Abstract: Various methods and systems for providing predicted item conditions for items in an item listing system. A predicted item condition may indicate a calculated estimate of a descriptive state of the item based on item transaction features. Operationally, item transaction features of an item—associated with an item listing interface—are accessed at the item listing system. The item transaction features are communicated to an item condition prediction machine learning model of the item listing system. The item condition machine learning model is trained on historical item transactions comprising item condition features of historical item transactions, the historical item transactions are previous item transactions associated with the item listing system. Based on the item transaction features of the item, the item condition machine learning model is caused to generate a predicted item condition. The predicted item condition is communicated as a recommended item condition or required item condition.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for providing customized-item-specific interfaces of items on extended interface devices in a search system. A plurality of items—each having an extended interface configuration that indicates customized-item-specific interface instructions for extended presentation of items on extended interface devices—are accessed at a primary interface device associated with a set of extended interface devices including a second-user extended interface device that supports a social mode. Based on the first extended interface configuration of a first item, a determination is made that the first item is extendable to a first extended interface device in the set of extended interface devices. Based on determining that the first item is extendable, automatically causing generation of a customized-item-specific interface of the first item on the first extended interface device.

Abstract: Switching between an arm's length user interface and a distance user interface is provided. A first user interface optimized to operate a computer from an arm's-length distance is presented on a display. A command is received. It is determined whether the command is from a wired device or a wirelessly-connected device. When the command is from a wired device, then the first user interface continues to be presented. When the command is from a wirelessly-connected device, then the display is toggled from the first user interface to the distance user interface. The distance user interface is optimized for operating the computer from a television-viewing distance. The television-viewing distance measured in feet is approximately half of a diagonal measure of the image displayed on the display device measured in inches.

Abstract: A new user interface, a distance user interface, in a computer system for operating a computer from a television-viewing distance is provided. A centralized display is provided enabling a user to access streaming video and sound as well as music files, video files, and picture files from a single screen. Collaborative sharing of media content is provided by enabling a computer's operations and feedback to be collectively observed from a distance.

Abstract: A method, application interface, and medium is provided for presenting a variety of data representations in a screen-area inset. The inset(s) can be one or more bounded portions of a graphical user interface. The inset offers a picture-in-picture type of functionality to present videos, data, pictures, audio, and other data representations in a persistently viewable screen area that does not consume the entirety of a display device. The API includes instructions to allow software components to use the inset. The method includes receiving one or more event requests related to the inset, communicating them to a software application or operating system, receiving one or more data sets to satisfy the event requests, and communicating the data sets to the original software application to present a data representation in the inset.

Abstract: A method, application interface, and medium is provided for presenting a variety of data representations in a screen-area inset. The inset(s) can be one or more bounded portions of a graphical user interface. The inset offers a picture-in-picture type of functionality to present videos, data, pictures, audio, and other data representations in a persistently viewable screen area that does not consume the entirety of a display device. The API includes instructions to allow software components to use the inset. The method includes receiving one or more event requests related to the inset, communicating them to a software application or operating system, receiving one or more data sets to satisfy the event requests, and communicating the data sets to the original software application to present a data representation in the inset.

Abstract: A new user interface, a distance user interface, in a computer system for operating a computer from a television-viewing distance is provided. A centralized display is provided enabling a user to access streaming video and sound as well as music files, video files, and picture files from a single screen. Collaborative sharing of media content is provided by enabling a computer's operations and feedback to be collectively observed from a distance.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a computer remotely whereby a hand-held device is used to input commands to control the computer. A logical connection is established within a network computing environment between the hand-held device and the computer. Client and server applications are started that facilitate two-way communication between the computer and the hand-held device. Media devices and entertainment devices connected to the computer can also be controlled by the hand-held device.

Abstract: An animation system provides synchronization services to synchronize actions of two more interactive user interface characters that are displayed simultaneously. The animation services allow applications to make animation requests to control the actions of characters on the display. These actions include playing one of the character's animation sequences and generating speech output with lip-synched animation of the character's mouth. Accessible via script commands or an Application Programming Interface, the synchronization services allow an application to control interaction between two or more characters on the display. Applications can synchronize actions by invoking straightforward commands such as Wait, Interrupt, or Stop.

Abstract: The animation of a speaking character is synchronized with recorded speech by creating and playing a linguistically enhanced sound file. A sound editing tool employs a speech recognition engine to create the linguistically enhanced sound file from recorded speech and a text of the speech. The speech recognition engine provides timing information related to word breaks and phonemes that is used by the sound editing tool to annotate the speech sound data when creating the linguistically enhanced sound file. When the linguistically enhanced sound file is played to produce sound output, the timing information is retrieved to control the animated character's mouth movement and word pacing in the character's word balloon. The sound editing tool additionally provides editing functions for manipulating the timing information.

Abstract: An animation method and system generates interactive animation in the foreground of the user interface of the computer. The system generates arbitrary shaped animation that is independent of the background image of the user interface by computing a bounding region for a current animation frame in real time and creating a non-rectangular window to match this bounding region. The system draws the animation to this non-rectangular window, which clips the frame to the bounding region of the graphical object. The system can be used to create interactive animation that is not confined to a rectangular window of a hosting application or a window of the application making the request to playback animation.

Abstract: A client server animation system provides services to enable clients to play animation and lip-synched speech output for an interactive user interface character. Through the programming interface of the server, clients can specify both speech and cursor device input that an instance of an interactive user interface character will respond to when the clients are active. Clients can also request playback of animation and lip-synched speech output through this interface. Services can be invoked from application programs as well as web scripts embedded in web pages downloaded from the Internet.