Abstract: A method for multimedia collaboration between a plurality of users including a host of a collaboration event includes storing an interface representative of the plurality of users in a memory location commonly accessible to the users; creating a composite document from selected source materials; selectively annotating the composite document; and personalizing the composite document with browser based annotations to form a collaboration document. A step of selecting a collaboration mode includes selecting a plurality of offline, near real time, real time, and disconnected modes and causing a selective seamless transition from one selected mode to another.

Abstract: A system for authoring, distributing, and replaying derivative hypermedia content comprises an authoring system for recording dynamic annotations and a distribution system for distributing the recorded dynamic annotations. The present system includes a playing system for playing the dynamic annotations which have been distributed. The system is applicable to the Internet or World-Wide Web (WWW) and/or to Intranet use.

Abstract: A web-based call center and a method for its operation include multiple agent and customer terminals connected to a web server. The agent terminals and the customer terminals include a web browser for accessing web documents from the web server and annotation plug-in software for recording and replaying static and dynamic annotations on web documents. An HTML document registration tool formats web documents prior to storage on the web server, so that the web documents are formatted for annotation. An annotation server includes a database for storing annotated documents received from agent and customer terminals. Indexing software associated with the annotation server extracts key information from annotations received from customer terminals as part of callback requests. The extracted key information is indicative of a skills set which is required by an agent in order to handle the callback request. An ACD server utilizes the key information to route callback requests to qualified call center agents.

Abstract: A distributed device is provided including a plurality of autonomous components which cooperate with a gateway component to provide a service to a wireless device component through at least one resource provided by at least one client component, the gateway component which assigns the service to the resource. The gateway component synchronizes two of more services provided to the wireless device component. The client component and the gateway component communicate through one of a wireless connection and a wire-line connection.

Abstract: A multimedia collaboration system combines unique multimedia communications and media processing mechanisms with off-the-shelf components that support information sharing and distribution. More specifically, the system provides an asynchronous multimedia collaboration whiteboard that enables the creation of messages containing synchronized voice, graphics and mouse gestures to describe conditions associated with an underlying multimedia object. On the server side, the system includes a delayed conference manager connected to a conference database, an email server, a newsgroup server and a web server. On the client side, the system includes a dynamic annotation editor which enables the use of synchronized voice, graphics and mouse gestures in the discussion. The client side also includes a newsgroup and email reader and a web browser.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for the identification and interpretation of text captions in an encoded video stream of digital video signals comprises sampling by selecting frames for video analysis, decoding by converting each of frames selected into a digitized color image, performing edge detection for generating a grey scale image, binarizing by converting the grey scale image into a bi-level image by means of a thresholding operation, compressing groups of consecutive pixel values in the binary image, mapping the consecutive pixel values into a binary value, and separating groups of connected pixels and determining whether they are likely to be part of a text region in the image or not.

Abstract: A system for viewing digital video stored in a remote location allows a user to first request a visual summary of the video which consists of still images corresponding to the frames where scenes change and then allows the user to utilize this information to control the playback of the audio track using the keypad of a touch-tone phone. The first main component, a digital video pre-processor, extracts information from the original video. This is performed in advance of the user's access. The second main component, a phone-based video-playback attendant, receives remote instructions from the user via the telephone and presents the requested information.

Abstract: A system that provides users with the capability to access messages contained in a remote universal multimedia mailbox interfaces with an underlying universal messaging server which provides a repository for voice, fax, e-mail, etc. . . . This interface is accomplished through a standard e-mail protocol used to add voice reply messages from a message generator to the universal mailbox through the universal messaging server as well as through a message management library contained within a mailbox access manager that provides access to message components contained in the universal mailbox. The operation of the present invention is guided by a telephony attendant which interfaces with a telephone. The telephony attendant also controls a media converter which converts media to fax or media to audio and an audio/fax player which interfaces with the telephone or a fax machine.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use by a viewer for the management of video data in a stored video stream, the video stream including a plurality of video shots wherein each shot comprises a sequence of frames, the comprises defining and storing in memory on a frame-sequence axis a time-based model of the video stream; defining and storing in memory on the frame-sequence axis at least one of a space-based model of the video stream, an object-based model of the video stream, and an event-based model of the video stream. The method further comprises selectively scanning through such of the models as have been defined; identifying time, space, object, and/or event segments of interest in such of the models as have been defined; and selecting for viewing portions of the video stream associated with the segments of interest.

Abstract: An automatic interface layout generator for database systems is disclosed herein. The automatic generator includes a specification tool for specifying a set of block descriptions representative of specified portions of a database. A block layout generator produces interface objects to be included within an interface of the database, wherein each of the interface objects corresponds to one of the block descriptions and includes a plurality of layout fields. A layout quality parameter is determined for each of the interface objects based on arrangement of the layout fields within the interface objects. A block placement generator arranges sets of the interface objects into block configurations within the interface. A placement quality parameter for each of the block configurations is derived based on a set of block placement rules and on the layout quality parameters, and a final block configuration is selected by comparing the placement quality parameters corresponding to particular block configurations.

Abstract: An automatic interface layout generator for database systems is disclosed herein. The automatic generator includes a specification tool for specifying a set of block descriptions representative of specified portions of a database. A block layout generator produces interface objects to be included within an interface of the database, wherein each of the interface objects corresponds to one of the block descriptions and includes a plurality of layout fields. A layout quality parameter is determined for each of the interface objects based on arrangement of the layout fields within the interface objects. A block placement generator arranges sets of the interface objects into block configurations within the interface. A placement quality parameter for each of the block configurations is derived based on a set of block placement rules and on the layout quality parameters, and a final block configuration is selected by comparing the placement quality parameters corresponding to particular block configurations.

Abstract: Business forms are a special class of documents typically used to collect or distribute data; they represent a vast majority of the paperwork need to conduct business. The present invention provides a pattern recognition system that classifies digitized images of business forms according to a predefined set of templates. The process involves a training phase, during which images of the template forms are scanned, analyzed and stored in a data dictionary, and a recognition phase, during which images of actual forms are compared to the templates in the dictionary to determine their class membership. The invention provides the feature extraction and matching methods, as well as the organization of the form dictionary. The performance of the system was evaluated using a collection of computer generated test forms. The methodology for creating these forms, and the results of the evaluation are also described.