Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for playing a media program and providing a preview frame of the media program in response to a seek command is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting a seek command in the user computer; generating a seek request from the seek command, the seek request including information identifying an arbitrarily chosen seek preview media program frame associated with the media program; retrieving the arbitrarily chosen seek preview media program frame; and rendering the received arbitrarily chosen seek preview media program frame in the playback component of the MPP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that provide automatic generation of user interfaces via creation of a class-based model. A system is provided that facilitates generating a user interface. The system includes a class component to generally define properties and methods associated with one or more interface actions. A service component parses the class to automatically generate all or a portion of a user interface from the interface actions. Push and Pull-type models can be provided to facilitate merging of actions from various classes such as provided by third parties or from existing component developments.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for producing one or more thumbnails from a media program comprising video data having a plurality of sequenced images. In an illustrative embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting a command to scan the video data to identify a candidate video frame for the thumbnail, accepting a command to select the candidate video frame for the thumbnail, automatically generating a set of candidate thumbnails, the set of candidate thumbnails comprising the selected candidate video frame and video frames temporally proximate the selected candidate video frame, presenting the set of candidate thumbnails for selection, and accepting a selection of one of the candidate thumbnails as the selected thumbnail.

Abstract: Task-oriented management is provided for managing server configuration settings. The server configuration settings are logically grouped into a set of tasks. User interface elements are mapped to each task in the set of tasks. The task represented by a user interface element is also mapped to one or more of the server configuration settings. The task list is displayed that includes each of the mapped tasks. When a task is selected, a user interface page module is displayed. Using the user interface page module, the server configuration settings that correspond to the task are modified as the task is completed when the user selects corresponding actions as the user is guided through the task.

Abstract: A user interface is provided that exposes items such as developer tasks, commands, property settings, and other related information to a user. The user interface may be invoked in a number of development interfaces such as, for example, a designer or an editor. The user interface may be either an object bound interface or an action triggered interface. An object bound interface exposes a set of items that are associated with a corresponding object. An action triggered interface exposes a set of items that are associated with a corresponding triggering action. In addition to enumerating developer tasks, the user interface may provide a direct link to other interfaces that facilitate task execution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that provide automatic generation of user interfaces via creation of a class-based model. A system is provided that facilitates generating a user interface. The system includes a class component to generally define properties and methods associated with one or more interface actions. A service component parses the class to automatically generate all or a portion of a user interface from the interface actions. Push and Pull-type models can be provided to facilitate merging of actions from various classes such as provided by third parties or from existing component developments.