Abstract: A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for manipulating screen objects utilizing multiband regions of influence. Positioning a reference point of an object within a particular band invokes a particular functionality or operation related to that band. In one embodiment, three types of functionality are provided. Moving a reference datum (for example, a line representing an edge or a user defined reference point) of an object A into a first band of an object B places object A under the influence of object B's gravity, causing object A to be pulled into precise alignment with object B. Moving the reference point of object A from the first band into a second band turns off object B's gravity, allowing object A to be freely moved to any arbitrary position near the object B. Moving the reference point of the object A to a position outside all bands causes object B's gravity function to be turned back on.

Abstract: A method and arrangement are disclosed for scrolling between entries in an indexed list as a response to scrolling commands given through the activation of selectors. The indexed list is arranged into sections so that all entries of a section have at least one equally valued indexable property and each section has a first entry. Scrolling (202, 311, 408, 502, 614, 701, 702, 704, 705, 707, 708) to the first entry of a certain section takes place as a response to a first scrolling command, and scrolling (201, 308, 406, 501, 611) from an entry in the indexed list to the immediately adjacent entry in the indexed list takes place as a response to a second scrolling command. The step of scrolling to the first entry of a certain section is executed as a response to a first scrolling command (309, 313, 407, 612, 616) given through the activation of a scrolling selector.

Abstract: A wireless communication handset (100) having a movable bezel input device (230) coupled to a housing portion (220) that rotates in substantially parallel planes. Rotation of the bezel input device in a first direction moves information on a display 250 in a first direction. Rotation of the bezel input device moves information in a second direction. Depressing a first portion of the bezel input device moves the text in a third direction and depressing a second portion of the bezel input device moves the information in a fourth direction.

Abstract: An editing program establishes communication with a remote computer using an Internet protocol, downloads a web page containing one or more imported images and displays the web page on a user interface. As the user moves a cursor over an imported image, its appearance may change. The user may select an imported image to edit directly from the displayed web page. In response to the user selecting an image, the editing program presents the image in an editing interface for modification by the user. The image may then be saved back to its original location according to write access permissions.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a scalable list of items for display in a display device of a small footprint device. A client program running in a small footprint device may instantiate a “list container object” and add “list item data objects” to the list container object. The list container object may instantiate a fixed number of “item renderer objects”, which are responsible for appropriately displaying the list item data objects. Each item renderer object may correspond to a row in the displayed list. The list container object interfaces with the set of item renderer objects, in order to manage the display of the list. In one embodiment, the item renderer objects are instances of a class that supports an “item renderer interface” that includes methods for interacting with the item renderer objects.

Abstract: In a networked client/server system, media content as well as annotations corresponding to the media content can be transmitted from a server(s) to a client. A user interface is presented to the user to facilitate creating new annotations and viewing annotations. According to one embodiment, the client further assists the user in identifying a temporal range of the media content to which the new annotation is to correspond.

Abstract: A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.

Abstract: A user interface for controlling peripheral devices including a peripheral option display for presenting peripheral options to a user immediately following selection of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for geometrically organizing, interfacing to, surfing, authoring, converting and viewing computer files such as pages on the World Wide Web or operator interface windows of application software. A plurality of related Web pages or windows are organized and presented for view on a computer display in an apparent three or four dimensional relationship to each other with a front, right, left, top, and bottom face (page). A back face may be accessed by a button. Each face and its corresponding page/file can be further spatially related to five other faces and their corresponding pages/files in the same manner ad infinitum. The related pages are organized as a matrix of three dimensional cubes or four dimensional hypercubes.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a plurality of graphics pipelines in a computer graphical display system is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a graphical user interface to enable a user to graphically specify at least one parameter for a plurality of pipe rectangles of the computer graphical display system, each of the plurality of pipe rectangles being associated with at least one of the plurality of graphics pipelines, receiving the at least one parameter, and updating a compositor of the computer graphical display system in real-time based at least in part on the at least one parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for training a computer system to recognize specific actions of a user. This may include displaying an image of a user within a window on a screen. The window includes a target area. This may also include associating a first computer event with a first user action displayed in the target area and storing information in a memory device such that the first user action is associated with the first computer event.

Abstract: A client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide data, schedules reminders, schedules program recordings, and parentally locks programs based on the expressions. Users' viewing histories may be tracked. The program guide server may analyze the viewing histories and generates viewing recommendations, targets advertising, and collects program ratings information based on the viewing histories.

Abstract: Method of advertising on-line during, for example, a world wide web session is provided by downloading full page advertisements from a predetermined site (e.g., remote server) to a user's computer during a communication link idle time. The downloaded advertising data are stored and then displayed when the user makes a request to retrieve new data, for example, a hyperlink request to a selected remote server. The advertisement remains displayed while the connection to the selected remote server is made and at least until a portion of new content data is transmitted to the user terminal.

Abstract: Methods apparatus and computer programs products for creating a multimedia presentation having video frames and video segments with synchronized audio are disclosed. Audio-video data is separated into an audio stream and the video sequence. The video sequence is divided into video segments, with each video segment comprising a group of frames. For each video segment an audio significance measure is calculated using the audio stream. Using the audio significance measure, the video segment is selected in its entirety or, alternatively, one or more slide frames are extracted from the corresponding group of frames. The selection of video segments or slide frames can also be performed on the basis of an additional video significance measure. The audio stream and selected video segment and slide frames are synchronized, then synchronously reproduced as the multimedia presentation.

Abstract: A graphing calculator having a user interface that allows the user to easily specify a mathematical function. The user interface allows the user to specify a constant function, a linear function, or a non-linear function in a simplified input format. The user interface can also be implemented on devices that have limited input and output capability. An embodiment of the present invention is a graphing calculator, which allows the user to easily input a population growth rate function. The user interface of the present invention calculator helps the student to more readily adjust a function and observe the result of the adjustment. Similarly, other embodiments include the same user interface functionality in a software application package that is executed on a computer or graphing calculator.

Abstract: A network apparatus is capable of calculating positions on a display screen where connecting states of network apparatuses connected to a network are displayed on the basis of connecting information of the network apparatuses on the network and peripherals connected thereto and displaying the positions. In addition, a controller is provided for controlling in such a manner that when it is necessary to change the display positions by a display change instruction, the display positions are again calculated and displayed on a display screen, and when a reduced display is designated, the peripherals connected to the network apparatus on the network are not displayed, and when an expanded display is designated, the peripherals connected to the network apparatus on the network are displayed.

Abstract: When a remote display device is connected to a home network, a home network control apparatus receives a request from the remote display device, shows a display for use in operating a device to be operated on the remote display device, and controls the device to be operated according to a desired operation input from the remote display device.

Abstract: In an iconic programming computer system, the execution trail of objects is shown. Upon initiation by a user, the icons that have executed are highlighted so that the user, while debugging a program, can trace the path that the program has taken and identify which icons have executed.

Abstract: Multiple food menu items are retrieved from a data storage medium by a data processing system with access to the data storage medium via a communications medium. The multiple food menu items are compared with previously stored food preferences for a particular customer. A food menu is selected, wherein the food menu items that satisfy said food preferences for said particular customer are distinguished, such that an electronic food menu is specified for a particular customer.