Abstract: Methods for rendering effects of graphical components of a graphical user interface are provided. One method includes defining a screen display having one or more components. The method also includes defining a start state for at least one of the one or more components and defining an end state for at least one of the one or more components. An operation of determining if a component identified for transition includes a defined start state and a defined end state is also provided. The method determines a transition type for the component that that has the defined start state and the defined end state and identifies an effect type based on the determined transition type. To render, the method includes (a) altering a graphics state at a time interval and (b) painting the component for the identified graphics state at the time interval. The method repeats (a)-(b) until the graphics state matches the defined end state.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed that download a vanguard-installation-bundle to a computing platform responsive to a set of platform characteristics of the computing platform. The vanguard-installation-bundle includes executable data that includes a platform-dependent set of executable data and a platform-independent set of executable data. The platform-dependent set of executable data is configured to enable execution of the platform-independent set of executable data by the computing platform. The platform-independent set of executable data includes an application program and a sufficient library. The sufficient library is a subset of a reference library. The platform-dependent set of executable data is also configured to invoke installation of the reference library on the computing platform. The method automatically executes the platform-dependent set of executable data on the computing platform and also automatically invokes installation of the reference library on the computing platform.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates displaying multiple two-dimensional (2D) windows with related content within a three-dimensional (3D) display model. The system starts by receiving a command to display a first window within the 3D display model. In response to the command, the system displays the content of the first window on a first surface of a 3D object. Next, the system receives a command to display a second window within the 3D display model, wherein content of the second window is related to content of the first window. The system then displays content of the second window on a second surface of the 3D object.

Abstract: A browser-independent and automatic apparatus and method for receiving, installing, and launching applications from a browser is described. According to one embodiment, a helper application is registered with a browser for a specified file type. When the browser encounters a link to a metafile of the specified file type, the file is downloaded to the requesting system and the helper application is invoked to process the downloaded file. In the context of a Java™ implementation, the downloaded metafile comprises a short launch file specification for a Java™ application, and specifies a classpath as a set of Universal Resource Identifiers (“URIs”), a Java™ Runtime Environment (“JRE”) version, security considerations, and other relevant information concerning the Java™ application to be executed.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present invention, an original archive file having one or more entries is created, where each entry in the original archive file is itself a file, and where each entry in the archive file may comprise any file type, including an archive file. The original archive file is transmitted to a client computer. Subsequently, a target archive file is created, wherein one or more of the entries in the target archive file are typically expected to be identical to one or more entries in the original archive file. Given the original archive file and the target archive file, a difference archive file is created. The difference archive file comprises an index file describing the changes between the original archive file and the target archive file, and also comprises a set of entries corresponding to the entries in the target archive file that are not contained in the original archive file.

Abstract: A distributed object application builder apparatus filters an object definition to determine the information needed (plugs) and provided (sockets) by an object. Each part (a run-time instance of an object) in the builder has plugs and sockets that are interconnected to other parts to define a distributed object application. At run time, actual instances of objects are substituted for the parts. A method of determining the plugs of an identified part begins by retrieving the interface (object definition) that corresponds to the part. Once retrieved, the plugs of the part are identified by determining the object-valued attributes of the retrieved interface, determining the operations from the retrieved interface that require one object-valued argument, and retrieving the factory argument list from the factory method for the object. These attributes and arguments constitute the plugs of the part. Sockets of a part are determined similarly.

Abstract: A distributed object application builder apparatus filters an object definition to determine both information needed (plugs) and provided (sockets) by an object. Each part (a run-time instance of an object) in the builder has plugs and sockets interconnected to other parts to define a distributed object application program. At run time, actual instances of objects are substituted for the parts. A method of determining the plugs of an identified part retrieves the interface (object definition) corresponding to the part. Once retrieved, the plugs of the part are identified by determining the object-valued attributes of the retrieved interface, by determining the operations from the retrieved interface that require one object-valued argument, and by retrieving the factory argument list from the factory method for the object. These attributes and arguments constitute the plugs of the part. Sockets of a part are determined similarly.

Abstract: A technique for automating the assembly of networked, language independent objects into a network application for use in a distributed object computing system uses program templates and a symbol table. A schematic representation of the network application is formed within a visual application builder. The schematic representation defines connections among representations of previously defined distributed objects. These connections are formed among parts, plugs and sockets that are associated with representations of distributed objects termed components. The schematic representation of the network application is loaded into a symbol table and portions of the schematic representation are stored as a number of entries in the symbol table. These entries include identifier-value pairs; that is, identifiers are mapped to values. The program source files to be generated are determined and the program templates for use in generating the program source file are also determined.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an improved method and system for testing a graphical user interface program. The preferred embodiment provides improved performance over prior methods because it decouples the testing of an program's engine component from the testing of its GUI component. The preferred method begins the testing process by invoking test functions that send data to the program's engine component. The data simulates user action on the graphical user interface of the program. In response to receiving the data, the engine component processes the simulated user action as if it had been sent from the graphical user interface component. The preferred method captures the results of this processing and uses the results to determine whether the engine component is performing properly.

Abstract: A thin translucent film is applied onto a plate of glass by pouring an asphalt solution on such plate. The asphalt coating is dried under influence of light whereby the asphalt will become insoluble and a fine grain is developed. This grain is thereafter printed optically onto a photosensitive material.