Abstract: Methods and apparatus for visualizing a dataset are presented. For example, a method for visualizing a dataset includes identifying a first portion and at least a second portion of the dataset, forming a summary of the second portion of the dataset, and visualizing, on a display device, the first portion of the dataset and the summary of the second portion of the dataset. The summary is represented by one or more spatial shapes different from a spatial shape representative of the second portion before the formation of the summary. The identification of the first portion and the second portion, the formation of the summary, and the visualization of the first portion and the summary are implemented in accordance with a processor device associated with the display device.

Abstract: A system and method for server-side method for editing metadata in a file, the method including steps of: receiving from a user a request for editing the metadata in the file; presenting a window to the user for display on a user's screen wherein the window displays properties of the metadata; receiving from the user an edit to the metadata properties; and updating the metadata properties with the edit received from the user, for producing an updated metadata.

Abstract: A system for hosting an in-store electronic auction including a plurality of shoppers including a store server capable of synchronizing with handheld portable devices within a predetermined geographic area, a plurality of customers having portable electronic devices. The portable electronic devices are capable of synchronizing with the store server, such that the plurality of customers can individually send and receive auction information therethrough, as well as an inventory of products within the predetermined geographic area from which a customer can shop. The store server identifies the shoppers in the predetermined geographical area through the portable electronic device, and determines a shopper's eligibility to participate in the auction. If the shopper is determined to be eligible to participate, the system synchronizes the shopper's portable electronic device to the store server.

Abstract: Production and processing of data representing digitized images are disclosed. The disclosure addresses the problem of providing an image which simultaneously represents both high spatial resolution information and low spatial resolution information which pertains to the high spatial resolution information. Images may be produced which represent high spatial resolution information in the form of relative luminance contrasts, and represent low spatial resolution information in the form of color variance. Images representing high spatial resolution information may be altered to represent areas sharing a common trait (low spatial resolution information) by altering image data to make all pixels of those areas a common color, while scaling the luminance of each altered pixel by a uniform factor relative to its luminance in the original representation of the image.

Abstract: A rule based system and method interacts with a user to provide the user a series of interim results. The system has a set of one or more operations. Each of these operations in turn has a set of one or more choices, called a choice set, associated with an operation. Rule based intelligence is applied to the operations set and/or one or more operation choice set by a set of rules associated with its respective operation and/or choice set. When one or more rules in a rule set are applied to the operation set, an offered operation set is created which is a subset of the operation set. Only the operations in the offered operation set are offered to the user. When one or more rules in a rule set are applied to a choice set, an offered choice set is created which is a subset of the choice set. Only those operation choices in the offered choice set are offered to the user.