Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user is likely to have intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The learning function is disabled, however, when the relevant words are found to be in a special category for which frequency learning, i.e., frequency revision, is not employed.

Abstract: A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. A highlight bar is responsive to the user's commands and is used to indicate the current menu item that can be selected by the user. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. The background colors of each set of menus remains consistent throughout the user's experience such that the user intuitively knows what menu area he is in through the color cues. The invention provides indicators that tell the user that more information is available in a particular direction for a menu item.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for configuring a plurality of devices to process content. In use, content information associated with received content is identified in addition to device information associated with a plurality of devices adapted for processing such content. To this end, the plurality of devices may be configured to process the content, utilizing the content information and the device information.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying and providing access to information on a display unit are provided for combining a plurality of logical progression steps into a plurality of predetermined groups. Each of the plurality of predetermined groups includes a subset of data. The system and method includes displaying the plurality of predetermined groups in a collapsed format; prompting a user to expand a first group of the plurality of predetermined groups; allowing the user to access and input data into the first group; and allowing the user to access a second group of the plurality of predetermined groups once all logical progression steps in the first group have been completed by the user.

Abstract: The present invention enables a focus to be moved easily among focus items in different frames when frames are displayed. To do so, the last focused item in an in-frame document once activated is stored (S11) and, when a frame movement event is caused by a focus movement operation (S12, Yes), the focus is moved to a focus item stored for a new frame (S13). If the stored focus item is not in the display area of the frame, the focus is moved preferably to a predetermined (for example, the first) focus item in the display area. Operation means for the focus movement operation may be used with frame switching means for switching the active frame among frames.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting an action providing input associated with an element of a user interface and/or graphical model, and providing an indicator to indicate the action has been detected. The user interface and graphical model may provide one or more elements that may be editable or otherwise changeable by a user or programmatically via executable instructions. The action may provide input that may change a value of the editable element of the user interface or alter an element of the graphical model. Upon detection of the action, the present invention provides an indicator in the user interface or the graphical model in a manner associated with the detected changed element. The indicator may be a visual indicator or may be any other sensory type of indicator, such as a sound, force, or tactile indicator. As such, the indicator provides a prompt to a user that one or more elements of the user interface or graphical model may need to be saved, applied, or any changes canceled.

Abstract: A playback apparatus includes a menu screen display unit for displaying a content menu screen, an input unit for detecting a user's input operation to detect a selection of the content, and a control unit for causing the menu screen display unit to switch the menu screen, and for instructing playback of the selected content. The menu screen display unit, under the control of the control unit, switches an upper layer menu screen to and from a lower layer menu screen through an intermediate layer menu screen. The upper layer menu screen shows categories of the contents using menus. The lower layer menu screen shows some of contents using menus. The intermediate layer menu screen displays the menu selected in the upper layer menu screen in an area and a plurality of menus displayed in the lower layer menu screen in another area.

Abstract: A user interface display provides selectable icons and a control symbol in a toolbar. The control symbol can be selected by a user to display additional selectable icons within the toolbar. The additional icons can be inserted adjacent the control symbol or in another location on the toolbar. A user can associate a set of one or more selectable icons with a control symbol. In one implementation, reselecting the control symbol removes the additional icons from the toolbar. In another implementation, the additional icons are removed when one of the additional icons is selected. If the icons are positioned adjacent to their corresponding control symbol, the display position of other icons on the toolbar is adjusted to allow room for the additional icons. When a set of the additional icons is removed from the display, the position of the other icons on the toolbar is re-adjusted.

Abstract: A display device of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention is a display device of an electronic apparatus for setting a plurality of conditions for a process of the electronic apparatus through an input portion 57 while displaying the conditions before the electronic apparatus performs the process in accordance with the conditions. The device comprises a determination portion 58 of determining whether or not each of the conditions has not yet been set, and a liquid crystal display panel 41 of displaying notifying information indicating to what degree conditions remain to be set. The liquid crystal display panel 41 displays buttons for setting the respective conditions on a screen thereof, and displays button(s) which have already been pressed as being unfilled and the number of buttons which have not yet been pressed. Therefore, by viewing the screen, the number and types of conditions which have not yet set can be known.

Abstract: Systems and methods enhance editing capabilities associated with a wide variety of different types of electronic documents. Such systems and methods may include a processor that maintains an electronic document having a first portion (e.g., an individual word, character, character string, or the like) provided by a recognizer (e.g., by handwriting or speech recognition software), and they may provide access to potential alternative characters, words, or character strings generated by the recognizer during various user editing functions and operations. Other data associated with the first portion of the document also may be stored and made available to the user during various functions and operations. This invention further relates to computer-readable media including instructions for performing various methods and/or operating various systems for editing electronic documents, including systems and methods like those described above.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are provided that display images in a manner that provides for effective space management. At least one item is horizontally displayed in a first display area. Upon selection by a user of at least one item from the first display area, an indication of the at least one item is vertically displayed in a second display area.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are provided that display images in a manner that provides for effective space management. At least one item is horizontally displayed in a first display area. Upon selection by a user of at least one item from the first display area, an indication of the at least one item is vertically displayed in a second display area.

Abstract: The described systems and methods are directed at defining web content navigation. The disclosed technique enables the development of web content for a scenario without having to create every navigational control that is needed to manage the flow through the web content in the scenario or to write non-declarative server-side logic to control navigation. This method determines a declaration in a source file for a web page. The declaration is associated with an object. The method determines the views associated with the object where each of the views includes a user-interface. A flow for navigating through the views is determined. The views are rendered in accordance with the navigational flow.

Abstract: A zone control panel that is easy and intuitive to use and to program. In some embodiments, a zone control panel may be configured to have an easy to use, single level menu structure with, for example, a configuration mode and/or a checkout mode. The configuration mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. Likewise, the checkout mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. A mode selector may be provided to select a particular mode, after which, the menu screens that correspond to the selected mode may be sequentially displayed to the user. Other features and aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A zone control panel that is easy and intuitive to use and to program. In some embodiments, a zone control panel may be configured to have an easy to use, single level menu structure with, for example, a configuration mode and/or a checkout mode. The configuration mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. Likewise, the checkout mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. A mode selector may be provided to select a particular mode, after which, the menu screens that correspond to the selected mode may be sequentially displayed to the user. Other features and aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: The current status of a list of tasks to be performed is dynamically displayed. The tasks may be performed by a user (e.g., data entered by the user, words spoken by the user, actions taken by the user, and so forth) or alternatively by a computer (e.g., the steps it follows in carrying out a programmed task). At least a portion of the list is displayed at any given time along with an indication of which task is the next task to be performed. As the tasks are completed, the current status of the progression through the items on the list is dynamically updated so as to readily inform the user (or someone else) as to what the current task is that needs to be performed, as well as what tasks have already been performed and/or what tasks remain to be performed.

Abstract: A data model for navigating data. In a preferred embodiment, the data model abides rules that limit the total number of nodes displayable and that limit the number of child nodes displayable beneath a given parent. collapsed or folded nodes are replaced by embedded navigation controls that indicate the hidden nodes.

Abstract: Apparatus for displaying information from at least one information source, the information being arranged, labeled or indexed to define a hierarchical information structure, the apparatus comprising: a display controller for displaying information and user selectable menu items on at least one display, each menu item corresponding to a node of the information hierarchy or to information in the at least one information source. The display controller is configured such that during said navigation, in response to a user selection of a menu item from either one of the first or second display areas, a sub-set of menu items corresponding to sub-nodes and/or information in the information hierarchy at the level of the hierarchy below said selected menu item is displayed in the other of the second or first display areas.

Abstract: A system and method graphically displays similar or disparate forms of information for the purpose of sorting, searching, organizing, accessing, and using the information that contains a revolving carousel, limits the amount of information displayed by a subset setting, and having sorting commands directly accessible to the user through a remote control or other input device. The carousel design allows the user to easily see the information that is of interest and navigate to the information using commands to spin the carousel right or left, or use the sort, sub-sort, search, or text skip ahead commands. The graphical nature and intuitive operation enables the user to quickly learn, navigate, find, access, or act on the information that they are looking for.

Abstract: Data is collected and retrieved in the form of a data picture using an interface that has a portion for presenting a data palette and another portion for presenting a data canvas. The data picture is created by a user selecting one or more data parameters from the data menu of the user's choice, and arranging such on the data canvas. The data parameters can relate to perceptions, impressions, rationales, motivations, etc., so that subjective user preferences can be easily captured in a user-friendly fashion. Moreover, the data parameters can be arranged in different graphical arrangements and rankings to enhance capturing of the user's preferences. In this manner, a user can effectively express input data in a visual depiction or picture form concerning a particular action/transaction, without having to respond to lengthy questionnaires, forms and screens requiring numerical input, etc.

Abstract: According to an operation of a frame on an arrangement of history information displayed in a sequence, shared history information including action information which relates to action information having a first identifier selected by the frame and has a second identifier is obtained from a server. Identifiers included in action information items included in the shared history information are displayed in the sequence, in parallel with the arrangement of the history information so that the second identifier is displayed adjacent to the first identifier. Via the first and the second identifiers, the frame is moved between the arrangements of the history information and the shared history information, and according to an operation of the frame in the before-after direction of the sequence on the arrangement to which the frame is moved, an identifier included in an action information item in the before-after direction of the sequence is displayed.

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

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for displaying categorized information on a user interface is provided, in which the user may choose one or more categories of information. In response, data associated with the chosen category is retrieved. The display of the categories and the retrieval of the data is performed independently, so that the displayed categories remain responsive to user interaction while the data is being retrieved. In one implementation, the display of the categories and information on the user interface is handled by the main thread and the retrieval of the data associated with the chosen category is performed by a worker thread executing asynchronously with respect to the main thread.

Abstract: The present invention is a navigating system for navigating a data structure having a plurality of data fields arranged into a plurality of data arrays. The navigation system includes a display representing the contents of a subset constituted by data fields of currently selected data array. The display is also arranged to display the contents of a particular data field from the currently selected data array. The system further includes a field selector for navigating to and selecting specific data arrays and data fields within selected arrays.

Abstract: A commitment-based GUI is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide commitment-based GUI comprises a menu activation module, an actions monitor, a commitment detector, and a presentation control module. The menu activation module may be configured to activate a multi-panel media interface on a display device, the multi-panel media interface presenting one or more menu panels. The actions monitor may be configured to monitor activity of a user with respect to the multi-panel media interface. The commitment detector may be configured to determine a commitment level of the user, the commitment level indicating the user's interest level in navigating a menu structure associated with the multi-panel media interface. The presentation control module may be configured to adjust presentation of the multi-panel media interface based on the determined commitment level.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user in reviewing items displayed on an internet host page includes providing at the user location a data capture toolbar having a server remote from the user location and remote from the host location, selecting an item to provide a selected item, and searching the host page by the data capture system to determine data associated with the selected item. The selected data is stored on the data capture toolbar and at the server. The selected item is stored by dragging and dropping a representation of the selected item from the host page to the data capture toolbar by the user. The method also includes navigating to a further host page, displaying a further plurality of items, and storing further selected data at the server. At least a portion of the further selected data is displayed on the data capture toolbar.

Abstract: If a plurality of menu items in a menu includes a particular menu item that leads to a content item that is to be promoted when displaying the menu, a promotion for the content item is displayed beside the menu items. An up command is provided to move a cursor position upward by one menu item in the menu. A down command is provided to move the cursor position downward by one menu item in the menu. A right command is provided to move the cursor position to the particular menu item from any other one of the menu items. When the cursor position is at the particular menu item, both the particular menu item and the promotion are displayed with a cursor-position-indicating visual characteristic.

Abstract: A mapping system uses aerial photographs to correct geocode data for street addresses. After entering an address, a street map is displayed along with an aerial photo, both of which indicate the street address location based on standard algorithms. The indicator on the aerial map can be moved to accurately align with the location of the entered street address, which corrects the geocode data, allowing further geographical analysis to be performed using the corrected geocode data. The corrected geocode data can be used to more accurately determine distances from the property at the street address to natural hazards such as, coastlines, earthquake faults and flood zones.

Abstract: A method is provided to enable a user to quickly identify related items in a list environment. A relationship icon is used to identify the presence of related items, such as email messages, occurring before and after a selected item. The relationship icon is used to navigate between the related items.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a portable electronic device includes an application display region that displays a current application context of an application and a navigation bar adjacent to the application display region. The navigation bar includes two horizontally adjacent regions, comprising a current context region for displaying an indicator of the current application context and a prior context region for displaying an indicator of an application context preceding the current application context. The application display region simulates shifting of the application display in a first direction upon detecting user selection of the prior context region, and simulates shifting of the application display in a second direction, opposite the first direction, upon detecting user selection of an application context different from the current application context and the prior application context.

Abstract: A user interface and method for electronic devices, such as mobile phones, having an adaptive scrollbar for indicating to a user the relative position of the data displayed with respect to the other data stored in memory. The scrollbar can indicate the relative position of displayed data such as icons, thumbnails, etc. in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The scrollbar can be configured to appear on the display only when useful to a user, such as when a user rapidly depresses a button to scroll through items.

Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide context menus useful in, e.g., a computing device receiving user input via a stylus. Icons representing actions performable on an object are displayed in a context menu for the object. Additional aspects of the invention include cascading menus that also minimize hand and/or wrist motion, as well as placement of menus based on user handedness and/or stylus orientation.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for navigation within a set of audiovisual documents with the help of a displayed menu system. A graphical page is displayed, it contains at least two, possibly unitary, lists, L1 and L2 of elements associated with audiovisual documents, each element being disposed in a graphical window. Subsequent to a navigation command entered by the user, the graphical window containing a so-called “current” element of the starting list L1 becomes mobile and moves to at least one arrival list L2 in the direction specified by the command, the duration of the movement being at least equal to the duration of the execution of the command. The invention also relates to a device able to execute a software navigation module. Following the entry of a command, the said module moves a graphical window in a certain direction and for a determined calculation time.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for displaying categorized information on a user interface is provided, in which the user may choose one or more categories of information. In response, data associated with the chosen category is retrieved. The display of the categories and the retrieval of the data is performed independently, so that the displayed categories remain responsive to user interaction while the data is being retrieved. In one implementation, the display of the categories and information on the user interface is handled by the main thread and the retrieval of the data associated with the chosen category is performed by a worker thread executing asynchronously with respect to the main thread.

Abstract: For map data, a road system is represented by using node data, which is information concerning nodes representing points along a road, and link data, which is information concerning a link representing a road between the points. A link row is a series of links representing a series of roads in a road system, and as link row data, link data for the links that constitute the link row are arranged in the order in which the links are connected. The node data for the individual nodes of the road system are provided separately from the link row data, and to identify nodes, node identifiers are provided for the nodes of the road system. The link data includes information indicating a node identifier for a node that is located at one link end defined in the direction of the link row.

Abstract: A system and method for navigating a multi-hierarchical menu system using a two-dimensional controller, comprising displaying an Nth level of the multi-hierarchical menu system having a plurality of icons in proximity to a pointer on a portion of a display, scrolling the icons in a first dimension relative to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in the first dimension, and one of either selecting one of the icons in closest proximity to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in a first direction of a second dimension, or displaying a N+1th level of the multi-hierarchical menu system relative to one of the icons in closest proximity to the pointer responsive to operating the controller in an opposite direction of the second dimension.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are provided that display images in a manner that provides for effective space management. At least one item is horizontally displayed in a first display area. Upon selection by a user of at least one item from the first display area, an indication of the at least one item is vertically displayed in a second display area.

Abstract: In order to provide a configuration with which a desired function can be started rapidly from a function menu of an electronic device having a plurality of functions together, a circular menu is displayed on a main LCD 21, a function item activated is shifted item by item in response to left-and-right directional operation of a cross-shaped key in a main operation part 25, and a function item located at the opposite position in the circular menu is activated in response to up-and-down directional operation of the same.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for viewing data lineage of objects. A data lineage view that includes at least one data lineage path is displayed. The data lineage view is generated by a data lineage tool that tracks an original object through processes that touched that original object. The at least one data lineage path is generated from the original object to a selected object and indicates how the original object was affected by the processes. The data lineage view is displayed as a fish eye view.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for specifying a criteria for searching an information hierarchy and displaying search results in a tree-based view that indicates the location of matching elements within the information hierarchy. The location of matching elements within the information hierarchy is emphasized using techniques that include highlighting instances of matching elements within a treeview display, graphically connecting a plurality of matching elements within a treeview display, and displaying a first matching element while presenting a graphical link to the next matching element within the treeview display. Search criteria can be specified using a pop-up search-test input window, or by simply right/left/double clicking upon an element within the information hierarchy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authoring and storing media objects in an optical storage medium, including the steps of: (a) providing two or more built-in menus, each built-in menu including at least one built-in navigation command; (b) associating the media objects each to a dedicated navigation command so as to establish a one-on-one relationship between the media objects and the navigation commands, wherein the one-on-one relationship between the media objects and the navigation commands is of a number substantially limited by capacity of the optical storage medium; and (c) arranging the navigation commands such that the navigation commands are distributed among the built-in menus and defining the media objects each to be a menu.

Abstract: A data model for navigating data. In a preferred embodiment, the data model abides rules that limit the total number of nodes displayable and that limit the number of child nodes displayable beneath a given parent. Collapsed or folded nodes are replaced by embedded navigation controls that indicate the hidden nodes.

Abstract: The size of a tool displayed in a user interface can be dynamically adjusted based on the current needs of the tool. When the user chooses a new function to perform using the tool, the tool's size and appearance is adjusted to an interface tailored for the selected function. To minimize confusion to the user, these dynamic adjustments can be performed using animation effects.

Abstract: In an image display system for changing a display of image data based on a visual field changing instruction, one or a plurality of visual field changing start region associated with a visual field changing operation, which defines display update processing contents of the image data, is displayed in a display window. When a pointer enters the visual field changing start region, the visual field changing operation associated with the visual field changing start region is activated, and the display of the image data is updated in accordance with the display update processing contents defined by the activated visual field changing operation, based on a relative movement amount of the pointer based on the position of the pointer at a time when the visual field changing operation has been activated.

Abstract: A method of browsing an ordered set of items on a display device is disclosed. The method displays the ordered set of items as ordered subsets (301-308) of the items, the subsets being arranged in parallel, each subset comprising a corresponding number (310, 311, 312) of a plurality of the items. The method selects one item (310) from one subset (305) as a focus item. The method then spatially separates the items preceding and the items following the focus item in the ordered set and displays the focus item in a different relative spatial arrangement (702) compared to the remaining displayed items.

Abstract: A file list display apparatus having a plurality of files of data recorded on a vast-capacity recording medium, comprising: a detection unit for detecting all the files recorded on the vast-capacity recording medium; a controller for storing a list of the files, detected by the detection unit, in a storage unit separate from the vast-capacity recording medium; a display unit for displaying a sub-list of the list stored in the storage unit, the controller creating the sub-list; and an input unit for inputting a command used by the controller for creating the sub-list, for inputting a display command to the controller for controlling the display unit to display a next sub-list or a previous sub-list, and for inputting a skip command to the controller for controlling the display unit to display the list in a forward or backward sequential one-by-one scrolling manner having no more than a predetermined number of files in the list displayed at any one time.

Abstract: A memory associates a media quality indicator with each media program in a set of media programs. A filter selects from the set those media programs having at least a specified media quality. A display interface displays a list of the selected media programs in an electronic program guide.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for managing a message view on a mobile device. The system includes a switch manager and a plurality of message stores. Message stores may include an email account, SMS account, and a MMS account. A message view may include a custom view of the message stores. An input is received that enables the switch manager to switch between one view of the message stores and another view. In one embodiment, the input is a left or right key entry. Continuous entry of the left or right key entry enables a user to switch through views of the message stores, in a deterministic approach.