Starfish Software, Inc.

Scansoft, Inc.

Paul A Mernyk

George A Hansen

Lawrence Lozares

Robert C Robnett

Beatrice M Lam

Claudia Carpenter

Krisztina Mako

David L Salgado

Bevra S Prasad

Steven Martin

In a graphical user interface for accessing a large number of files, such as text files, graphics files, or spreadsheets, a system allows quick glances of &ldquo;thumbnails&rdquo; or highly reduced versions of the files. When a folder is opened, every file in the folder is opened as a background operation and thumbnail data, such as a reduced image or text summary of the file, is derived and retained in a cache folder for quick access. When a cursor is touched, without a mouse-click, to a particular icon in the opened folder, the thumbnail for the file identified by the icon is accessed from the cache folder and displayed.

Displaying thumbnail images of document pages in an electronic folder

A user interface has a main module and a plurality of panel modules. The main module presents the user interface on the display screen to a user. The plurality of panel modules are in communication with the main module. Each panel module presents a panel interface on the display screen to the user. Each panel module is individually configurable and each panel is configurable as part of the user interface presented by the main module.

User interface with individually configurable panel interfaces for use

A user interface has a main module and a plurality of panel modules. The main module presents the user interface on the display screen to a user. The plurality of panel modules are in communication with the main module. Each panel module presents a panel interface on the display screen to the user. Each panel module is individually configurable and each panel module is configurable as part of the user interface presented by the main module. In the preferred embodiment, the displayed user interface and individual panel interfaces may be varied in size in two dimensions. The user interface can be displayed with a vertical or horizontal orientation. Also, a calendar and resource gauge with unique features are included among the panel interfaces.

User interface with individually configurable panel interface for use in

A dashboard interface includes a plurality of software buttons provided on a panel. Each software button represents one of a plurality of applications. Upon a user selecting a first software button, a first application represented by the first software button is started. Upon a user selecting and dragging a visual representation of a second application to the panel, a new software button representing the second application is added to the panel. Upon a user selecting a different software button size in a configuration menu, the size of each software button in the plurality of software buttons is changed. The plurality of applications are listed in a configuration menu. The order in which the plurality of software buttons is displayed on the panel reflects the order of the listing of the plurality of applications. Upon a user changing the order of the listing of the plurality of applications, the order in which the plurality of software buttons is displayed on the panel is changed.

Customizable program control interface for a computer system

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Paul A Mernyk