A system for integrating video programming with the vast information resources of the Internet. A computer-based system receives a video program with embedded uniform resource locators (URLs). The URLs, the effective addresses of locations or Web sites on the Internet, are interpreted by the system and direct the system to the Web site locations to retrieve related Web pages. Upon receipt of the Web pages by the system, the Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display. The video program signal can be displayed on a video window on a conventional personal computer screen. The actual retrieved Web pages are time stamped to also be displayed, on another portion of the display screen, when predetermined related video content is displayed in the video window. As an alternative, the computer-based system receives the URLs directly through an Internet connection, at times specified by TV broadcasters in advance. The system interprets the URLs and retrieves the appropriate Web pages. The Web pages are synchronized to the video content for display in conjunction with a television program being broadcast to the user at that time. This alternative system allows the URLs to be entered for live transmission to the user.

Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated Internet information segments

A method, system, and computer readable medium is described for creating a prototype GUI (500) for conversion into an actual GUI (552, 554) whose appearance when displayed matches the appearance of the prototype GUI. In some situations, multiple personnel may participate in the process, such as a non-technical GUI designer (540b) that specifies the prototype GUI appearance information and a technical GUI developer (550b) that specifies various non-appearance information for a corresponding actual GUI. A prototype GUI is first created based on layout and other appearance information specified for various GUI elements, and corresponding proxy GUI objects (540) are generated that store appearance information but not various non-appearance information used as part of an actual GUI. Proxy GUI objects for a prototype GUI can then be converted into actual GUI objects (550) for use with an actual GUI, and various non-appearance information can be specified for the actual GUI objects in various ways.

Prototyping graphical user interfaces

A system and method for filtering and organizing items from computer memories based on common elements. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, filters are provided for manipulating the items. The filters are essentially tools for narrowing down a set of items. In one embodiment, the filters are dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items. The system utilizes virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, quick links are provided. In one embodiment, quick links are a set of predefined links (e.g., located on the left side of the display) that can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, libraries are provided. Libraries consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together.

System and method for filtering and organizing items based on common elements

Software, system and methods for managing a distributed network (10) environment including a plurality of computers (22,24) interconnected by a network link (24), where at least some of the computers include a layered communication protocol stack (92) for providing a data interface between an application program (98, 122) and the network link, the communications stack having a transport protocol layer (124) for providing an end-to-end communications connection The invention includes a control module (132) and a plurality of agents (70), each agent being associated with one of the computers and adapted to dynamically monitor the associated computer at a data transmission point between an application program running on the computer and the transport protocol layer and repeatedly communicate with the control module (132) in order to effect management of the distributed network system The invented software, system and methods may also include a messaging feature for providing users, IT personnel, or various management systems with informative messages concerning network conditions and network resources

Software, systems and methods for managing a distributed network

Systems and methods are provided for operating a remotely operable lock. In an example embodiment, a method comprises receiving credentials at a web service from a portable electronic device, authenticating the credentials, and based on a successful authentication, issuing a command for receipt by the lock from the web service or the portable electronic device.

Systems and methods for controlling a locking mechanism using a portable electronic device

A system and method for programmatically generating a graphical program or a portion of a graphical program, in response to receiving program information. The program information may specify functionality of the graphical program or graphical program portion to be generated. During execution of a graphical program generation (GPG) program, the GPG program may be operable to receive the program information. In response to the program information, the GPG program may programmatically generate a graphical program (or graphical program portion) that implements the specified functionality. Thus, the GPG program may generate different graphical programs, depending on the program information received. The GPG program may have any of various purposes or applications. In some embodiments, the GPG program may be a program or application which a user utilizes to construct or characterize a computational process. In response to the specified computational process, the GPG program may programmatically generate a graphical program to implement the computational process. In other embodiments, the GPG program may be a program or application that directly aids the user in creating a graphical program. For example, the GPG program, which in this case may be a graphical programming environment application, may be operable to receive user input specifying desired functionality and may automatically, i.e., programmatically, add a portion of graphical program code implementing the specified functionality to the user's graphical program. In other embodiments, the GPG program may be a program or application operable to automatically translate an existing program into a graphical program. In addition to these examples, a GPG program may receive any other type of information and programmatically generate a graphical program based on the received information.

System and method for programmatically generating a graphical program in response to program information

A system and method for programmatically generating and modifying graphical programs, in response to receiving program information. The program information may specify functionality of the graphical program or graphical program portion. During execution of a graphical program generation (GPG) program, the GPG program may be operable to receive the program information. In response to the program information, the GPG program may programmatically generate a graphical program (or graphical program portion) that implements the specified functionality. Thus, the GPG program may generate different graphical programs, depending on the program information received. The GPG program may have any of various purposes or applications. In some embodiments, the GPG program may be a program or application which a user utilizes to construct or characterize a computational process. In response to the specified computational process, the GPG program may programmatically generate a graphical program to implement the computational process. In other embodiments, the GPG program may be a program or application that directly aids the user in creating a graphical program. In addition to these examples, a GPG program may receive any other type of information and programmatically generate a graphical program based on the received information. After programmatically generating the graphical program, the GPG program may receive subsequent program information specifying a modification to the graphical program and may programmatically modify the graphical program based on the program information.

System and method for programmatically modifying a graphical program in response to program information

A Data Socket client and associated applications and/or tools which provide programs with access to data from various sources and having various types or formats, wherein the access is provided invisibly to the user. The Data Socket client allows the user or program to access any data source available on the user's machine as well as data anywhere on a network, such as a LAN, WAN or the Internet. In the preferred embodiment, the Data Socket client addresses data sources or I/O sources using a URL (uniform resource locator), much the way that a URL is used to address web pages anywhere in the world. The present invention also includes new Data Socket URLs which allow the user to access I/O sources.

Assembly of a graphical program for accessing data from a data source/target

A method and apparatus for providing picture generation and control features using a graphical data flow environment. The present invention includes a plurality of virtual instruments or VIs that can be used by themselves or in combination to create pictures that are then displayed via a picture control. Each picture VI includes a corresponding picture icon that is placed in a block diagram. Picture VIs include a unique picture data type that is used to store associated drawing instructions. A picture VI receives as an input an existing picture in the form of a picture data structure having zero or more drawing commands. The picture VI appends its respective drawing commands to the picture data structure and outputs this new data structure to subsequent picture VIs or to the picture control. The picture drawing element of the present invention is implemented as a picture control that appears on the front panel of a virtual instrument. The picture control is a general purpose graphics display control and can be used to display any number of rectangles, lines, points, ovals, arcs, and text. This control can be used to represent data as, for example, pie charts, smith charts, and solid three-dimensionally rendered objects that are not suited for other kinds of graphs. In addition, the picture control can be used to create graphical images as desired for general purpose programming. The picture produced by one picture VI can be passed to subsequent VIs to create elaborate displays. The picture control used to display a picture includes a plurality of data controls that can be used by a user to affect the picture displayed by the picture control. The data controls are programmatically designed by the user for the picture being created. In addition, the user can create a block diagram containing a number of picture VIs that create a desired picture and can use this block diagram as a subVI in other larger virtual instruments.

Method and apparatus for providing picture generation and control features in a graphical data flow environment

A system and method for programmatically generating a graphical program or a portion of a graphical program in response to receiving user input. The user input may specify functionality of the graphical program or graphical program portion to be generated. In response to the user input, a graphical program (or graphical program portion) that implements the specified functionality may be programmatically generated. Thus, different graphical programs may be generated, depending on the user input received.

Paul F. Austin

Papers

System and method for programmatically generating a graphical program in response to program information

System and method for programmatically modifying a graphical program in response to program information

Assembly of a graphical program for accessing data from a data source/target

Method and apparatus for providing picture generation and control features in a graphical data flow environment

System and method for programmatically generating a graphical program in response to user input