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: A method and apparatus for representing the results of a search of a database. The present invention provides for creating a view of database search results via a tree structure in which detail is selected and context preserved. In the present invention, the tree structure is created based on user specified parameters. These parameters represent attributes of documents stored in the database and may differ from the search parameters. The tree structure is then mapped to a static reference surface which is visually perceived as three-dimensional. The reference surface is comprised of a detail area where detail of the tree structure is displayed and a context area for displaying other portions of the tree in less detail but which conveys to the viewer a sense of context. The tree structure may be scrolled about the reference surface to bring portions of the structure into a direct detail view while retaining a context view of the overall tree.

Abstract: Workspaces provided by an object-based user interface appear to share windows and other display objects. Each workspace's data structure includes, for each window in that workspace, a linking data structure called a placement which links to the display system object which provides that window, which may be a display system object in a preexisting window system. The placement also contains display characteristics of the window when displayed in that workspace, such as position and size. Therefore, a display system object can be linked to several workspaces by a placement in each of the workspaces' data structures, and the window it provides to each of those workspaces can have unique display characteristics. The display system object can operate continuously despite switching between one workspace and another, and the windows it provides in successive workspaces can share features so that they appear to the user to be the same window or versions of the same window.

Abstract: A Document Card (DocuCard) for storing documents and which is content revealing. The DocuCard is a transportable unit having a nonvolatile storage means for storing information in a digital form, a control processor for processing user initiated functions; an I/O port for interfacing to external devices for reading and writing digital information, and a user interface for allowing a user to directly interact with the DocuCard. The user interface on the DocuCard includes a display for displaying lists of functions and documents and information responsive to user invoked functions and a user input portion for allowing a user to traverse the lists of functions and documents, as well as information generated responsive to an invoked function. The control processor of the present invention include features for controlling access to documents stored therein.

Abstract: In response to user signals requesting motion of a displayed object, a system presents a sequence of images, each including an object perceptible as a moved continuation of the previously displayed object. The user can independently request radial motion and lateral motion, and the system presents a sequence of images in which the object is displaced radially by the requested radial motion and laterally by the requested lateral motion. The user can request lateral motion by operating a mouse and can request radial motion by operating keys on a keyboard, with one key requesting motion toward a radial source and another key requesting motion away from the radial source. The radial source can be the viewpoint. The object's motion toward the viewpoint includes two phases.

Abstract: Workspaces provided by an object-based user interface appear to share windows and other display objects. Each workspace's data structure includes, for each window in that workspace, a linking data structure called a placement which links to the display system object which provides that window, which may be a display system object in a preexisting window system. The placement also contains display characteristics of the window when displayed in that workspace, such as position and size. Therefore, a display system object can be linked to several workspaces by a placement in each of the workspaces' data structures, and the window it provides to each of those workspaces can have unique display characteristics. The display system object can operate continuously despite switching between one workspace and another, and the windows it provides in successive workspaces can share features so that they appear to the user to be the same window or versions of the same window.

Abstract: In response to user signals requesting motion of a displayed object, a system presents a sequence of images, each including an object perceptible as a moved continuation of the previously displayed object. The user can independently request radial motion and lateral motion, and the system presents a sequence of images in which the object is displaced radially by the requested radial motion and laterally by the requested lateral motion. The user can request lateral motion by operating a mouse and can request radial motion by operating keys on a keyboard, with one key requesting motion toward a radial source and another key requesting motion away from the radial source. The radial source can be the viewpoint. The object's motion toward the viewpoint includes two phases.

Abstract: A processor presents a sequence of images of a workspace that is stretched to enable the user to view a part of the workspace in greater detail. The workspace includes a middle section and two peripheral sections that meet the middle section on opposite edges. Each of the sections appears to be a rectangular two-dimensional surface and they are perceptible in three dimensions. When the user is viewing the middle section as if it were parallel to the display screen surface, each peripheral section appears to extend away from the user at an angle from the edge of the middle section so that the peripheral sections occupy relatively little of the screen. When the user requests stretching, the middle section is stretched and the peripheral sections are compressed to accommodate the stretching. When the user requests destretching, the middle section is destretched and the peripheral sections are decompressed accordingly.

Abstract: A processor presents a sequence of images of a hierarchical structure that is perceived as three-dimensional. The hierarchical structure includes conic substructures that can have vertical or horizontal axes. Each cone has a parent node at its vertex and children nodes along its base, each with a link to the parent node. Each child can in turn be at the vertex of another cone. The cones can be rotated in steps that produce the perception of object constancy for each node. For example, if the user requests that an indicated node be moved to a primary viewing position, each of the cones along the path from the indicated node to the root node is rotated in the direction that most directly moves the indicated node to the primary viewing position. Each node can include a selectable unit for indicating it, and a node can also include a grow tab that can be selected to request presentation of its children nodes and links to them. The user can request that the children nodes of a node be replaced by a grow tab.

Abstract: An automatically created form includes a field for requesting a combined operation. A processor creates the form in response to another form that includes fields that are marked to indicate a sequence of partial operations. The partial operations together constitute the combined operation. The combined operation can, for example, be a facsimile transmission, in which case the partial operation fields can specify the digits of a fax machine's telephone number. The automatically created form can then include a single check box next to the name of the recipient. When the check box is marked, the processor responds to the form by performing the sequence of partial operations. The processor can execute input instructions to receive data defining the image of each form and can execute response instructions to respond to each form.

Abstract: Images are presented on a display to produce the perception of viewpoint motion in a three-dimensional workspace. The user can indicate a point of interest (POI) or other region on a surface in an image and request viewpoint motion. In response, another image is presented from a viewpoint that is displaced as requested. The user can request viewpoint motion radially toward or away from the POI, and can also request viewpoint motion laterally toward a normal of the surface at the POI. Radial and lateral viewpoint motion can be combined. The orientation of the viewpoint can be shifted during lateral motion to keep the POI in the field of view, and can also be shifted to bring the POI toward the center of the field of view. In a sequence of steps of viewpoint motion, the radial viewpoint displacement in each step can be a proportion of the distance to the POI so that the radial displacements follow a logarithmic function and define an asymptotic path that approaches but does not reach the POI.

Abstract: Workspaces provided by an object-based user interface appear to share windows and other display objects. Each workspace's data structure includes, for each window in that workspace, a linking data structure called a placement which links to the display system object which provides that window, which may be a display system object in a preexisting window system. The placement also contains display characteristics of the window when displayed in that workspace, such as position and size. Therefore, a display system object can be linked to several workspaces by a placement in each of the workspaces' data structures, and the window it provides to each of those workspaces can have unique display characteristics. The display system object can operate continuously despite switching between one workspace and another, and the windows it provides in successive workspaces can share features so that they appear to the user to be the same window or versions of the same window.

Abstract: Workspaces provided by an object-based user interface appear to share windows and other display objects. Each workspace's data structure includes, for each window in that workspace, a linking data structure called a placement which links to the display system object which provides that window, which may be a display system object in a preexisting window system. The placement also contains display characteristics of the window when displayed in that workspace, such as position and size. Therefore, a display system object can be linked to several workspaces by a placement in each of the workspaces' data structures, and the window it provides to each of those workspaces can have unique display characteristics, yet appear to the user to be the same window or versions of the same window. As a result, the workspaces appear to be sharing a window. Workspaces can also appear to share a window if each workspace's data structure includes data linking to another workspace with a placement to the shared window.