Abstract: This attempts to enhance the degree of freedom in device settings based on commands and thereby improving the usability of an imaging device. When the user of an imaging device operates a menu switch 112M, a composite image of a top menu image superimposed on a currently set source image, for example, a camera image, as a background image is displayed on a monitor 114. In response to the user's selection of an advanced settings command icon MC on the top menu image through the operations of the menu switch 112M and circumferential switches surrounding the menu switch 112M, the display on the monitor 114 is changed from the composite image including the top menu image to a lower-layer menu image. Some of command icons included in the lower-layer menu image are different from command icons included in the top menu image. This arrangement desirably enhances the degree of freedom in device settings based on commands and thereby improves the usability of the imaging device.

Abstract: A method for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen is described. The method includes steps of associating a first window with a second window, where the second window is independent of the first window, arranging the first window and the second window on a display screen, where the first window and the second window are configured to fit within a predetermined region of the display screen, and notifying an application program corresponding to the first window that the second window is associated with the first window. An indicator may appear on the display as a target region when a user desires to associate the first and the second windows. Subsequent operations performed on the first window are performed automatically on the second window. For example, when a user is comparing two documents, she can scroll down one document and have the second document automatically scroll as well.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the performance of an application comprises determining an output of an application that requires monitoring, assigning an audible sound to the output, positioning an output display window at a desired location on a performance monitoring screen, determining a baseline for the output when the application is in the state of equilibrium, monitoring the output to detect a change relative to the baseline, emitting the audible sound assigned to the output from the sound location and bringing the display window into focus on the performance monitoring screen when the detected change varies from the baseline by a predetermined amount, and adjusting the configurable parameters of the audible sound to indicate the existence of the detected change, the magnitude of the detected change relative to the baseline, and the degree of deviation from the baseline, wherein an amplitude of the audible sound is adjusted to indicate the magnitude of the detected change from the baseline, and wherein a pitch

Abstract: A method for sorting graphical objects having an assigned depth coordinate, wherein at least two sets of graphical objects are requested to be drawn, each set comprising at least two graphical objects having a different depth coordinate and a request to select at least one set to sort is received, wherein the request covers fewer than all sets whereby sorting of the graphical objects of each selected set, is executed within the set, according to depth coordinates of the graphical objects.

Abstract: A portal is comprised of a plurality of portlets. Each portlet accesses hardware and software to gather data. Each portlet offers information to the portal page. Each portlet's information has a specific content type and markup. A subset of portlets are determined stackable if the subset of portlets have in common one or more of the same hardware, software, content type or markup. Once a subset of portlets is determined stackable, the user's preference for stacking the portlets is obtained by loading a user profile or asking the user. If the subset of portlets are stackable and the user desires the subset of portlets stacked, then the subset of portlets are stacked such that the stack of portlets present a first portlet and a control for selecting a second portlet from within the subset of portlets that is not currently presented.

Abstract: A method and computer-executable instructions for performing a method of providing and selecting two or more objects on a display. The method utilizes a computer system having a graphical user interface including the display and a user interface selection device. The method displays a first of the two or more objects on the display, displays a second of the two or more objects on the display such that the second object overlaps and underlays the first object, blends the first and second object such that the portion of the second object which overlaps the first object is at least partially visible to a user, receives a user selection signal indicative of the user interface selection pointing device pointing to the overlapping portion of the first and second object, and processes the user selection as indicative of a selection of the underlying portion of the second object.

Abstract: Groups of photo thumbnails are presented to the user, and where a user selects one of the thumbnails, a transition is provided replacing the group of thumbnails with the photo represented by the selected thumbnail. The photo may be displayed without cropping or stretching. In addition, a zoom/enlargement animation of the selected thumbnail is provided, and also possibly of the remaining thumbnails in the group, which then transitions into the represented photo. In addition, after or during the zooming animation, a cross-fading may occur such that the thumbnails fade out and the represented photo fades in. These types of transitions and user inputs both while the user is manually browsing thumbnails and when the user is viewing an automated slideshow of the thumbnails.

Abstract: A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user's screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.

Abstract: Displaying the relative depth of 2D image objects while preserving the visual attributes of the objects is disclosed. After an object group is determined, the members of the object group are temporarily moved away from a center location while preserving the object group members' positions relative to each other in the X-Y plane. A depth well is displayed at the center location and each object group member is connected to a ring-beam in the depth well. In response to a control action indicating a relative depth adjustment of an object group member relative to the remaining object group members, the depth of the object relative to the remaining object group members is changed. In response to a control action indicating the depth adjustment is complete, object group members are returned to their original positions in the X-Y plane with the adjusted object displayed at the object's new relative depth.

Abstract: Systems and methods of displaying a user interface in a portable electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes creating a first clone and a second clone of a user interface element. The method also includes displaying the first clone of the user interface element on a display of the portable electronic device, modifying the second clone of the user interface element, and transitioning between the first clone of the user interface element and the second clone of the user interface element. In another embodiment, a method includes displaying an initial user interface element and displaying a transition between the initial user interface element and a final user interface element, wherein the transition is selected based on a classification of the initial user interface element and a classification of the final user interface element.

Abstract: A portable communication device (10) having a customizable skin and theme on a display (30) of the communication device can include a transceiver (38 and 44), a display coupled to the transceiver, a memory (32 or 14) having stored therein at least two skin and theme types (24) and at least one encapsulated data entry associated with each of the skin and theme types, and a processor (12) coupled to the transceiver and the display. The processor can be programmed to dynamically update the display in the communication device based upon a selection of at least one among the skin and theme types and based upon at least one encapsulated data entry associated with a selected skin and theme type.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-usable medium for displaying multiple elements in a graphical editor, wherein the multiple elements overlap and share a common space in the graphical editor; invoking a visual affordance that opens a zoom window; and displaying the visual affordance and the zoom window in an area in the graphical editor where the multiple elements overlap, wherein the zoom window displays a visual representation that is modified to show overlapping multiple elements.

Abstract: The present application describes a work management/tracking framework that allows users to organize work around goals that may utilize several applications. Goals may encompass smaller individual tasks that span more than one application. An action object is used to represent a goal and can have one or more task items associated with it. The task items associated with an action object represent tasks that are included in the events and processes necessary to accomplish the goal. As a user works, the tasks that the user works on are tracked. If the user has requested to maintain the tasks in an action object, the tasks are associated with an action object. The user is assisted in pulling in possible task items that the user may wish to associate with an action object by being provided with a list of selectable task items that may be related to the action object.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are disclosed for displaying the true status of hierarchical operations being performed in a data processing system. For example, a Z-order layering technique can be used to display simultaneously on a screen the status of a plurality of operations being performed on elements of a hierarchical structure, such as, for example, on an inverted tree directory and a plurality of its sub-trees. Advantageously, the display can be scaled to include operations being performed for many nested levels of the hierarchical structure, without having to increase the overall footprint of the display. Also, an application for copying a directory has to traverse the directory's structure only one time (e.g., during the copying operation), because the application does not need to know in advance the total number of files that have to be copied.

Abstract: A method for displaying at least one visualization of windows on a display screen is described. The method includes steps of receiving an input corresponding to a request to access visualizations of windows for a plurality of windows, and for each window of the plurality of windows, displaying a visualization of at least a portion of the content of the window in an area separately defined from the plurality of windows, wherein the at least a portion of the content includes dynamic video content. Another method provides for grouping and ordering the visualizations when displayed. Another method allows for display of visualizations related to child and/or parent windows.

Abstract: It is controlled to determine priority for each of plural display objects, wherein the priority having plural levels, and to change displays of the plural display objects in the determined priority, in accordance with a display form of an image different from the plural display objects. To achieve this, the present invention provides an image displaying method of displaying the plural display objects on a display unit, the method comprising: determining the priority for each of the plural display objects, and changing the displays of the plural display objects in the determined priority, in accordance with a display form of the image different from the plural display objects.

Abstract: A plant monitoring apparatus and a plant operation monitoring method are disclosed, wherein the plant monitoring apparatus includes a display unit for displaying a plant monitor screen having a plurality of windows displayed in superposition with each other, a monitor unit for monitoring a status change of the plant, and a control unit for transparently displaying at least a partial area of the superposed window upon detection of a status change of the plant by the monitor unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a desktop wallpaper map on a user's PC desktop to provide an indication of weather conditions. The map displays weather information such as local, regional or national radar, satellite map, five day forecast, current conditions, etc. In a passive mode, the map is displayed in the background on a user's desktop. In an interactive mode, the map is preferably moved up to the foreground and additional weather data is provided, which may be customized by the user. The user may pan, zoom and change locations via controls that are provided on the desktop. A control icon is provided to toggle the map to and from passive and interactive modes.

Abstract: A personal display system with which a user may adjust the configuration of displayed media is provided. The personal display system may include an electronic device operative to provide media to a personal display device operative to display the received media. Using one or more optical and digital components, the personal display device may adjust displayed media to overlay features of a theater, thus giving the user of the personal display device the impression of being in the theater. In some embodiments, the personal display device may receive a user selection of a seat in the theater from which to watch the media, and may adjust the media display accordingly. In some embodiments, the personal display device may detect the user's movements using one or more sensors and may adjust the displayed image based on the user's movements. For example, the device may detect a user's head movement and cause the portion of media displayed to reflect the head movement.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus, which presents an image of an object and information associated with the object to an operator, is composed of a user interface section including an operation section to be operated by the operator or a display section which presents information to the operator. And the information presentation apparatus is further composed of a user interface control section which detects or estimates an attitude of the operation section or the display section and switches an operation or function of the user interface section based on the detected or estimated attitude.

Abstract: A method is provided for constructing multimedia scenes, which are intended to be reproduced on at least one terminal, including at least one multimedia object which can be assigned properties for controlling the behavior thereof in said scene. At least one of the scenes has at least one object, known as the pointer object, which is assigned a pointer property such that it reacts to actions performed by a terminal user, including: at least one action involving the selection of an object and/or the activation of a pre-determined operation that is associated with an object; and at least on action involving the movement of the pointer object, such as to simulate the operation of a pointer on any terminal, even if the terminal is not equipped with corresponding control.

Abstract: A display device which displays a plurality of objects on a screen has a group configuration storage section for storing association information indicating the association between each of the plurality of objects and one of a plurality of groups, a group priority level storage section for storing group display priority levels which are priority levels for displaying each of the objects associated with one of the groups at the front of the objects associated with the other groups, an object priority level storage section for storing object display priority levels which are priority levels for displaying one of the objects associated with one of the groups at the front of the others, an object priority level changing section for changing the object display priority level while the association information is maintained, and a display section for displaying the plurality of objects according to the group display priority levels and the object display priority levels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for priority-controlled displays. In one aspect, the information elements are received at a user interface. Priorities are determined for the information elements. The information elements and determined priorities are then provided to the user interface. The priorities include a first priority representing one of the information elements with a higher priority, the information element having the first priority formatted to display the information element with higher priority when compared to another information element having a lower determined priority than the first priority.

Abstract: An improved system for managing user inputs and z-order in a graphic user interface (GUI) environment is disclosed. A GUI element may include a plurality of keys corresponding to keys on a typical keyboard, and may serve as a replacement for the keyboard. The system permits an application having an input focus to retain the input focus while inputs are received in the GUI element, and even transient user interface elements (e.g., menus) will remain displayed in those applications after the user inputs are entered. Input pen and mouse events may first be forwarded to the input area application, which may remove the events from the normal circulation, preventing other applications from learning of the events, and then post those events to the input panel application separately.

Abstract: Method and system for the remote display of drawn content. In one embodiment, a drawing window is created at a source device, a location of a system mouse event is observed at a viewer device and the transparency of a pixel in the drawing window at the source device at the location of the mouse event is manipulated. The pixel may be cleared, thereby making the location of the mouse event transparent, which may send the mouse event to a non-transparent window immediately below the drawing window.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to task bar management and provide a method, system and computer program product for graphical association of task bar entries. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for graphically associating a window with a task bar entry in a windowing operating system GUI can be provided. The method can include rendering multiple windows in a z-space sequence in a desktop of the windowing operating system graphical user interface and detecting a proximity event for an entry in a task bar for the windowing operating system graphical user interface. In response to detecting the proximity event, a corresponding one of the windows in the desktop can be highlighted without re-ordering the z-space sequence.

Abstract: A computing system is provided that includes a display 124 for displaying information and an audible locating agent 148 that, as a pointer moves over the display, plays audible locating signals to identify spatial locations of at least some of the displayed information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable mediums, user interfaces and other implementations are disclosed for organizing, managing and presenting widgets and dashboards in a multimedia center application.

Abstract: Commercially available applications which display information via a graphical user's interface can be supplemented with additional related information. The related information can be automatically extracted and overlaid on the information with the assistance of a pre-established ontology.

Abstract: A method of controlling shutdown of processes on equipment powered through a UPS comprises: providing a graphical display system and a graphical pointing device; displaying on the graphical display system a graphic having a time access and a process access; arranging along the process access indicia of one or more processes to be shutdown; for at least one of the one or more processes, displaying a time bar extending from a start point along the time access to an end point along the time access; and controlling one of the start point and the end point of the time bar with the pointing device, whereby shutdown of the at least one process is controlled according to the times of the start point and the end point of the time bar.

Abstract: A multi-screen synthesizing apparatus and method have been disclosed by the present invention. Display data of windows required to be displayed on the display terminal are mapped onto at least one logical screen by storing data in a video memory. Each of the windows is correlated with a set of window registers, and the location coordinates of the window and the identification of the corresponding logical screen are stored into the window register set when displaying the windows, the window register set having the highest priority level are found out, based on the location coordinates of the current scanning pixel, as the selected window register. The display data corresponding to the current pixel are read out from the logical screen corresponding to the selected window register and output to the display terminal.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method is presented for viewing information acquired from an integrated network. A plurality of modules (client/server methods) is used by an end user to access information in the integrated network. The information is accessed from databases distributed across the network. A client/server method (i.e., module) utilizes a key to search for information across distributed databases. The information is then returned to the client for viewing in a window based on the mode selected for viewing. For example, the information may be viewed as text in information mode, as images in photo mode, as images in CAD mode, or as a video in video mode.

Abstract: Provided for run time ordering open tasks are a status bar; a plurality of task tabs presented in the status bar in sequential order, with a task tab for each open task within an open application; a content window for displaying task content associated with a current selected task tab; a linked list of tab elements, with a tab element associated with each task tab and task content; and a task tab order component responsive to user drag and drop of a given task tab for moving the given task tab from a drag position in the status bar to a drop position in the status bar.

Abstract: In order to efficiently conduct the display processing of a GUI screen by suppressing the drawing of unnecessary objects, the objects are, first, searched from the front toward the rear according to a reverse painter's algorithm while tracing a z-order for processing the drawing. In this step, flags necessary for the drawing may be raised instead of drawing the objects, and a z-buffer needs not be provided. The objects can be really drawn from the rear toward the front according to a painter's algorithm.

Abstract: In order to efficiently conduct the display processing of a GUI screen by suppressing the drawing of unnecessary objects, the objects are, first, searched from the front toward the rear according to a reverse painter's algorithm while tracing a z-order for processing the drawing. In this step, flags necessary for the drawing may be raised instead of drawing the objects, and a z-buffer needs not be provided. The objects can be really drawn from the rear toward the front according to a painter's algorithm.

Abstract: An improved system for managing user inputs and z-order in a graphic user interface (GUI) environment is disclosed. A GUI element may include a plurality of keys corresponding to keys on a typical keyboard, and may serve as a replacement for the keyboard. The system permits an application having an input focus to retain the input focus while inputs are received in the GUI element, and even transient user interface elements (e.g., menus) will remain displayed in those applications after the user inputs are entered. Input pen and mouse events may first be forwarded to the input area application, which may remove the events from the normal circulation, preventing other applications from learning of the events, and then post those events to the input panel application separately.

Abstract: In order to efficiently conduct the display processing of a GUI screen by suppressing the drawing of unnecessary objects, the objects are, first, searched from the front toward the rear according to a reverse painter's algorithm while tracing a z-order for processing the drawing. In this step, flags necessary for the drawing may be raised instead of drawing the objects, and a z-buffer needs not be provided. The objects can be really drawn from the rear toward the front according to a painter's algorithm.

Abstract: Image browsing through memory-stored items, such as a library of images or desktop windows, is efficiently performed by arranging images in partially overlapping fashion and generating a second-level image for each overlapped image that is contacted by a user-manipulated cursor. The second-level image is a “transitory” image, since it is removed as soon as the cursor is displaced from the corresponding first-level image. Thus, by placing the first-level images in a diagonally extending stack, straight line movement of the cursor will initiate a sequential presentation of transitory images for the images in the stack. In one embodiment, the display also includes an incrementing icon and a decrementing icon that are employed to provide substitute stacks. Moreover, a third-level image is formed in a separate window when the user selects one of the images from the stack. This third-level image has more permanency, since it remains in the display window after the stack has been substituted.