Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that selectively transfers code to a data producer in a networked system. In this system, the data producer generates data and then sends the data to a device. The device receives the data from the data producer, and then uses code on the device to perform a processing operation on the data. Next, the system analyzes characteristics of the data to determine whether performing the processing operation on the data producer can reduce resource usage. If so, the system transfers the code from the device to the data producer, and subsequently executes the code on the data producer. By executing the code on the data producer, the system can optimize resource usage in the networked system.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for improving link target accuracy for a mobile browser with a touch-screen display. The system receives a page with a plurality of selectable text objects and adjusts the page layout. The method further includes placing a number of targets within the web page. Each target is associated with one selectable text object, and the selectable text object can only be activated by the target. The targets are sufficiently separated from each other, thus allowing a user to hold the touch-screen display and select the selectable text object by tapping on the target with substantial accuracy. Another embodiment of the present invention allows a user to select a selectable text object by performing a gesture.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates invoking a command. During operation, the system suggests with a graphic element a gesture to use to invoke a command. The system then receives the gesture from a user at a device. Note that the gesture is received via an input mechanism, and also note that the gesture is a predetermined manipulation of the input mechanism. The system then determines a graphic element within the user interface that is associated with the gesture. Finally, upon determining the object associated with the gesture, the system invokes the command associated with the graphic element.

Abstract: A system and method for prioritizing components is provided. Components, including at least one requester components and at least two service components are maintained. The components each include a historical context and access information. The requester component requests the historical contexts associated with one or more of the service components. The one or more service components are filtered to determine which of the one or more service components are accessible to the requester component using the access information. The accessible service components for the requester component are prioritized based on the associated historical contexts.

Abstract: A system and method for accumulating a historical context of interactions between components is presented. A plurality of components that each have a component context and which include at least one of a requester component and at least one of a service component are maintained. An interaction including the requester component requesting an operation to be performed by the service component is identified by sending the component context of the requester component to the service component. The component context of the requester component is recorded into the component context of the service component as contextual metadata.

Abstract: A system and method for accumulating a historical context of interactions between components is presented. A plurality of components that each have a component context and which include at least one of a requester component and at least one of a service component are maintained. An interaction including the requester component requesting an operation to be performed by the service component is identified by sending the component context of the requester component to the service component. The component context of the requester component is recorded into the component context of the service component as contextual metadata.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus and program products for accumulating a historical context of interactions between components in an environment where each of the components has a component context that can be revealed. The components include a requester component and a service component. The requester component requests an operation to be performed by the service component. The requester component passes its context to the service component with the operational request. The requester component context is recorded as service component contextual metadata and becomes part of the historical context.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and program products for using historical contextual data in a ubiquitous computing environment. The historical contextual data can be dispersed among components in an environment or logging services as well as stored on a particular component or logging service. The historical contextual data can be used to help create or re-create component configurations within the relevant environment through the use of abstract applications and abstract components. Abstract applications can be specified to create connections with specific components. Abstract applications can also be generalized so that they need not create connections with specific components, but can create component connections that perform a desired function by determining which components to use from the available components, and how to connect the selected components to perform the function.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for improving link target accuracy for a mobile browser with a touch-screen display. The system receives a page with a plurality of selectable text objects and adjusts the page layout. The method further includes placing a number of targets within the web page. Each target is associated with one selectable text object, and the selectable text object can only be activated by the target. The targets are sufficiently separated from each other, thus allowing a user to hold the touch-screen display and select the selectable text object by tapping on the target with substantial accuracy. Another embodiment of the present invention allows a user to select a selectable text object by performing a gesture.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates invoking a command. During operation, the system suggests with a graphic element a gesture to use to invoke a command. The system then receives the gesture from a user at a device. Note that the gesture is received via an input mechanism, and also note that the gesture is a predetermined manipulation of the input mechanism. The system then determines a graphic element within the user interface that is associated with the gesture. Finally, upon determining the object associated with the gesture, the system invokes the command associated with the graphic element.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a user interface. The user interface includes a touch-screen display and a set of marking menus comprising at least one radial menu which can be displayed on the touch-screen display. A radial menu allows a user to select a menu item by performing a stroke on the touch-screen display in a direction corresponding to a slice of the radial menu associated with the menu item. All the slices of a radial sub-menu are substantially at an angle of approximately 90° or less with respect to a previous stroke leading from a pervious radial menu, thereby allowing a series of consecutive strokes to end near the origin of the first stroke.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that provides a user interface for a context-aware recommendation system which can be operated with one hand. The user interface includes a touch-screen display and a list of recommendations presented on the touch-screen display. The user interface further includes a plurality of graphic elements presented on the touch-screen display which allow a user to configure preferences associated with the activities. A layout of the leisure activities and the graphic elements allows the user to hold the touch-screen display and perform operations on the leisure activities and/or the graphic elements with one hand.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus and program products for gathering contextual history from components in an environment and applying an operation on the gathered history to assist a user in selecting which components to use in the environment.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing component capability to accept and execute mobile code includes a first component coupled via a network to a second component. The first component uses a predicate object to determine whether the second component can accept mobile code, such as a data type handler object or an applet. The instructions included in the predicate object are executed in the environment of the second component, although they can be executed in the first component environment. The execution of these instructions in the second component environment causes the second component to respond to a series of basic tests, such as whether the second component has access to required libraries, software versions and/or peripherals. Additionally, a predicate object creation module is disclosed for generating predicate objects that are specific to the objects desired, such as a data type handler object or a controller object.

Abstract: A computer-controlled method to configure a network of devices acquires a specific instance of an abstract application of at least one component in a first network, captures and stores fields of the component in the abstract application, classifies the fields as to how the fields are to be used in matching, provides field values for fields within each component to be used in matching, and store the fields, components and values as a general instance of the abstract application. An apparatus has an acquisition mechanism to acquire a specific instance of an abstract application of at least one component in a first network, a generalization mechanism to identify and generalize fields and values associated with the component, and a store to store the fields, components and values as a general instance of the abstract application.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for entering text. The system starts by receiving a sequence of finger-triggered events. The system then attempts to match the sequence of finger-triggered events to one or more predetermined sequences of finger-triggered events. If the sequence matches a predetermined sequence, the system outputs at least one character corresponding to the predetermined sequence.

Abstract: System and method for enabling arbitrary components to control communications without having or requiring prior knowledge of each other. The system includes a first component that creates controller objects and provides the objects to other components. The controller objects include instructions which when executed by the other components enable the components to generate user interfaces for controlling the first component. Further, the controller objects are encrypted and are used to authenticate the senders or receivers of the objects.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that selectively transfers code to a data producer in a networked system. In this system, the data producer generates data and then sends the data to a device. The device receives the data from the data producer, and then uses code on the device to perform a processing operation on the data. Next, the system analyzes characteristics of the data to determine whether performing the processing operation on the data producer can reduce resource usage. If so, the system transfers the code from the device to the data producer, and subsequently executes the code on the data producer. By executing the code on the data producer, the system can optimize resource usage in the networked system.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing data transfer security mechanisms. The method includes a first component transferring a data type handler object to a second component. The second interface invokes an interface accessible through the date type handler object which includes instructions that are executed by the second component to implement a data transfer security mechanism. Further, the data type handler interface can be encrypted, include cryptographic keys, and/or include digital signatures.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing data transfer security mechanisms. The method includes a first component transferring a data type handler object to a second component. The second interface invokes an interface accessible through the date type handler object which includes instructions that are executed by the second component to implement a data transfer security mechanism. Further, the data type handler interface can be encrypted, include cryptographic keys, and/or include digital signatures.