Abstract: A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information.

Abstract: A method of modifying drawing commands to be input to a rendering process is disclosed. The method detects a first glyph drawing command and detects a predetermined number of further glyph drawing commands proximate within a threshold of the first glyph drawing command. The predetermined number of proximate glyph drawing commands is accumulated. The accumulated proximate glyph drawing commands are combined into a 1-bit depth bitmap. The 1-bit depth bitmap is output to the rendering process as a new drawing command.

Abstract: A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information.

Abstract: A method (1000) and apparatus for generating an interface comprising a plurality of screens, on a first computer (107) for display by a second computer (102) is disclosed. A hierarchical compositing expression representing an arrangement of one or more graphical objects for a first screen of the interface is constructed. A description of the compositing expression is then transmitted to the second computer (102), together with object identifiers corresponding to graphical objects for the first screen. The compositing expression is reconstructed based on the transmitted description and identifiers, where the transmitted identifiers are mapped to a description of each of the graphical objects stored within the second computer (102). The first screen of said interface is then displayed according to the reconstructed compositing expression.

Abstract: A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of applying a function to a set of data. Initially a tabular representation (400) of the set of data is displayed, the representation comprising a plurality of columns (435, 410 etc.). The data in the representation is grouped (625) in each column based upon an order (615) of the at least one column (605, 610) in the tabular representation. The method also generates a new column (1915) of data comprising a transform of existing column data (1920) contained in the tabular representation, wherein transform data within the new column depends upon a grouping context of the existing column data. Desirably the method further repositions (2120, 2130) the new column of data in the tabular representation and updates the transform data in the new column in accordance with a destination grouping context of a destination position of the new column in the tabular representation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for activating the filling of a graphical object. The method generates, for a current scanline, a plurality of edge records associated with an edge of the object from a previously generated edge record for a previous scanline. One of these edge records comprises fractional data which defines a minimum position of the edge within the current scanline or on a border thereto with respect to a direction along said current scanline. Another of these edge records comprises fractional data which defines a maximum position of the edge within the current scanline or on a border thereto with respect to a direction along the current scanline. One of these edge records comprises fractional data which defines an exit position of the edge from the current scanline. The previously generated edge record comprises fractional data defining an exit point of the edge from the previous scanline.

Abstract: A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering words into a computer system. Letters contained in a desired word are entered ambiguously by selecting a group of letters rather than a single letter. Whenever it would be more efficient for the user to unambiguously indicate the letter for a particular letter position than to continue entering ambiguous groups of letters, the user is so notified. The extent to which that this is likely to improve efficiency may also be indicated. The sequence of ambiguous and unambiguous letters for different letter positions is used to retrieve from a dictionary those words consistent with the input and displaying them to the user, who then chooses the desired word. The approach is particularly applicable to very small devices that have a very limited number of keys or space on a display for a virtual keyboard.

Abstract: A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the order and delivery of goods in which the goods are transported to one or more storage containers that are maintained in a drive-up storage, retrieval, and dispensing mechanism. Goods are ordered via the Internet, telephone, or other electronic method, retrieved from a warehouse or store, and transported to the storage container by truck or by a regional train system designed for passenger use. The storage container accepts packages, which are placed into a plastic storage box and moved by an elevator assembly to a particular storage bin located in a matrix of bins arranged in columns and rows. When a customer arrives to pick up a package, he or she drives up to the device and communicates with the system via a keypad and display screen to identify the order and present appropriate identification of the person or other means of maintaining security.

Abstract: A method (1000) and apparatus for generating an interface comprising a plurality of screens, on a first computer (107) for display by a second computer (102) is disclosed. A hierarchical compositing expression representing an arrangement of one or more graphical objects for a first screen of the interface is constucted. A description of the compositing expression is then transmitted to the second computer (102), together with object identifiers corresponding to graphical objects for the first screen. The compositing expression is reconstructed based on the transmitted description and identifiers, where the transmitted identifiers are mapped to a description of each of the graphical objects stored within the second computer (102). The first screen of said interface is then displayed according to the reconstructed compositing expression.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for activating the filling of a graphical object. The method generates (2440, 2442, 2446, 2448, 2452, 2454, and 2456), for a current scanline, a plurality of edge records associated with an edge of the object from a previously generated edge record for a previous scanline. One of these edge records comprise fractional data which defines a minimum position of the edge within the current scanline or on a border thereto with respect to a direction along said current scanline. Another of these edge records comprise fractional data which defines a maximum position of the edge within the current scanline or on a border thereto with respect to a direction along the current scanline. One of these edge records comprises fractional data which defines an exit position of the edge from the current scanline. The previously generated edge record comprises fractional data defining an exit point of the edge from the previous scanline.

Abstract: A method of updating a route currently being executed by an animated state machine is disclosed. The animated state machine is associated with a graphical object and comprises a plurality of states each of which corresponds to a mode of rendering the graphical object. Each of the states has an associated state transition representing a transition of the graphical object between the states. The route comprises a first sequential plurality of the state transitions. The method removes any previously executed state transitions from the currently executing route and selects a second sequential plurality of remaining state transitions to represent a new route between a current state of the graphical object and a destination state.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for entering words with a menu and thumbwheel. A menu and thumbwheel is an effective user interface for certain specialized miniature information appliances, including personal digital assistants, two-way pagers, and handheld wireless Web access devices. However, entering text can be rather tedious. In the present invention, the average entry speed is increased by using menus in which each item contains more than one letter. The user enters the first few letters of a word ambiguously, with the system retrieving from a dictionary those words consistent with the letters and displaying them as part of the menu. When the user sees the desired word, that word is selected. The system can also learn which words a particular user is likely to enter, further speeding up entry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting voice-dialing using a model of an individual's calling behavior to improve recognition of an input name corresponding a desired telephone number. When the individual picks up a telephone, activity is initiated in a neural network model of the individual's calling behavior that predicts the likelihood that different numbers will be called, given such predictors as the day of the week and the time of day. The model is constructed by training the neural network with data from the user's history of making and receiving telephone calls. The auditory output from an automatic speech recognition system and the output from the user model are integrated together so as to select the number that is most likely to be the number desired by the speaker. The system can also provide automatic directory assistance, by speaking the number aloud rather than dialing it. In one version, the system is a personal directory for an individual maintained on that individual's personal computer.

Abstract: Subscribers to a personal telephone number service can receive calls placed to telephone numbers associated with an individual rather than a physical location or telephone line. A subscriber predefines a set of telephone numbers for telephones at locations frequented by the subscriber. When a call to a subscriber's personal telephone number is received, a model of the subscriber's behavior predicts the likelihood of the subscriber being at different locations, and the call is forwarded to a telephone at the most likely location, given the current day of the week and time of the day. The model is trained using data obtained by cases in which a caller calling the personal telephone number is successful in locating the subscriber.

Abstract: A system for alerting some individuals in a large open space such as a store or restaurant to an incoming telephone call, but that avoids disturbing other individuals by loud ringing. Individuals carry miniature alerting units that are clipped to their clothing and that can also serve as identification badges. An incoming telephone call is received by a telephone ringer control which transmits a signal by a wireless medium to an alerting unit, which emits a low-level auditory (or vibratory or visual) signal to alert the user, and also transmits an acknowledgment signal by the same wireless medium back to the telephone ringer control. If such an acknowledgment signal is not received within a short time period at the telephone ringer control, a loud auditory ringing signal is broadcast.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for control of a handheld miniature personal digital assistant, based on a user interface with a menu and thumbwheel. The device consists of a microprocessor, memory, display, thumbwheel, and button. The display presents a sequence of menu items, with one such item designated as tentatively selected by displaying it in reverse video. Rotating the thumbwheel results in moving the designation of an item in the menu, while pressing the button selects an item. The thumbwheel itself can serve as the button if it is pressed rather than rotated. The use of complex menus that display items in two dimensions allows the use of sophisticated applications, including those that require the entry of alphanumeric data, such as a telephone and address directory and datebook. The approach makes such applications feasible in a credit-card-sized package; without the necessity of a keyboard, allowing most of the surface area of the package to be devoted to a display.