Abstract: Recorded video segments are retrieved and displayed through a user interface that employs gestures. The user provides gestures by moving a mouse, and the resulting signals indicate a diagram. Data identifying the diagram is used to access a data structure to obtain data indicating which of a set of interactive line drawings includes features most closely resembling the diagram. The interactive line drawing with features closest to the diagram can then be displayed. When the user selects a part of the line drawing, a menu is displayed that includes a description of the video segments that relate to that part. To assist the user in providing gestural input, a preliminary diagram is displayed, reducing the amount of information the user must provide. The user can change parts of the diagram to obtain a modified diagram resembling features that appear in a desired line drawing.

Abstract: Switch connections in a communication network are represented and displayed to a user, enabling the user to provide switch request signals based on the state of the connections. The representation is presented on the display of a workstation, and the user provides a sequence of switch request signals with the workstation's keyboard and mouse. A control procedure executed by the workstation generates a sequence of switch control signals based on the switch request signals. The switch control signals are provided to a switching server that converts them into commands to a switch that, in turn, switches connections between communication devices, such as cameras, monitors and microphones. These devices are positioned in groups, each group with one of the workstations. The representation may include a separate display feature representing each group, each group's display feature being at a separate location. Connections may be represented by lines between the groups that are connected.