Abstract: A computer system receives a command to initiate setting a display mode of its corresponding display screen to one in which received input commands (e.g., mouse input, keyboard input, etc.) are directed to multiple display applications running on the computer system instead of only a single display application in a foreground (e.g., a “topmost” window presented to a user) on the computer display screen. For example, based on input from a user, an auxiliary application herein receives an identification of at least a first display application and a second display application that each display information on different respective windows of the display screen. Thereafter, the auxiliary application duplicates received input commands and forwards the received input commands to both the first display application and the second display application, alleviating the user from having to separately apply the same commands to each of the first and second display applications.

Abstract: A method for presenting portlets within a portal can include providing a portal including a multitude of portlets, each portlet having at least one presentation attribute. A context in which access to the portal is requested can be identified and particular ones of the presentation attributes can be selected according to the context. Based upon selected presentation attributes, a presentation order can be determined for the portlets.

Abstract: A method is presented for representing anomalies to a process. These anomalies are represented in an anti-pattern, which depicts non-productive emergent information that describes activities that are detrimental to the progress of the process. The anti-pattern includes visually-coded areas that describe how severe the detrimental activities are to the process when combined. After the anti-pattern is created for the process, new non-productive emergent information for a current process is mapped onto the anti-pattern in the form of data patterns represented as visual fences. Appropriate steps are then taken to address the new non-productive emergent information, depending on the visually-coded area to which the new non-productive emergent information is mapped.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing information to computer users are described. In one embodiment, multiple different algorithms are displayed for a user to select. The algorithms are configured to display quick links to which a user can navigate. Individual algorithms are employable across different content types. A user can select an individual algorithm and, responsively, the methods and systems can display one or more quick links that are provided by the selected algorithm.

Abstract: A graphical user interface and method for creating a mapping between a source object and a destination or target object are provided. The user interface includes a source screen region which displays a graphical representation of a source object, a target screen region which displays a graphical representation of a target object, and a mapping screen region which allows a user to create a mapping between the graphical representation of the source object and the graphical representation of the target object using graphical mapping indicia. The methodology includes displaying a graphical representation of a source object in a source screen region, displaying a graphical representation of a target object in a target screen region, creating a mapping between the graphical representation of the source object and the graphical representation of the target object in a mapping screen region using graphical mapping indicia, and displaying the mapping in the mapping screen region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delayed function activation in a responsive environment are described. A responsive environment includes an intermediary system and notification manager to determine when a responsive environment will launch an application triggered by a sensed event. The environment includes sensor components and transparent software components that reside wholly within the environment for providing responsiveness. The environment also includes interactive software components that give users the means to provide input and/or experience output. Since changes to the interaction components may disrupt the user by requiring the user's attention when it is not convenient, the system helps the user manage the responsive environment by using an application/function delay technique. The environment uses an intelligence and notification mechanism to determine what might be useful and primes the apparatus to provide that functionality. However, the user actually initiates the execution of that function.

Abstract: A graphical user interface is disclosed for tracking and managing the use of text boxes by providing visual aids that make it easy for a user to see which text boxes are linked to which, as well as the order of text boxes in a linked chain. The present system also makes it easy to track the creation and breaking of linked text box chains.

Abstract: A user interface, system, and method are disclosed to facilitate specification of queries and displaying corresponding results. The user interface presents the user with dimensions that contain one or more headings arranged according to an information taxonomy, which can vary based on the intended implementation for the system and user interface. A corresponding filter or query is constructed based on the user selecting of one or more headings. The filter is applied to one or more databases to return results that satisfy the filter. The results are presented in the user interface and can include interactive items based on a particular query as well as can correspond to a fully specified task.

Abstract: Methods, software, and systems for ensuring that one or more pieces of information are presented as a “non-bypassable” manner and can be viewed as intended during an electronic transaction. For instance, where a required disclosure is provided in a pop-up window, it may be provided that the party receiving the disclosure may not complete the application until it is shown that the pop-up window content has fully loaded and thus available to the consumer to review as intended. The pop-up window content may itself include an instruction for determining when the content has been fully loaded. Upon the content being fully loaded, the pop-up window may send a call to the parent window indicating that the content has been fully loaded. In response to the call, the parent window may allow the application process to continue or complete. According to further aspects, it may be determined whether the consumer's computer Internet browser is enabled for use with the call language (for example, JAVASCRIPT).

Abstract: A graphical user interface and method for creating a mapping between a source object and a destination or target object are provided. The user interface includes a source screen region which displays a graphical representation of a source object, a target screen region which displays a graphical representation of a target object, and a mapping screen region which allows a user to create a mapping between the graphical representation of the source object and the graphical representation of the target object using graphical mapping indicia. The methodology includes displaying a graphical representation of a source object in a source screen region, displaying a graphical representation of a target object in a target screen region, creating a mapping between the graphical representation of the source object and the graphical representation of the target object in a mapping screen region using graphical mapping indicia, and displaying the mapping in the mapping screen region.

Abstract: A method for displaying context-related social content on web pages may comprise a method wherein one or more computer processors cause performance of steps comprising matching at least one cue with content of at least one web page served by a web site a user has currently open in a web browser of the user, said cue containing social content or objects from other web sites than the web site serving the web page the user currently has open in the web browser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and an information providing method. The display is switched through a transit screen based on a zoom-in screen or a zoom-out screen of a menu screen, and the menu screen is scrolled so as to display a focused icon at a predetermined position. In this manner, the present invention can be applied to a set-top box for digital satellite broadcasting, and the operationality can be improved even in case of providing a large number of programs and the like.

Abstract: A display device that is capable of displaying predetermined display information in each of a plurality of display areas includes a setting unit for setting display control information that represents the position and size of the display area and the switching of the display information for when a predetermined event is detected, based on user inputs; and a display control unit for controlling one display including the multiple display areas such that the display information is displayed in each of the multiple display areas, based on the display control information set by the setting unit. Upon detection of the event, the display control unit switches the position or size of the display area where the display information for the detected event is displayed based on the display control information.

Abstract: While viewing an electronically displayed document, a user creates a bookmark by selecting a desired part of a document to be marked. In response, a visual indicator is displayed and a bookmark object is created preferably separate from the document. The bookmark object comprises information linking the bookmark object to the desired part of the document as well as user-modifiable properties. If another part of the document is subsequently displayed, at least a portion of the visual indicator is still displayed. Later selection of the portion of the visual indicator causes the desired portion of the document to be re-displayed. Because the object is separate from the document, it may be viewed and sorted by its properties apart from its display with the document. A placemark is created whenever the display of a current document is discontinued. In response to a discontinuation signal, a placemark object comprising information linking the placemark object to a last-viewed part of the document is created.

Abstract: Files such as musical pieces are represented in symbols such as a star, and are clustered based on the attribute of each file so as to be allocated in an information space. An impression, such as “refreshing”, on the musical piece corresponding to the file is represented and given in the form of emotion. The initial search for a file is carried out by roughly cutting out a marked-out space. When narrowed down, the file is linearly developed so as to support a user selection.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate interactive selection and presentation of datasets are described. An interactive data interface is presented to a user in a display window, said interactive data interface containing distribution of a dataset accessed by the user. A minimum range value and a maximum range value corresponding to a data range within the dataset are received, the range values being input by the user into one or more interactive areas within the data interface. Finally, display of data within the data range is further facilitated within an overlay area of the data interface disposed over the distribution of the dataset.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating efficient local search using acronym are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, a graphic user interface is provided to accept inputs from a user; letters successively entered as the inputs from the user are received; and titles are then progressively reduced and displayed in accordance with the letters, wherein the titles have words each beginning with one of the letters.

Abstract: An editor application highlights a user's original selection of text. The editor application additionally identifies whether the user's selection of text includes a portion of tagged content. If so, the editor application provides a visual indication of a remainder portion of the tagged content that is not included as part of the user's selection of text. That is, the editor application provides a first visual indication (e.g., a first color of highlighting) of the original text selected by the user and a second visual indication (e.g., a second color of highlighting) of a portion of the tagged content displayed outside of originally selected text. Consequently, the user can easily identify a first region of text originally selected by the user as well as a remainder portion of the tagged content in a second region exclusive with respect to the originally selected text.

Abstract: A system is provided to facilitate documentation processing. The system includes one or more embedded components associated with an application and a linking component to automatically associate the embedded components with one or more related entities to the document. The embedded components are employed to determine other relationships for the document.

Abstract: A system and method for projecting the transformation of object trees, especially in MES systems, wherein the course object tree and target object tree are represented in a common meta-object model of a software system, especially a framework. The source object tree is transformed into the target object tree by adjustment. Transformation occurs directly in the object of the meta-object model, thereby enabling communication between connected applications by means of pure data exchange.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for implementing an interactive graphical user interface having the ability to graphically depict the relationships between or among multiple portlets. In one aspect, the present invention relates a child sub-portlet to a parent portlet with at least one graphical indicator when the child sub-portlet is surfaced from the parent portlet. Other aspects of the present invention concern in-line tools integrated in the graphical indicators for managing portlet operations. The graphical indicators and inline controls of the present invention allow a user to accurately and precisely control portlets.

Abstract: Techniques for creating a playlist for media objects are provided. The techniques include receiving a selection of a set of IDs. Each ID is generated based on content of a media objects. A playlist ID is then generated based on the set of IDs and a fixed representation of the playlist ID is created. The fixed representation allows a device to use the playlist ID to determine media objects including the content of media objects used to generate the set of IDs.

Abstract: A system and method relating to creation of object(s) in an object hierarchy structure is provided. An object generator that in response to a command to expand a node/object provides a initiator node that facilitates generation of a new object within the object hierarchy upon expansion of the node. A display component concurrently displays the initiator node with the expanded node. The initiator node used for creating objects placed (e.g., in-line) within an object hierarchy structure. To create a new object, an instruction (e.g., user input) to expand a node having a initiator node is received. By selecting the initiator node and entering a name, an object of type defined by the initiator node is created. For example, once the object is created the user can enter information defining parameter(s) of the object. Information can be entered through a user interface box (e.g., text box) that is displayed upon the creation of the object.

Abstract: Where a user logs on to a web page server, the server can maintain a history of links to web pages hosted by the server to indicate which links are visited by the user. In consequence, a user may log on to the web page server from any web page-enabled device and the server will be able to differentiate for the user links the user has visited from links that have yet to be visited.

Abstract: A software development environment exposes a GUI with visual markings for differentiating developer modifications to software files. The differentiation techniques can be provided as defaults with embodiments of the invention, or can be customizable to allow for useful grouping of modifications. The software development environment may also provide a selection tool for accepting, rejecting, or further modifying previous file modifications. A history of modifications may be maintained in the event that a developer needs to re-implement modifications that have been removed or distorted. A navigation tool facilitates analysis of modifications.

Abstract: Data items contained in personal information are displayed in manner that is indicative of both the importance and the urgency of the data items. A first visual cue is assigned to the data item based on an importance of the data item. The first visual cue may cause more important items to be displayed with increased size and less important items to be displayed with decreased size. A second visual cue is assigned to the data item based on an urgency of the data item. The second visual cue may cause more urgent items to be displayed in a first color and less important items to be displayed in a second color. The data item is displayed using the first and second visual cue as to provide a visual indication as to both the importance and urgency of the data item.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining a plurality of pieces of different information about a textual document from the text of the textual document are provided in which one or more particular characteristics of the text of the textual document are identified to generate a file containing the text of the textual document with the particular characteristics marked up within the text.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and a method for selecting, accessing and retrieving directly from a physical (i.e., hard-copy) document, hypertext documents located on a user workstation or on one or a plurality of servers connected to a communication network, and for displaying the retrieved hypertext documents over said physical document. The information is accessed by the user simply by touching with a finger items (i.e., words, letters, symbols, pictures, icons, . . . ) that are highlighted on an electronic hypertext document displayed over the physical document.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for establishing an association between a code and a user. Before a software product is provided to the user, the code is stored within the software product. The software product is configured to convert the code into a visual watermark, which is displayed on at least one screen image generated by the software product. Techniques are also provided for identifying a visual watermark in a screen image and decoding the visual watermark into a corresponding code. The user associated with the code can then be identified.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing a user interface for editing and deploying an enterprise application are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary user interface includes, but not limited to, a first window to display a graphical representation of a first component, a second window to display one or more properties associated with the first component when the graphical representation is activated, and wherein the one or more properties include a reference field to display a dependency relationship with a second component, the dependency relationship including an indication indicating strength of the dependency relationship. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A control panel unit for a computing device includes buttons having characteristics that define individual button states. Upon actuation of a button, the viewable states of the buttons may change. A portion of the button may be illuminated to represent the state and/or include an icon depicting an application controlled by the button. The control panel unit may include a display for displaying plural soft labels corresponding to the buttons and representing the current context that will be initiated when the corresponding button is actuated. The soft labels may identify users or applications available to one user. Upon actuation of an application, the soft labels can change to represent various actions or functions available in the application. In the user interface, each user may be assigned a specific color scheme. The color schemes allow a person to visually determine who is logged into the system and/or which individual has new information.

Abstract: A Web Part connection runtime framework provides the architecture for Web Parts to connect and pass data between each other. The runtime framework provides a series of interfaces that a Web Part can implement to send or receive information from other connected Web Parts. The interfaces provided by the runtime framework allow for the connection of Web Parts on a server or client. A first Web Part is retrieved and connected to a second Web Part in response to a user selecting information to be passed from the first Web Part to the second Web Part. Subroutines of the connected Web Parts are fired signaling the Web Parts to pass data from one to another. Once the data is passed, the Web Part receiving data can be rendered while containing the passed data on the server or the client.

Abstract: A method of highlighting linked-to document sections for increased readability uses standard <h1>, <h2> . . . <h6> tags or like to identify different sections within a page, and then highlights from the beginning of a newly-linked-to section up to the beginning of the next section that has an equivalent header tag or a header tag which is higher in the tag hierarchy.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying contextual information in clipped views of two-dimensional workspaces are provided. A method for indicating an object includes: providing a workspace having a viewed space and a populated space, the viewed space being delineated by a border; determining an object in the populated space; determining a direction of the object from the viewed space; and indicating the object with an indicator on the border of the viewed space in the direction of the object. The distance of the object may determine the appearance of the indicator. The indicator may also show a user's interest. An object indicating system includes: an object determination circuit that determines an object in a populated space and a direction of the object from a viewed space; and an indicator mapping block that indicates the object with an indicator on a border of the viewed space in the direction of the object.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-usable medium for: receiving a user input to activate a clip utility within an open application window; enabling a selection of a particular portion of the open widow using a selection functionality of the clip utility, wherein the particular portion is less than a total area of the application window; and on receipt of a request to clip the selected portion while the portion is still selected, dynamically clipping the particular portion from the remainder of the application window and displaying only the clipped, particular portion of the open window as an separate window clip.

Abstract: A program product, including: a display control program for allowing a display portion to display an operation guide for an operator; and a computer-readable media storing the display control program. The display control program allows a computer to serve as: a display controller which allows the display portion to display an operation guide screen presenting to an operator that values of a plurality of items are changeable; and a set change reception portion which receives from the operator instructions of changing the set values of the items when the display controller allows the display portion to display the operation guide screen. The display controller allows a display form of a display part for a predetermined description to be different from other display area in the operation guide screen when the display controller allows the display portion to display the operation guide screen.

Abstract: A property value associated with a property of a graphical object is retrieved. A visual cue associated with the property value is displayed, wherein the visual cue indicates whether the property value is a literal value or a non-literal value.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for use in a computing apparatus are disclosed. The method includes determining a context and a data requirement for a candidate action to be selected, the selection specifying an action in a workflow; and filtering the candidate actions for relevance in light of the context and the data requirement. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method.

Abstract: A method of a display apparatus managing a plurality of virtual workspaces of including generating a first data structure as a reference of at least a window; generating a second data structure as a reference of windows respectively linked to the virtual workspaces on the basis of the first data structure; generating a third data structure as a reference of a shared window linked to all of the virtual workspaces; selecting one of the plurality of virtual workspaces; and displaying the shared window and/or the window linked to the selected virtual workspace on the basis of the first data structure, the second data structure, and the third data structure.

Abstract: A scalable graphical user interface that may be used to map two or more schemas is provided. Elements of a dominant schema are displayed in a first column. Elements of a subordinate schema are displayed in a second column. A user may drag elements of the subordinate schema to a third mapping column and position those elements next to mapped dominant schema elements. A user can quickly and conveniently determine a relationship between mapped elements by selecting an element from the dominant schema and identifying one or more elements in the mapping column that are located next to that element.

Abstract: Data items contained in personal information are displayed in manner that is indicative of both the importance and the urgency of the data items. A first visual cue is assigned to the data item based on an importance of the data item. The first visual cue may cause more important items to be displayed with increased size and less important items to be displayed with decreased size. A second visual cue is assigned to the data item based on an urgency of the data item. The second visual cue may cause more urgent items to be displayed in a first color and less important items to be displayed in a second color. The data item is displayed using the first and second visual cue as to provide a visual indication as to both the importance and urgency of the data item.

Abstract: Techniques employed in displays of graphs with large numbers of nodes for viewing details of an area of interest while preserving context. The techniques take advantage of parent-child and sibling relationships. Sibling nodes and children of sibling nodes are displayed in rows. The center of interest is at the center of a row and nodes at the ends of the rows overlap. A parent node may have a node scroller associated with it for viewing the parent's child nodes one page of nodes at a time. The node scroller includes paging buttons and may also include a scroll bar with a slider. The node scroller may be displayed on the parent node itself or on the links connecting the parent node to the page of children currently being displayed. Also disclosed are details of the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the node scroller and details of an application programmer's interface (API) for creating and manipulating node scrollers.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products relate to icons in an address bar of a browser indicative of roles of users as they visit web sites. In this manner, users (with many roles, such as in the context of an employer's business) are visually cued to remind them of their role at the web sites, often because web sites have different functionality according to different roles. Various features include icon forms suggesting roles as employees, managers, administrators, anonymous users, etc. Upon mousing-over icons, tool tips are obtainable regarding a status of the role of the user. Menus of multiple icons are also available for the many roles of the user. Upon selection of one the icons of the menu, the selected icon appears in the address bar upon the user visiting the website in their new role. Altering the display of the icon exists to show different role status.

Abstract: It is an object to manage a document including deadline information and to notify the deadline information to a user before a deadline date, and there are included a deadline metadata acquisition unit to acquire metadata relating to a deadline from an electronic document created by electronic data, a deadline estimation unit to estimate a deadline determined for the electronic document from the acquired metadata, and a deadline notification control unit to manage the estimated deadline and to notify a user of the deadline.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for remote function calls, including write remote function calls, to a system from an application modeled in a visual modeling language environment. Data in a visual modeling tool may be received that characterizes connections between first and second data sources and first and second remote function call modules, respectively. The first remote function call module may cause an application to send data to a first remote function module of a business intelligence planning query, and the second remote function call module may cause the application to request data from a second remote function module of the business intelligence planning query. The first and second remote function call modules may interface with a user interface to provide user access to the business intelligence planning query.

Abstract: A communications device provides a user with a sensory cue that informs the user of certain characteristics of a subsequent action that includes data communications. By informing the user of the data communication characteristics before the user initiates the data communication action, the invention appropriately sets user expectations regarding the data communication characteristics. For example, one embodiment of the invention is implemented in a portable communications device with a screen. For subsequent actions that include wireless communications, the portable communications device simultaneously displays a wireless link icon sensory cue next to a user interface graphic element. The user interface element is used to initiate the subsequent action. The user interface element can be an operating system object having an embedded link type icon.

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.

Abstract: A method of linking data objects, such as video objects, image objects, and audio objects, and displaying data associated with the data objects based upon the strength of the relationship between the data objects. Another method for navigating a data collection of data objects by linking groups of data objects based upon related metadata is also disclosed. A user interface including the data associated with the grouped data objects facilitates browsing the data collection of data objects.

Abstract: Multiple applications are displayed. A request to change a display of a first application is received. A determination is made regarding how displays for one or more other applications should change in response to changing the display of the first application in order to avoid conflict with the display of the first application. The display of the first application is changed. The one or more displays for the one or more other applications are automatically changed in response to changing the display of the first application in order to avoid conflict with the display of the first application.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention a graphical user interface is provided. The graphical user interface includes a window displaying a first item and a menu listing a second item. Selection of the first item within the window and the second item in the menu helps to define a reference created between the first item and a target software component. The first item may be a source software component, a page, or a servlet. The second item may be the target software component or an interface to the target software component. The graphical user interface may also include a second menu listing the interface to the target software component. The source and target software components may be session or entity beans. The interface may be a remote, remote home, local, or local home interface.