Abstract: A user-customized computer display method allows a user to interactively populate a template to produce a layout that may later be used as a desktop for display on a computer system. The user is able to select a template from a series of templates that may be represented as thumbnail images, and populate the template with content items, such as programs, documents, and/or urls, thereby producing a layout. A template design tool may be used to produce custom template configurations. The user may select a layout from the same thumbnail screen that allows selection of templates for population or re-population. The method may also allow association of layouts with monitor configuration, and simple and intuitive configuration of multi-monitor systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing a Boolean logic tree function on all bits of a multiple-bit binary input data word having a plurality of bit positions. Each bit has one of first and second complementary logic states. A modified data word is formed by packing all the bits of the input data word having the first logic state into a first contiguous set of bit positions in the modified data word and all the bits of the input data word having the second logic state into a second contiguous set of the bit positions in the modified data word. The number of bit positions in the first and second sets is greater than or equal to zero. A result of the Boolean logic tree function is generated based on a pattern of the first and second logic states in the modified data word.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for multiplying a multiplicand by a multiplier. The method and apparatus generate a plurality of partial products. Each partial product has a plurality of bits having respective binary weights, wherein each bit can have a first or second logic state. A first set of multiple-bit columns is formed from bits of the plurality of partial products, wherein the bits in each column of the first set have the same binary weight. Each multiple-bit column in the first set is encoded into a respective modified partial product, which represents a number of bits in the column having the first logic state. This process can be repeated until the number of partial products is reduces to a desired number.