Abstract: A collaborative authoring application provides an authoring environment in which two or more users can edit a document concurrently. Each user edits a copy of the document, sends updates to a master copy of the document, and receives updates from the master copy of the document. The authoring environment generally inhibits the users from providing conflicting editing instructions to the master copy of the document. For example, each user can generate a content lock about one or more data units within the document. The authoring environment may synchronize content locks automatically and content only at the request of the user.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for providing for providing a function item, such as a key, button, icon, or menu, tied to a user operation in a computer, whereby a single click on the function item in a window or program on a computer screen, or one single selection in a menu in a program, initiates retrieval of name and addresses and/or other person or company related information, while the user works simultaneously in another program, e.g., a word processor. The click on the function item initiates a program connected to the button to search a database or file available on or through the computer, containing the person, company or address related data, in order to look up data corresponding to what the user types, or partly typed, e.g., name and/or address in the word processor, the correct data from the database, data related to the typed data, e.g.

Abstract: Novel techniques and tools for indicating, to a user, that a development application has detected a condition of text that is not currently displayed. A user may use the development application to develop other applications at an object level without being distracted by text related to graphical objects in the applications being developed by the user. If the development application detects an undesirable condition in text related to a graphical object, the development application may display a graphical indicator of the detected condition. The user may then interact with the graphical indicator to obtain additional information about the detected condition and to view and modify the text in which the application detected the condition.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for providing for providing a function item, such as a key, button, icon, or menu, tied to a user operation in a computer, whereby a single click on the function item in a window or program on a computer screen, or one single selection in a menu in a program, initiates retrieval of name and addresses and/or other person or company related information, while the user works simultaneously in another program, e.g., a word processor. The click on the function item initiates a program connected to the button to search a database or file available on or through the computer, containing the person, company or address related data, in order to look up data corresponding to what the user types, or partly typed, e.g., name and/or address in the word processor, the correct data from the database, data related to the typed data, e.g.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for providing Unified Communication (UC) service, which includes obtaining communication information displayed on a terminal where a mouse locates; triggering a corresponding UC service based on the communication information. The present invention also discloses a UC client. The UC client includes a communication information obtaining unit, capable of capturing communication information displayed on a terminal where a mouse locates, and a UC service unit, capable of triggering a corresponding UC service based on the communication information. In this way a user needs to move a cursor or press a key in the active interface to enter corresponding communication information into the UC client, therefore the complicated operations of manually keying in communication information or searching an address book in the UC client interface according to conventional technique are avoided and the users' burden will be relieved.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for retrieving audio segments from a spoken document. The spoken document preferably is one having moderate word error rates such as telephone calls or teleconferences. The method comprises converting speech associated with a spoken document into a lattice representation and indexing the lattice representation of speech. These steps are performed typically off-line. Upon receiving a query from a user, the method further comprises searching the indexed lattice representation of speech and returning retrieved audio segments from the spoken document that match the user query.

Abstract: A method for displaying information about a document in a graphical user interface, that includes receiving an event of a pointer on a trough, identifying a position of the pointer in the trough corresponding to the event, wherein a puck on the trough is in a different position than the position of the pointer, obtaining the location in the document corresponding to the position of the pointer, and displaying a location tip specifying the location in the document.

Abstract: An interface enables perception of information regarding e-mail communications. The interface includes an e-mail application user interface that enables perception of e-mail message information for one or more e-mails received by an e-mail participant and that enables active display of one or more of the received e-mails selected by the e-mail participant. The interface also includes a mechanism that determines a request for e-mail message information for one of the e-mails from within a desired e-mail message that is not actively displayed. The interface further includes an informational tool tip that provides a temporary perceivable indication to the e-mail participant of at least a portion of the requested information for the desired e-mail message while maintaining active display of the one or more selected e-mails.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method displaying, within a user interface, a view pane having a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, displaying, within the view pane, a first frame represented by a bounded region, wherein the first frame represents a container that comprises one or more objects, upon detecting a positioning of a cursor at a position in the poster frame, displaying an object of the one or more objects in the frame, the displayed object varying based on the position of the cursor, upon detecting a selection of the first frame, displaying a second frame, represented by a second bounded region, adjacent to the second frame, and displaying the displayed object in the second frame.

Abstract: A method is provided for prompting a user who interacts with content on a display screen via a pointing device that a potential mistake may have been made during the interaction. The interaction includes a plurality of actions associated with the content of the display screen. The content is created by programming code. Programming code is analyzed to determine the next most likely action to occur during user interaction with the display screen contents at a plurality of different points in the programming code. After an action occurs by a user at a point in the programming code, it is detected whether the user performed the next most likely action. The user is prompted with an indication if the user did not perform the next most likely action and therefore may have made a potential mistake.

Abstract: A user interface that enables user perception of status regarding communications that leverage an instant messaging platform may be rendered on a display. The user interface includes an instant messaging application user interface that enables perception and selection of instant messages for an instant messaging user, and a status indicator that provides a perceivable indication to the user of statistics regarding concurrent instant messaging sessions.

Abstract: An insertion marker that is displayed on a touch screen may be moved by a user via an insertion marker placement aid. The insertion marker placement aid is displayed on the touch screen after a contact with the touch screen is detected. The insertion marker placement aid provides visual feedback to the user, indicating that the insertion marker is subject to repositioning by the user. When the contact is moved across the touch screen, the insertion marker and the insertion marker placement aid is moved in accordance with the movement of the contact. When the contact is broken (i.e., no longer detected), the insertion marker placement aid is removed from display and the insertion marker comes to rest.

Abstract: When a user interface cursor hovers over a user interface item, a determination is made as to whether the user interface item has an associated screentip. If the user interface item has an associated screentip, text associated with the screentip is identified, a translated text string is located for the text string, and the translated text string is displayed in the screentip. If the user interface item does not have an associated screentip, a determination is made as to whether the user interface item contains a text string. If so, a determination is made as to whether a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text in the user interface item. If so, the translated text string is displayed in a screentip for the user interface item.

Abstract: A computing system for providing a user interface control to modify properties of items within a main application window. The computing system has a main application window, a gallery control window, a control object selection processing module, and a control object focus processing module. The main application window contains one or more application items, each application item having one or more control properties affecting a behavior of the application item. The gallery control window contains a list of one or more control objects for modifying control properties of the application items located within the main application window. Each of the control objects in the list of control objects includes a graphical icon having a selection portion and a properties portion and one or more control properties that affect one or more items within the main application window.

Abstract: A method of enveloping a group of toolbar icons. An application program displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes multiple toolbar icons. If a graphical cursor is in proximity to a first toolbar icon, the application displays a graphical border that surrounds the first icon and one or more additional related icons included in a pre-defined toolbar icon group. The application displays a first identification tab that includes a toolbar group name and an icon name. The first tab includes a graphical thumbtack icon that generates a moveable hover window that includes the border, the toolbar icon group, and at least the first tab. The first tab also includes a graphical close icon that removes the moveable hover window from view. The application also displays a second identification tab that includes an icon attribute field corresponding to a current setting of a function of the first icon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method of a pointer input system. In the image processing method, a color channel image is generated from an image pickup device, so that image processing capability, the image processing efficiency and the data transmitting speed of the pointer input system are enhanced.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a system for providing help information supporting at least one executable application. The system can comprise an interface processor for receiving user-entered data representing a help message conveying help information, a creation time indicator identifying a creation time of the help message, and an identifier for identifying a help information repository associated with the help message. A data processor can store the help message in the help information repository in order of creation by using the creation time indicator.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a system for receiving page-specific user feedback concerning a particular web page of a website. The system includes a first icon viewable with the particular web page independent of input from a user subsequent to the user accessing the particular web page. The first icon includes a bar located proximate an edge of the particular web page and having a length that is at least approximately equal to a length of the edge of the particular web page. Substantially all visual content of the particular web page is unobscured by the first icon. A user pointer being placed on the first icon for at least a predefined amount of time causes a second icon to become viewable with the particular web page. The second icon requests the user to select the first icon to provide page-specific user feedback concerning the particular web page. A selection of the first icon causing a feedback window to become viewable to the user. The feedback window solicits feedback from the user.

Abstract: A GUI interface, a method of programming a GUI interface, and an apparatus which enables functions of controls in the GUI to be activated by a movement to a control and then another subsequent movement related to that control. It may be defined more precisely below. A GUI in which, when a pointer 0 is immediately adjacent or passes over a control area 1, a procedure is initiated whereby subsequent movement of the pointer over a predetermined path area 3 generates a ‘click’ event which simulates direct clicking of the control 1 and moving outside the predetermined path area 3 prior to completion of the path 3 resets the control to as if the pointer has never started along the predetermined path area 3.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and computer system for establishing an effective communication between two users in a virtual world, which includes measuring a communication capability for each of the users, and establishing a communication using a default type of communication, if a difference between the communication capabilities of the two users is not above a pre-determined threshold. The method, computer program product and computer system can further establish a communication using an alternate type of communication, if a difference is above the pre-determined threshold.

Abstract: A user interface (UI) includes floating action buttons. Respective hot zones are established for associated respective UI elements. When a focus is targeting (e.g., located at) a given hot zone, one or more floating action buttons that are associated therewith are presented as part of the UI. Activation of a particular action button of the one or more floating action buttons causes an action corresponding to the particular action button to be implemented. In an example implementation, the actions available through the one or more floating action buttons may be context-sensitive such that the actions thereof are tailored to the type of item corresponding to the UI element (e.g., an icon, a graphical element, a text portion, a screen area, etc.).

Abstract: An intelligent real time tool to assist a computer programmer during the writing and/or maintenance of a computer program. The tool generates assist windows that contain program related information that the programmer can use to construct a programming language statement and/or to obtain real time information about a programming language statement. An assist window can be automatically displayed as determined by the tool itself, and/or manually displayed on demand in response to a user input command. An assist window displays two general categories of information including but not limited to selection menu information based on a partial compilation of all programming language statements, and informational displays based on a partial compilation and a reverse parse of an immediate programming language statement.

Abstract: A method and system for applying user-specified finishing options to a printed output document. A finishing window is displayed showing a document mimic in the finishing window, and displaying finishing tool selection regions in the finishing window which enable the user to activate selective finishing tools. Finishing location identifiers are displayed on portions of the document mimic, each displayed location identifier being associated with the currently activated finishing tool, and each displayed location identifier identifying a region of the printed output document by its location on the document mimic. WYSIWYG representations of user-selected finishing tool operations are performed in the portion of the document mimic identified by the selected finishing location identifier. The WYSIWYG operations include, but are not limited to, stapling, hole-punching, V-folding, C-folding, Z-folding, and binding. Also included are WYSIWYG operations for undoing each of the aforementioned operations.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide for enhanced calendaring functionality in a collaboration suite application. A mini-calendar display in different views of the collaboration suite application provide for an easy way to view, edit and/or add appointments without needing to open of the calendar in the collaboration suite application. Email messages can be dragged onto days in the mini-calendar to create meeting proposals. Enhanced UI allows for different meetings being having different appearances based on whether they have been accepted, rejected, etc. Multiple calendars can be viewed simultaneously and their cumulative availability for any time slot can be easily seen via a calendar thermometer. Requests for sharing of calendars can be communicated via email messages, and they can be seamlessly responded to within the email message itself.

Abstract: “In-situ editing” of a control property within a design surface is provided. “In-situ editing” refers to a feature that can allow a user (e.g., developer) to easily perform multi-pass configuration operations on their user interface (UI) components. This can be achieved by introducing the concept of a new editing mode or view to the integrated development environment (IDE)—(e.g., a Property Editing View (PEV)). The PEV mode can be active. In other words, the user will be presented with a mechanism of viewing and editing all properties without having to move off of the design surface. For example, editing can be performed in-place eliminating the conventional need to enter a property grid.

Abstract: Displaying data sub-items corresponding to a cursor-selected object displayed on a computer screen involves determining that a cursor is positioned to point at an object on the computer screen, loading the cursor-selected object, evaluating the cursor-selected object to determine it has a fixed value, has related data sub-items or if the related data sub-items are capable of expansion into lower-tier sub-items. The values for the object and the related data sub-items are assembled and displayed in a window that indicates the values of the object and the related data sub-items along with an indication of a presence of lower-tier sub-items which can in turn be further examined.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for selectively filtering and inspecting incoming e-mail. The steps to selectively filter and inspect incoming e-mail include: assigning a risk value to each section of an incoming e-mail, presenting the incoming e-mail with sections blocked based on the risk value, and selectively disclosing blocked sections of the e-mail to a reviewer based on input from the reviewer. The method provides a way for a reviewer to filter risky e-mails based on multiple criteria, and safely review filtered e-mails to ensure legitimate e-mails are not incorrectly filtered.

Abstract: A user interface (UI) includes floating action buttons. Respective hot zones are established for associated respective UI elements. When a focus is targeting (e.g., located at) a given hot zone, one or more floating action buttons that are associated therewith are presented as part of the UI. Activation of a particular action button of the one or more floating action buttons causes an action corresponding to the particular action button to be implemented. In an example implementation, the actions available through the one or more floating action buttons may be context-sensitive such that the actions thereof are tailored to the type of item corresponding to the UI element (e.g., an icon, a graphical element, a text portion, a screen area, etc.).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method to facilitate providing computer users with efficient access to electronic notifications while minimizing disruption in the context of ongoing tasks. A notification system provides visual information heralds that provide summarizations of notifications to users. An information controller considers the importance or urgency of content and a user's current and/or recent activities in decisions about the rendering and positioning of the information herald on a display screen or screens in order to facilitate user processing of the summarized notifications with minimal disruption to ongoing tasks.

Abstract: A signal routing apparatus is designed for setting a signal route among a plurality of components of a signal processing system by means of graphic user interface. In the signal processing apparatus, a display part displays a plurality of components each having at least one terminal for connection. An operator part is operated to select at least one terminal of one component on the display part and to input an instruction for connection. A detection part responds to the instruction for detecting at least one terminal of another component, which can be connectable to the selected terminal. A connection part automatically connects the selected terminal of one component and the detected terminal of another component with one another so that a line is drawn on the display part between the selected terminal and the detected terminal, thereby setting the signal route among the components in the form of lines drawn between the terminals of the components on the display part.

Abstract: An improved user interface is provided for allowing the application of two properties or pieces of metadata to an object with a single user action. A two-dimensional radial menu (user interface) is provided. The radial menu is a generally pie-shaped user interface that is divided into two or more slices associated with two or more corresponding types of a first property that may be applied to a selected object. The menu is further divided to two or more circular sections so that each slice of the pie-shaped radial menu is further divided into two or more sections. Each circular section is associated with a type of a second property that may be applied to the object. By selection of a given section in a given slice of the radial menu, one type of the first property associated with the given slice and a one type of the second property associated with the given circular section of the slice are applied to the selected object with a single user action.

Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium for facilitating customer service feedback utilizing embedded feedback links are provided. A consumer generates an inquiry to a service provider. The service provider generates a responsive communication that includes at least one feedback link embedded within the response communication. The consumer can manipulate the feedback link to instantiate a variety of actions, including the escalation of the consumer inquiry.

Abstract: An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing.

Abstract: A preview tool for a portal can include a portal display produced from style information for the portal and a palette. The palette indicates style information related to curser positions. The style information can be a Cascading Style Sheet class.

Abstract: An information management apparatus includes a determination unit which determines the type of information designated by an input unit, and a display control unit which controls, in accordance with the type of information determined by the determination unit, the display form of an information presentation portion presenting explanatory information on the designated information. When the information designated by the input unit is an image in a folder, the explanatory information contains explanatory information on the image, and when the input unit designates an object other than an image in a folder, contains explanatory information on the folder.

Abstract: An extensible editor allows integration of extensions that modify the editor's default behavior and provide customized feedback to users. The editor includes interfaces through which extensions are connected to the editor and through which selection services and highlight rendering services are provided. The selection services interfaces provide a clear separation of a logical selection position in the document and the visual feedback provided for the selection, allowing extensions to be designed that provide customized selection feedback. The highlight rendering services interfaces provide an extension with the ability to augment an existing selection without modifying the actual document. The editor also includes an event routing model that works to decrease the occurrence of conflicts between the editor and extensions and between extensions. Upon the occurrence of an event, the editor routes the event to each extension before the editor's default handling of the event occurs.

Abstract: A tooltip is updated dynamically as a user continues to hover a cursor over any displayed item for which additional information is available. The initial tooltip is terse or has one type of information, while the updates add more or substitute different information. Tooltips are created dynamically from whatever information is available about displayed items at the time. A client displays a web page, while a server identifies displayed items for which additional information is available, obtains the information, and either provides the information to the client to generate tooltips therefrom or generates the tooltips and provides them to the client.

Abstract: Manipulation of elements in a graphical user interface is aided by allowing the graphical user interface to treat certain mouse button actuation and releases as holding the mouse button in an actuated state. When predetermined conditions are satisfied, the graphical user interface will treat a mouse button actuation and release as if the mouse button were held in an actuated state. A user can then manipulate elements in the graphical user interface as if the user held the mouse button in an actuated state. The types of manipulation can include the moving of a window, the resizing of a window, moving an icon, and the scrolling through the visible portion of a window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a customizable content tooltip provides a customizable content tooltip including a customization control that, when activated, allows a user to choose and/or edit the content displayed by the customizable content tooltip.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method that allow for context and language specific data entry via a user interface. A user interface is displayed on a display device, where the user interface includes a data entry menu having one or more menu selections. A menu selection is activated. A data entry method is displayed, where the data entry method is context and language specific to the activated menu selection. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying information associated with a database are disclosed. A database-informer displays information (or additional information) about various database objects displayed for a user. The database-informer may be presented to user as a tool-tip. However, the database-informer can be customized and dynamically constructed based on various variables that are dynamically determined at runtime. As such, the information can be dynamically determined based on variables stored in different tables and provided on-demand when the database-informer is invoked by the user. As a result, database users can be provided with customized and up-to-date information without having to view different tables.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for adaptively generating a tooltip to be displayed in association with an object, such as a push button or a check box, according to the state of the object. The method comprises determining a current state of the object; and generating a tooltip to be displayed in association with the object according to the current state of the object. Since a tooltip is adaptively generated for an object included in a GUI and is automatically displayed in association with the object. Thus, it is possible to conveniently control a device with reference to the tooltip without the need to additionally refer to instructions regarding the GUI.

Abstract: A system and method for viewing software help documentation obtains a feature name of a current interface of a software and a position of a cursor in the current interface, and receives a control command to invoke a help system of the software. The system and method further displays the help document of the help option corresponding to the position of the cursor in the current interface on a display device, in response to a determination that the help system comprises the feature name of the current interface, and further comprises a help option corresponding to the position of the cursor in the current interface.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying information associated with a database are disclosed. A database-informer displays information (or additional information) about various database objects displayed for a user. The database-informer may be presented to user as a tool-tip. However, the database-informer can be customized and dynamically constructed based on various variables that are dynamically determined at runtime. As such, the information can be dynamically determined based on variables stored in different tables and provided on-demand when the database-informer is invoked by the user. As a result, database users can be provided with customized and up-to-date information without having to view different tables.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting information of document files, the document files being stored on a document database where the document files are categorized and stored into any of predefined category bins, the apparatus includes: a selecting section that selects at least some of document files stored on the document database and categorized in object category bins as representative document files for each of the object category bins, the object category bins being at least part of the category bins; and a presenting section that presents information relating to the selected representative document files to a user.

Abstract: A digital image editing system and method are presented that allow a user to visualize a range of changes to an image. The system determines a range of parameter values for a parameter of a selected filter. Then, the system creates multiple thumbnails of the image where each thumbnail illustrates a representation of the image with a different parameter value within the range of parameter values of the filter applied to the image. The system displays the created thumbnails in a user interface from which a user can select a thumbnail to apply the parameter value represented by the selected thumbnail. Thus, the digital image editing system allows the user to visually select an appropriate parameter value among the values accepted by the filter.

Abstract: A user interface may be utilized to allow a user to control display properties of online ad content on a hosting webpage (e.g., hosting ads from one domain on a webpage from a different domain). This may be accomplished by creating a cross-domain frame in the hosting webpage, which can contain the ad content. An instantiation of a user interface may be created on the hosting webpage that has an ability to control display properties of the cross-domain frame, thereby controlling display properties of the ad content in the cross-domain frame. Further, a task manager may be utilized as part of the user interface to facilitate a host of the hosting webpage to manage ad content.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for displaying supplementary information on a graphical user interface. A request for supplementary information is received. The supplementary information is retrieved and displayed in a reserved display field in a graphical user interface. The reserved display field may be configured by a user to adapt to specific applications, but remains stationary throughout the user session. The reserved display field does not obstruct any other display fields in the graphical user interface. A request for supplementary information may be generated by using a mouse to first position a cursor over an active display element. A request for supplementary information associated with the active display element may be generated by clicking the mouse, or by holding the cursor stationary for a time interval greater than a threshold dwell time.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for teaching a person how to perform a task within a computer program with at least one graphical user interface object. A script is formulated that contains step-by-step instructions indicating to a person how to perform a task within a computer program through interacting with at least one graphical user interface object of the computer program. The script is formulated by reference to an entity map, which contains programming instructions for accessing at least one graphical user interface object of the program to perform a step of the task. The script is executed by displaying a partial graphical overlay on top of an actual, non-simulated graphical user interface of the program. Each graphical user overlay instructs a user how to provide pertinent user input to graphical user interface objects of the computer program.

Abstract: A computer program product, electronic device and method are provided that enable a user to easily view, in a tooltip, all of the entities of a plurality of entities contained in a cell of a table when the width of the cell prevents the cell display from showing all of the entities. In response to a tooltip being opened for a cell of a table, the cell having a plurality of entities, at least a portion of the plurality of entities is displayed in the tooltip. An indicia expressive of a total number of the plurality of entities is also displayed. Alternate embodiments provide navigation aids in the tooltip to assist a user in more conveniently viewing all of the entities.