Abstract: Control patterns are used to describe functionality that may be exposed by one or more types of elements or controls. Functionality that is common among two or more types of elements is described by the same control pattern. Certain predefined methods, structures, properties, and/or events may be associated with a particular control pattern. Elements that support the control pattern, when queried, return an interface that describes those methods, structures, properties, and/or events. Control patterns are mutually exclusive in the functionality they represent, so they may be combined in arbitrary ways to expose the complete set of functionality offered by a particular control.

Abstract: Disclosed is a theme property sheet system that supports presentation themes by coordinating values provided to elements used in a user interface. When an interface user expresses a preference for a particular presentation theme, that theme's property sheet is given precedence over other mechanisms for setting property values. By appropriately setting these values in the interface, the theme property sheet enhances the coherence of the interface. The theme property sheet allows an interface designer to add new presentation elements to a user interface without being concerned about presentation themes. The default for each property as set by the designer is overridden, when necessary, by the theme sheet. In a few particular cases, an application designer needs to override even the user's theme preferences. A mechanism is provided to support these exceptional cases.

Abstract: Control patterns are used to describe functionality that may be exposed by one or more types of elements or controls. Functionality that is common among two or more types of elements is described by the same control pattern. Certain predefined methods, structures, properties, and/or events may be associated with a particular control pattern. Elements that support the control pattern, when queried, return an interface that describes those methods, structures, properties, and/or events. Control patterns are mutually exclusive in the functionality they represent, so they may be combined in arbitrary ways to expose the complete set of functionality offered by a particular control.

Abstract: An improved graphics processing system and method are described for magnifying visual output information for printing, display, or other output. A graphics engine transforms display information so as to magnify one or more components or areas of an output image for display via output hardware such as a screen or printer. Magnification parameters are supplied to the graphics engine by one or more magnification applications. In an embodiment of the invention, the graphics engine performs compositing of magnified and unmagnified content for display. In an alternative embodiment, the graphics engine outputs corresponding scaled image material to the appropriate magnification application for rendering. In a further embodiment, the graphics engine may operate in both modes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an automatic telephone dialling device which is able to read a telephone number encoded on a business card, credit card, or similar flat object, store the number in a memory, and generate telephone dialling pulses in accordance with the stored memory.In the preferred embodiment, a second memory and a keyboard are provided so that a telephone number may be entered into the second memory via the keyboard, either the card entered telephone number or the keyboard entered telephone number being able to be repeatedly dialled on demand.In addition, a telephone call re-directing apparatus including the automatic telephone dialling apparatus, is disclosed in which an incoming call to an unattended telephone may be redirected via a second telephone to a predetermined telephone number.