Overlap Control Patents (Class 715/790)
  • Patent number: 7555776
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for alerting users of a plurality of computers of a security event via a network. A security alert is first generated including information relating to a security event utilizing a server. The security alert is then pushed from the server to a plurality of computers via a network. The information of the security alert is then automatically displayed in a front most window of a user interface of the computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent J. Lymer, Babu Katchapalayam, Brad Kingsbury
  • Publication number: 20090158205
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, a computer program product, and a data processing system provide overlays to an application. An application state of the application is identified. Responsive to identifying the application state, an appropriate overlay corresponding to the application state is identified. Responsive to identifying the appropriate overlay, the appropriate overlay is overlain onto the application. The appropriate overlay is then displayed in real time in a user interface, with the appropriate overlay overlain in the user interface of the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Carl Hampton, Eric Martinez de Morentin
  • Patent number: 7546554
    Abstract: The multimedia content browsing system for small mobile devices smoothly blends three key tasks: querying the multimedia contents by keywords, exploring the search results by viewing keyframes of the multimedia contents, and playing a stream of the multimedia contents, e.g., videos or video segments. Videos can be stored in a segment-based multimedia content database, which is designed to support the browsing, retrieval, and reuse of videos. A layered imaging model is introduced where each layer may have its own transparent value set individually, continuously, and interactively, and the layers can overlap on top of each other when rendered on the screen. Since a small mobile device alone may not have enough resources to handle the entire task of multimedia content browsing, a scalable architecture can be adopted to break up the task among the small mobile device, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), and a resource-rich computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick Chiu, Maryam Kamvar, Tohru Fuse, Surapong Lertsithichai, Sandeep Casi, Lynn D. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7543234
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fonda J. Daniels, David Bruce Kumhyr, Paul Franklin McMahan
  • Publication number: 20090138818
    Abstract: There is provided a method for manipulating display of multiple display objects on a display device in a data processing system connected to the display device, the multiple display objects being ordered and at least partially overlapping each other. The method includes the steps of: recording the current position in a stacking order of each of the multiple display objects in an object identifier table in association with a corresponding object identifier; changing the position in the stacking order of a first object in response to a first user action for selecting the first object; and recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before the position is changed in the object identifier table as a previous position in the stacking order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Kazuo Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7536657
    Abstract: An information equipment remote operating system includes an operated-side information equipment and an operating-side information equipment. The operated-side information equipment includes a view region storing unit for storing view information regarding a view region correlated with an window, a screen information processing unit for generating an image to be displayed on an operating-side display unit as an initial state based on the view information, a communication unit, and a control information processing unit for operating an application. The operating-side information equipment includes a communication unit, a view region storing unit for storing the view information, a screen information processing unit for displaying images on multiple display regions in high to low display priority order, and a control information processing unit for transmitting application operating information to the operated-side information equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuo Shimizu, Mamiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7536650
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system that facilitates multi-tasking in a computing environment. A focus area component defines a focus area within a display space—the focus area occupying a subset area of the display space area. A scaling component scales display objects as a function of proximity to the focus area, and a behavior modification component modifies respective behavior of the display objects as a function their location of the display space. Thus, and more particularly the subject invention provides for interaction technique(s) and user interface(s) in connection with managing display objects on a display surface. One aspect of the invention defines a central focus area where the display objects are displayed and behave as usual, and a periphery outside the focus area where the display objects are reduced in size based on their location, getting smaller as they near an edge of the display surface so that many more objects can remain visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Inventors: George G. Robertson, Eric J. Horvitz, Daniel C. Robbins, Mary P. Czerwinski, Patrick M. Baudisch, Gregory R. Smith, Brian R. Meyers
  • Patent number: 7533351
    Abstract: A set of replacement system window controls is provided that are instantiated as the result of the receipt of create control messages into the system message queue, instead of the built-in system window controls. The replacement window controls result in replacement control instances being created with modified properties based on user preferences. The replacement system window control instances may also include an overlay function. In response to a set focus message, a replacement control instance may create an overlay control that is displayed over the replacement control. The overlay control itself can have modified properties and may be enlarged or relocated. When the overlay control receives a release focus message, the overlay control passes its state back to the replacement control and is destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Alexander Bellwood, Matthew Francis Rutkowski, Michael John Walker
  • Patent number: 7530027
    Abstract: A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, a graphics input and an audio input simultaneously. The chip processes graphics images organized as windows. The chip obtains data that describes the windows, sorts the data according to the depth of the window on the display, transfers graphics images from memory, and blends the graphics images using alpha values associated with the graphics images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Chengfuh Jeffrey Tang, Xiaodong Xie, James T. Patterson, Greg A. Kranawetter
  • Publication number: 20090106690
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for sharing a screen between applications based on different kinds of graphic systems when the applications are shown or hidden. The method includes the operations of setting a default graphic system, and controlling an operation of showing or hiding the applications based on different kinds of graphic systems, using the default graphic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hye-kyung KOH, Da-na JUNG
  • Patent number: 7523389
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to quickly identify a place where a hyperlink is located in a document being displayed, and to design the document without caring about the indication of the location of the hyperlink. When a control thread is activated, a transparent sheet generation unit stores a transparent sheet into a transparent sheet storage unit; a thread activation unit activates a display thread and a visualization thread to cause a position identifying unit to identify a position where a hyperlink exists in a document being displayed; and to cause a marker drawing unit to draw a marker at the position thus identified in the transparent sheet. When the display thread is activated, a display unit reads a transparent sheet from the transparent sheet storage unit, and displays the transparent sheet in a visible state which has been stored in a visibleness state storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Takamasa Hirata
  • Patent number: 7523414
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for navigating between sections in a display space is furnished. The sections in the display space are each assigned to a particular location of the display space, and representatives are provided which are each assigned to a particular section in the display space using an unambiguous relation. The method for navigating includes the following steps: selecting at least one representative that is assigned to a particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation; and navigating to the particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation with the particular section in the display space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Definiens AG
    Inventors: Gunter Schmidt, Michael Alvers
  • Patent number: 7523405
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: George G Robertson, Daniel C Robbins, Desney S Tan, Kenneth P Hinckley, Maneesh Agrawala, Mary P Czerwinski, Patrick Markus Baudisch, Gonzalo A Ramos
  • Publication number: 20090070709
    Abstract: Methods and multi-component displays for displaying graphical objects are disclosed. A method includes displaying a graphical object on a first display screen of the multi-component display. In response to an event, the graphical object is displayed on a second display screen of the multi-component display, wherein the first and second display screens overlap, and wherein the displaying the graphical object on the second display screen is operable to provide a visual indication of the event. Another method includes displaying a first graphical object on a first display screen of the multi-component display and displaying a second graphical object on a second display screen of the multi-component display. In response to an overlap of the first and second graphical objects, the overlapping portion of the first and second graphical objects is displayed with a visual attribute distinct from respective visual attributes of the first and second graphical objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: PURE DEPTH LIMITED
    Inventor: Gabriel Damon Engel
  • Publication number: 20090063542
    Abstract: Improved approaches to present groups of digital assets in a dynamic, graphical manner are disclosed. The groups to be presented can be automatically formed in accordance with grouping criteria. Each of the resulting groups can then be visually represented by a set of images. The sets of images for the different groups can be dynamically visually presented in a sequential manner. The plurality of images that represent a particular group can be concurrently presented in a partial overlapped arrangement. Optionally, user interaction can affect the group(s) being presented, alter the images visually representing the group(s), or cause other navigational actions with respect to the digital assets. The presentation of the groups (e.g., clusters) can serve to assist a user in understanding what digital assets (e.g., digital media assets) are available on an electronic device. The electronic device typically permits the user to utilize (e.g., play, view, etc.) the digital assets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: William E. BULL, Policarpo WOOD, Benjamin A. ROTTLER, Kourtny Minh HICKS
  • Patent number: 7493566
    Abstract: Display of information for two oppositely situated users is improved. A computing device includes a display and a mechanism. A first user views the display at a first end thereof, and a second user views the display at a second end thereof opposite the first end. The mechanism orients information displayed on the display so that the information is right-side-up for the second user. The mechanism displays a first window that is right-side-up for the second user, in which the information is displayed in a scaled manner. The first window overlaps the information displayed on the display. The mechanism may display a second window on the display that is right-side-up for the user, and that displays a portion of the information in a full-size, non-scaled manner. Alternatively or additionally, the mechanism may display a blacked-out portion within the first window corresponding to where the first window overlaps the information displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amane Nakajima, Yoshihiko Ohta, Kiyoshi Tsubata
  • Patent number: 7487455
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for maintaining the visibility of a priority page in the background of a software application window while simultaneously displaying unrelated content from a content tab. The content displayed in the content tab can be obtained from a web page. A user can resize or minimize the content tab, but the background priority page is always visible in the window. The priority page can be a friends lists displayed in the background of an instant messenger application. Content from a content tab is simultaneously displayed in the instant messenger window with the friends list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher T. Szeto
  • Patent number: 7487458
    Abstract: Methods, systems and machine readable media for displaying (e.g., information from multiple calendars) using different secondary colors generated according to primary colors in a data processing system. In one exemplary method, a calendar interface is displayed on a display device, wherein the calendar interface is capable of displaying calendar events for a user, and a control interface is displayed, which control interface allows the user to selectively display calendar events simultaneously from at least two calendars of the user in the calendar interface. Each of the calendars can have a primary color for display; and, secondary colors are automatically determined based on the primary color for the user interface elements associated with a calendar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Jalon, Manuel Colom
  • Publication number: 20090031248
    Abstract: An information processing device includes: a receiving unit configured to receive an instruction input by a user; a display control unit configured to control a display unit to display a plurality of windows in a display area of the display unit; and a window control unit configured to control a size or position of a window displayed on the display unit in response to the instruction received, the window control unit being configured to control, if the receiving unit receives an instruction to expand a first window and the expanded first window overlaps a second window, a size or position of the second window in response to a positional relationship between the first window and the second window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Izua Kano, Eiju Yamada, Keiichi Murakami, Yasushi Onda, Kazuhiro Yamada, Dai Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7484015
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a user interface is provided. The apparatus includes a transmitting/receiving unit-that receives a instruction signal transmitted by a control device, and a control unit in communication with the transmitting/receiving unit that determines whether devices connected to an audio-video (AV) network can be operated according to the instruction signal that is received, wherein the control device includes a first button that is operable to display a list menu that lists the devices connected to the AV network on a display, and a second button that is operable to display a function menu of at least one function corresponding to the devices on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-woo Kim, Young-jae Ryu
  • Patent number: 7484181
    Abstract: A display system displays web pages from web sites located on data communications networks such as the Internet network. The display system has display controls and a plurality of non-overlapping display areas. Each display area has independent display area controls and independently displays a web page. The display controls include a sizing control operable by a user to alter a size of all display areas simultaneously with one control action. The display system in an embodiment includes a browser software program to provide communications and display support. The browser software program is executed in only one instance to provide the support for the plurality of display areas. The display controls also include a designator control operable by a user to designate the number of the non-overlapping display areas to be displayed. The display controls also include a drag and drop control for universal reference locators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Gerard Duperrouzel, Angus McNab Chassels IV
  • Patent number: 7478338
    Abstract: A palette-based graphical user interface for a computer-implemented system. The palettes can be customized in a number of different ways to make them more user-friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Yanchar, Mark Stephen Webb
  • Patent number: 7478341
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining a graphics display window on a display screen that will not be obscured by any other graphics display window. The graphic display apparatus comprises an arbiter, a gatekeeper and an access control table. The arbiter selects from among a plurality of computer applications requesting authorization on the display screen to display data. Authorization is granted via a persistence attribute. Once a persistence attributed is obtained, the graphics display window remains on the screen unobscured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Dove
  • Patent number: 7447999
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a user interface, data structure and method to facilitate management and/or access to data, such as by grouping graphical representations of the data in an image space relative to cluster indicators. A given graphical representation for selected data (e.g., a graphical object) can be associated with a corresponding cluster indicator based on its proximity to the cluster indicator. Thus, cluster membership can be changed, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, by moving graphical objects relative to the cluster indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Robertson, Mary P. Czerwinski, Daniel C. Robbins
  • Patent number: 7437678
    Abstract: A method, system, and a computer program product that enables a second window opened on a display screen to “flow” into and fill/occupy all available space within the displayable area of the display screen without overlapping a first window occupying less than the maximum width and/or length of the display area. A window flowing utility enables multiple windows to concurrently coexist and fill the maximum displayable area of the display screen. The window flowing utility determines which areas of the display screen are not currently being utilized by the first window, and allows the second window to occupy all of the available space remaining on the display device surrounding the first window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Faisal M. Awada, Joe Nathan Brown, Philip Bernard Burkes
  • Publication number: 20080204424
    Abstract: A content display method for a mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes at least two hierarchical structures each having at least two contents at a level. The content display method includes: displaying, in response to selection of a content, a window associated with the selected content; displaying, in response to input of a multi-window display request, windows associated with contents at the same level as the selected content together on a single screen; and rearranging, in response to input of a window movement request, the content windows by window movement to display the rearranged content windows together on a single screen. As a result, same-level contents or application windows in execution can be displayed together on a single screen according to a user request. Hence, the user can readily transition between contents or applications with enhanced user convenience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Jin, Su Yeul Lee
  • Patent number: 7409248
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to conduct a paint operation in a procedural renderer and a reveal paint operation while dynamically selecting multiple layers. For the procedural renderer based paint operation, a schematic view of a flow of clip image data is displayed having nodes and lines connecting the nodes. Within the schematic view, a layer node is obtained utilized to perform a paint operation without processing the operators associated with each node in the schematic view. For the reveal paint operation, a paint application obtains a composite having multiple layers. The paint application dynamically identifies one or more of the multiple layers to be used in a reveal operation. Once identified, the reveal paint operation is performed wherein a reveal tool is used to reveal contents of the one or more identified layers at a position where the reveal tool is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Autodesk Canada Co.
    Inventors: Marc-Andre Davignon, Martin Helie
  • Publication number: 20080184128
    Abstract: Systems and methods pertaining to displaying a web browsing session are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a web browsing engine residing on a first device, with a viewing application residing on a second device and operatively coupled to the web browsing engine, where the viewing application is adapted to display a portion of a webpage rendered by the web browsing engine and an overlay graphical component. In the same embodiment, the system also includes a recognition engine adapted to identify an element on the webpage and communicate information regarding the element to the viewing application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Erik R. Swenson, Nitin Bhandari, Alexander James Vincent, Dan Duong
  • Patent number: 7404147
    Abstract: A method for space management of a workspace provided on a display includes defining a first data structure of full-space rectangles present on the workspace, wherein at least a portion of the full-space rectangles are permitted to overlap. A second data structure of largest empty-space rectangles available on the workspace is also defined to complete the representation of the workspace. The methods include performing an operation on at least one full-space rectangle on the workspace and redefining the first data structure and the second data structure in accordance with the workspace resulting from the operation performed. The operations can include adding a new full-space rectangle, moving an existing full-space rectangle and deleting an existing full full-space rectangle from the workspace. Generally, the workspace is a display device coupled to an electronic device such as a personal computer, personal digital assistant, electronic book viewer and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the city of New York
    Inventors: Blaine A Bell, Steven A. Feiner
  • Publication number: 20080163105
    Abstract: A weather information display apparatus comprising a map information retrieving device, a weather information retrieving device, a display device, a command receiving device, and a display controlling device. Each of weather information sets has a predetermined display priority. When a first region of a map associated with first weather information overlaps with a second region associated with second weather information via an overlapped section, the display controlling device controls a display condition of the overlapped section such that the overlapped section is displayed under the display condition associated with the first weather information. Here, the first information has the display priority higher than that of the second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Taichi Satoh
  • Patent number: 7395515
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for manipulating screen objects utilizing multiband regions of influence. Positioning a reference point of an object within a particular band invokes a particular functionality or operation related to that band. In one embodiment, three types of functionality are provided. Moving a reference datum (for example, a line representing an edge or a user defined reference point) of an object A into a first band of an object B places object A under the influence of object B's gravity, causing object A to be pulled into precise alignment with object B. Moving the reference point of object A from the first band into a second band turns off object B's gravity, allowing object A to be freely moved to any arbitrary position near the object B. Moving the reference point of the object A to a position outside all bands causes object B's gravity function to be turned back on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Murat N. Konar, Josh Rosen
  • Patent number: 7386807
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the status of an application and altering the corresponding application window if necessary in order to convey information to the user and improve the user experience. The system and method of the invention allow visual treatment to be applied to a last active state of an application. The system and method further detect hidden dialogs that are shown in response to an application closing or exit request. The system and method additionally trap applications that respond to messages but ignore close commands and detect applications that do not provide visual feedback in response to user requests to close. Through these functions, a user is able to more readily distinguish between a non-responsive application and an improperly functioning application window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Cummins, Kanwai VedBrat, Reiner Fink, Lyon K. F. Wong
  • Publication number: 20080134082
    Abstract: A computer implemented method includes displaying a window with a first section characterizing a computing task and a second section with a progress bar and an interaction button. An overlay pane is displayed with a status message and an animation indicating that the computing task is active. The overlay pane covers at least a portion of the first section and is partially transparent such that a covered portion of the first section is visible through the overlay pane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: BUSINESS OBJECTS, S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Dominique Delacroix, Camel Aissani, Ludovic Engrand, Arnaud Nouard
  • Patent number: 7383515
    Abstract: A method, program and system for displaying the consequence of an input in a graphical user interface (GUI) are provided. The invention comprises displaying a GUI including a plurality of interaction control mechanisms (controls) having a selected or a deselected state. An input to a first control may cause a change in state to at least one other of the plurality of controls. Responsive to a first input at the first control (e.g., holding down a mouse button with the pointer on the first control), the invention displays a preview of the change in state of the plurality of controls that would occur if a second input is made at the first control (e.g., releasing the mouse button with the pointer still on the first control). If the user does not want the previewed change in state to occur, the user has simply to avoid making the second input (e.g., move the pointer off the first control before releasing the mouse button).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Didier D. Bardon, Richard Edmond Berry, Scott Anthony Morgan, Anthony Christopher Courtney Temple
  • Patent number: 7373592
    Abstract: A computer system that assists the user of computer drawing programs is described. The computer system runs an application that displays modeless windows by first displaying an application window that presents information associated with the application. After the application window is created, the computer system displays a modeless child window that overlaps the application window, and within the modeless child window information associated with the application is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Barry Christopher Allyn
  • Patent number: 7363589
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for electronic-based communication between a plurality of remote users. The system includes a plurality of remote workstations, interconnected via a communication network, so that users may simultaneously view a target file. Further, the system may permit one or more of the users to view additional information, such as annotations or notes that relate to the target file. Such additional information may be part of the target file or it may be a separate file that corresponds to the target file. Also disclosed are methods for using such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tandberg Telecom A/S
    Inventor: Joon Maeng
  • Patent number: 7360169
    Abstract: A display system displays web pages from web sites located on data communications networks such as the Internet network. The display system has display controls and a plurality of non-overlapping display areas. Each display area has independent display area controls and independently displays a web page. The display controls include a sizing control operable by a user to alter a size of all display areas simultaneously with one control action. The display system in an embodiment includes a browser software program to provide communications and display support. The browser software program is executed in only one instance to provide the support for the plurality of display areas. The display controls also include a designator control operable by a user to designate the number of the non-overlapping display areas to be displayed. The display controls also include a drag and drop control for universal reference locators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Gerard Duperrouzel, Angus McNab Chassels, IV
  • Patent number: 7353461
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selection control using a touch screen, wherein first and second intersecting bars (1, 2) are displayed, preferably near the edge, on the screen (3), and the first bar (1) displays containers (4) and the second bar (2) displays objects (5) contained in one of said containers (4); and an object in the second bar (2) is activated by one touch on said object, or objects displayed in the second bar (2) are replaced by objects contained in a selected container by one touch on said selected container in the first bar (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Davidsson, Charlotta Wilstedt
  • Patent number: 7350156
    Abstract: Interlocking flag, indicating whether or not an interlocked display should be made, can be set in association with predetermined editing operators. When any of the operators is operated, a displayed screen on a display is switched over to a screen related to the operated operator, if the interlocking flag associated with the operated operator indicates flag-ON; if not, the display device may be used to perform another function. A plurality n of channels may be divided into a plurality of layers each consisting of predetermined number m channels. It is only necessary that a limited number of operators, e.g. faders, be provided to correspond to a single layer, i.e. m channels. Any of the layers is selected, and any of the operators is used for the selected layer. A set of stereo channels can be set across different layers so as to interlock with each other in response to editing operation of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Naohide Kohyama, Taku Nishikori, Hiroshi Hamamatsu
  • Patent number: 7337389
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for annotating an electronic document independently of its content is provided. According to one variation, a tablet and stylus-based computer is programmed with a document browser that permits a user to annotate documents viewed through the browser. The annotations are stored separately from the viewed document pages but are correlated with the pages such that when a previously annotated page is revisited, annotations relating to that page are retrieved and displayed on top of the page as an “ink” layer. Three different annotation modes are possible: ink, highlight, and erase. Each mode can be selected through a user interface supplied through the browser or through controls embedded in a document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Susan D. Woolf, Andrew Baird, Sheng Jiang, John L. Beezer, Darryl E. Rubin
  • Publication number: 20080016460
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method using a soft keyboard. A touch screen unit includes a first window on which a soft keyboard to input characters by a touch screen mode is displayed, and a second window on which the characters inputted through the soft keyboard are displayed. When the inputted characters exceed a set width of the second window, a control unit displays a button to request whole screen display of the inputted characters. Accordingly, long sentence data inputted by the touch screen mode are selectively displayed on one screen, so that a user can easily select and edit the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventor: In-cheon Park
  • Publication number: 20080010608
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for controlling displays in a multi-display environment are disclosed. The exemplary system may include a module for intercepting display creations from the display system. A module makes a determination whether the intercepted display is a dialog display and, if so, promotes the display status of that display to an always-on-top status, thereby ensuring the display's visibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventor: James S. Adams
  • Patent number: 7310779
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for presenting and selecting an active region of a physical document page. A transparent electro-luminescent tablet or touch sensitive plate positioned over the physical document page is coupled and identified to the workstation. The workstation stores information defining an active region for the physical document page and a hyperlink to a web page. The workstation directs the tablet or plate to display the active region over the physical document page. A user touches a point within the active region. In response, the tablet or plate conveys the touch point to the workstation which displays on a computer screen the hyperlink. The active region can be identified by an outline that encompasses the active region and can encompass another such active region, so that touching a point within the inner active region elicits display of hyperlinks or documents related to both active regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Fernando Incertis Carro
  • Publication number: 20070288864
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining content to present on a display of a device. The method comprises presenting a first content in a first location in an application window of an application and presenting a second content in a second location in the application window of the application. The method further comprises receiving a user action and determining whether at least a portion of the first content will be obstructed due to the user action. The method further comprises presenting the first content in the second location based on a comparison of a first content priority value assigned to the first content and a second content priority value assigned to the second content in accordance with the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Thaniya Keereepart, Andrew Merryman
  • Patent number: 7290212
    Abstract: With spreadsheet software, such as the MICROSOFT EXCEL, a radar chart can be compiled by the use of data in a table made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Fushimi, Koichi Tsuzuki, Hisayo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20070220440
    Abstract: Provided are a user interface method of enabling a user to conveniently use a terminal allowing multi-tasking, and a computer readable recording medium storing the method. The user interface method includes classifying applications capable of being executed by the apparatus into groups, in such a manner as to classify one or more applications that perform similar functions into the same group; and displaying a window for executing a corresponding application, for each of the groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-gon Song, Hyun-cheol Park, Hyun-kook Jang, Sung-han Lee, Heui-jin Kwon
  • Publication number: 20070209020
    Abstract: When an element is interactively arranged in cooperative with an input device and a display device, if at least a part of the arranged element is overlapped with an already arranged element, the relation of the already arranged element is inherited and association is made between these elements to provide a relation therebetween, thereby displaying the relation. Therefore, it becomes possible to inherit the relation of the already arranged element with a simple operation. Thereby, it is possible to easily provide a relation between elements by associating the elements with one another while reflecting the intention of user as much as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventor: Ryohei Morishita
  • Patent number: 7257777
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic ways of prioritizing the presentation of windows on a graphical user interface (GUI) and for prioritizing and accessing information stored in cache that is used by a web browser. The viewing (tiling) priority of windows, the size of windows, and the position of windows on a GUI are automatically determined from the following criteria: the time the window was first opened, the time the window was last opened, the length of time the window was visible on the screen, the percentage visibility of the window, the amount of scrolling the window has undergone, the content of the window, the time of day, the number of window accesses, and/or some mathematical function of these criteria. Additionally, these same criteria are applied to cached information associated with web pages so that more “relevant” cached web pages are automatically stored in cache for longer periods of time before being discarded in a finite sized cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Clifford A. Pickover, Alexander Zlatsin
  • Patent number: 7243299
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for simultaneously displaying multiple-contexts in a page-oriented viewing architecture utilize the concept of page pinning in which a portion of a first document context is displayed as a fixed frame overlayed on or placed beside the display of a second document context. A user may navigate within the second document context while viewing the portion of the first document context as a pinned page on the display. Thus, a single navigational focus is maintained even though multiple contexts are displayed in the page-oriented architecture. Page pinning may be used to view two non-contiguous locations in a single electronic document or to view two pages of respective different electronic documents. The invention contemplates the use of a pinned page to hold a particular context while a command set is executed from a command document viewed as the second context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl E. Rubin, Jonathan C. Cluts, Susan D. Woolf, John L. Beezer
  • Patent number: RE39610
    Abstract: Systems and methods for returning windows to an original location are described. When springing already open windows to a new location on a display space, it is desired to return that window to its original location for certain situations. A list is provided when the springing operation is initialized which captures information used to return the sprung window. According to exemplary embodiments, the relocation of various windows is tracked to ensure that each window is returned to an original location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Max McFarland