Abstract: A method for evaluating expansion of a business where the business is located in a first geographic area. The method includes receiving information about the business, querying a business information source and a demographic information source using the information, receiving data from the business information source and the demographic information source in response to the querying, processing the data using business expansion factors to obtain a rank order, where the data comprises a plurality of potential geographic areas for expanding the business, where the plurality of potential geographic areas are evaluated on the business expansion factors to determine a similarity to the first geographic area to obtain a rank order, and presenting, in the rank order, each of the plurality of potential geographic areas.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enrolling an employer with an agency. The method includes obtaining employer data from the employer, evaluating a requirement to enroll with the agency based on the employer data, accessing a customized interface associated with the agency based on the requirement, transmitting the employer data to the customized interface, and receiving an employer enrollment credential from the agency to confirm enrollment with the agency.

Abstract: A method for evaluating expansion of a business where the business is located in a first geographic area. The method includes receiving information about the business, querying a business information source and a demographic information source using the information, receiving data from the business information source and the demographic information source in response to the querying, processing the data using business expansion factors to obtain a rank order, where the data comprises a plurality of potential geographic areas for expanding the business, where the plurality of potential geographic areas are evaluated on the business expansion factors to determine a similarity to the first geographic area to obtain a rank order, and presenting, in the rank order, each of the plurality of potential geographic areas.

Abstract: A parameter-selection technique that allows preferred permutations to be rapidly identified based on real-world user behavior is described. In particular, a set of web pages that include different permutations of the set of parameters are generated. Then, at least a subset of these web pages is provided to the users in response to their requests. For example, the requests may be associated with user selections of search results, which are associated with search queries provided by the users to a search engine. While the users interact with the subset of the set of web pages, their actions and the associated context (with respect to the different permutations) are tracked. Next, the tracked user actions are used to identify the web pages associated with the preferred permutations of the set of parameters.

Abstract: A system for paying and filing employment tax operates by updating a set of electronic templates such that the electronic templates are compatible with current formats of associated governmental agencies, receiving financial information associated with a user, selecting an electronic template from the set of electronic templates, and merging the financial information with the electronic template to produce a document. This financial information includes employment-tax information that has a format that is compatible with payroll-accounting software, and the electronic template is compatible with a submission format of a governmental agency. Next, the system submits the document to the governmental agency.

Abstract: A system for paying and filing employment tax operates by updating a set of electronic templates such that the electronic templates are compatible with current formats of associated governmental agencies, receiving financial information associated with a user, selecting an electronic template from the set of electronic templates, and merging the financial information with the electronic template to produce a document. This financial information includes employment-tax information that has a format that is compatible with payroll-accounting software, and the electronic template is compatible with a submission format of a governmental agency. Next, the system submits the document to the governmental agency.

Abstract: Screen objects used by the application programs to draw or paint on the display screen are created in accordance with a predefined class structure which represents a generic display system. Developers of specialized hardware develop specialized classes based on the predefined structure to handle specific command sets and protocols. When the system is initially powered up or reconfigured, the screen objects are created from the generic and specialized classes as necessary by examining the actual display hardware present in the system. When the specialized classes are used to create the screen objects, the screen objects receive the specialized command sets and protocols necessary to interact with display hardware which have been provided by the hardware developers.

Abstract: A window server communicates with clients and creates, destroys and modifies window objects. Objects are created in response to parameters provided by clients. Clients can obtain a variety of information regarding windows managed by the window server. Hardware windows are supported by subclassing objects, which provides polymorphic screen objects. Therefore, it does not matter whether the window is created by a hardware or software entity. Clients may be notified by the window server in response to certain events occurring with respect to particular windows, such as a configuration change. The window server also dynamically manages a default window layering scheme which takes into account the parameters specified, or not specified, by clients as well as the characteristics of the windows currently being managed by the window server. The window server also supports window clustering, which allows a window to span monitors.

Abstract: A compositing architecture provides for correct rendering of overlapping opaque and translucent regions of respective graphic images with rapid pixel restoration when an image floating above another image is moved or manipulated to reveal pixels of a graphic image at a greater depth by provision for buffering data corresponding to a portion of a graphic image which is beneath another graphic image. Data representing graphic images is selectively routed to a painter in response to a determination of opacity and depth order of the graphic images. A plurality of painters are preferably provided with image rendering pipeline of differing lengths. A painter is chosen in accordance with the number of images to be composited. Data buffering is minimized by dynamic creation and removal of buffers in accordance with the intersecting regions of the graphic images.

Abstract: A video framework for use in a data processing system provides parallel hierarchies of video device drivers and video device handles, which are created by video device driver objects, and a hierarchy of data encapsulators contained by a subclass of the hierarchy of video device handles to encapsulate configuration information describing the functionality of a display device connected to a data processing system. Applications access video device drivers through ones of the video device handles at respective levels of the video device handle hierarchy. When a change of configuration is made or requested in for the data processing system or any display connected thereto, corresponding video display handles issue a signal to lock down drawing tasks before video handles are created or altered to carry out the configuration change.