Abstract: A method and system for displaying one or more recorded media content instances. After a first recorded media content instance is displayed, one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) configured to allow a user to choose to delete or retain the first media content instance and transition to a second recorded media content instance may be displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating non-linear viewing of media is provided. The system facilitates non-linear viewing of media by providing a scene selector that scans a digitized media and selects a scene in the digitized media and a metadata generator that produces metadata associated with the scenes and relates the metadata to the selected scene. With the scenes annotated with metadata, a playlist generator can generate a playlist of related scenes based on user inputs like queries and a playlist updater can adapt the playlist based on user reaction to the displayed scenes. The scenes can be displayed on a variety of devices exhibiting various levels of intelligence. The displays can be distributed as can the system.

Abstract: A wireless system having a central family calendar. Individual family members may access the family calendar from their wireless devices. The system also includes telephone and address information for non-family members. Important dates such as birthdays, associated with the non-family members may automatically appear in the calendar. The system may be incorporated into other family accessible devices such as a family bulletin board.

Abstract: A configuration for an enterprise computing system is selected. A computer-implemented method to be performed in connection with installing a software system includes presenting, on a display device, multiple selectable visual representations regarding how to configure an enterprise computing system. Each of the visual representations has associated therewith a predefined set of configuration data for the enterprise computing system, and each visual representation depicts a feature of the associated predefined set of configuration data that differentiates from the other predefined sets of configuration data. The method includes receiving a selection of one of the visual representations by a user, and configuring the enterprise computing system using at least one of the predefined sets of configuration data that is associated with the selected visual representation.

Abstract: A host device includes: a scroll display processing section which moves and serially displays, in a predetermined area of a setting screen, expanded function icons indicating respective plural expanded functions which are available when a printing process is executed; a switching icon determination section which specifies the reference number of the expanded function icon which has reached a display type switching means which is a predetermined position or a position specified by an input by the user; and a display type switching section which switches the display type of the expanded function icon corresponding to the reference number specified by the switching icon determination section. With this, it is possible to provide an information processing device which moves and serially displays plural icons, and to display an eye-friendly setting screen.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for progressively disclosing information in support of information technology system visualization and management. An organization module establishes a plurality of levels of graphical information for an information technology system comprising a plurality of entities and a plurality of connections between entities, wherein each entity represents one or more sub-entities and is assigned to at least one level and at least one entity class. An assignment module assigns an entity graphical representation to each entity for each assigned level. A display module displays the entity graphical representation for a selected entity with the entity information granularity for a level and a context graphical representation of an adjacent entity relationship. A modification module progressively modifies the information environment in response to a user request.

Abstract: An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to a method of on-line apparel shopping. The method includes providing a host-site accessible to an on-line viewer (customer) and web-linkable to a retailer having an apparel site. The retailer's apparel site has images of articles stored in a virtual closet. These articles can be apparel from retail stores for viewing over the web, and the on-line viewer is linked to the host-site. The consumer selects a structure, such as a photograph of a person captured in system memory, in response to a command received by the on-line viewer. Using the host-site, the viewer or customer is linked to the retailer's apparel site and images are passed from that site for view by the customer. Apparel is selected and virtually merged with the structure by forming an image including representations of both the structure and the selected-apparel.

Abstract: A previewing system that permits selection from a plurality of interactive previewers for use in a system shell browser is disclosed. The previews may be extensible, such that different application developers may write custom previews for different file types, and the shell browser may follow established criteria to select an appropriate preview. The user may enter criteria to control which previewers are used for different situations, such as when certain file types are selected for previewing. Size of an available display area for the preview may be a criterion, such that resizing the preview area may cause a different preview to be displayed. The preview may be executed as a separate process from the browser so that crashes and hangs in the previewer process do not fatally affect the browser process. Previews may be incorporated within common file dialogs offered by an underlying operating system, such that different applications may share the common previewer.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for viewing mappings between objects. A main view is displayed, wherein the main view shows one or more source objects, one or more target objects, and zero or more mappings between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects. Input selecting a type of view to be displayed in the main view is received, wherein each type of view provides a different amount of detail regarding the mappings. In response to receiving the input, the selected type of view is created, and the created view is displayed. Additionally, techniques are provided for viewing objects. One or more objects along with mappings between the one or more objects are displayed. View filters are provided that may be applied to the one or more objects, wherein the view filters enable hiding at least one of mapped or unmapped objects. Moreover, techniques are provided for viewing nodes. A structure is displayed that includes one or more nodes.

Abstract: The Design Tool of the present invention discloses an apparatus and method for automating the drawing sequence of Microsoft Visio® to produce a diagram of a network solution. The Design Tool reduces device selections to a series of automatically generated instructions that control Microsoft Visio®. The apparatus and method of the Design Tool accomplish this result by causing the TSA to define custom VLANs and to configure custom connectivity groups (VLAN Groups). Using the Design Tool, the TSA (or other user) activates a series of graphical user interfaces providing access to available virtual local area networks, configured virtual local area network groups, available primary devices and available related devices. By providing input to the graphical user interfaces, the TSA defines configured virtual local area networks, configured virtual local area network groups, configured primary devices and configured related devices for the TSA's network solution.

Abstract: An icon or file is provided to facilitate communications across a network. The icon or file represents a contact or set of contacts and is separate from the communications program's user interface. At least one action is executed in response to an operation performed on the icon or a command issued to the file. The actions may generally include, for example, retrieving profile information about the contact, setting an alert to indicate that the contact's network/login status has changed (e.g., login, logout, or idle), or performing communications with the contact. The action may be the same action that would be executed in response to an operation performed on a representation of the contact or set of contacts in a user interface of a communications program.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing information to computer users are described. In one embodiment, multiple different algorithms are displayed for a user to select. The algorithms are configured to display quick links to which a user can navigate. Individual algorithms are employable across different content types. A user can select an individual algorithm and, responsively, the methods and systems can display one or more quick links that are provided by the selected algorithm.

Abstract: A calculator having a hierarchical tree view (HTV) window provides a more efficient method of displaying calculator usage history. The HTV window provides tabs to choose between multiple windows displaying usage history such that more information can be displayed quickly without using more display area than is necessary. The HTV window also provides a view of usage such that expressions listed in the HTV window can quickly be expanded or unexpanded by the user in order to see data associated with that expression. Tool tip information may be provided to the user, displayed expressions may be re-used by double-clicking or dragging and dropping operations, expressions may be grouped into user-defined folders, and symbols may be used for easy identification of expressions, results, or folders.

Abstract: An electronic content guide may organize content such as television programs into categories and subcategories. The categories and subcategories may be topical as well as time-based. As a result, the user can select a given time-based criteria and within that time-based criteria select topical subcategories. As a result, the number of programs that may be displayed in any given graphical user interface may be reduced to a manageable level. This may be done without requiring a great deal of scrolling to view selected categories, subcategories and particular programs.

Abstract: Range of the object of search is specified without specific designation by the user. In case changing of the image is instructed by an image operation portion, an image changing portion changes the image and displays such image on an image display portion, and the displayed image is held in a scope holding portion as the range of the object of search. The operation from a map operation portion also is similarly processed, whereby the range of the document constituting the object of search can be specified without specific designation by the user.

Abstract: User interface systems and methods are disclosed. The user interfaces include at least one focus pointer that allow a user to quickly access the elements contained in a plurality of folders. A fixed focus pointer selects one of a plurality of elements of a main folder in response to interaction of a user. A moveable focus pointer scrolls through a plurality of elements of the first subfolder to select a second subfolder in response to interaction of a user. The user interface may include additional folders and focus pointers.

Abstract: An improved user interface for data input without the use of a standard keyboard is provided. Input is accepted through a data entry means such as a shuttle control system, a standard telephone keypad, or a speech recognition system. The data that is entered is selected from a predefined list that is presented to a user in an arrangement that statistically reduces the number of keystrokes required for data entry. This presentation is the result of determining the relative frequency of each valid selection in the predefined list and presenting those valid selections with the highest frequency items in a position that minimizes the number keystrokes required for data entry. In a speech recognition embodiment, the data entered is selected from an active list containing unique sounding entries. Alternatively, the data entered may be selected by speaking the numbers associated with the keys corresponding to the keystrokes required for data entry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating a computer generated model and visualizing a change in projection plane before entering a projection creation command. After selection of a projection plane on the 3-D model, a generative drafting document can be created wherein the projection plane becomes the plane of the screen. The system can display a visualization of the projection of the model in plane with the screen, without generating a fully computed projection. Display of the visualization can provide increased efficiency in processing time as compared to a fully computed projection. The system can also display a graphical manipulator including a circular central region with a button in the middle, wherein clicking on the button can be used as a command to the system requesting creation of the projection. The graphical manipulator software tool can also include quadrants, wherein each quadrant is associated with a direction in relation to an orthogonal axis.

Abstract: There is provided a document management system capable of displaying indexes indicating input/output devices connected on a network in a manner that an operator can clearly distinguish between devices which are capable of correctly performing processing in accordance with the setting made for an inputted job and devices which are not capable thereof, and a control method therefor. An icon for each processing function which each of several devices connected to a network has is displayed on a screen, several pieces of information being managed in the document management system are listed, and a user-desired piece of information is selected among the listed plurality of pieces of information based on the user's selection operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods to specify device specific user interface information in firmware of a USB device are described. In one aspect, a USB device receives a host-specific device request from an application executing on a computing device coupled to the USB device. The USB device identifies a host-defined string descriptor defined by the application. The host-defined string descriptor is stored in firmware of the USB device.