Abstract: A system for extracting and analyzing information from a collection of linked documents at a locality to enable categorization of documents and prediction of documents relevant to a focus document. The system obtains and analyzes topology, usage and path information from for a collection at a locality, e.g. a web locality on the world wide web. For categorization, document meta information is represented as document vectors. Predefined criteria is applied to the document vectors to create lists of "similar" types of documents. For relevance prediction, networks representing topology, usage path and text similarity amongst the documents in the collection are created. A spreading activation technique is applied to the networks starting at a focus document to predict the documents relevant to the focus document. Using category and relevance prediction information, tools can be built to enable a user to more efficiently traverse through the collection of linked documents.

Abstract: A method for operating a processor-controlled machine produces a single-image compressed view of a multi-image table by replacing the character image information in each cell of the multi-image table with a graphical representation of the information. Each cell in an original multi-image table is respectively paired with a source data value of a source data item stored in memory. In a multi-image table, the entire table image cannot be accommodated at one time in the display area of a display device because of the size of the cell regions required to represent the character image information; a machine user must scroll or navigate through portions of the table in order to view all of the data. In response to an image display request signal, the data represented directly as character image information in each cell of all portions of the multi-image table is replaced by an indirect, graphical representation of that data that compactly represents the source data values thereof.

Abstract: An improvement to a spreadsheet application program executed in a processor-controlled machine displays a first spreadsheet image showing a plurality of cell regions each of which shows a direct, symbolic representation of a source data value of a source data item in an n-dimensional (nD) information data array with which the cell is respectively paired. In response to an image display request signal, a second spreadsheet image is displayed which shows, in each cell, a graphical display object representation of the respectively paired source data value in place of its direct representation. The source data values in the nD data array are thus graphically, or indirectly, represented in the cell regions in the second spreadsheet image, facilitating the visual observation, identification and inspection of patterns and trends in the data.

Abstract: A system for extracting and analyzing information from a collection of linked documents at a locality to enable categorization of documents and prediction of documents relevant to a focus document. The system obtains and analyzes topology, usage and path information from for a collection at a locality, e.g. a web locality on the world wide web. For categorization, document meta information is represented as document vectors. Predefined criteria is applied to the document vectors to create lists of "similar" types of documents. For relevance prediction, networks representing topology, usage path and text similarity amongst the documents in the collection are created. A spreading activation technique is applied to the networks starting at a focus document to predict the documents relevant to the focus document. Using category and relevance prediction information, tools can be built to enable a user to more efficiently traverse through the collection of linked documents.

Abstract: The present invention involves a novel form and methods for creating and using such forms. These forms are summaries (hereinafter "document surrogates") of associated objects, such as original documents, processes, or their copies, stored in a document processing system. A document surrogate made in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises at least one sheet of a information storing substrate material that has a human readable area and a machine readable area. The human readable area may contain at least one area of material which summarizes the associated object. Such a summary may either be made manually by the user or created automatically by the document processing system. The machine readable area comprises a document reference code that is readable and recognizable by the document processing system. The code is located by the system and recognized from an image of the entire page. The reference code encodes an indicator to the storage location of the associated object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing time estimates and progress feedback on long-running distal information source access operations. An intermediate server that is "close" to a client workspace creates time estimates and progress information for operations using models of known information sources and an estimated merge processing cost. The model provides information as to how long various operations take for each of the known information sources during predetermined intervals of the day. During the course of interaction with the known information sources, the intermediary server builds the model. The model will take into account a variety of implicit factors including network distance and operation complexity, and explicit factors including time of day and operation type. The present invention will synthesize the model information for multiple information sources when the query is directed to a plurality of information sources.

Abstract: A method for operating a processor-controlled system produces a table image including graphical display objects in each of the cell regions indirectly representing the data values in an underlying n-dimensional (nD) information data array. Request signal data is received from a input signal source to present the table image in the display area of a display device connected to the processor-controlled system. In response to the request signal data, for each cell in the table image, the source data value and data type of a source data item in the nD data array is obtained, and a cell presentation type is selected using the data type. A graphical display object having at least one display feature representative of the data type of the data value is produced from the cell presentation type, and image definition data defining table image and the graphical display object for each cell is provided to a system display device for display.

Abstract: Node-link data defining a node-link structure are used to present a sequence of representations on a display. The last representation in the sequence is perceptible as a changed continuation of the first. Each representation includes bounded node features, each with a center of area and a nearest node spacing that define a mid-spacing circle. All mid-spacing circles together determine an outer convex hull enclosing a total area for the representation. The mid-spacing circles of a subset of more spaced node features determine an inner convex hull enclosing approximately half the total area and enclosing a region in which nearest node spacings are in general perceptibly greater than in another region outside the second convex hull. The node features also represent a peripheral branch with lower level nodes that are not represented by more spaced node features.

Abstract: Layout data indicate positions in a negatively curved layout space for nodes in a hierarchical branch of a node-link structure. The layout data indicate a parent position for parent nodes and, for children that share a parent node, child positions approximately along a circle in the layout space with the parent position approximately at the circle's center. Adjacent child positions are separated by approximately a base spacing. The radii of circles within the branch together approximate a function that increases slowly with number of child nodes such that the radii and spacings along circles are all approximately uniform within the branch. The layout data can be obtained from data defining the node-link structure. The layout data can be used to perform mappings, each obtaining positions for a subset of the nodes. The layout data can be used to present a first representation of the node-link structure on a display.

Abstract: A computer controlled display system providing for graphical representation of a query to a database and creation and traversal through a search history. A database search is typically performed by a sequence of narrowing queries. Each narrowing query is performed in a query window. A query window is comprised of an input area for entering query expressions, an query results display area, an indicator of a search scope associated with the query window and a history indicator area. A suitable information visualization technique is used to graphically display the search results in the query results display area. From these visualizations, new search scopes and query windows are created. A search path comprising the query windows for the current search path are displayed at any instant of time of the search. A history mechanism provides for ready traversal through the search history.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a document image, using a programmed general or special purpose computer, includes forming the image into image units, and at least one image unit classifier of at least one of the image units is determined, without decoding the content of the at least one of the image units. The classifier of the at least one of the image units is then compared with a classifier of another image unit. The classifier may be image unit length, width, location in the document, font, typeface, cross-section, the number of ascenders, the number of descenders, the average pixel density, the length of the top line contour, the length of the base contour, the location of image units with respect to neighboring image units, vertical position, horizontal inter-image unit spacing, and so forth. The classifier comparison can be a comparison with classifiers of image units of words in a reference table, or with classifiers of other image units in the document.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of processing an undecoded document image in a digital computer to modify the document image so as to emphasize semantically significant portions without first converting the document image to character codes. The document image is segmented into image units, and morphological image characteristics of the image units are evaluated to identify significant image units for emphasis. In one embodiment, the significant image units are emphasized by modifying at least one shape characteristic of the significant image units using at least one uniform morphological bitmap operation applied to the entire image unit bitmaps corresponding to the significant image units.

Abstract: A workspace data structure, such as a window hierarchy or network, includes functional data units that include data relating to workspace functionality. These functional data units are associated with data units corresponding to the workspaces such that a functional data unit can be replaced by a functional data unit compatible with a different set of functions without modifying the structure of other data units. Each workspace data unit may have a replaceably associated functional data unit called an input contract relating to its input functions and another called an output contract relating to its output functions. A parent workspace's data unit and the data units of its children may together have a replaceably associated functional data unit, called a windowing contract, relating to the windowing relationship between the parent and the children.