Abstract: In an interactive display interface, an implementation switching to an alternate smaller sized cursor when the original sized cursor does not have the minimum clearance between the target icon and other adjacent icons to permit a clear user selection of the target icon. A predetermined minimum clearance factor is set. As the cursor moves toward the target icon, there is a determination made as to whether the arrangement of the target icon with respect to its adjacent icons exceeds the minimum clearance factor. If not, there is an implementation for reducing the size of the cursor so that the minimum clearance factor is exceeded.

Abstract: In an interactive display interface, an implementation for setting up around each of the selectable items, e.g. icons, a perimeter zone or halo at a predetermined distance from the perimeter of the item or icon. Thus, when an icon with such a halo is approached by an on-screen pointer, e.g. cursor, there are means for moving an adjacent icon which is within this halo to a screen position beyond this predetermined distance, i.e halo. The moved adjacent icons are subsequently returned to their original positions after a set period of time or after the pointer or cursor has moved beyond the approached icon. One aspect of this invention is directed to an icon state wherein said adjacent icons and selectable icons overlap each other and, thus, it is difficult for the user to distinguish which icon he wishes to select.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method, system, and program for managing the customer (15) and product information of a client by maintaining a common database is disclosed. The present invention connects the client, call center (40), repair facility (30), sales force, vendors (55) and warehouse (45) to efficiently coordinate the customer and product management process. By allowing access to a common database (60), a user can view and update changes in the customer and product management process in real time increasing the communication and efficiency of delivering service to a customer.

Abstract: The invention broadly comprises an optical add-drop multiplexer having at least two multi-port circulators (V, W) connected in parallel and interconnected by in-fibre Bragg gratings (40, 70) in a manner such that one port (V1) of one of the circulators (V) is arranged to receive (20) a multi-channel input signal (10) and another port (V8) of the same circulator (V) is arranged to output (80) a multi-channel output signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for remotely managing a server processing system, by using a wireless communications device. The wireless communications device sends a request for managing the server processing system to the server processing system through a gateway. The request is formatted in a first protocol in the wireless communications device, and is sent to the gateway. The gateway converts the request to be formatted in a second protocol, and sends the request to the server processing system. In response to the request, the server processing system sends a response, formatted in the second protocol, to the wireless communications device through the gateway. This time, the gateway converts the response to be formatted in the first protocol, and sends the response to the wireless communications device.

Abstract: A graphical user interface is implemented with unique icons for registered but not mounted file systems, registered and mounted file systems, and mounted but not registered file systems. The unique icon for the registered but not mounted file systems permits management of such file systems by users within the network.

Abstract: In an interactive display interface, an implementation switching to an alternate smaller sized cursor when the original sized cursor does not have the minimum clearance between the target icon and other adjacent icons to permit a clear user selection of the target icon. A predetermined minimum clearance factor is set. As the cursor moves toward the target icon, there is a determination made as to whether the arrangement of the target icon with respect to its adjacent icons exceeds the minimum clearance factor. If not, there is an implementation for reducing the size of the cursor so that the minimum clearance factor is exceeded.

Abstract: In an interactive display interface, an implementation for setting up around each of the selectable items, e.g. icons, a perimeter zone or halo at a predetermined distance from the perimeter of the item or icon. Thus, when an icon with such a halo is approached by an on-screen pointer, e.g. cursor, there are means for moving an adjacent icon which is within this halo to a screen position beyond this predetermined distance, i.e halo. The moved adjacent icons are subsequently returned to their original positions after a set period of time or after the pointer or cursor has moved beyond the approached icon.

Abstract: In an interactive display interface, an implementation for highlighting all icons in any set of a plurality of said icons, wherein each icon in the set is within a predetermined distance of an approaching pointer or cursor. In other words, the point of the pointer or cursor may be considered to be surrounded by a circular halo with a radius of said predetermined distance. The user moves the cursor in a standard manner. However, if the icons that the moving cursor is approaching are so densely spaced that more than one, i.e. a plurality of icons come within the halo, then all of the icons within this set of the plurality of icons is highlighted to give the user a more distinct choice. The highlighting of each of said highlighted icons is ended when the pointer moves outside of said predetermined distance or halo radius. There is also an implementation for sequentially highlighting each icon in the set instead of simultaneously highlighting the set of icons.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method, system, and program for managing the customer and product information of a client by maintaining a common database is disclosed. The present invention connects the client, call center, repair facility and warehouse to efficiently coordinate the customer and product management process. By allowing access to a common database, a user can view and update changes in the customer and product management process in real time increasing the communication and efficiency of delivering service to a customer.

Abstract: A voice messaging system and method are presented herein. A unique telephone number and extension are associated with each one of a plurality of subscribers. The telephone number is also associated with a remote access point of presence (RAPP). Messages are left for subscribers by establishing a phone call to the phone number associated therewith. The phone call is received with a RAPP. The RAPP receives the voice message, digitizes and packetizes the voice message, and transmits the message over a packet network to a store and forward messaging system. The store and forward messaging system stores the message for retrieval. The message can be retrieved by either telephone, a client computer, or a private branch exchange terminal.