Abstract: Conventional information processing systems and the like have a problem in that it is impossible to easily acquire information.

Abstract: When a user selects an arbitrary symbol 75 (word, phrase, sentence, graphic, image, etc.) from an arbitrary application 3 on a client computer 3, and copies this symbol 75 to a clipboard 79, a linker 23, being a terminate-and-stay-resident-type process, automatically captures that symbol 81 from the clipboard 79. Similarly, when a user types at a keyboard from an arbitrary application 207, those typed characters are first passed to an input method editor 201, where they are temporarily stored within a buffer 211, and when the user enters a prescribed “okay” key sequence the characters within that buffer 211 are converted as necessary and passed to the application 207, but if the user enters a prescribed “link” key sequence, a character string determining component 213 of the input method editor 201 passes the characters within the buffer 211 to a linker 209. In either case, the linker 23 sends the captured symbol to a URL server 5.

Abstract: A bossless computer program architecture in which each program module is hierarchically equal is used to develop complicated software applications. Each program module is associated with a parameter file. The characteristics and operation of the program modules are determined by their associated parameter files. These modules communicate by writing statements to the parameter files associated with other modules. Once written, the origin of these statements is ignored. Thus, there is no need to “return” to the modules which originate the statements. Further, the statements are executed by the modules without regard to their origins. This new architecture does not require the preservation of linkage information because there is no need for the program modules to return information or control to other modules. Various applications of this architecture to windows-based environment and multimedia applications are disclosed.

Abstract: An application can be formed by using a plurality of program modules each having an associated display window. These modules could communicate with each other to perform desired activities. A user organizes the windows associated with these modules in a desired spatial arrangement. Various parent-child relationships among the display windows are used to place constraints on the appearance of the windows. When the program modules are executed, they communicate with each other to perform desired activities while the associated windows maintain a predetermined graphic relationship. Consequently, the application gives the appearance that it contains tightly coupled program modules instead of modules that can be selected and arranged easily by a user with little programming experience.

Abstract: Text image on a monitor can be scrolled pixel-by-pixel instead of line-by-line or character-by-character. An application window (for showing images generated by an application) and a child window are generated. The text image is drawn on the child window instead of on the application window. The size of the application window is smaller than the child window. Only the portion of the child window overlapping the application window is displayed by a computer screen. If a user desires scrolling, the child window is moved, a pixel at a time, in a direction corresponding to the direction of scrolling. When a full line or a full character is scrolled, the child window clears itself and returns to its original position. At the same time, the text image is scrolled one line or one character on the child window so as to match the pixel-based scrolling. As a result, the user sees a smooth scrolling of a text image.

Abstract: A specialized communication controller class is used to manage communications in an object oriented programming system. Classes in the system are not designed to communicate directly with each other, and communication between classes is routed by this controller class. As a result, there is no need for each class to keep track of any hierarchical relationship of classes in an application in order to be able to communicate with other classes. Members of the object oriented programming system contain parameter files and can send commands to the controller class. The controller class executes the commands without return result to the senders. Similarly, the controller class can send commands to other class members, and these commands are executed without returning result to the controller class.

Abstract: A database system can be formed by combining a plurality of single-association databases each associated with a database driver. A single-association database contains a plurality of records, and each record associates one piece of data with another piece of data. Each database driver contains a parameter file and is designed to perform searches on its associated database. Each database driver also contains means for sending a command to the parameter file of another database driver. The recipient database driver executes the command without returning result of execution to the sending database driver. The database system also contains a software module for interacting with the database drivers to achieve a desired search result.

Abstract: Text image on a monitor can be scrolled pixel-by-pixel instead of line-by-line or character-by-character. An application window (for showing images generated by an application) and a child window are generated. The text image is drawn on the child window instead of on the application window. The size of the application window is smaller than the child window. Only the portion of the child window overlapping the application window is displayed by a computer screen. If a user desires scrolling, the child window is moved, a pixel at a time, in a direction corresponding to the direction of scrolling. When a full line or a full character is scrolled, the child window clears itself and returns to its original position. At the same time, the text image is scrolled one line or one character on the child window so as to match the pixel-based scrolling. As a result, the user sees a smooth scrolling of a text image.

Abstract: The operation of a computer system can be determined by the content of highlighted data on a display device and a predefined criterion. In this computer system, the highlighted data could be located anywhere on the display device. The highlighted data is not related to any embedded links. In one embodiment, a temporary storage buffer is used to store data highlighted by a user. The computer system also contains a table (or database) associating a list of computer operations with a list of keywords and a set of predefined criteria. When a pre-assigned key is pressed, the content of the temporary storage buffer is compared with the list of data in the database. When there is a match, the predefined criteria is used to select the associated operation. After selection, the operation is performed. As a result, the operation performed is related to the content of the highlighted data and the predefined criteria.

Abstract: A bossless computer program architecture in which each program module is hierarchically equal is used to develop complicated software applications. Each program module is associated with a parameter file. The characteristics and operation of the program modules are determined by their associated parameter files. These modules communicate by writing statements to the parameter files associated with other modules. Once written, the origin of these statements is ignored. Thus, there is no need to "return" to the modules which originate the statements. Further, the statements are executed by the modules without regard to their origins. This new architecture does not require the preservation of linkage information because there is no need for the program modules to return information or control to other modules. Various applications of this architecture to windows-based environment and multimedia applications are disclosed.

Abstract: The operation of a computer system can be determined by the content of highlighted data on a display device. In this computer system, the highlighted data could be located anywhere on the display device. The highlighted data is not related to any embedded links. In one embodiment, a temporary storage buffer is used to store data highlighted by a user. The computer system also contains a table (or database) associating a list of data with a list of computer operations. When a pre-assigned key is pressed, the content of the temporary storage buffer is compared with the list of data in the database. When there is a match, the associated operation is performed. As a result, the operation performed is related to the content of the highlighted data.

Abstract: A computer network system of the present invention contains program modules residing in different computers and executing commands without return results to calling program modules. The system contains a communication network connecting a plurality of computers. It also contains a plurality of program modules each associated with a parameter file. These program modules can send commands to other program modules. The program modules executes these commands without returning results to the calling program modules. The parameter files and program modules may locate in different computers of the network system. The system contains means for downloading a parameter file to a computer containing its associated program module and means for invoking the program module in response to downloading of the parameter file.

Abstract: Fast scrolling of images can be achieved by drawing only the portions that are changed as a result of scrolling. Because there is no need to draw the whole image during scrolling, the scrolling speed can be increased. This method can be applied to bitmap and vector images. A high speed data transfer device can also be used to further increase scrolling speed. This device comprises two memory buffers, a first circuit for communicating data with a hard disk, and a second circuit for communicating data with system memory. The device also comprises a data switching circuit which alternative couples the first circuit to one of the two buffers and alternatively couples the second circuit to the remaining one of the two buffers. As a result, graphic data can be continuously transfer between the hard disk and system memory. Consequently, scrolling can be performed without slowed down by data transfer.

Abstract: A system for high speed data transfer between an external memory and internal memory of a computer is disclosed. The system contains a CPU, two memory devices, a first circuit for communicating data with the external memory, a second circuit for communicating data with the internal memory, a data switch for alternatively connecting the two memory devices to the first and the second circuit, and a software routine. The software routine causes the data switch to couple one of the memory devices to the internal memory when the CPU is available to process data. The software routine also causes an application program to be executed by the CPU when data is transferred between the external memory and one of the memory devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for retrieving the desired information from files provided with a shift register (294) having a predetermined number of stages for receiving and transferring the data read out of files, a key register (292) having a predetermined number of stages for registering the retrieval key, a comparator (296) for comparing each data in the key register with each dater in the corresponding shift register, and a logical operation circuit (297) which generates and outputs a match signal relating to the coincidence or mismatch of the retrieval key in the key register with a data array in the corresponding shift register.

Abstract: A cursor generating apparatus applicable to computer graphics is disclosed. The cursor generating apparatus comprises registers (47, 49) for receiving and holding information indicative of start and end points of a vertical cursor; a counter (57) for counting block numbers now being scanned on the basis of scanning timing related signals, when a scanning line is divided into plural blocks each including a predetermined number of pixels on the display screen; comparators (53, 55) for comparing the block number outputted from this counter (57) with a block number belonging to start and end points included in the information held in the registers (47, 49) and generating start and end point timing signals; and a circuit (63) for generating a width timing signal on the basis of the start and end point timing signals. These start and end point timing signals, the width timing signal, and some information indicative of the start and end points are applied to the vertical cursor data memory (65) as address data.