Abstract: A collaboration services suite is adapted to support a plurality of integrated telecommunications services accessed by geographically dispersed team members using a virtual team environment (VTE) client that generates a graphical user interface (GUI) for each of the respective team members. Communications sessions are automatically set up by the collaboration services suite in response to request messages generated by the VTE client when a team member initiates a communications session request using the GUI. Team members require no knowledge of another team member's communications device address in order to initiate a communications session. The collaboration services suite includes a VTE server that communicates with the VTE clients, a presence engine that collects and maintains a status of communications devices specified in a current profile of the team member; and, a call server for handling setup and control of a voice component of each communications session completed.

Abstract: A user interface device has a graphical user interface that can simultaneously display a combination of television and Internet content in various display modes. The display modes may have different proportions, positioning or other features of the Internet and television content. Means are included in each display made for conveniently changing to other display modes. A viewer of the user interface device may be able to change display modes simply by selecting a link available in each of the display modes. The television content being displayed may be a broadcast show and the Internet content may be chat from a chat room corresponding to the television show. Various display modes are provided for displaying the television show and corresponding chat, ranging from maximal television display and minimal chat display to minimal television display and maximal chat display. Changing television channels may initiate a corresponding change in the chat room being participated in and the content being displayed.

Abstract: An interactive visualization of stored data includes a representation of a three-dimensional generally helical path extending between spaced apart ends of the path. Selected parts of the stored data are mapped to corresponding parts of the helical path to facilitate visualization of the stored data. The stored data may include an unbounded dimension (e.g., time) that is mapped along the helical path. One or more user interface elements may be associated with the helical path to effect display of additional information associated with a selected part of the path.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that enable a computer user to match a computer display wallpaper design to interchangeable components of a computing system. Multiple, interchangeable panels or sets of matching panels are installed on components of the computing system and a matching wallpaper is displayed on the video display. Files storing the wallpaper designs are stored on a computer-readable medium. In addition, the system and method provide logic to detect a particular panel or set of panels and retrieve the corresponding wallpaper from the computer-readable medium and display it on the video display.

Abstract: An interactive visualization of stored data includes a representation of a three-dimensional generally helical path extending between spaced apart ends of the path. Selected parts of the stored data are mapped to corresponding parts of the helical path to facilitate visualization of the stored data. The stored data may include an unbounded dimension (e.g., time) that is mapped along the helical path. One or more user interface elements may be associated with the helical path to effect display of additional information associated with a selected part of the path.

Abstract: A method is provided of presenting to a user a visual representation of a frame 275 resident at a central office 20 of a telecommunications system. The method includes the steps of: accessing a database including data as to a current condition of the frame; displaying, based on the accessed data, a graphical representation of the frame 275, the graphical representation including a visual indication of the current condition of the frame 275; and allowing a user to interface with the graphical representation to effect a mapping between the frame 275 and telecommunications lines leading to and from the frame 275.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for avatar-centric communication, expression and display during a multi-user online simulation are described. Various techniques are introduced to increase the richness and realism of avatar interactions, including the use of “Chat Balloons”, “Chat Props”, cinematic techniques, avatar non-verbal communication, and gaze control.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for the organization, display, and navigation of digital information. The present system allows for the easy navigation of a primary source of information, as well as the navigation of secondary information related to the primary information source. The present system may be used to organize, display, or navigate any type of digital information, but is primarily intended to be used to organize, display, or navigate the results of a web based search engine. Primary source information is displayed in a search results window while secondary information is displayed in an operational window. The primary source information may be displayed as thumbnail images of web pages that satisfy a search request. The user may scroll through the thumbnail images of the web pages of the primary information source and navigate web pages of interest in the operational window.

Abstract: A graphical user interface displays a coarse control scrollbar to provide a user with coarse resolution sequential data control and a magnified view scrollbar proximate to the coarse control scrollbar. The magnified view scrollbar provides the user with fine resolution sequential data control. When the cursor is on the scrollbar, an overlay is opened which is a zoomed version of the scrollbar. The zoom range of the overlay is adjustable and can either be preset by the user or set during the zooming operation. When operating the overlay, a menu is available which allows the user to choose between zooming up or down to select the desired position.

Abstract: A 3D volumetric display system is configured to generate 3D diagnostic displays of 3D volumetric data acquired from a patient by an imaging system in a virtual-reality environment and to permit a user to conduct diagnostic interpretation of images in the virtual-reality environment and to permit the user to interact with the 3D diagnostic displays.

Abstract: Presence information of a first user in a messaging system, such as an instant messaging system, is relayed to a second user. A first communications client of a first user detects a change in the presence status of a first user and sends an alert message to a second communications client of a second user. Moreover, systems and methods are provided for sending the alert message to an alternate address, including alternate instant messaging (IM) addresses, e-mail address, or telephone numbers, in the event that the intended recipient of the alert message is not accessible at his or her original IM address.

Abstract: A software control method and apparatus for displaying a text based markup language interface. The interface can interact with a computer to provide reference documents, install system drivers and perform various system utilities. The interface can reference optical drives, hard disk drives or other storage medium and files available over a network, such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) including the Internet. A graphical user interface using a text markup language such as hypertext markup language (HTML) can allow for activation of a user interactive control such as an icon or a hyperlink. Activation of an interactive control can hook onto a hypertext link target associated with the activated user interactive control result in the performance of an initial action responsive to variables including the control, a uniform resource locator associated with the interactive control and the hypertext link target.

Abstract: One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system and methods for relaying presence information of a first user to a second user. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others includes, can be implemented as follows. A first communications client of a first user detects a change in the presence status of a first user and sends an alert message to a second communications client of a second user. Methods and other systems are also provided.

Abstract: A composite user interface element can be assembled from plural sub-elements. A simplified view of the representation of the user interface element can be provided wherein the composited user interface element appears to be a single element. When defined, various nodes for representing the user interface can be designated as selectively exposable. Such selectively exposable nodes can be ignored when performing operations via the simplified view. Accordingly, programmers can write code that need not take the complexity of the composite user interface element into account. Property determination can be done in light of the selectively exposable nodes. A simplified view can support nested user interface elements having respective selectively exposable nodes.

Abstract: A method of manipulating a time based stream of information through use of a user interface to generate a presentation is provided in which a processing system is employed. The methods use references to a selected time based stream of information as editing tools. The user interface has functionality to display only a single time line for aligning reference elements to visual time based stream of information. The references may include a variety of edit features that enhance the presentation. Some mechanisms for moving the reference elements on the user interface are drag and drop and/or cut and paste procedures. Other aspects of the present invention relating to the processing system providing convenient user interface and editing tools for use in authoring a presentation of a time based stream of information are also described.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for generating a tree-style graphical representation that depicts simultaneously hierarchical and non-hierarchical interrelationships among a set of entities. Two sets of specifications are acquired. One set describes a set of hierarchical interrelationships. The other set describes a set of non-hierarchical interrelationships among the same set of entities. Based on the two sets of specifications, a tree-style graphical representation is generated that depicts both hierarchical and non-hierarchical interrelationships. The generated tree-style graphical representation is displayed, as a graphical user interface, on a display device.

Abstract: A thermostat is programmable by entering input through a large-format touch-screen display. The touch-screen display displays different sets of icons depending on the mode the thermostat is in. A set of icons is displayed in one mode that allows the user to put the thermostat in a temporary operating mode. Another set of icons is displayed when programming the thermostat. Displaying several sets of icons at once allows a user to quickly and intuitively operate the thermostat, which in turn facilitates using energy-saving functions of the thermostat.

Abstract: Displaying a membrane, or container, around a document object on an electronic document page. In response to placing the insertion point (IP) on the page, a ghost membrane can be displayed on an output screen at the IP. After content is added at the IP, a membrane around the content can be displayed. This membrane can be continually displayed, even when an IP is not in the document object. One or more handles may be displayed around the membrane of a document object containing an IP or underlying a cursor. An IP can also be placed within a hit region associated with a membrane of a document object, allowing a user to add content to that document object at the IP. Similarly, selected text can be dragged from one document object to another document object and added to that document object when the selected text contacts a hit region of the document object.

Abstract: The thumbnail icons representing content items stored in a Memory Stick are displayed as aligned in a linear manner. The sequence of the alignment of the thumbnail icons follows the sequence of the sort icons displayed in the control area. By rotating the jog dial, the user can scroll the thumbnail icons displayed in the view area. Rotating the jog dial, the user displays the thumbnail icon representing a desired content item as a selected thumbnail icon (at the center) and then presses the jog dial. Consequently, the content item represented by the selected thumbnail icon is reproduced.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a user interface by, responsive to end user input, building a text file including data source and formatting logic; instantiating an uploadable skin; binding the text file to the skin; responsive to command from the end user, dynamically uploading the skin from a user terminal to a place server; processing and storing the skin in a place database; responsive to end user request, selecting and rendering the user interface in accordance with the skin.