Showing papers on "Graphical user interface published in 1995"

A new DNA sequence assembly program

Abstract: We describe the Genome Assembly Program (GAP), a new program for DNA sequence assembly. The program is suitable for large and small projects, a variety of strategies and can handle data from a range of sequencing instruments. It retains the useful components of our previous work, but includes many novel ideas and methods. Many of these methods have been made possible by the program's completely new, and highly interactive, graphical user interface. The program provides many visual clues to the current state of a sequencing project and allows users to interact in intuitive and graphical ways with their data. The program has tools to display and manipulate the various types of data that help to solve and check difficult assemblies, particularly those in repetitive genomes. We have introduced the following new displays: the Contig Selector, the Contig Comparator, the Template Display, the Restriction Enzyme Map and the Stop Codon Map. We have also made it possible to have any number of Contig Editors and Contig Joining Editors running simultaneously even on the same contig. The program also includes a new 'Directed Assembly' algorithm and routines for automatically detecting unfinished segments of sequence, to which it suggests experimental solutions.

A component- and message-based architectural style for GUI software

Abstract: While a large fraction of application code is devoted to graphical user interface (GUI) functions, support for reuse in this domain has largely been confined to the creation of GUI toolkits ("widgets"). We present a novel architectural style directed at supporting larger grain reuse and flexible system composition. Moreover, the style supports design of distributed, concurrent applications. Asynchronous notification messages and asynchronous request messages are the sole basis for intercomponent communication. A key aspect of the style is that components are not built with any dependencies on what typically would be considered lower-level components, such as user interface toolkits. Indeed, all components are oblivious to the existence of any components to which notification messages are sent. While our focus has been on applications involving graphical user interfaces, the style has the potential for broader applicability. Several trial applications using the style are described.

Interactive sketching for the early stages of user interface design

Abstract: Current interactive user interface construction tools are often more of a hindrance than a benefit during the early stages of user interface design. These tools take too much time to use and force designers to specify more of the design details than they wish to at this early stage. Most interface designers, especially those who have a background in graphic design, prefer to sketch early interface ideas on paper or on a white-board. We are developing an interactive tool that allows designers to quickly sketch an interface using an electronic pad and stylus. Our tool preserves the important properties of paper: A rough drawing can be produced very quickly and the medium is very flexible. However, unlike a paper sketch this electronic sketch can easily be exercised and modified. In addition, our system allows designers to examine, annotate, and edit a complete history of the design. When the designer is satisfied with this early prototype, the system can transform the sketch into a complete, finished interface in a specified look-and-feel. This transformation takes place with the guidance of the designer. By supporting the early design phases of the software life-cycle, our tool should both ease the prototyping of user interfaces and improve the speed with which a final interface can be created.

Method and apparatus for arranging displayed graphical representations on a computer interface

Abstract: A display arrangement system and method are disclosed for arranging repositionable graphical representations corresponding to a set of computer resources. The display arrangement system includes a layout that specifies a criterion for arranging the repositionable graphical representations. The criterion specifies at least one arrangement rule based upon the content of the computer resources. The display arrangement system also includes a graphical display arrange processor that arranges the repositionable graphical representations by applying the criterion to their corresponding computer resources. The display system may be organized as one or more frames. Each frame designates a perimeter on the graphical user interface. Each frame also includes at least one filter property value for limiting the association of individual ones of the set of computer resources with the frame. An example of a particular filter value for a frame is a filter designating only "document" type computer resources will be associated with a particular frame. The display arrange processor applies the frame filter to the computer resources in order to determine whether corresponding repositionable graphical representations will be displayed within the perimeter on the graphical user interface designated by the frame.

Method and apparatus for selecting and playing a voice mail message

Abstract: A graphical user interface for the display of voice mail message information and playing voice mail messages through a computer speaker. Using a mouse, the messages can be manipulated individually or in groups. Using the mouse or the keyboard, the sender of a message can add textual copy or addressing to a message. The display also includes, merged into a single list, e-mail messages and fax messages for the user. The interface includes a facility for exporting voice mail messages into multimedia documents and importing sound clips from multimedia documents into voice mail messages. If the sender of a message does not want the recipient to copy the message for further distribution to others, the sender may designate the message as "Private", and the system will not allow the message to be copied.

Method and system for video browsing on the world wide web

Abstract: A system and method are provided for supporting video browsing over a communication network such as the Internet/World Wide Web. A graphical user interface is provided through a client software tool such as a Web browser. A client/user selects a video data object stored at a remote server. A set of points within the object are displayed at the client's graphical user interface display, as representations, preferably thumbnail images, of the points within the object. The user selects an interval defined by the representations, preferably the interval between two temporally adjacent representations. Responsive to this selection, a new set of points, falling within the selected interval, are chosen, and representations of those points are generated and displayed. By doing so repeatedly, the user can easily browse through the video data object, and quickly and easily zero in on a desired portion of the video data object.

Tool and method for diagnosing and correcting errors in a computer program

Abstract: In a computer system, an improved tool and method for debugging complex computer programs is disclosed. The tool extracts critical debugging information from computer memory and/or remote storage memory and uses this information to graphically depict call relationships among various functions comprising the program which is the subject of the debugging operation. Debug commands are accepted by the tool through a graphical user interface using operations performed by the user directly on the graphical representation of program functions. The ability of the tool to accept user commands through the graphical user interface and to display critical debugging information using this same interface greatly facilitates program debugging.

Nimrod: a tool for performing parametrised simulations using distributed workstations

Abstract: This paper discusses Nimrod, a tool for performing parametrised simulations over networks of loosely coupled workstations. Using Nimrod the user interactively generates a parametrised experiment. Nimrod then controls the distribution of jobs to machines and the collection of results. A simple graphical user interface which is built for each application allows the user to view the simulation in terms of their problem domain. The current version of Nimrod is implemented above OSF DCE and runs on DEC Alpha and IBM RS6000 workstations (including a 22 node SP2). Two different case studies are discussed as an illustration of the utility of the system.

Systems and methods for a customizable sprite-based graphical user interface

Abstract: An object-oriented system for generating and displaying control items that allow users of an interactive network to recognize and select control functions via a graphical user interface. The manipulation of the control items on a display screen is linked to a set-top terminal associated with the interactive network. The control items, which can be visible or audible, are associated with control objects. Control objects are arranged in a hierarchy, and can contain one or more child control objects. Attributes of a child control object are inherited from an ancestor control object. A control item can be graphically manipulated independently by drawing the control item into its own sprite, or can be manipulated by drawing the control item into the sprite of a parent. The system provides building blocks of control elements that can be composed and customized to produce versatile interfaces for applications and content.

Graphical resource editor for software customization

Abstract: A graphical resource editor for selectively modifying graphical resources in software applications provides a main window graphical user interface object for interaction with the graphical resource editor. The main window contains a resource category selection object including a list of selectable resource category objects. These objects contain resource category descriptors corresponding to categories of editable resources. The resource category selection object provides a user activatable interface for selecting among the list of resource category objects an editable resource category. The graphical resource editor further includes a system responsive to user activation of the resource category selection object for generating in the main window a list of resource descriptors corresponding to selected category of editable resources. A plurality of resource value display fields are provided in the main window for displaying resource values representing the status of the selected category of editable resources. Also provided in the main window is a set of resource value selection objects providing user activatable interfaces for setting editable resource values. Customization of software applications may performed statically by saving resource edits to an application resource file, or dynamically by applying resource edits on-the-fly to an application running concurrently with the graphical resource editor.

Method and apparatus for displaying in and out points during video editing

Abstract: In the method and apparatus of the present invention, an editing system and method is provides that is sophisticated in features but easy to use. In one embodiment, the system includes multiple input sources, such as tape and live sources, at least one output recording device, at least one monitor, and a editing controller, such as a general purpose computer, which controls the input and output device. The controller further provides an innovative graphical user interface that intersperses video from the input devices along with control functions which the user can select using a mouse, keyboard or other input device.

Method and apparatus for a video conference user interface

Abstract: A video conference platform includes a graphical user interface for configuration and control of a video conference. In particular, the graphical user interface allows for "windows" type operations to control various aspects of the video conference, including initial configuration, camera control, and data transmission.

Computer-based system, methods and graphical interface for information storage, modeling and stimulation of complex systems

Abstract: The present invention describes an integrated computer-based graphical interface, methods and systems providing a shell environment for development and deployment for graphic information storage and retrieval, visual modeling and dynamic simulation of complex systems. In the current implementation the system comprises libraries of knowledge-based building-blocks that include sets of icons representing chemical processes, the pools of entities that participate in those processes, and the graphical description of those entities, encapsulating both information and mathematical models within the modular components, in the form of tables and in the form of component icons, and a plurality of methods are associated with each of the icons. The models are built by interconnecting each pool to one or several processes, and each process to one or several pools, resulting in complex networks of multidimensional pathways. A number of functions and graphical interfaces can be selected from the menus associated with each icon, to extract in various forms the information contained in the models build with those building blocks. Those functions include the creation of interactive networks of pathways, graphic selection of complex predefined queries based on the relative position of pools of entities in the pathways, the role that the pools play in the processes, and the structural components of the entities of those pools, and quantitative simulations. The system integrates inferential control with quantitative and semi-quantitative simulation methods, and provides a variety of alternatives to deal with complex dynamic systems and with incomplete and constantly evolving information and data.

System for storage and retrieval of diverse types of information obtained from different media sources which includes video, audio, and text transcriptions

Abstract: An integrated media image information storage and retrieval system processes information supplied by different types of media. A processor-based network server operates as a system interface between one or more user control terminals, a media image capture station through which media image input/output devices are coupled to the network server, and a memory for storing media image files to be retrieved for reproduction. A supervisory media image manipulation and control program is accessed through a supervisory graphical user interface at any user control terminal, and has embedded subordinate media image manipulation programs for different types of media and information formats. When using the interface to import information from an arbitrary medium, the user is able to generate a first, index storage file, and a supplemental text description-based file, so as to facilitate rapid retrieval of any type of data, regardless of its original format (e.g. text, picture, text-picture combination, video, audio) and regardless of the capture medium or source from which it is imported into the system.

Method for providing force feedback to a user of an interface device based on interactions of a controlled cursor with graphical elements in a graphical user interface

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing force feedback to a user operating a human/computer interface device in conjunction with a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed by a host computer system. A physical object, such as a joystick or a mouse, controls a graphical object, such as a cursor, within the GUI. The GUI allows the user to interface with operating system functions implemented by the computer system. A signal is output from the host computer to the interface device to apply a force sensation to the physical object using one or more actuators. This desired force sensation is associated with at least one of the graphical objects and operating system functions of the graphical user interface and is determined by a location of the cursor in the GUI with respect to targets that are associated with the graphical objects. The graphical objects include icons, windows, pull-down menus and menu items, scroll bars (“sliders”), and buttons. The force sensation assists the user to select a desired operating system function or physically informs the user of the graphical objects encountered by the cursor within the GUI. A microprocessor local to the interface apparatus and separate from the host computer can be used to control forces on the physical object.

System and method for creating and manipulating notes each containing multiple sub-notes, and linking the sub-notes to portions of data objects

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for extracting, synchronizing, displaying, and manipulating text and image documents in electronic form for display. In the Preferred embodiment of the present invention, text and image files for documents, such as for example patent documents, are initially stored on separate magnetic tape media. These data files are extracted from the respective tapes and placed onto a faster medium, such as a hard disk drive. The text and image files are synchronized to produce Equivalent Files using heuristic algorithms to create an approximate equivalence relationship between the text and the image files. The Equivalent Files and image files residing on, for example, a hard disk drive or compact disk (CD), are coupled as a resource to a computer display system. The graphic user interface of the present invention permits the user to display, manipulate, and edit the Equivalent File created using the process of the present invention, and to simultaneously view the image file on the display. Using the graphic user interface of the present invention, a user may create libraries of patent Equivalent Files and image files or documents of another type, as well as open cases to include a plurality of different patents or other documents. The Equivalent File may be selectively viewed on the display in an equivalent window. Simultaneous with the viewing of the Equivalent File within the equivalent window, the user may view any portion of an image file within one or more image windows on the display. A variety of other features and functions are provided by the present invention for the manipulation and display of patent documents and other documents on the user interface.

RTDS - A Fully Digital Power System Simulator Operating in Real Time

Abstract: Abstruct - This paper presents details on the design, architectural features and applications of a real-time digital simulator (RTDSm) developed at the Manitoba HVDC Research Centre (Winnipeg, Canada). Custom hardware and software have been developed and collectively applied to the simulation and study of electromagnetic transients phenomenon in power systems in real-time. The combination of real-time operation, flexible YO, graphical user interface and an extensive library of accurate power system component models make the RTDS an ideal simulation tool with a wide range of applications. I. INTRODUCTION Simulation has long been recognized as an important and necessary step in the development, design and testing of power generation and transmission systems. A wide variety of both analogue and digital simulation tools are available and typically used during various stages of system development. Recent advances in both computing hardware and sophisticated power system component modelling techniques have significantly increased the application of digital simulation in the power system industry. Of particular interest in the context of this paper are the advances made in the study of electromagnetic transients phenomenon.

Graphical user interface for control of a home entertainment system

Abstract: An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system with a large screen VGA quality monitor as the display of choice. The system has digital satellite broadcast reception, decompression and display capability with multiple radio frequency remote control devices which transmit self identifying signals and have power adjustment capabilities. These capabilities are used to provide context sensitive groups of keys which may be defined to affect only selected applications running in a windowing environment. In addition, the remote control devices combine television and VCR controls with standard personal computer keyboard controls. A keyboard remote also integrates a touchpad which is food contamination resistant and may also be used for user verification. Included in the system is the ability to recognize verbal communications in video signals and maintain a database of such text which is searchable to help identify desired programming in real time.

Interaction between databases and graphical user interfaces

Abstract: To provide an interface between a computer application and a database, a user invokes the application and another program, called "link manager". The user "drags and drops" GUI objects from the application window to the link manager window to command the link manager to associate parameters of the GUI objects (e.g., object names) with input and output fields of database operations. The link manager records these associations in a mapping file. When later the application is executed, a program, called "execution manager", reads the mapping file. When the application issues a request to the database, the execution manager uses the mapping file to translate the request to the database format, converting values of parameters of GUI objects to input values of a database operation as defined by the mapping file. The execution manager translates the database response to the application format, converting output values of the response to values of application GUI parameters as defined by the mapping file.

Four-dimensional graphical user interface

Abstract: A computer-based system and method for displaying a workspace of greater effective area than that of the display screen using a four-dimensional graphical user interface employing real-time texture mapping. According to the present invention, the user selects a number of workspaces to be displayed. Each selected workspaces is then texture mapped to a polygonal surface. Then the surfaces are displayed at orientations to form a polyhedron with a workspace on each face. Each face may be translucent, so that workspaces otherwise hidden by that face are visible. The polyhedron rotates under the user's control so that each face is presented to the user. It is this combination of a three-dimensional figure with real-time rotation and texture mapping that gives this "Four-Dimensional Graphical User Interface" its name.

Audio-visual user interface controls

Abstract: Audio-visual user interface controls provide audio and a visual feedback in response to user input events in a graphical user interface environment of a computer. A variety of audio and visual responses of a control assist the user in understanding its operation.

Graphical user interface for displaying and manipulating objects

Abstract: An intuitive graphical user interface is based upon a geographic map structure, and includes a system for controlling remote external electronic devices. In the defined graphical user interface, each space of the geographic map structure is rendered on a touch screen display as a graphic image of a geographic space. Within each space are colored cartoon-like icons called "objects" which can be selected and manipulated by the user. Certain objects, referred to as portals, transport the user from one space to another space when Selected. Other objects, referred to as buttons, perform associated actions or functions when Selected. The graphical user interface is displayed on a hand-held display device used to control remote devices. Each remote electronic device transmits a user interface program object that defines a graphical user interface to the display device. The hand-held display devices displays the graphical user interface associated with the remote device when a user selects an icon associated with the remote device on the display device's touch screen display.

Visual access to restricted functions represented on a graphical user interface

Abstract: Computer users access and/or execute a selected restricted function on a computer using a graphical user interface (GUI) by entering an iconic password that is defined by selecting two or more visual icons, called code icons, in a sequence called an iconic password sequence. The entered sequence is compared to a target sequence that represents the restricted function. If the entered sequence matches the target sequence, the user is permitted to execute/access the restricted function. The number of possible combinations in the target sequence, and therefore system security, can be increased by inputting both a code icon and a target site for one or more of the components of the target sequence.

Computer graphics data recording and playback system with a VCR-based graphic user interface

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording and playing back computer graphics data, including cursor movement data, and audio data which requires no X-Window command extensions. During recording, the command data stream to a display controller is intercepted, time stamped at regular intervals, and sent to and stored in a first file in a mass storage device. Cursor movement and operation data also is intercepted, time stamped and stored in a second file. During recording, display state data is generated and recorded into a third file at specified intervals. For playback, the system operator is presented with a graphic user interface resembling the control panel of a video cassette recorder. The system operator can play back the recorded information starting from a designated instant by operating the "buttons" on the control panel. For playback, the third file is read and forwarded to the display controller. The first and second files are then merged utilizing the time stamps to ensure synchronization and forwarded in a stream to the display controller for playing back the recorded events.

Supporting operator problem solving through ecological interface design

Abstract: This paper describes two experiments evaluating ecological interface design (EID), a novel theoretical framework for the design of interfaces for complex human-machine systems. According to EID, to properly support operator problem solving activities, an interface should display both the physical and functional properties of the work domain in the form of a multilevel representation based on the abstraction hierarchy. To evaluate this claim, two interfaces for a thermal-hydraulic process simulation were developed, one based on a traditional format containing only physical information (P) and another based on EID which also contained information about higher-order functional variables (P+F). The findings of Experiment 1 are consistent with the claim that an interface based on an abstraction hierarchy representation can provide more support for problem solving than an interface based on physical variables alone, thereby providing some initial support for the EID framework. There was also some evidence to indicate that theoretical expertise is required to enjoy the full benefits of the P+F interface. The findings of Experiment 2 indicate that subjects who exhibited effective diagnosis performance using the P+F interface tended to start their search at a high level of abstraction and gradually work their way down to more detailed levels, as predicted. Furthermore, previous experience with the DURESS system was found to be the most reliable background variable that predicted performance. >

Apparatus and method for application sharing in a graphic user interface

Abstract: Method and apparatus for task based application sharing in a graphic user interface such as for Windows® are provided. A host user designates an application to be shared, referred to as a shared applications (14 in Fig. 2). Another user at a remote location, referred to as the client user, shares control of the shared application (16 in Fig. 2). The shared application runs and executes only on the host system. The client system has a rectangular area on the display screen within which all shared applications are displayed (Fig. 7). The client system renders an image of all windows of a shared application including pop-up dialogs and menus without also displaying unshared applications. Further, both the client and the host users continue to perform normal operations outside of the shared rectangular area, and the host user defines the tasks which are to be shared.

Method and system for customizing the display of patient physiological parameters on a medical monitor

Abstract: A method and system for customizing the display of patient physiological parameters on a medical monitor are provided. Medical sensors connected to a patient record vital signs for the patient and transmit physiological parameters to the medical monitor. The medical monitor displays selected parameters on a display screen according to instructions from a setup program provided by the present invention. The setup program monitors the output of the medical sensors and presents the user with a real-time view of the parameters available for display in a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface allows the user to easily select which parameters will be displayed, how the parameters will be displayed, and where the parameters will be displayed on the display screen.

Graphical user interface using historical lists with field classes

Abstract: A data input technique for a computer that provides the user with a historical list of potential choices for the data input is described. A historical list is displayed to the user so that the user can input data by selecting an item from the historical list being displayed. The historical list contains the most recently and/or frequently used data values for the data field that the user is inputting data. Preferably, the historical list is displayed over a form also being displayed that requires the data input into its one or more of its fields. By using the historical lists a user is able to enter data with a greater ease of use than previously obtainable. The historical can also be shared between different applications that execute on the computer system concurrently or at different times. By sharing the data between applications, the historical list becomes more useful and valuable to the user and thereby further improves the ease of use of the computer system. The data input technique can be implemented numerous ways, including as a system, an apparatus, a graphical user interface, or a method, or as a computer readable medium.

Real time user indexing of random access time stamp correlated databases

Abstract: A note-taking system based on a notepad computer with an integrated audio/video-recorder is described A document is created or retrieved As the user types on the keyboard or writes with the stylus or similar input instrument, each character or stroke that is input by the user is invisibly time-stamped by the computer The audio/video stream is also continuously time-stamped during recording To play a section of recording back, the user selects part of the note (perhaps by circling it with a stylus) and invokes a "playback selection" command The computer then examines the time-stamp and "winds" the record to the corresponding place in the audio/video recording, where it starts playing--so that the user hears and/or sees what was being recorded at the instant the selected text or strokes were input With a graphical user interface, the user may input key "topic" words and subsequently place check marks by the appropriate word as the conversation topic veers into that neighborhood

Embedding internet browser/buttons within components of a network component system

Abstract: A network-oriented component system facilitates development of customized user interfaces to computer networks by embedding entities that reference resources located on the networks into components of the system. The embedded entities are preferably manifested as visual objects displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer screen that a user may manipulate to effectuate the embedding process. The "container" components are preferably compound documents having contents that include different data types and formats.