relative to at least one of the categories are accessed. The attributes associated with the identifier are compared to the stored attributes. Based on results of the comparison, at least one category within the list that corresponds to the identifier is identified, and the identifier is categorized into the identified category.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media that include computer-executable instructions stored thereon for displaying electronic documents keep track of portions of an electronic document that have appeared in a user interface window at some point in time (i.e., the portions that have been actually viewed by the user). These portions of the electronic document that have actually been viewed are designated the “viewable document section” of the electronic document. In some examples, scrolls bars and/or other electronic document view shifting elements become available to the user only if the electronic document includes a viewable document section that does not appear in the user interface window, and these scroll bars and/or other view shifting elements may be limited based on the content of the viewable document section (not the entire electronic document).

Abstract: A system for establishing a virtual environment is disclosed. According to an embodiment, the system includes at least one computer terminal for use by a participant for interfacing to the virtual environment and an operation module coupled to the computer terminal for manipulating the virtual environment in response to one or more actions by the participant. The operation module may be adapted to assess the mental dexterity of the participant in the virtual environment. The operation module may also be adapted as a marketing tool for soliciting donations.

Abstract: Personalizing communications typically includes accessing status information for instant messaging sessions involving an instant messaging identity and passively configuring a buddy group associated with the instant messaging identity to persistently reflect a list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated. The buddy group may be configured without action from the instant messaging identity. The list of participant identities may be maintained persistently beyond logout of the instant messaging identity. The list of participant identities may be maintained independent of a device used for the instant messaging sessions during which the list was created such that the buddy group is accessible from one or more different devices.

Abstract: An automatic pointing device mapping method (400, 420) and associated apparatus for automatically remapping the active area (12) of a graphics tablet (10) to a plurality of displays (122, 124), such as might be used in conjunction with a graphics program (130), a CAD program, or the like. Proximity zones (230, 232) are established along the edge of the active area (12). When a stylus (146) is moved into one of the proximity zones (230, 232), the graphics tablet (10) is switched to control the display (122, 124) in the corresponding direction, provided such a display (122, 124) exists in that direction. In one embodiment data regarding an elapsed time data (220), which is the time the stylus (146) has remained in the proximity zone (230, 232) is monitored, such that the multi-display system (110) is not remapped until the stylus (146) has remained in the proximity zone (230, 232) until a preset time (218) has elapsed.

Abstract: An information processing device comprises a device controller which controls a plurality of visual-audio reproducing units from the server via the device communication interfaces; content information unification recording section which controls content information corresponding to the contents of the contents storage from the server; and the GUI by which any content information from the server is selected and desired contents are reproduced without recognizing the unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to manipulate a window during a drag-and-drop operation. In one aspect of the invention, a method to manipulate a window includes: receiving input of dragging an item to a first window in a first state in which the first window is not completely accessible on a first screen; and bringing the first window from the first state to a second state in which the first window is more accessible or completely accessible on the first screen before the item is dropped. In one example according to this aspect, the first window is brought to the second state in response to a first determination that the first window contains a target location for the item. The first determination is in response to a predetermined input which is one of: a) a determination that the item has hovered around a location in the first window for a predetermined amount of time; and b) an input of pressing a key while the item is being dragged in the first window.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bookmarking multimedia documents include displaying multiple multimedia streams, creating bookmarks comprising time signatures and snapshots of each multimedia stream based upon single action cues from a user, associating snapshots with portions of multimedia streams, displaying bookmarks and displaying portions of a multimedia stream associated with selected snapshots.

Abstract: A method and system for customizing form elements in a form building application. According to one embodiment, a form builder receives an identification of a user of the form building application, the form building application providing a graphical user interface for the manipulation of a set of form elements, and enables access to a subset of the form elements according to authorization rules, and an access manager determines the authorization rules associated with the user.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention include methods, systems, and storage mediums for optimizing a device. The method includes detecting a suboptimal condition associated with the device and analyzing the suboptimal condition in light of selected operator preferences and device-related data. In response to the analysis, the method includes modifying a configuration of the device, the current state of said device, a current state of a networked device associated with said device, or a configuration of a networked device associated with said device. Alternatively, in response to the analyzing, the method includes notifying the operator of the suboptimal condition. The selected operator preferences include at least one of personality settings, expert level settings, communications means settings, intrusion level settings, and reactive/predictive settings.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media that include computer-executable instructions stored thereon for displaying electronic documents keep track of portions of an electronic document that have appeared in a user interface window at some point in time (i.e., the portions that have been actually viewed by the user). These portions of the electronic document that have actually been viewed are designated the “viewable document section” of the electronic document. In some examples, scrolls bars and/or other electronic document view shifting elements become available to the user only if the electronic document includes a viewable document section that does not appear in the user interface window, and these scroll bars and/or other view shifting elements may be limited based on the content of the viewable document section (not the entire electronic document).

Abstract: An object in a virtual reality space is made perform complicated movements. A user (or a keeper) who controls an object (or a pet) in a virtual reality space enters a command at the client terminal of the user by means of chat operation. The entered command is sent to a server. The server has a table listing the relationship between commands and movements to be performed by the object in the virtual reality space. For example, the relation is between command “Jump” and movement of jumping. The server interprets the received command by referencing this table. The interpretation result is sent to the client terminal. On the client terminal, the object (the pet) in the virtual reality space performs complicated movements such as dancing according to the received interpretation result.

Abstract: A preferred contact group centric interface for a communication device can be used to facilitate communications by a user. The user interface can be arranged to activate from a user's “home page” on the display, from an idle screen that is accessed after a timeout period expires, or any other appropriate mechanism that activates the preferred contact group centric experience. A user selects the preferred contact group from among an array of the user's contacts. Once the contact group is configured, a minimal number of navigation/selection features is necessary to activate any number of communication modes available to the contacts. The contact group is configured such that simple and quick navigation between the contact members is achieved. The contact group can be presented in 2D and 3D arrangements, in any number of list or geometric configurations. A pricing plan can optionally be tied to each member of the contact group.

Abstract: A method for providing a secure lockout from executing application programs is provided. An opaque graphical component obscures graphical components for all executing software (applications) programs on a display apparatus and prevents events from reaching the executing application programs.

Abstract: An image information processing apparatus is provided to generate, from previously held image data, a display image according to a viewpoint designated by a user, and to communicate with a control apparatus which can communicate with plural image information processing apparatuses respectively generating display images and has a controller for controlling viewpoint information shared by the plural image information processing apparatuses on the basis of viewpoint information sent from the image information processing apparatus. This apparatus comprises a transmitter to calculate the viewpoint information based on a user's instruction and transmit it to the controller, a receiver to receive from the controller the viewpoint information for generating the display image, and an image generator to read the image data corresponding to the viewpoint information from the previously held image data for generating the display image, and generate and output the display image to a display.

Abstract: A software object display system using an adaptation layer to obtain information concerning a number of software objects is described. The adaptation layer communicates to a presentation layer which produces a display for the software objects. The adaptation layer isolates the presentation layer from the details of the structures of the software objects to be displayed. The adaptation layer provides a standard set of data to the presentation layer for the presentation layer to display.

Abstract: A system and method that includes line connection navigation in a block diagram by highlighting connections through navigable blocks in the diagram, edit-time label propagation along connections and through navigable blocks that can propagate labels through their ports, API to define navigability between block ports, and displaying implied connections between blocks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for modifying a user interface as a function of the detected emotional state of a system user are described. In one embodiment, stress analysis is performed on received speech to generate an emotional state indicator value, e.g., a stress level indicator value. The stress level indicator value is compared to one or more thresholds. If a first threshold is exceeded the user interface is modified, e.g., the presentation rate of speech is slowed. If a second threshold is not exceeded, another modification to the user interface is made, e.g., the speech presentation rate is accelerated. If the stress level indicator value is between first and second thresholds, user interface operation continues unchanged. The user interface modification techniques of the present invention may be used in combination with known knowledge or expertise based user interface adaptation features.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a first section for specifying a selection range with respect to a real image displayed on a display screen, a second section for acquiring image data corresponding to the real image in the specified selection range, a third section for obtaining a spot specified by user based on an input item when the user inputs a specific item such as name and location by which the spot such as a facility can be determined, and a fourth section means for obtaining a display position of a real image of the obtained spot. Based on the obtained position, an area containing the real image of the spot specified by the user is specified as the selection range.

Abstract: A handheld computer is provided having a housing, a display and a processor. The processor is configured to detect an input corresponding to a menu request, to active a first menu on the display in response to the menu request, process navigation input that causes a menu bar of the active menu to become selectable, and to process selection input for selecting the menu bar when it is selectable. The processor is configured to cancel activation of the menu in response to the menu bar being selected.