Abstract: A method of saving, retrieving and dynamically establishing a plurality of conference parameters. A desktop conferencing system includes a plurality of nodes connected in a network. A user of the desktop conferencing system is able to manipulate a persistent conference object where a persistent conference object is an object including a plurality of items of information pertaining to a desktop conference. Each of the conference parameters are monitored, updated and saved. It is then possible to retrieve and dynamically establish conference parameters of a conference stored in a persistent conference object by: (1) prompting a user for an identifier identifying a particular persistent conference object on disk; (2) opening the specified persistent conference object by copying it from disk to memory; (3) reading the conference parameters stored in the persistent conference object in memory; and (4) implementing the conference parameters to establish the desired conference environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus pertaining to annotating a document window on a display device of a computer-based system. An annotation window is displayed over a selected portion of the document window where the annotation window is defined by a transparent window area bounded by a border. The annotation window enables the selected portion of the document window to be visible through the annotation window. Annotations are displayed within the annotation window where the annotations have a transparent background enabling the selected portion of the document windows to be visible through the transparent background of the annotations. When the annotation window is closed, the annotations are embedded into a contained document shown in the document window so that the annotations and the document are visible simultaneously in the selected portion of the document window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-drawing a transparent window on at least one display device of a computer based system having a central processor and a memory is disclosed. Having a transparent window and an underlying second window, it is determined whether the underlying second window is active. If the underlying second window is active, the transparent window is hidden. The underlying second window is re-drawn and the transparent window is shown. Otherwise, the transparent window is maintained.

Abstract: A telephone access system which provides remote access and communication with a computer through a telephone handset. The system provides audio instructions to the user to select between a plurality of audio dialogs. The audio dialogs may provide access to voice mail, electronic mail, a file manager (documents, databases, etc.) and facsimiles all stored within the computer. Once within an audio dialog, the system provides a series of instructions which allows the user to manipulate the information stored within the computer. For example, the system may allow the user to listen to a message received through electronic mail and then reply to the message. The system may also allow the user to remotely listen to the text of a document and FAX the document to a location remote from the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relating (called hyperlinking) a region of one document to one or more regions of other documents. This is provided by using a mechanism for linking and embedding objects to establish the endpoints of the hyperlinks (called anchors) together with the creation of intermediate tables which maintain information about relations between regions of documents and attributes of the relationship. When a user selects a region in a document which participates in a relationship, a database program is invoked which displays information about related regions in other documents which may be accessed through the intermediate tables. An auxiliary table maintains information about attributes which may be custom designed by the user, such as author, date of creation, etc. The intermediate tables allow relationships among multiple regions of documents created by different applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus creates and plays objects and sound synchronously after eliminating the silent segments of the sound. The method inserts sequence marks into the object and sound data, deletes silent segments of the sound data including the sequence marks that reside in the silent segments, and re-inserts the last deleted sequence mark back into the sound data. In so doing, the system detects the silent segments of the recorded sound stream data and deletes the silent portions from the recorded data. Upon replay of an object and its associated sound, any drawing done during the silent segments are played at the computer's full graphics drawing speed, only slowing down to real-time again when more sounds are encountered. Thus, the system plays "fast while silent" and slows to real-time when sounds are played. This saves the space required to stored the recorded sound, and the user does not have to wait through the silent periods.

Abstract: A hanger valet for storing clothing accessories such as ties, belts, braces, and jewelry such as cufflinks on the same hanger with a given suit, thus allowing coordination of the accessories with the suit. The hanger valet comprises a suit hanger, a valet portion with a number of tie keepers, belt/brace keepers, and jewelry holders, a numerical system for indicating the week of the month in which to wear a tie, a moving indicator of which tie was last worn, and an aromatic cedar block.

Abstract: A source computer program for generating object computer programs, referred to as test program sets, for use in operating a particular automatic test equipment unit (ATE). The ATE is useable for testing a variety of electrical equipment type units each of which is referred to with relation to said ATE as a unit under test (UUT). The source program involves (1) having a test engineer, who designs the individual tests, enter the tests graphically at a work station, (2) verifying the match between the entered test design, the ATE capabilities and the UUT description, and (3) having an automatic way of generating a test program for a test program set from the stored semantic content of the graphically entered test design.

Abstract: A depositor is provided for the feeding or distribution of particulate food pieces, as for example, raisins, nutmeats, etc. The depositor includes a pair of superposed screws positioned in a hopper over an outlet screen member. By oscillating rotational movement of the screws, the particulates are fed from the hopper through the screen onto a dough sheet or the like under the depositor.