Abstract: A network spoken language vocabulary system for a speech application comprises: a network server and a plurality of network clients communicating with one another over a network; a central vocabulary list in the server for recognizable words; a speech recognition engine and a local vocabulary list cache in each of the clients. The cache can have therein previously recognized words communicated from the central vocabulary list in the server and new words recognized by the speech application. Each of the new words can be communicated to the server and added to the central vocabulary list and each of the new words added to the central vocabulary list can be communicated to at least one other of the clients for addition to the cache. The new words can be automatically communicated to and from the server.

Abstract: A scroll transfer control button is provided so that a single set of scroll controls can be used to alternately control scrolling in a plurality of separate windows which may be concurrently presented on a display device. Each time a scroll transfer control button is activated, active scroll control switches so that scroll control can be transferred from a work object contained in a first displayed window to another displayed window. Active scroll control can be returned to the first displayed window by toggling the scroll control button until the active scroll control returns. The single set of scroll controls is preferably provided at the edge of the edge of the available area for displaying windows containing work objects. The single set of scroll controls can be trivially thin in appearance or may be transparent due to their consistent presentation at an extreme edge of a display area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a computer having a graphical user interface, including a desktop, displayed on a computer screen. The system is designed for controlling the execution of a computer application program, and the relative position of a window associated with said application along a z-axis defined as extending perpendicular to the surface of the computer screen. The invention includes a new graphical user interface element in the form of a handle positioned along a peripheral edge of a desktop. The handle is configured so that it is always visible on the desktop, and the position of the handle is user defined or programmable according to a convention. A link is provided between the handle and an associated application so that when handle is activated by means of a pointing device, a window associated with the application will be displayed as a foreground window on the desktop. The system permits the application to be efficiently and quickly accessed by activation of the handle.