Abstract: A component-based, rapid application development (RAD) Java environment providing an improved user interface is described. The interface includes a single Application Browser or “AppBrowser” that is used to perform all the usual development functions. The AppBrowser lets the user explore, edit, design, and debug all in one unified window. Serving as a mechanism for hosting arbitrary documents or other objects related to development, the AppBrowser presents the documents or other objects for manipulation in a window that consists of three panes: Navigation pane, Content pane, and Structure pane. In general, the Navigation pane displays a list of documents, the Content pane displays the document itself, and the Structure pane displays the structure of the document if available. The grouping of the three panes exists on a browser “context” or mode. Multiple contexts can appear on an AppBrowser represented by a tab in a tab set at the lower left of the window. These contexts add a 3D feel to AppBrowser by layering its functionality in one window rather than spread across multiple windows. Switching between completely different contexts is then as easy as selecting a tab. The AppBrowser may have different logic for any given context that is global across the three panes; the logic is provided by implementing a standard browser context interface.

Abstract: A TV/PC convergence device, operable in a television mode, a computer mode and a combination television/computer mode, includes a display, a computer and a tracking device. The display receives and displays images in all three modes. The computer executes programs and is operable in the computer mode and the combination television/computer mode. The tracking device, which is coupled to the display and computer, tracks, records, and reports select uses of the display and the computer during each of the television mode, the computer mode and the combination television/computer mode.

Abstract: A touch pad assembly for portable communication devices has a dual entry user interface surface and is configured to overlay a touch pad surface The touch-pad assembly can operate in both a key entry and graphical (written) input mode via the same input surface In the key entry mode, the touch-pad assembly provides tactile feedback to the user affirming the selected key input

Abstract: A user interface for a graphical application tool is disclosed. A graphical application tool is a software program, such as a computer-aided design (CAD) tool, a spreadsheet package, or a graphics drawing package, that graphically provides a user with a set of commands, tools and icons, which a user can graphically manipulate to generate, modify or analyze a work product in a work space area. The graphical application tool includes a graphical user interface (GUI) to provide users with a repositionable menu of available commands, tools and icons. The menu provides access to the commands, tools and device offerings without interfering with the user's work space area. In the illustrative computer-aided design (CAD) tool embodiment, the menu preferably provides a user with access to core and custom commands and circuit component offerings. Core commands presented in a core command section of the menu are preferably context-determined so that commands appropriate to the current operating mode of the graphical application tool are presented. Circuit component offerings presented in the device offering section of the menu are preferably technology-determined so that device offerings appropriate to the specified technology are presented. In other words, when the graphical application tool is initiated, the user is preferably queried for the type of technology the user will be designing with.

Abstract: Representatively using force sensing resistors as key switch elements, keys on a computer keyboard are each provided with pluralities of different keystroke output function signals which may be selectively varied in response to simply altering the user keystroke force imposed on the key. In addition to being provided with a default key force range/output signal correlation, the keyboard may be programmed by the user to customize the key depression force ranges associated with selected different keystroke output signals. Representatively illustrated additional uses of this key force/output signal correlation capability include a key force-based typing correction mode and a combination character and key force sequence-based user password access system. To further expand the individual key functionality of the keyboard, a combination of sensed key depression force and duration is used to generate an additional keystroke output function signal for a given key.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method of viewing an electronic slide show presentation providing three modes for viewing an electronic slide show: a speaker presentation mode, an individual browser mode, and a kiosk browser mode. For each mode, a user interface having features desirable in the corresponding mode is provided. The speaker presentation mode user interface displays slides sized to fill a computer display screen. The individual browser mode user interface displays slides within an application window and provides a navigation scrollbar for navigating the slides. The navigation scrollbar having advance and reverse buttons for controlling the display of builds in the slide, and previous and next slide buttons for controlling the display of slides. The kiosk browser mode user interface displays full screen slides and restricts a viewer's navigational functions. The method also provides a user with the ability to customize the user interface corresponding to a slide presentation.

Abstract: This paper discusses methods by which user preferences for WWW-based newspaper articles can be learned from user behaviors. Two modes of inference were compared in an experiment: one using explicit feedback and the other using implicit feedback. In the explicit feedback mode, the users score all articles according to their relevance. In the implicit feedback mode, the user reads articles by performing scrolling and enlarging operations, and the system infers from the operations how much the user was interested in each article. Our newspaper on the WWW, called ANATAGONOMY, has a learning engine and a scoring engine on the server. The system users read daily news articles by using a WWW browser in which there is an interaction agent that monitors the user behaviors. The learning engine on the server infers user preferences from the interaction agent, and the scoring engine scores new articles and creates personalized newspaper pages based on the extracted user profiles. In an experiment, the system was able to personalize the newspaper to some extent when using only implicit feedback when some parameters were properly set, but the personalization was not as precise as it was when explicit feedback was used. By mixing explicit feedback with implicit feedback, the system could personalize newspapers quickly and precisely without requiring too much effort on the part of the users. User preferences can also be used to construct information retrieval agents or even to create cyberspace communities of the users that have similar interests. We think that the proposed technique for learning user preferences greatly enhances the value of the WWW.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allow users having access to a facsimile (fax) machine to send, receive, and manage e-mail easily. If the user selects a "Direct Receipt" receive mode, e-mail is automatically sent to his fax machine, where it is automatically printed out and can be read. If the user selects "Receipt on Demand" mode, the user calls a predetermined telephone number and answers voice prompts to instruct the system where to fax his (held) unread e-mail. The user can also be notified of unread e-mail being held, via pager or telephone. In either case, the fax received by the user contains the contents of the e-mail message intended for the user. To send e-mail from his fax machine, the user uses an "address book" of e-mail addresses, each of which is associated with a fax telephone number (also called an "internet fax number"). If the user sends a fax message to an internet fax number associated with a particular recipient in the user's address book, the system sends an e-mail message containing the contents of the fax message to the recipient associated with the internet fax number.

Abstract: A reconfigurable video game controller for use with a video game program running on a personal computer platform, wherein the controller may be reconfigured or reprogrammed directly by the user so that user-defined keycodes are obtained from a local memory and transmitted to the computer while playing the video game. The controller is reconfigured by selecting desired input switches and then entering keycodes via an attached computer keyboard while in a setup mode, and the keycodes and selected input switch codes are transmitted to the computer for display to the user under the supervision of a reconfiguration window program. The controller is also capable of storing local codes for use in controlling operation of the controller during the video game play mode. One type of local code is a delay code useful in controlling delay of individual keycode transmissions in a multi-keycode playback sequence. Another type of local code is a force-feedback code, which is useful in controlling force-feedback control circuitry associated with the input switches such that the user can program which types of force-feedback effects are to be implemented by the controller during game play.

Abstract: An electronic device operates with an external accessory by initiating a serial data communication over an accessory control bus. If data communication is established with the external accessory, the electronic device operates in a first interface mode, when one or more operating parameters are transferred over the bus. If data communication is not established, the electronic device operates in a second interface mode, when no operating parameters are transferred over the bus.

Abstract: A system, method, and medium for switching between application modes is disclosed. The computer system for operating in one of two display modes of operation comprises a storage storing at least one application which is operable in a first display mode and second display mode, wherein a displayed menu of the application in the first display mode includes first menu options operable from a keyboard and a displayed menu of the application in the second display mode includes second menu options operable from a remote control device; a display device for displaying said menu options; a receiving device for receiving input from a user comprising a request for a menu; a processor for alerting the application in which display mode the processor is currently operating, for retrieving menu options appropriate for at least one of the first and second display modes, and for controlling the display device to display the first display menu options or the second menu options in accordance with the current display mode.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system is provided in which an internet or web network user may invoke a hyperlink or site link listing mode to retrieve only the hyperlinks available on selected target pages rather than retrieving the entire text and graphics of the target pages. The network assembles only the available hyperlinks and associated activation code segments for presentation to the user. The user may then select from the presented hyperlinks, the most appropriate hyperlink or path in pursuit of the user's particular search goals. The hyperlink access methodology enables faster navigation through selected and more direct paths to particular search goals by selectively assembling and displaying listings of only hyperlinks of designated target pages rather than entire page presentations. The user may designate and change the number of levels to be searched for hyperlinks, and displays are presented and organized so as to enable a user to quickly focus upon the sites most directly related to the user's search goals while requiring only minimal network usage time and reducing network traffic. The designated path through the chosen sites may be saved as a bookmarks for future reference and access.

Abstract: An improved user interface for a cellular telephone system subscriber unit, including the following functions: (1) a predictive keyboard input method for speeding up input on a telephone with a space limited keyboard; (2) a word completion method for speeding up input; (3) a distinctive signaling method useful in a dual-mode or tri-mode cellular phone system that incorporates both voice call functionality and data messaging functionality; (4) a secret message method that permits secret messages to be received by an authorized user of a cellular telephone that includes a data messaging capability; (5) a message screening method that permits a user to set a message screening mode in a cellular telephone; (6) an improved "scratchpad" method which permits a user to enter a telephone number into a storage register of a cellular telephone while in the middle of a voice call, visually verify the entry, and then save the number to a rapid redial location for later use; (7) a global search method for searching text strings in all of the different memory sections of a cellular telephone having an address book, a hierarchical menu structure, and stored data messages.

Abstract: A system and method is provided whereby a system or application programmer may control encryption on or off during a connection oriented session between a client and a server over the Internet/intranet. This is done by providing a keyword or command, such as a Data Description Specification (DDS) keyword or a User Defined Data Stream (UDDS), to insert into a data stream intended for the client an architecture command, the 5250 Write Single Structured Field (WSSF) architecture command carrying an unique structured field to indicate when encrypted mode should be made active or inactive.

Abstract: A method for one button searching long lists is initiated by depressing a first search button to initiate a first mode scrolling search of a plurality of list members ordered in a list. Each list member is sequentially displayed on a small display, with the display typically being a handheld device capable of simultaneously displaying ten lines of alphanumeric characters. A second mode scrolling search is initiated after maintenance of the first search button in a depressed state and elapse of a first predetermined time interval of about one second. In the second mode scrolling search, a selected subset of list members, each having a same first letter, is ordered by their second letters for sequential display. A third mode scrolling search commences after maintenance of the first search button in a depressed state and elapse of another second, with selected subset of list members ordered by their first letter for sequentially display. Upon button release in either second or third mode, the search mode reverts to the next lower mode, with third mode going to second mode, and second mode going to first mode.

Abstract: A system and methods for creating user definable windows for applying image processing, particularly useful in a post-production color correction equipment. The luminance values of a key image are captured in a key frame buffer. The key image is edited in a "paint" mode to enhance the luminance values or eliminate regions of the image, to define a region of interest. The key image is then converted to a 1-bit image. The 1-bit image is vectorized to derive a user defined window. The user defined window, comprising a closed polygon, is converted on a frame-by-frame basis to a bit map matte that is keyed with image processing such as color correction values. The user defined windows can be edited and stored and recalled for use in other frames. A user defined window for a first frame of a scene can be transformed or morphed into a user defined window for a final frame of a scene, with the system automatically interpolating between the beginning window and the ending window so that the window is automatically moved, resized, and changed in geometry during the succession of frames in a scene.

Abstract: An improved user interface for a cellular telephone system subscriber unit, including the following functions: (1) a predictive keyboard input method for speeding up input on a telephone with a space limited keyboard; (2) a word completion method for speeding up input; (3) a distinctive signaling method useful in a dual-mode or tri-mode cellular phone system that incorporates both voice call functionality and data messaging functionality; (4) a secret message method that permits secret messages to be received by an authorized user of a cellular telephone that includes a data messaging capability; (5) a message screening method that permits a user to set a message screening mode in a cellular telephone; (6) an improved “scratchpad” method which permits a user to enter a telephone number into a storage register of a cellular telephone while in the middle of a voice call, visually verify the entry, and then save the number to a rapid redial location for later use; (7) a global search method for searching text strings in all of the different memory sections of a cellular telephone having an address book, a hierarchical menu structure, and stored data messages.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the language used by an operating system to communicate with a user via a display device. Two compatible types of operating systems are those that use a WINDOWS 3.1 operating system format and a WINDOWS 95 operating system format. The cursor in the character input area of the display device has a different color depending on the language being used by the operating system. This greatly enhances efficiency when alternately typing information in multiple languages. The method provides a small window that indicates which language is currently being used by the operating system. Contained in this window is a language conversion button that has a language indicating symbol positioned on it. The color of the symbol matches the color of the cursor. When the button is selected using a mouse or a shortcut key, the operating system switches the linguistic characters generated by signals from the keyboard to that of a different language. Thus, a user does not have to check the language interface window to determine which linguistic character generating mode the operating system is in. This greatly reduces mistakes and increases the efficiency of document production.

Abstract: A dual mode communication device (102) includes a first radio (124) operable according to a first mode and a second radio (126) operable according to a second mode. A common user interface (130) controls both the first radio and the second radio. Using two, complete, preexisting radios reduces development and manufacturing costs of the dual mode communication device.

Abstract: A method and computer program product are presented that overcome the inefficiencies in user mode processing of multimedia data by allowing an application running as a user mode process simply to start and connect multiple blocks of kernel mode functionality in the form of drivers or filters (separate logical blocks of driver executable code). Once the kernel mode filters are set up and connected, the user mode application need not be active until notified by the filters. Such notification may occur at the end of processing or at any relevant event chosen by the application as part of the filter initiation and set up. Furthermore, a user mode application may query a kernel mode filter or driver of its capabilities and requirements so that it may properly make the connections between the different filters chained together to process a stream of data and request appropriate notifications. These connection may represent actual driver to driver data exchange, or remote connections. In one exemplary embodiment, property, method, and event sets define compliant filters and native operating system I/O constructs such as file objects are used to define the instances of connection "pins" that are interconnected by the third party user mode application.

Abstract: A system for permitting only an authentic user to play a desired application contained in a distributed application package in one of predetermined operation, e.g., free play mode, charged mode, limit-attached play mode, etc. The system comprises a client for playing an application under the control of a server connected with the client through a communication network. The application package (the volume) includes a distribution descriptor which contains mode codes assigned to the volume and the applications of the volume. The data of distribution descriptor is decided and stored in the descriptor at the time of distribution of the volume. This feature makes the system flexible. There is also disclosed a system operatable without communicating with a server.

Abstract: A pen-based portable computer system which includes one or more pen-based wireless interface devices that are adapted to communicate by way of a radio link to a remote host personal computer or server. The pen-based wireless interface device is adapted to operate in a pen mode and a mouse mode. In a mouse mode, pen down events are translated to mouse data and formulated into mouse data packets which, in turn, are transmitted over the radio link to the remote host computer or server. In order to enable the wireless interface device to switch to a pen mode, one or more ink field is created within a container application. On power-up, the system comes up in a mouse mode. Pen events within the ink field cause the system to transfer to a pen mode. Pen events within the container application are translated into pen data packets transmitted over the radio link to the remote host computer or server.

Abstract: A user interface is organized using different personae When in a master persona mode, a user is provided access to a full list of contacts and to a full set of data files When in a first alternate persona mode, user access is provided to only a first subset of the full list of contacts and to only a first subset of the full set of data files

Abstract: A car security apparatus and a car security system for protecting a vehicle from car theft and tampering which notifies a user of the details regarding an abnormal condition (i.e., the identity of the sensor or sensors that have detected the abnormal condition, and the time of detection) that takes place during the activation of a security function of the apparatus. When any sensor detects an abnormal condition with the security function in an armed (on) mode, a controller stores in a memory device the identification of the sensor that detects the abnormal condition and the time of detection as security information. In response to a predetermined operation performed the user, the controller reads the security information from the memory device and transmits the security information to another onboard device (audio or audio/visual device) having a display. The device receives and then presents the security message using alphanumeric characters on the display.

Abstract: A computer interface device for answering calls on a telephone line and transmitting a ring signal and caller identification information to the computer. The interface device is powered by the computer's serial port. The interface device operates in one of two modes of operation. In the call receive mode, the device answers calls and transmits caller identification and ring information to the computer. In the dial mode, the computer places calls on the telephone line. The computer controls activation of the interface device's operational modes.

Abstract: A reading machine for a blind or visually impaired person includes a computer system that causes the computer to load a definition file in accordance with the current word whose definition a user desires the reading machine to read aloud, extract from said definition file text corresponding to at least a first definition contained in said file, and synthesize speech corresponding to the extracted text to permit the definition to be read aloud. The reading machine includes a user input device including a user activated button that produces a signal that causes the computer to enter a definition mode to read a definition of current word being spoken by the reading machine.

Abstract: A portable computer is provided with enhanced power management capabilities. The portable computer includes a power management system which makes a determination as to whether the computer is "user attended" or "user unattended" based upon the position of the display screen in one embodiment. If the display screen is open, then the computer is regarded as being "user attended". In this case, a first timeout delay of I/O inactivity is applied before the computer is permitted to enter a power saving suspend mode. However, if the display screen is closed, then the computer is regarded as being "user unattended". Is this situation, a second timeout delay of I/O inactivity is applied before the computer is allowed to enter the power saving suspend mode. The second timeout delay is generally significantly shorter than the first timeout delay. This technique is found to significantly increase the reliability of I/O activities such as external communications with the computer when the computer is "user unattended".

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing disparate processing modes and for providing mutually exclusive access to shared system resources. A processing unit operates in disparate first and second processing modes. In the first processing mode, the computer is under the control of an operating system. In the other processing mode, the computer is under the control of a system management mode interrupt handling routine. To synchronize the two processing modes and allow mutually exclusive access to shared hardware resources, the computer system includes shared memory, which contains an intermodal lock, and a mechanism for allowing each processing mode to signal the other. Before either processing mode can access the shared resource, the processing mode must attempt to acquire the intermodal lock. If the lock is acquired, the processing mode accesses the shared resource. If the lock cannot be acquired, the processing mode sets a pending bit and resumes other tasks until it receives a lock release signal from the other processing mode. When a processing mode has finished accessing the shared resource, it releases the lock and checks to see if the pending bit was set. If so, the processing mode sends a lock release signal to the other mode.

Abstract: A screen saver program is provided within a computer system. The screen saver program includes a note facility for generating notes. The notes facility includes a note-taker interface. The screen saver program is run on the computer system and in response to receiving input from a user, the note-taker interface is displayed on a video display of the computer system. In response to input by the user via the note-taker interface, a note is created. Subsequently, the screen saver program is dismissed and the note is displayed on the video display when the screen saver is dismissed.