Abstract: Disclosed is a hinged, two-wheeled device for improving the safety of an individual or object descending along a rope from an elevated position. The device includes a two-piece hinged framed held open by a torsion spring. Each part of the frame contains a wheel with a cut out/channel with a knurled surface to increase the friction between the rope and the device and to prevent the device from disengaging during use. The rope is placed between the two wheels and the handle is pulled down, clamping the device around the rope. The two wheels are connected to viscous rotary dampers that slow the speed of the wheels during descent, preventing the user/object from accelerating in a free-fall and controlling the descent rate to a relatively constant, safer speed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and software for touch input systems in computing environments are provided herein. In one example, an interaction service positioned logically between an operating system and an application is provided. The interaction service directs a processing system to receive a call from the application referencing an interaction class to attach to an object in a user interface used for the application, wherein the interaction class comprises a set of declarative statements. The interaction class attaches to the object in the user interface. A user input is then identified to the operating system associated with the object. In response to the user input, the interaction service determines which one of the declarative statements corresponds to the user input. The one of the declarative statements is then executed to call corresponding native code that performs an action with respect to the object.

Abstract: The present invention includes a graphics software program that automatically creates graphical content when a user creates or modifies a hierarchical list of content data and chooses from one of a plurality of graphical definition choices for the graphical elements. In addition, the present invention includes a user interface with three different displays. The first display presents the user with one or more galleries including a gallery with a plurality of graphical definitions. The second display is a content entry area. The final display is a drawing canvas.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and broadcasting a dynamic identifier are presented. Based on the current context and rules established for accessing personal information, a dynamic identifier corresponding to a computer user is dynamically generated and provided to a computing device corresponding to the computer user. The computing device may broadcast the dynamic identifier to others. Upon receipt of a dynamic identifier, a party wishing to determine information regarding the broadcasting party must query an information service with the dynamic identifier. According to a set of rules and/or permissions established for the target computer user (broadcasting the dynamic identifier), accessible information is identified and returned to the requesting party. Additionally, a user is provided with the ability to edit, add to, and/or delete information that is stored by the identification service regarding the user on behalf of a submitting party.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering graphics based on user customizations in a computer graphics application are disclosed. The customizations relate to various properties of one or more graphical elements in the graphic. Such properties include positioning, size, formatting and other visual attributes associated with the graphical elements. These properties may be defined as either semantic properties or presentation properties. Semantic properties are persistent across all graphic definitions. Presentation properties are specific to the graphic definition to which each particular graphic belongs. Thus, a customization to a semantic property of a displayed graphic is preserved in memory for application not only to the currently displayed graphic, but also to all other graphic definitions that may be displayed in the future. In contrast, a customization to a presentation property is only preserved for the currently displayed graphic, and thus not preserved for all other graphic definitions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and software for touch input systems in computing environments are provided herein. In one example, an interaction service positioned logically between an operating system and an application is provided. The interaction service directs a processing system to receive a call from the application referencing an interaction class to attach to an object in a user interface used for the application, wherein the interaction class comprises a set of declarative statements. The interaction class attaches to the object in the user interface. A user input is then identified to the operating system associated with the object. In response to the user input, the interaction service determines which one of the declarative statements corresponds to the user input. The one of the declarative statements is then executed to call corresponding native code that performs an action with respect to the object.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and software for touch input systems in computing environments are provided herein. In one example, an interaction service positioned logically between an operating system and an application is provided. The interaction service directs a processing system to receive a call from the application referencing an interaction class to attach to a layer in a user interface used for the application, attach the interaction class to the layer in the user interface, listen to the operating system for user input occurring with respect to the layer, and determine per the interaction class what actions to perform in response to the user input.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hinged, two-wheeled device for improving the safety of an individual or object descending along a rope from an elevated position. The device includes a two-piece hinged framed held open by a torsion spring. Each part of the frame contains a wheel with a cut out/channel with a knurled surface to increase the friction between the rope and the device and to prevent the device from disengaging during use. The rope is placed between the two wheels and the handle is pulled down, clamping the device around the rope. The two wheels are connected to viscous rotary dampers that slow the speed of the wheels during descent, preventing the user/object from accelerating in a free-fall and controlling the descent rate to a relatively constant, safer speed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and broadcasting a dynamic identifier are presented. Based on the current context and rules established for accessing personal information, a dynamic identifier corresponding to a computer user is dynamically generated and provided to a computing device corresponding to the computer user. The computing device may broadcast the dynamic identifier to others. Upon receipt of a dynamic identifier, a party wishing to determine information regarding the broadcasting party must query an information service with the dynamic identifier. According to a set of rules and/or permissions established for the target computer user (broadcasting the dynamic identifier), accessible information is identified and returned to the requesting party. Additionally, a user is provided with the ability to edit, add to, and/or delete information that is stored by the identification service regarding the user on behalf of a submitting party.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and broadcasting a dynamic identifier are presented. Based on the current context and rules established for accessing personal information, a dynamic identifier corresponding to a computer user is dynamically generated and provided to a computing device corresponding to the computer user. The computing device may broadcast the dynamic identifier to others. Upon receipt of a dynamic identifier, a party wishing to determine information regarding the broadcasting party must query an information service with the dynamic identifier. According to a set of rules and/or permissions established for the target computer user (broadcasting the dynamic identifier), accessible information is identified and returned to the requesting party.

Abstract: When using graphical diagrams, cutting and pasting operations may take advantage of predefined relationships to intelligently insert and remove items from the diagram. A text data model may be interpreted sequentially or hierarchically to construct various diagrams. Pasting operations will bring new data into the diagram and data model while conforming the new data to the diagram definition. Cutting operations may cause the data model and diagram to be healed to conform to the diagram definition.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering graphics based on user customizations in a computer graphics application are disclosed. The customizations relate to various properties of one or more graphical elements in the graphic. Such properties include positioning, size, formatting and other visual attributes associated with the graphical elements. These properties may be defined as either semantic properties or presentation properties. Semantic properties are persistent across all graphic definitions. Presentation properties are specific to the graphic definition to which each particular graphic belongs. Thus, a customization to a semantic property of a displayed graphic is preserved in memory for application not only to the currently displayed graphic, but also to all other graphic definitions that may be displayed in the future. In contrast, a customization to a presentation property is only preserved for the currently displayed graphic, and thus not preserved for all other graphic definitions.

Abstract: When using graphical diagrams, cutting and pasting operations may take advantage of predefined relationships to intelligently insert and remove items from the diagram. A text data model may be interpreted sequentially or hierarchically to construct various diagrams. Pasting operations will bring new data into the diagram and data model while conforming the new data to the diagram definition. Cutting operations may cause the data model and diagram to be healed to conform to the diagram definition.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering graphics based on user customizations in a computer graphics application are disclosed. The customizations relate to various properties of one or more graphical elements in the graphic. Such properties include positioning, size, formatting and other visual attributes associated with the graphical elements. These properties may be defined as either semantic properties or presentation properties. Semantic properties are persistent across all graphic definitions. Presentation properties are specific to the graphic definition to which each particular graphic belongs. Thus, a customization to a semantic property of a displayed graphic is preserved in memory for application not only to the currently displayed graphic, but also to all other graphic definitions that may be displayed in the future. In contrast, a customization to a presentation property is only preserved for the currently displayed graphic, and thus not preserved for all other graphic definitions.

Abstract: The present invention includes a graphics software program that automatically creates graphical content when a user creates or modifies a hierarchical list of content data and chooses from one of a plurality of graphical definition choices for the graphical elements. In addition, the present invention includes a user interface with three different displays. The first display presents the user with one or more galleries including a gallery with a plurality of graphical definitions. The second display is a content entry area. The final display is a drawing canvas.

Abstract: The present invention includes a graphics software program that automatically creates graphical content when a user creates or modifies a hierarchical list of content data and chooses from one of a plurality of graphical definition choices for the graphical elements. In addition, the present invention includes a user interface with three different displays. The first display presents the user with one or more galleries including a gallery with a plurality of graphical definitions. The second display is a content entry area. The final display is a drawing canvas.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and software for touch input systems in computing environments are provided herein. In one example, an interaction service positioned logically between an operating system and an application is provided. The interaction service directs a processing system to receive a call from the application referencing an interaction class to attach to a layer in a user interface used for the application, attach the interaction class to the layer in the user interface, listen to the operating system for user input occurring with respect to the layer, and determine per the interaction class what actions to perform in response to the user input.

Abstract: The present invention includes a graphics software program that automatically creates graphical content when a user creates or modifies a hierarchical list of content data and chooses from one of a plurality of graphical definition choices for the graphical elements. In addition, the present invention includes a user interface with three different displays. The first display presents the user with one or more galleries including a gallery with a plurality of graphical definitions. The second display is a content entry area. The final display is a drawing canvas.

Abstract: The present invention includes a graphics software program that automatically creates graphical content when a user creates or modifies a hierarchical list of content data and chooses from one of a plurality of graphical definition choices for the graphical elements. In addition, the present invention includes a user interface with three different displays. The first display presents the user with one or more galleries including a gallery with a plurality of graphical definitions. The second display is a content entry area. The final display is a drawing canvas.

Abstract: Generating a child timeline on a drawing sheet of a diagramming program such that the child timeline is dynamically linked to a parent timeline. An automated method allows for the automatic placing of information on the child timeline that was on the parent timeline when the child timeline is created. Parent and child timelines can be modified and a child timeline can be automatically updated when changes are made to the parent timeline and these changes affect the time interval corresponding to the child timeline.