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. The statement generating tool assist windows are non-intrusive to programmer input and can be ignored by the programmer by merely continuing to type.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method provide on-demand numerical conversion of convertible numerical values such as measurements and monetary values. A numerical value that is displayed in a document such as a web page, and that is represented in a native unit, may be converted to a value represented in a local unit for a user viewing the document. That converted numerical value may then be displayed adjacent the original numerical value, and typically along with an indication of the local unit, in response to the user positioning a pointer over the original (unconverted) numerical value, so that the user can quickly comprehend the numerical value in units to which he or she is accustomed.

Abstract: Pop-up display information is created and displayed in a dynamic manner even without establishing settings in advance related to pop-up display for an anchor or an icon or the like, and implementing simple and efficient browsing by a user of linked contents by varying the display size in accordance with the display region. Mouse events of a mouse cursor upon a screen of an information device by the user are observed, and the fact that the mouse cursor has entered into a region of an object which has a linked destination is detected from the mouse events; a new window is displayed upon the screen; linked contents which are connected to the object are acquired; contents for presentation are created based upon the linked contents which have been acquired; and they are displayed within the new window which has been displayed upon the screen.

Abstract: A system, method, and user interface for interacting with electronically displayed content is disclosed. In response to a selection of an object, a list of menu options is displayed close to the selected object. In one embodiment, the list of menu options is displayed in a font larger than that used to display the selected object. Through the use of the invention, a user is provided with a technique for actively reading displayed content with minimal distractions from the user interface.

Abstract: For validating user input fields in a graphical user interface, a data entry field includes a graphical validation indicator. In response to user activation of the validation indicator, such as by hovering with an on-screen pointer, a message is displayed in visual association with the data entry field. The message describes one or more expected characteristics of the data to be entered, for example that the data is numerical. As the user enters data consistent with the expected characteristics, the validation indicator is displayed with a neutral appearance, indicating that no errors have been detected. If incorrect data is detected, the validation indicator takes on an emphasized appearance, such as a higher intensity and/or an error-indicating color such as red, providing an immediate error indication to the user. An error message may also be displayed in visual association with the data entry field.

Abstract: Displaying associated information adjacent to, or in proximity of, an electronic file displayed within an electronic file management application. An e-file callout system associates e-file callout information with an electronic file. When a user hovers or selects an electronic file, an e-file callout is displayed that may include advertising or other information. The e-file callout may be displayed a pre-programmed number of times to the user.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that provides a pen based computer user with a graphical user interface tool, a pen-mouse, that looks like and functions like a mouse but that is controlled by a limited input device such as a pen or stylus of the pen based computer. The pen-mouse is a tracking menu that tracks the position of the pen. A pen cursor that corresponds to the pen is allowed to be moved about within the pen-mouse graphic by the pen and the pen-mouse remains stationary. The pen-mouse is moved when the location of the pen encounters a tracking boundary of the pen-mouse. The tracking boundary typically coincides with the graphic representing the mouse. While moving within the pen-mouse, the pen can select objects within the pen-mouse body, such as buttons, wheels, etc. The selection of a button or other virtual control causes a corresponding computer mouse button function to be executed.

Abstract: A system and method provides a pop up window containing a text editor to allow tags or attributes or other commands to be edited in accordance with a selected graphical object or a specified insertion point in a graphics editor.

Abstract: An auxiliary screen unit is provided in conjunction with a desktop personal computer, for use in connection with editing a reading operations. The auxiliary screen unit has a touch-sensitive screen and stylus by means of which a user may operate a graphical user interface to select, highlight or otherwise edit text; edits may be performed on text displayed on the computer screen in the normal way using a mouse and a graphical user interface. The auxiliary screen unit and the computer are connected directly to each other so that text selected on one screen may be imported directly onto the other screen. Such an apparatus thus provides similar functional capability to that of paper, which is still the medium of choice for formulating edits.

Abstract: A method (1200) of providing active user feedback in a graphic user interface is disclosed. The method comprises selecting (1206) a soft control currently displayed on the graphic user interface, said soft control enabling a change to be implemented, and displaying (1208) on said graphic user interface, only during said soft control selection, and dependent upon the selecting step (1206), a pop-up preview reflecting said change.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for displaying a tooltip based on content within the tooltip is provided. Under the present invention, a feature (e.g., size, type, complexity, etc.) of the content within a tooltip is first determined. Based on the feature, a display time for the tooltip is calculated. The tooltip is then displayed for the duration of the calculated display time, after which time the tooltip is closed.

Abstract: An electronic search is automatically initiated when a cursor hovers in one location for a predetermined time. A target process associated with a target window is forced to re-render data to the target window in an update region that includes the detected cursor location. From the re-rendered data, a primary word and context words near the cursor location are determined. One or more local or remote electronic data stores are searched for substantive content related to the words. The content is prioritized according to user preference and displayed in a semitransparent window that is persistently visible to a user, yet does not obscure other content in an underlying window and does not shift the focus from an active window. Re-rendering is accomplished by invalidating an update region of the target window, and forcing the operating system to issue a paint message, causing the target process to redraw the update region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for clustered, collaged, and artistically integrated, presentation of digitally stored objects and their images. The clusters are each embedded with each of its own link-tokens and connected to a different set of related information and objects. The clustering also enables simultaneous and collective access of information associated to all objects in the cluster. A method and apparatus for composing the clustered image from individual images, partitioning existing integrated images or photograph of multiple objects, and composing and partitioning clustered images from multiple sources, for the purpose of presenting, associating, and grouping access of categorically related objects and their associated detailed information.

Abstract: A detection device detects positions at which a sword-shaped controller traverses first and second sensor planes, which are formed by first and second sensors, respectively, and positions of which are associated in a one-to-one manner to positions on a screen. A position on the screen, an amount of change in the position per unit time, an absolute value of the amount of change of the position, and an orientation of the sword-shaped controller with respect to the screen are obtained from input information from the detection device. At least one of a special-effect image, a sound effect, and a parameter that causes a change in the special-effect image is changed, based on one of the obtained position, amount of change in the position per unit time, absolute value of the amount of change in the position, and the orientation of the sword-shaped controller, so that a special effect is changed with respect to the operator of the sword-shaped controller.

Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying transparent resource aids are provided. A user interface is displayed comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system. Responsive to an initiating event, a transparent resource aid is placed within the display area in association with the initiating event, such that the at least one displayable object is not obscured by the transparent resource aid. The transparency resource aid may indicate resource usage of hardware, software, and graphical characteristics.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method, system and program storage device for displaying textual information associated with a defined video object in video data on a video display device, comprising: sampling a video object plane to determine whether the video object is in the video object plane for displaying the video object on the video display device; updating a location of the video object in the video object plane as the video object moves during display of the video data on the video display device; determining whether a pointing device is over the updated location of the video object; and displaying the textual information associated with the video object on the video display device for a predetermined period of time.

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.

Abstract: A data processing system for connection to a network utilizing a guidance diagram overlay on a network page with selectable options associated with input controller keys to facilitate network navigation and a method for rendering a guidance diagram overlay on a network page.

Abstract: Support and training are provided for a user in operating a software application. A list of task indications are coupled to a GUI window. A graphical overlay is positioned on top of the GUI window and coupled to it. A sequence of instructions associated with a respective task is displayed in the graphical overlay upon selection of a task indication by the user. Each instruction directs attention to a respective selectable graphical area in the GUI window. The user operates a selector coupled to the GUI window, where after selecting a task, the selector is used to select graphical areas in response to the sequence of instructions. Recorded voice files or a text-to-speech synthesizer may be coupled to the sequence of instructions, whereby the instruction being displayed is simultaneously presented audibly to the user.

Abstract: A method for entering and facilitating the input of an Internet Uniform Resource Locator (URL) address into a URL address window including the steps of providing an interactive device for connecting to the Internet via a web browser having a URL address window, where the interactive device includes an operating system which employs a cursor and a cursor device for communicating position commands to the operating system, connecting to the Internet using the interactive device and the web browser, positioning the cursor over the URL address window, receiving a cursor position command, validating the cursor position command, displaying an enlarged text window, entering a desired URL address into the enlarged text window, inserting the entered URL address into the URL address window and engaging the interactive device so as to cause the web browser to be communicated with the URL address.

Abstract: An electronic board system includes an electronic board having a screen for displaying information of interest to a work group or community, an input device for receiving information from users in a group or community to be displayed on the electronic board, a memory for storing information received from the input device and a processor for selecting which information stored in the memory to display on the screen, where and how to display the selected information on the screen and displaying the selected information on the screen. The processor selects which information to display in accordance with a predetermined relationship based on a group-based recommendation criteria and user interest. A plurality of sensors disposed behind the screen detect user interest in information displayed on the screen near the sensor. User interest may also be determined by monitoring user requests for copies of information displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A system supports the use of information pointers. The information pointers provide audio and/or visual information about objects to which the cursors point. For instance, an information cursor may provide output specifying the name of an object to which the cursor points. In addition to information about the object pointed to by the cursor, information windows provide information about the user's interaction with the object. For example, “Deleting Source File.” Information windows may contain information pertaining to a pair of objects, such as the source and target object in a drag and drop operation, or to a collection of objects.

Abstract: A user friendly visual programming system with a visual programming interface that allows a user to visually create multimedia programs in real-time. In this system, input and output functions are represented as graphical input and receive interface leads, respectively. A user with no programming skill easily links desired transmit interface leads to desired receive interface leads. In real-time, the output devices perform the functions associated with receive interface leads and any changes to the receive interface leads that occur as a result of any links to transmit interface leads. The user may create complex programs by encapsulating input and receive interface leads in an endless number encapsulation layers.

Abstract: A direction indicator for navigating within a web site is installed relative to a link shown on a web page within the web site. The direction indicator is surfaced prior to selection of the link in order to inform the user whether the link will take the user forward or backward within the web site. The direction indicator may comprise an arrow. The arrow points upward to indicate movement backward within the web site, and the arrow points downward to indicate movement forward within the web site. The direction indicator may be surfaced by hovering a pointing device over the link.

Abstract: A moveable displayed user interface element can be used to select an item displayed on a user interface. Once the proper item or items are selected, an area of the moveable displayed user interface element can be activated to perform an operation on the selected item or items. The moveable displayed user interface element can additionally display information about a selected item, and, in some cases, the displayed information can be edited to modify the selected item. A versatile lightweight system can be used to determine when a moveable object is over any of a number of regions associated with specified targets. The lightweight system can be used to implement moveable displayed user interface elements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling display of supplemental content on a computer screen are described. In one embodiment, a method for controlling display of supplemental content on a computer screen includes detecting that the supplemental content is displayed on the computer screen. The display of the supplemental content is controlled by a cursor position relative to a first predefined region. The method further includes triggering display of an interface element associated with the supplemental content when the cursor is positioned inside the predefined first region, defining a second region that covers at least a portion of the interface element and the current position of the cursor, and continuing the display of the supplemental content upon detecting that the cursor is positioned outside of the first region but within the second region.