Patents Examined by Thomas T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6433802
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for creating a parallel programming development environment. The environment comprises a graphical user interface, that contains a system screen, an application screen, a code generator, a process distributor, and an applications monitor. The system and application screens are displayed on the monitor and are used to display the topology of the computer system and for selecting portions of the system for use in a parallel application. The code generator receives a user application file from the application screen and generates programming code based on the contents of the user application file. The process distributor, distributes the executable code within the topology of the computer system as allocated by the user in the application file. The application monitor monitors the user application file and maintains statistics on the user application file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick G. Ladd
  • Patent number: 6414697
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a progress indicator for an application in a computer system is disclosed. The method and system includes issuing a task request to the application, and graphically indicating a current status of the task request by a progress indicator when the application is iconified. The preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a graphical extension of the icon representing the iconified application. In this manner, the user is informed of the current status of a task request issued to the application without the need to maximize the application. This saves both time and valuable system resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hatim Yousef Amro, John Paul Dodson
  • Patent number: 6411309
    Abstract: A system and method is provided whereby a Client-User may communicate with a specialized client server and a Kerberos server. The client-server provides a specialized Menu-Assisted Resource Control Program (MARC) which enables client requests to use the Menu-Assisted Resource Control Program to access a Kerberos Support Library via a directive interface. The Menu-Assisted Resource Control Program has a Directive Interface which holds a Kerberos Entry Point, which communicates to a Kerberos Support Library which also has a Kerberos Directive Interface having its own Entry Point (KEP) which Entry Point is common to both the MARC and the Kerberos Directive Interface. The Menu-Assisted Resource Control Program can now link to the Kerberos Support Library to find a response to any particular Kerberos command utilized by the Client-User and then can relay back the response to the Menu-Assisted Resource Control Program which enables it to respond back to the Client User.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: Tania Trinh Ly
  • Patent number: 6407756
    Abstract: Provided is a graphical user interface for a logic analyzer that allows for simplified clock configuration selection. The graphical user interface consolidates all clock selection functions onto a single screen, allowing for ease of understanding and navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David N Sontag, Jeffrey Erickson Roeca, Frank D Simon
  • Patent number: 6407755
    Abstract: A method for selectively matching or automatically matching one or more items that is visually observable on a display of electronic devices to a selected language, the method comprises the steps of selecting a language for display on the display; and selectively or automatically matching the language to the one or more visually observable items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Girish V. Prabhu, Su Y. Akyuz, Michael E. Miller, Dan Harel
  • Patent number: 6396515
    Abstract: To facilitate dynamic language switching in a data processing system, software is implemented with user interface text—menu and button labels, dialog messages, help text, etc.—and other language-specific components segregated from underlying functionality. Thus, for example, label and other text-based parameters for Java AWT methods are taken from storage objects separate from the constructor invoking the corresponding Java AWT method. Since Java is dynamically linked at runtime, one or more language-specific files containing all user interface text for an application may be dynamically selected during initialization of the application. The language-specific file selection may be based on the current setting of a language property for the host data processing system. If a language change request is received, the user interface may be reloaded with text supplied from a different language-specific file pursuant to the language change request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David James Hetherington, David Bruce Kumhyr
  • Patent number: 6396488
    Abstract: A system for determining a path in a graphical diagram includes a processor coupled to an input device, an output device, a memory, and a data retrieval device. The processor executes an application to determine a path through a portion of a graphical diagram, to record path information defining the path, and to reproduce a copy of the path using the path information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Corel Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Simmons, Brad E. Merkle
  • Patent number: 6396517
    Abstract: An integrated trigger function display system and methodology for trigger definition development in a signal measurement system having a graphical user interface. The system contemporaneously displays one or more trigger function names and an associated trigger function descriptor describing a trigger function identified by the associated trigger function name. The trigger name is displayed in a trigger name display region of a display window that concurrently displays a plurality of trigger function names. The descriptor is displayed in a trigger descriptor region of the display window so as to be visually-associated by the operator. A trigger definition is comprised of one or more trigger functions. Each trigger function is a graphical representation of an one or more underlying trigger primitives. A trigger primitive is a computer program statement that is translated into a form suitable for controlling the signal measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas James Beck, Clarence Keith Griggs, Jeffrey Erickson Roeca, Jeffrey John Haeffele, Mason Bradfield Samuels
  • Patent number: 6388686
    Abstract: A rotate user control is provided to selectively change the current display item within a group of display items. Each actuation of the rotate control changes the current display item from one item to a next item within an internally nonrepeating, ordered sequence loop of all candidate display items. Each display item within the group is therefore displayed in turn, and a user may quickly review all available display items for a desired display item. An indicator provides a visual cue to the user of which display item is currently selected for display. With small groups of display items, such as a multi-field text string object having separate fields each containing a different representation of a text string, the rotate control provides faster switching between views than conventional display change controls such as drop-down boxes. The rotate control also provides a fixed view of the newly selected display field, unlike flyover pop-up box displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines corporation
    Inventors: David James Hetherington, David Bruce Kumhyr, Stanford Louis Yates
  • Patent number: 6380957
    Abstract: A method of viewing a directory tree containing logical file system objects residing on a computer system, by displaying a directory tree on a display device of the computer system utilizing a graphical user interface (GUI), expanding a first node of the tree to reveal one or more branches of the first node, and then later expanding a second node of the tree to reveal one or more branches of the second node, wherein the invention automatically collapses the first node of the tree to conceal the one or more branches of the first node in response to the expanding of the second node. This automatic collapsing of other nodes that are not in the path of the selected node thus limits overall expansion of the tree. The setting may be toggled between enabled and disabled states. A pull-down menu can be provided by the GUI which contains the “limit expansion” command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Ray Banning
  • Patent number: 6377284
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding a compressed list of displayed items are provided. Each item in the list is made up of a plurality of rows of pixels. When the list is fully compressed, each item is displayed by displaying only one row of pixels. The method entails using a pointer to touch the first character of an item. When that occurs, the item is expanded by displaying every other row of pixels. If the pointer touches more than one character of the item then the item will be fully expanded by having all of its rows of pixels displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Lentz, Ricky Lee Poston
  • Patent number: 6362842
    Abstract: An icon/window which a user is selecting is precisely predicted to improve the operability of a GUI. This invention displays a GUI picture, including an icon/window and a pointer of a mouse or the like in a display screen of a computer, predicts an icon which the user is selecting based on the moving speed and the direction of movement of the pointer, and displays a tool tip or the like which indicate the function of the icon. This invention also predicts an operation which the user is effecting on the window based on the moving speed of the pointer and a distance between the pointer and a window, changes the display of the pointer from a conventional arrow head during the movement to a bidirectional arrow head appearing in changing the size of the window, for example, depending on the prediction, and further assists an operation to change the size of the window in response to clicking by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tahara, Daisuke Tomoda, Norikazu Ichikawa, Yohichiroh Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 6356274
    Abstract: A computer system for converting a colored picture composed of color regions distributed throughout the picture into a line drawing in which each of these regions is delineated to define a zone. The zone bears a symbol which identifies the color to be applied thereto. The system includes a computer whose video display terminal is coupled to a printer to print out the displayed image. Fed into the computer is a digital image of the colored picture to be converted, the image being processed to produce the line drawing which is displayed on the terminal and transferred by the printer to a paper sheet. By applying to the respective zones of the line drawing on the sheet the colors identified by the symbols, the user is then able to recreate the colored picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Donald Spector
  • Patent number: 6356283
    Abstract: A method and system for archiving digital data on a server computer, and enabling a user, by means of a client computer, to interactively view a digital image derived from the digital data, the method including receiving an original HTML page by the client computer from the server computer, the original HTML page containing a view window within which a first image is displayed, the view window being partitioned into a plurality of sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels, selecting a location within the view window corresponding to one of the plurality of sub-regions by the user, initial sending by the client computer to the server computer an indication of the sub-region selected by the user, creating by the server computer a new HTML page containing a link to an embedded image which corresponds to the indication, and further sending the new HTML page by the server computer to the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: MGI Software Corporation
    Inventor: Joshua Siegfried Guedalia
  • Patent number: 6348932
    Abstract: An integrated DSS/WebTV receiver is communicatively connected to an Internet service provider, a DSS service provider, and (optionally) a local broadcast station to provide a display of DSS programs, Internet web sites, and local broadcast channels in a seamless fashion. The DSS/WebTV receiver generates a graphical user interface (GUI), displayed on a television screen, for facilitating a user's navigation through the DSS, Internet, and local broadcast data. The GUI includes user-selectable icons for filtering and/or selecting the received data, a scrolling ticker region for displaying information about upcoming DSS events and providing access to related Internet web sites, and a decimated video region for displaying, in reduced form, DSS programs that are currently being broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuko S. Nishikawa, Jenny S. Chow, Kim Mingo, Kazuto Mugura
  • Patent number: 6342901
    Abstract: A networked parasitic user interface terminal capable of deriving power from a host. The user terminal, adapted for use in a system for receiving, analyzing, and managing diverse information obtained from a variety of source documents, is structurally mounted to a host structure, such as an electrical appliance or a wall, and receives its power parasitically from its host. The user interface is connected to a digital network via a communications link and receives information to display from a remote processor. The user interface terminal does not receive any data directly from its host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Annette M. Adler, Kenneth P. Fishkin, Matthew E. Howard
  • Patent number: 6340979
    Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a contextual gesture interface for electronic devices. The contextual gesture interface activates a function corresponding to the characteristics of an object making contact with a display. The system may determine the time period of the contact as well as the size of the contact. The functions may include a wide array of navigation tools or editing tools. The contextual gesture interface of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Brian Finlay Beaton, Colin Donald Smith, Francois Blouin, Guillaume Comeau, Arthur Julian Patterson Craddock
  • Patent number: 6335738
    Abstract: A set of software components, a system and a method provide to a user of a data processing system per-value interpretative information relating to application data values. The method includes the following steps: in response to user selection of a set of an application component's data values, generating per-value interpretation information corresponding to the selected data values; and, in response to subsequent movement of an input device pointer into a display screen area associated with a data value within the set, presenting the interpretation information to the user via an output device connected to the data processing system. A processing component selectable by the user from set of processing components preferably responds to user selection of both the operation to be performed and a set of application data by performing the processing operation on the set of data to produce a result, and then generating per-value interpretation information corresponding to that result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Jonathan Englefield, Mark Justin Paul Tibbits, Raymond Trainer, James Whiting
  • Patent number: 6326982
    Abstract: A client system and a dedicated server are provided, the client system having an internet module providing communication with the server, a television tuner operative to receive a plurality of video channels carrying video data, and a video processing unit operative to provide a video output signal for displaying images on a television.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Enreach Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Wu, Guohong Xu
  • Patent number: 6313835
    Abstract: A method for creating a Web page component, including opening a remote connection to a server provided with a plurality of basic animation sequences having variable attributes associated therewith, and choosing, via the connection, at least one of the basic animation sequences. One or more of the variable attributes of the chosen animation sequence are changed, and a Web page is posted which includes the animation sequence with the changed attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Zapa Digital Arts Ltd.
    Inventors: Eyal Gever, Doron Gill, Orit Shmaya, Oren Zuckerman, Orit Bergman