Abstract: A transactional calendar can be used to interact with online services that perform any type of tasks. The calendar's user interface has features for choosing a service to invoke. When the calendar invokes the service, information such as the date and time currently selected on the calendar is automatically passed to the service in a defined data format. Upon completing a task, the service returns the result to the calendar in a defined format, and a calendar entry is made for the task. The calendar entry can be used to view details about the task. A calendar-based user interface allows a user to view and interact with pending and completed tasks being performed by disparate online services. The transactional calendar may automatically generate inferred tasks in response to user-created tasks.

Abstract: An overlay generator recognizes specific types of content and metadata present on a web site, and retrieves additional content related to the web site from other sources. The overlay generator makes the additional content available in a web browser as an overlay or as a hyperlink, so that the additional content can be viewed in combination with the original web site content. For example, if a zip code is present on a web site, and the web site includes a static map showing points of specialized interest in that zip code, then the overlay generator recognizes the zip code as a specific type of content related to maps, and retrieves an interactive map of the zip code from a map service, and generates an overlay for superimposing the interactive map on the static map, so that the content of both maps is displayed in a single integrated map.

Abstract: Method and system for progressive disclosure of search results are disclosed. The method includes receiving a first portion of a search query from a user, and presenting a first search result page to the user in response to the first portion of the search query, where the first search result page includes a first set of search results categorized into a first set of search result topics related to the first portion of the search query. The method of presenting a first search result page includes analyzing the first portion of the search query and predicting the first set of search results using a set of contextual information, which includes user behavior, user preferences, user environment, and context of the search query.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a user to access media objects, such as images, from a website without requiring the user to enter the website. In one embodiment, a search engine searches for websites that match a submitted search term. A selected URL to one of the resulting websites is submitted to a harvester that accesses a web page of the selected website and identifies a media object of the web page. The harvester determines the characteristic(s) of the media object, such as a dimension, an aspect ratio, a proximity to other media objects, etc. The harvester determines a second media object with substantially the same characteristic(s). The determined media objects, or subportions, are rendered in a client user interface. Relationships are mapped between a selected media object and projects that use the object. Manipulating a rendered portion causes a related operation on the whole media object.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing pre-cognitive delivery of in-context related information is disclosed herein. A user's expressed interest in a particular portion of a requested page and his/her requests for additional information relating to the particular portion are tracked. The tracked data permits determination of the content of in-context related information. For each of the particular portions of the requested page deemed to be of sufficient popularity, in-context information relating to each such particular portion is automatically provided to users along with the requested page.

Abstract: A system and method for providing search results in visually illustrative concept format is disclosed herein. Concepts relating to a query term are identified. The search results comprise a conceptual search result entry for each identified concept. Each conceptual search result entry includes at least a visual content and textual content relating to its respective identified concept. The content for a given conceptual search result entry can come from different sources.

Abstract: A system and method for providing paid content relating to search results in visually illustrative concept format is disclosed herein. Concepts relating to a query term are identified. The search results comprise a conceptual search result entry for each identified concept. Each conceptual search result entry includes at least a visual content and a paid content relating to its respective identified concept. The content for a given conceptual search result entry can come from different sources.

Abstract: Method and computer program product for collecting information on the Internet are disclosed. The method includes parsing contents of a web page to form a plurality of collectable objects, selecting one or more objects from the plurality of collectable objects, storing the one or more objects to one or more saving portals, annotating the one or more objects in accordance with user-specified data, and annotating the one or more objects in accordance with implicit data of the one or more saving portals. The method further includes annotating the one or more objects automatically, without manual intervention, using user-specified data, and annotating the one or more objects automatically, without manual intervention, using implicit data of the one or more saving portals.

Abstract: Method and system for presenting information on a user device are disclosed. The method includes collecting a plurality of data objects on the Internet, annotating each data object in the plurality of data objects in accordance with user-defined data and implicit data, wherein the user-defined data and implicit data form metadata associated with the plurality of data objects, creating correlations between the plurality of data objects using the metadata associated with the plurality of data objects, and presenting the plurality of data objects in multiple views on the user device simultaneously according to the correlations between the plurality of data objects.

Abstract: A system comprises a source providing video in a first format, a video converter for converting video from the first to a second format, a server storing a video image from the video, and combining the video image with a graphical user interface to form a composite video, and a first user display device displaying the composite video, and receiving from the user, a plurality of commands, wherein the first user display device is for receiving from the user, a plurality of annotations associated with a video frame from the composite video, and for determining the video frame from the composite video in response to a command, wherein the server is for forming an annotated video in response to the video frame and the plurality of annotations, for storing the plurality of annotations and the video frame, and for associating the plurality of annotations and the video frame.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for communicating with multiple users via a map over the Internet are disclosed. The device includes a processor for executing computer programs, a memory for storing data, an input module for entering user commands, a communication module for transmitting and receiving data, and a display for showing information on a screen. The device further includes logic for selecting a group of users, logic for creating a map to share among the group of users, logic for displaying locations of the group of users on the map, and logic for broadcasting changes of a user's location to the group over the Internet.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for presenting one or more user-defined private maps with a public map for sharing among a group of users are disclosed. The device includes a processor for executing computer programs, a memory for storing data, an input module for entering user commands, a communication module for transmitting and receiving data, and a display for showing information on a screen. The device further includes logic for importing a public map representing a publicly available mapping of an area or a location, logic for creating one or more user-defined private maps, logic for linking the one or more user-defined private maps to the public map through a set of corresponding map icons, and logic for displaying the public map and the one or more user-defined private maps.

Abstract: A computer program product for a computer system includes code that directs a processor to display a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object on a display, wherein the two-dimensional representation comprises a plurality of two-dimensional regions, wherein the three-dimensional object is associated with a plurality of components in a component hierarchy, and wherein each two-dimensional region is associated with at least one component from the plurality of components, code that directs the processor to receive a selection of a two-dimensional region from the user on the display, code that directs the processor to determine a component from the plurality of components associated with the two-dimensional region, code that directs the processor to receive a value for an animation variable associated with the component, and code that directs the processor to set the animation variable associated with the component to the value, wherein the codes reside on a tangible media.

Abstract: A computer program product for a computer system includes code that directs a processor to display a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object on a display, wherein the two-dimensional representation comprises a plurality of two-dimensional regions, wherein the three-dimensional object is associated with a plurality of components in a component hierarchy, and wherein each two-dimensional region is associated with at least one component from the plurality of components, code that directs the processor to receive a selection of a two-dimensional region from the user on the display, code that directs the processor to determine a component from the plurality of components associated with the two-dimensional region, code that directs the processor to receive a value for an animation variable associated with the component, and code that directs the processor to set the animation variable associated with the component to the value, wherein the codes reside on a tangible media.

Abstract: A method for an animation environment includes displaying a first geometric object on a display, wherein the first geometric object comprises a plurality of geometric components, wherein the plurality of geometric components are coupled according to a geometric hierarchy, wherein the plurality of geometric components includes a first geometric component and a second geometric component, and wherein the first geometric component and the second geometric component are not adjacent within the geometric hierarchy, receiving a selection signal from a user, selecting the first geometric component in response to the selection signal, receiving a navigation signal from the user, and selecting the second geometric component in response to the navigation signal by traversing an animation hierarchy, wherein the first geometric component and the second geometric component are adjacent within the animation hierarchy.

Abstract: A system comprises a source providing video in a first format, a video converter for converting video form the first to a second format, a server storing a video image from the video, and combining the video image with a graphical user interface to form a composite video, and a first user display device displaying the composite video, and receiving from the user, a plurality of commands, wherein the first user display device is for receiving from the user, a plurality of annotations associated with a video frame from the composite video, and for determining the video frame from the composite video in response to a command, wherein the server is for forming an annotated video in response to the video frame and the plurality of annotations, for storing the plurality of annotations and the video frame, and for associating the plurality of annotations and the video frame.

Abstract: A method for a computer system includes displaying a toolbar region with user selectable icons on a display, positioning a cursor on the display over the toolbar region, and receiving a first command from the user while the cursor is positioned over the toolbar region, wherein the first command from the user comprises pressing and holding of a button on a user input device, displaying additional user selectable icons on the display in response to the first command, positioning the cursor on the display over one user selectable icon, and receiving a second command from the user while the cursor is positioned on the one user selectable icon, wherein the second command from the user comprises releasing the button on the user input device, wherein the one user icon and the user selectable icons are then displayed in the toolbar region in response to the second command.

Abstract: Techniques for customizing draw styles of widgets to better accommodate a user's direct manipulation needs. A user can customize various attributes of a widget and its manipulators to suit the user's needs. The customizations are stored as a style. The stored style can subsequently be applied to the widget to control the appearance and behavior of the widget. Stored styles may be applied to other widgets and can also be shared between users.

Abstract: A method for automatically constructing a database query for data assets associated with multimedia works. The database query is based on the context of a selected point of interest of a multimedia work. The point of interest is selected by a user interacting with the multimedia work and pausing the multimedia work at the point of interest. A database query is automatically constructed that is constrained by data that is associated with the point of interest. In addition, a list of attributes of the data that is associated with the point of interest is displayed to the user before the search is performed. The user has the option to further constrain the database search by selecting one or more attributes from the list of attributes. The user may also constrain the database search by adding keywords to a keyword entry field.

Abstract: A method for segmenting audio data, comprising speech from a plurality of individual speakers, according to speaker is provided. The method comprises providing individual HMMs for each individual speaker, each individual HMM including at least one state, and constructing a speaker network HMM by connecting the individual HMMs in parallel. The audio data is then divided into segments by determining a most likely sequence of states through the speaker network HMM, each of the segments being associated with one of the individual HMMs. Afterward, the speaker of each of the segments is identified. The segmented data may be used to form an index into the audio data according to speaker.