Abstract: A user/PC interface system is described which enables the creation and performance of a synchronized audio/visual story on the PC. The interface enables the initial storage of a plurality of visual images. Then, it enables the creation of an audio presentation which includes labels and time indications, certain of which are employed for synchronization purposes. The system is responsive to a label to execute a predetermined command upon the appearance of the label in the audio presentation. The PC is then operated to perform the audio presentation, that performance automatically causing the display of visual images upon the occurrence of labels and time indications.An improved, table-based authoring system is also described for preparation of both the above noted audio and visual presentations. The system relies upon columnar presentations of a tabular form, each column indicating a separate control function (or comment) relating to the audio/visual presentation.

Abstract: A user/PC interface system is described which enables the creation and performance of a synchronized audio/visual story on the PC. The interface enables the initial storage of a plurality of visual images. Then, it enables the creation of an audio presentation which includes labels and time indications, certain of which are employed for synchronization purposes. The system is responsive to a label to execute a predetermined command upon the appearance of the label in the audio presentation. The PC is then operated to perform the audio presentation, that performance automatically causing the display of visual images upon the occurrence of labels and time indications. A table-based authoring system is also described for preparation of both the above noted audio and visual presentations. The system relies upon columnar presentations of a tabular form, each column indicating a separate control function (or comment) relating to the audio/visual presentation.

Abstract: A method for viewing a representation of an overscanned captured image on a display that is incapable of displaying the full image as originally captured. The method comprises the steps of (1) digitizing the image to produce a first block of serial data elements where each data element represents at least one picture element of the image, (2) storing a first data block in a data processing memory, (3) computing a second data element block by removing every nth data element from the first data element block, where n is an integer less than the number of first data block elements and said second data block element represents a reduced size image, and (4) displaying the second data element block overlayed upon at least a portion of the digitized image. The invention also includes an apparatus for viewing a representation of an overscanned captured image.

Abstract: A method for running an expert system on a data processing system in which the Rulebase is segmented into contextual units so that the system memory can accommodate each unit. Portions of the Rulebase containing data or knowledge that is not needed in a particular application may then be eliminated. The segmenting of the Rulebase also allows the contextual units of the application to be paged into and out of the system as needed. The various intersegment relationships are managed by the system as units are paged into and out of memory. A second Rulebase unit may be called by the first unit and executed at any time during the processing of the first Rulebase. Provision is made in the form of a Global attribute to selectively identify and store the data that is relevant to the application and that has been accumulated up to the point where another unit is called so that at some time later in the process, when the system returns to the first unit, it can proceed from the last RULE node that was processed.

Abstract: A method for use in an expert system which selectively allows the system to avoid asking the user a question by providing the answer to that question based on related information that may have been previously attained in the system. The method involves providing an action attribute that can be attached to any node in the rule tree. The attribute is assigned to a node in the tree which provides an answer to a class question based on processing various other dependent nodes. When the answer is obtained, the action attribute then causes all other nodes in the rule base referencing the same class question to be set to the same answer. The user is therefore only requested to supply information as a last resort.

Abstract: A method for solving problems using an expert system in which the Rulebase includes a section having specific definitions of processes or procedures which are available to the expert system as a data source. The method allows data to be collected dynamically in response to and in accordance with parameters supplied by the expert system and at a time determined by the expert system. The ability of the expert system to provide meaningful conclusions is considerably enhanced when such type of data is made available since any process or procedure that can be executed on the host for the expert system can become a source of current data for analysis by the expert system. Computer hardware diagnostic applications can include running self-diagnostic procedures even on the host system.